Home Detox: Anti-craving medication: Naltrexone

Executive Home Detox comes to the client. Wherever they live, EHD travels to the client and manages the alcohol detox in the comfort of the client's home. But what happens after the alcohol home detox? EHD works with the client to create an aftercare plan to sustain sobriety. One specific treatment option is the use of medication. Anti-craving medications include Naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol) and Acamprosate (Campral)).

Naltrexone is a medication that, in theory, decreases the cravings for alcohol. Naltrexone works by interacting with the brain to interrupt the messages the brain gives the alcoholic to make him or her drink. The Naltrexone may interrupt the 'cues' the brain gives to the person to make them drink.

Oral Naltrexone (Revia, and generics) is usually given in a 50 mg dose each day. Naltrexone can cause some GI upset the first few days but then has minimal to no side effects. It is very important to know that Naltrexone will trigger opiate withdrawal in anyone that is dependent on opiates and have used opiates in the past seven days. Additionally, Naltrexone attaches itself to opiate receptors and blocks opiate effectiveness.

Intra-Muscular Naltrexone (Vivitrol) can be given every three to four weeks in the gluteal maximus - the backside - this method of Naltrexone delivery provides a steady therapeutic dose and eliminates the need to take the pill (oral Naltrexone) every day. This form of medication is expensive and has it's own side effects, namely the possibility of an abscess at the injection site.

The use of Naltrexone alone may assist in decreasing cravings for alcohol. The use of Naltrexone, Campral, and Antabuse altogether increases the likelihood of maintaining sobriety compared to using any of those medications alone.