Skip to main content
NaltrexoneReviews home

Provider review

Oar Health Reviews: A Prescription by Message, Paid Three Months at a Time

A fact-check of Oar Health from its own pages, terms and rating sites: what it costs, how prescribing works, its compounded mint, complaints and who it suits.

By Naltrexone Reviews Editorial TeamUpdated 29 sourcesHow we check

On this page

Short answer

Oar Health is an online service that prescribes naltrexone by form and message. It is cash-only: a $50 assessment fee, then $297 every three months for medication, shipping and coaching.1 Cycles can't be cancelled once started, memberships are non-refundable, and all 10 complaints on Oar's BBB page on October 17, 2026 concerned charges, renewals or refunds.2,3

Oar at a glance

Oar Health at a glance, from its own pages and rating sites, checked October 17, 2026.

  • Run by

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    Oar Health, Inc., incorporated in September 2020 and based in Brooklyn, runs the website and billing.4,5 Clinical care outside Florida comes from Wheel Provider Group, "an independent entity not affiliated with Oar," and in Florida from Oar Medical, P.A.4

  • Built for

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    Adults 18 and older1

  • Medication

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    Mostly naltrexone. A daily pill, plus Clutch, a dissolving mint that Oar labels "a compounded medication. Not FDA-approved."1,6 No home delivery of naltrexone shots7

  • Price

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    $50 one-time assessment fee, charged even if you aren't prescribed. If prescribed: $297 per 3 months (advertised as $99 a month), auto-renewing.1,6 Includes clinician access, health coaching, medication, shipping, digital check-ins and the member community1

  • Insurance

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    No. HSA or FSA funds often work1

  • Visits

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    Online form and messaging. No video or in-person visit needed. Photo ID and a live selfie are required. A clinician reviews your assessment within a day; medication ships 1 to 2 days after the prescription goes to the pharmacy. Clinicians are doctors, nurse practitioners and other professionals licensed in the state where you are1

  • Cancelling and refunds

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    No refunds on the assessment fee or the membership. You can cancel before the next renewal1

  • Where

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    42 states1

  • Ratings

    Oar Health, checked October 17, 2026
    Trustpilot 4.6 from 854 reviews; BBB customer reviews 2 out of 5 from 10 reviews8,9

Two physicians are named behind Oar's clinical model. Joshua D. Lee, MD, MSc, is an NYU professor who directs NYU's addiction medicine fellowship. Oar credits Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD, with research that "led to the discovery of naltrexone as a treatment for alcohol use disorder and its approval by the FDA."10

A year of Oar costs $1,238 at today's prices

At the posted prices, your first three months cost $347 ($50 + $297). Staying a full year costs $1,238 ($50 + 4 × $297). These are our sums from Oar's FAQ.1

That fee covers the clinician, the medication, shipping and coaching.1 The naltrexone cost guide compares other programs and the Vivitrol shot.

The plan has changed before. In August 2024, Oar told a BBB reviewer that "the $469 annual plan cost is fully disclosed when a prospective member selects the plan they wish to join."9 Today the FAQ lists only the three-month plan.1

The subscription terms still allow monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual cycles, and "All prices are subject to change without notice." Members on an auto-renewing plan get notice of a price change before it renews.2

The renewal rules are strict. You "may only cancel a Subscription before a Subscription cycle begins," and "all Subscriptions are non-refundable and non-transferable." Refunds beyond errors such as double charges are at Oar's discretion, and you have 60 days to dispute a charge. Cancel in your account under your profile, before the renewal date.2

High Trustpilot score, billing complaints at the BBB

These are third-party numbers as displayed on October 17, 2026. They move daily.

Oar Health's third-party ratings and complaint records as displayed on October 17, 2026.

  • Source: Trustpilot

    Score
    4.6 out of 5
    Volume
    854 reviews; 79% five-star, 5% one-star
    Worth knowing
    Profile claimed by Oar, with a paid Trustpilot subscription; Oar invites customers to review8

  • Source: BBB customer reviews

    Score
    2 out of 5
    Volume
    10 reviews
    Worth knowing
    Small sample9

  • Source: BBB complaints

    Score
    BBB rating: A (not BBB-accredited)
    Volume
    21 complaints in 3 years; 6 in the last 12 months
    Worth knowing
    14 answered, 7 resolved; 12 product, 4 billing, 5 other3,5

The two sites collect different people. Trustpilot volume grows when a company sends review invites, and Oar does. The BBB is mainly a place to complain. Neither is a random sample of members.

Our read of the BBB complaints. The BBB showed the text of 10 of the 21 complaints. We read all 10, and every one involved a charge, an auto-renewal or a refused refund. Several people said they were billed again months or a year after they thought they had stopped. In one 2026 case, the customer confirmed a full refund, which came only after they had also filed with their bank.3 The complaints shown "might not represent all complaints filed."3

Oar's member stories page was last updated in April 2025.11 It ranks well for searches on Oar reviews, but Oar publishes it, so it is marketing, not a third-party review. First-person accounts of taking naltrexone, shared with the writer's permission, are collected on our naltrexone reviews page.

Is Oar Health legit?

