About Naltrexone

Naltrexone is a medication that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol dependence in 1994. Dr. O’Malley, the Principal Investigator of Project Choice, directed one of the two studies that led to the FDA approval of naltrexone for this indication. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, which means that it blocks the effects of opiates in the brain. In the majority of clinical trials in alcohol dependent patients, naltrexone has been shown to reduce the risk of heavy drinking.

Some of the beneficial effects of naltrexone that have been found in prior studies include decreasing craving for alcohol, slowing the speed of alcohol consumption and decreasing the overall amount of time people spend drinking. We believe that naltrexone is a particularly good fit for Project Choice participants because of these and other positive effects and because it can be taken safely while one is still consuming alcohol. In other words, it has been found to be effective for individuals who have drinking reduction goals other than total abstinence.

The most common side effects of naltrexone are gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, for instance) which is experienced by a minority of people who take naltrexone and usually can be alleviated by ensuring that the medication is taken as directed. Naltrexone should not be taken by people with liver disease or who need opiate containing medication.

Read a recent news article about naltrexone.

If you are interested in participating in Project Choice, please feel free to call or email us with any questions about naltrexone.