Can I Still Get Drunk While On Naltrexone?

For people taking naltrexone for opioid and alcohol addiction, understanding exactly how it affects alcohol use is important. Naltrexone works by reducing both the amount a person drinks and how often they drink, largely by blocking the pleasurable “buzz” that comes with alcohol use. It’s an effective tool for treating alcohol use disorder, but it’s not a cure-all.

Naltrexone doesn’t prevent intoxication, which means a person can still become impaired if they drink while taking it. This distinction matters quite a bit when it comes to staying safe during treatment.

What Naltrexone Can Do For Alcohol Use Disorder

Naltrexone is a medication that can help reduce cravings for alcohol and reduce a person’s desire to drink alcohol by blocking its euphoric effects.

Euphoria is a term that refers to the “high” or “buzz” you might feel from drinking alcohol. Naltrexone can prevent this and thus make drinking less desirable.

Risks And Dangers Of Drinking While On Naltrexone

Drinking alcohol while taking naltrexone, or receiving naltrexone injections (Vivitrol) for a substance use disorder, should be avoided when possible. While naltrexone can prevent the “buzz” of alcohol, it doesn’t prevent other physical or cognitive effects of intoxication, such as impaired judgment and poor motor control.

If you do drink alcohol while on naltrexone, you should still avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing any activity that requires good coordination.

Combining Naltrexone With Other Forms Of Alcohol Treatment

Naltrexone tends to work best as part of a broader treatment plan, rather than as a standalone solution. Pairing the medication with counseling, behavioral therapy, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can address the psychological and social sides of alcohol use disorder that medication alone doesn’t target.

Many treatment centers build naltrexone into a comprehensive plan that includes regular check-ins with a doctor, individual or group therapy, and strategies for avoiding relapse, giving people a more well-rounded path toward long-term recovery.

Naltrexone And Alcohol FAQs

Drinking alcohol while taking naltrexone for a drug or alcohol use disorder isn’t advised. Find answers to frequently asked questions about naltrexone and alcohol use.

❓ What Happens If You Drink Alcohol While On Contrave?

✔️ People who are taking Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) for weight loss should not drink heavily while taking this medication.

Those who have a history of alcohol use disorder, or who drink excessively while taking Contrave, could be at risk for having a seizure with concurrent alcohol use.

❓ Does Naltrexone Enhance The Effects Of Alcohol?

✔️ No. Naltrexone does not enhance or boost the effects of alcohol.

❓ Does Naltrexone Decrease The Effects Of Alcohol?

✔️ No. Naltrexone doesn’t prevent impairment from alcohol, nor does it prevent health problems associated with chronic alcohol abuse, such as liver damage.

What naltrexone can do is prevent the euphoric effects of alcohol, which can make drinking less desirable for those with a history of alcoholism.

❓ Is Naltrexone The Same As Antabuse?

✔️ Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist. Antabuse (disulfiram) is an alcohol antagonist. Both are used to treat alcohol dependence, but they’re not the same.

While Antabuse can make a person feel sick if they drink, naltrexone will just prevent you from feeling a “high” from alcohol.