Naltrexone is FDA-approved to treat alcoholism and opioid use disorders, but scientists have studied its effectiveness in people who take it as needed to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed
A cheap drug used to wean opioid addicts off drugs could also solve the nation’s growing problem of binge drinking, according to a study.
During the three-month study period, naltrexone, sold as Revia, reduced the number of days people binged by more than a quarter.
Total monthly alcohol consumption also dropped by about a third in the group that received the pill, which costs about $1.60 when bought in bulk.
Revia was taken one hour before the drinking sessions. It works by limiting the release of endorphins, which dull alcohol-induced euphoria.
The findings come amid a rise in alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic. The number of alcohol-related deaths increased by more than 25 percent between 2019 and 2020.
This year-over-year increase is a large departure from the norm, which has hovered around the average annual percentage increase of two to three percent between 1999 and 2017.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco studied 120 men who were regular drinkers but not alcoholics.
The study only included gay and transgender men, a group more likely to drink than non-queer people.
Patients were instructed to take a 50 mg dose of naltrexone or a placebo pill at least 2.5 times a week, one hour before they were expected to drink anything.
The participants also received a 12-week counseling session in combination with the pills.
After 12 weeks, the men who took naltrexone reported 26 percent fewer drinking days, 17 percent fewer binge drinking weeks, and 31 percent fewer drinks per month compared to the placebo group.
READ MORE: NO amount of alcohol is safe, warns the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last month that no alcohol is the safest amount of alcohol.
The drug not only helped people reduce binge drinking, but also had a lasting effect on people’s ability to abstain from alcohol.
Naltrexone is federally approved in injectable form and as a daily pill to treat alcohol use disorder, a condition characterized by an inability to control drinking due to a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.
It works by blocking endorphin receptors in the body, which weakens the effects of alcohol and opiates on the brain. When these receptors are blocked, alcohol cravings are reduced and drinking becomes less enjoyable.
The study authors said it requires a new treatment paradigm for moderate drinkers.
The most common side effect was nausea, but this symptom decreased as subjects became more accustomed to the drug.
The authors wrote: “The study showed a sustained reduction in alcohol consumption six months after treatment, suggesting that targeted naltrexone may lead to lasting benefits for this patient population.”
Their findings were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry last fall.
Binge drinking is so pervasive in modern American society that its negative effects are often underestimated. But binge drinking can pave the way for alcohol addiction. Exceeding the binge threshold also increases the risk of serious harm from blackouts, including accidents and overdoses.
Alcohol affects almost every tissue in the body. An episode of heavy drinking can cause inflammation of the pancreas, stomach and/or liver. Heavy drinking can also cause high blood pressure, dehydration and dangerously low levels of sodium, potassium and other minerals and salts.
It can also lead to lung infections caused by inhibiting the gag reflex, which allows vomit, saliva or other substances to enter the lungs. Excessive drinking also increases the risk of having unprotected sex, which could potentially lead to an unwanted pregnancy or STI.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
