Reviews
What people say about naltrexone
A survey of 154 people who have taken it and what people say about the programs that prescribe it.
- said their cravings dropped
- 61%
- said they quit drinking completely
- 52%
- picked none of the benefits listed
- 19%
From our October 2026 survey. Everyone who answered uses a sobriety app, so they may report better results than most people.
What 154 people told us
How much it helped, the side effects they had, and what they'd say to someone deciding whether to try it.
- 91: 9 people
- 2: 0 people
- 53: 5 people
- 4: 0 people
- 35: 3 people
- 36: 3 people
- 77: 7 people
- 108: 10 people
- 89: 8 people
- 1510: 15 people
- None 29
- Very mild 10
- Mild 13
- Moderate 4
- Strong 4
Most common: nausea (17 people), tiredness (14), headache, anxiety or irritability (8 each)
Showing 20 of 20 quotes
“It completely stopped the cravings. Dose one. The "Knocking" on the door stopped”
It helped
“I felt prisoner to alcohol and would think about drinking everyday even if I didn’t end up drinking. Naltrexone has quieted the alcohol noise and reduced my cravings drastically.”
It helped
“I drank because of anxiety and stress, not to feel good. I wanted to relax. And I was still able to drink and feel relaxed on it, so it didn't help me.”
It didn't help
“When I get off work my first thought used to be should I stop by the store now it's I want to go home”
It helped
“Cravings are fewer but willpower is still needed”
Mixed
“At first i wasn't too convinced that it worked. … I can tell when it starts wearing off by the end of the month because my cravings begin to surface more.”
It helped
“It helps with the cravings by making food and drink give no pleasure and no taste. All food and drink tastes bad. Its a side effect that is unpleasant.”
Side effects
“Best breakup I’ve ever been through!!”
It helped
“It made no difference. It did not stop cravings and I continued to drink while taking it.”
It didn't help
“To be honest, it didn’t do what I wanted it to do. It didn’t stop my drinking. … What I notice is that I still drink, but then I notice later that evening that I’ve moved away from the table.”
Mixed
“I don’t want to feast on alcohol like a shark who smells blood in the water. I’m a jellyfish now that can go with the flow more.”
It helped
“I took it for two days and it turned me into a zombie.”
Side effectsIt didn't help
“For me, naltrexone turns the occasional cravings into passing thoughts that I’ve been able to identify and move through thus far.”
It helped
“It works OK, but it isn’t great. Definitely not a complete savior. I stopped taking it because it wasn’t what I thought it would be.”
Mixed
“The side effects in the first 2 weeks were awful! So dont be fooled! BUT, now 4 weeks later I am completely sober and getting back to a healthier me.”
Side effectsIt helped
“I went to a Mexican restaurant and didn’t have a margarita”
It helped
“I didn’t feel any different or anything on the medication; once I had my first cravings and lapse, I simply started drinking on the medication and eventually stopped taking it.”
It didn't help
“I'll be honest, I still drank while taking it. … It did help calm my cravings, but I wouldn't attribute my sobriety to it.”
Mixed
“When I was taking it I didn't feel good at all, which led me to stop taking it.”
Side effectsIt didn't help
“Taking Naltrexone helped me get my life back. You still have to do the work, but Naltrexone gave me the boost I desperately needed to stay on track.”
It helped
What they'd tell someone on the fence
Verified survey response: word for word from our October 2026 survey of 154 people who have taken naltrexone, shortened only where you see “…”. Everyone who answered uses a sobriety app, so they may report better results than most people. How we ran it
What people say about the programs
App store ratings and what we found when we looked into four of the online programs.
Oar HealthTablets by messageA prescription by message, paid three months at a time
- Trustpilot
- 4.6854 out of 5 from 854 reviews
- BBB customer reviews
- 2.010 out of 5 from 10 reviews
What we foundAll 10 complaints shown on its BBB page involved charges, renewals or refunds.
Read the review
Ria HealthInsurance-billed programInsurance-billed alcohol treatment with no posted price
- Trustpilot
- 4.3151 out of 5 from 151 reviews
- App Store
- 2.630 out of 5 from 30 reviews
- Google Play
- 3.513 out of 5 from 13 reviews
What we foundSurprise bills lead its recent one-star Trustpilot reviews.
Read the review
Reframe Med+Drink-less app + Med+A well-rated app whose own documents disagree
- App Store
- 4.745,111 out of 5 from 45,111 reviews
- Google Play
- 4.5 out of 5
- Trustpilot
- 3.6 out of 5
What we foundFour of its documents set different cancellation rules. The app's ratings don't cover Med+.
Read the review
Sunnyside MedDrink-less app + MedA drink-less app not meant for alcohol use disorder
- App Store
- 4.82,320 out of 5 from 2,320 reviews
- Google Play
- 4.6327 out of 5 from 327 reviews
- Trustpilot
- 4.0260 out of 5 from 260 reviews
What we foundIts terms exclude anyone diagnosed with or treated for alcohol use disorder.
Read the review
Ratings as shown on each site on October 17, 2026. Companies that invite customers to leave reviews tend to collect more of them.
Longer stories
First-person stories, published only after the writer says yes to the final version.
No stories are published yet. Each one waits until its writer has confirmed in writing that we can publish it.
Share yoursWhat people report, and what trials found
- Does Naltrexone Work?Yes, modestly, for alcohol. In pooled trials, for every 11 people on daily naltrexone, 1 more avoided a return to heavy drinking. What changes the odds.
- Naltrexone Side Effects: How Common Each One Is and When to Call a DoctorNausea (10%) and headache (7%) lead the list in a 570-person study. Most tend to show up early and pass. What is rare, and the signs that need a doctor now.
- Does Naltrexone Make You Sleepy or Tired?Sometimes. In pooled alcohol trials, about 9 more people per 100 had daytime sleepiness on naltrexone than on placebo. Insomnia was more common too.
- How Long Does Naltrexone Take to Work?Naltrexone has no build-up phase: tablets peak within an hour. What the trials show about drinking in the first days and weeks, and when to judge it.
- Naltrexone and Alcohol: What Happens If You Drink on ItNaltrexone causes no Antabuse-style reaction with alcohol, but you still get drunk. What drinking on it feels like, timing, hangovers and the limits.
- Vivitrol Side Effects: Trial Rates, Injection-Site Reactions and When to Get HelpVivitrol side effects from the label: injection-site reactions in 69% and nausea in 33% vs 50% and 11% on placebo, plus the serious risks and when to call.
Reviews and stories are personal experiences, not medical advice. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. In an emergency, call 911.