Duke City Recovery Toolbox uses every tool at our disposal to help individuals battling addiction. We offer education, psychotherapy and medication treatment to create a comprehensive recovery program that gives participants the best chance to succeed. For alcohol abuse, treatment may include naltrexone.
How Naltrexone Works
Naltrexone is a medicine that reduces your desire for alcohol by blocking the parts of your brain that “feel” pleasure when you use alcohol and narcotics. When these areas of the brain are blocked, you feel less need to drink alcohol, allowing you to stop drinking more easily. Unlike Disulfiram, another medicine sometimes used to treat alcoholism, Naltrexone does not make you feel sick if you drink alcohol while taking it.
Naltrexone is not a complete cure for alcoholism, but it can help you stop drinking while you get other treatments recommended by your doctor. While on naltrexone, you must take the medication exactly as it is prescribed—do not skip pills or take extra pills. Most participants take naltrexone for 12 weeks and are re-evaluated to determine if it is still needed.
Naltrexone Side Effects
Like any medication, naltrexone may cause side effects, such as:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Anxiety
If you experience any side effects, tell your doctor. Your treatment may be modified, or your doctor can make suggestions for dealing with the side effects.
Is Naltrexone Right for Me?
There is only one way to find out if naltrexone can help you on your road to recovery from alcohol addiction—contact Duke City Recovery Toolbox. We will schedule an intake session during which you will be evaluated to determine if you are a good candidate for medication treatment. If you are, you will receive medication the same day.
