IT CAN’T HURT. OR CAN IT? –

Feb. 21, 2023 – The medication, naltrexone, has been prescribed since the 1980s to treat people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). It works by blocking endorphins — “feel-good” chemicals in the brain that help produce a happy buzz. The drug is usually taken daily to reduce cravings and make drinking less pleasurable, so it’s easier for people to cut back or stop altogether.

Now, a new study suggests that a single dose of naltrexone, taken right before a night out or just as the urge to drink hits, might help people avoid binges and consume less alcohol.

“Targeted use of naltrexone, or taking it on an as-needed basis, can be an important tool for people interested in cutting down their heavy alcohol use,” says lead study author Glenn-Milo Santos, PhD, MPH, a substance use researcher and professor at the University of California San Francisco.

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