If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Is alcoholism a disease?

Yes. Most experts agree that alcoholism is a disease, just as high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis are diseases. Like these other diseases, alcoholism tends to run in families.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease. “Chronic” means that it lasts for a long time or it causes problems again and again. The main treatment for alcoholism is to stop drinking alcohol. This can be difficult, because most people who are alcoholics still feel a strong desire for alcohol even after they stop drinking.

How is naltrexone used to treat alcoholism?

Naltrexone is a medicine that reduces your desire for alcohol. After you quit drinking, naltrexone may help you stay sober for a long time. This medicine is not a complete cure for alcoholism, but it can help you stop drinking while you get any other treatments that your healthcare provider recommends.

How does naltrexone work?

Naltrexone blocks 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, and you can stop drinking more easily. Unlike disulfiram, another medicine that is sometimes used to treat alcoholism, naltrexone does not make you feel sick if you drink alcohol while taking it.

What are the side effects of naltrexone?

Nausea is the most common side effect. Other less common side effects include headache, constipation, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia, drowsiness and anxiety. If you get any of these side effects, contact your healthcare provider. They may change your treatment or suggest ways you can deal with the side effects.

What should I know before starting treatment with naltrexone?

Because naltrexone blocks the brain areas where narcotics and alcohol work, you should be careful not to take any narcotics, such as codeine, morphine or heroin, while you are taking naltrexone. Do not take any cough medicine with codeine in it while you are taking naltrexone. Naltrexone can cause or worsen withdrawal symptoms in people who take

narcotics. You must stop taking all narcotics 7 to 10 days before you start taking naltrexone.

You shouldn’t take naltrexone if you’re pregnant, so talk about birth control options with your healthcare provider. It’s not known if naltrexone goes into breast milk, so you should not breastfeed while you’re taking it.

How long will I take naltrexone?

You and your healthcare provider will decide this. Most people take the medicine for 12 weeks or more. Be sure to take naltrexone as your healthcare provider prescribes it. Don’t take extra pills, don’t skip pills and don’t stop taking the pills until you contact your healthcare provider.

Will I need other treatments for alcoholism?

Like many other diseases, alcoholism affects you physically and mentally. Both your body and your mind have to be treated. In addition to medicine, your healthcare provider may recommend some psychosocial treatments. These treatments can help you change your behavior and cope with your problems without using alcohol. Examples of psychosocial treatments include Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, counseling, family therapy, group therapy and hospital treatment. Your healthcare provider can refer you to the psychosocial treatment that is right for you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Alcoholics Anonymous website:

Nova Scotia:
http://www.area82aa.org/

Prince Edward Island:
http://www.area81aa.ca/main.php