Yes, in the sense that matters for a first check. It's an operating company with named physicians, clinicians licensed in each state it serves, named medical groups that deliver care, and a BBB file going back to 2022.1,4,5,10 Most of its 854 Trustpilot reviews are five-star.8

Complaints center on billing: prepaid three-month blocks, no refunds and automatic renewals.2,3 If you join, set a calendar reminder a week before each renewal.

Signing up takes a form, an ID check and a $50 fee

  1. You pay $50 and fill out an online assessment about your drinking, health and medicines.1
  2. You verify your identity with a photo of a government ID and a real-time selfie.1
  3. A clinician reviews your answers, usually within 24 hours, and may message you with questions. There is no video call.1
  4. If you're prescribed, your card is charged for the first three months. A partner pharmacy (Honeybee Health or Health Warehouse) ships the medication.1
  5. The plan renews every three months until you cancel. You can move your prescription to your own pharmacy, but that pharmacy may charge you separately.1

Oar prescribes a daily tablet and a compounded mint

Naltrexone is the drug Oar's clinicians prescribe most often.1 Naltrexone tablets are FDA-approved to treat alcohol dependence. The label's usual dose is 50 mg once a day, and the trials behind that approval used daily dosing for up to 12 weeks.12

Oar's homepage calls its daily pill "FDA-approved for over 30 years," but doesn't name the tablet's maker.6

Clutch is different. It's a mint-flavored tablet that dissolves under the tongue, "designed specifically for targeted naltrexone use." You take one at least 30 minutes before your first drink, and no more than two a day.13 Three things to know:

  • It's compounded, not FDA-approved. Oar's homepage and Clutch guide both say so.6,13 The FDA doesn't approve compounded drugs or check their safety, effectiveness or quality before they're sold.14 FDA's approval database lists naltrexone as regular tablets, the monthly injection and combination products, with no dissolving or under-the-tongue form.15
  • It's built for as-needed dosing, which is off-label. The FDA label doses naltrexone daily. Taking it only before drinking, as in the Sinclair Method, is a different use.12,13
  • Some benefits are Oar's claims, not tested facts. The guide says Clutch "may reduce nauseau [sic] and stomach upset" because it skips digestion.13 No FDA review backs that up, because compounded drugs don't get one.14 The guide also doesn't give Clutch's strength in milligrams.

Side effects and who can't take it

Oar's clinicians decide whether naltrexone is safe for you. The FDA label is the best source on what to expect:

  • Common side effects. In a safety study of about 570 people with alcoholism, the most frequent new problems were nausea (10%), headache (7%), dizziness (4%), nervousness (4%), fatigue (4%), trouble sleeping (3%), vomiting (3%), anxiety (2%) and sleepiness (2%).12
  • Opioids. You can't take naltrexone if you use opioid pain medicine, depend on opioids (including methadone or buprenorphine), are in opioid withdrawal, or have a positive opioid urine test. In someone dependent on opioids, it can set off sudden withdrawal.12
  • Liver. The label warns of hepatitis and liver problems, and says to stop the drug if signs of acute hepatitis appear.12 Oar's FAQ doesn't say whether it orders liver blood tests, so ask your clinician.
  • After stopping. People may become more sensitive to opioids after naltrexone, and fatal overdoses have been reported after people stopped treatment.12
  • Mood. Depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts were reported in all treatment groups in alcohol studies, including placebo.12

The full list, with how often each one occurs, is on our naltrexone side effects page.

Oar's service doesn't replace your primary care doctor, and Oar asks you to keep that doctor informed.1 Because it's private-pay, Oar won't share your records with your doctor, insurer, pharmacy or employer.7 That's good for privacy, but telling your other doctors is up to you.

Pros and cons

What Oar does well

  • One posted price covers the clinician, the medication, shipping and coaching.1
  • No appointments. Everything happens by form and message, and coaches reply within 24 hours.1
  • Cutting back counts as a goal. Oar says most of its members join to cut back.1
  • A weekly SMART Recovery meeting, led by a licensed mental health professional, is included.1
  • You can move your prescription to another pharmacy.1

Where it falls short

  • You pay three months up front, and a cycle can't be cancelled once it starts.2
  • No insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.2
  • Not offered in Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia or Washington, DC.1
  • No monthly naltrexone shot.7
  • No video visit, which some people want before starting a new drug.1
  • Disputes go to individual arbitration in New York.4

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Oar fits an adult in one of its 42 states who wants naltrexone without booking appointments, plans to pay cash, and is fine committing three months at a time. Its members mostly aim to drink less rather than quit.1

Look elsewhere if you:

  • take any opioid, including methadone or buprenorphine, since naltrexone is contraindicated12
  • want insurance to cover care (see Ria or Workit below)16,17
  • want the monthly injection7
  • want only FDA-approved products, and may be offered Clutch6,14
  • are in a medical emergency. Oar's FAQ says to call 911.1

Five alternatives to Oar

How six ways to get naltrexone for alcohol compare, from each option's own pages (prices as posted October 17, 2026).

  • Option: Oar Health

    Built around
    A prescription by message, with no appointments; 3-month commitment
    Medication
    Naltrexone daily tablet; Clutch mint is compounded1,6
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    $50 assessment, then $297 every 3 months1
    Insurance
    No1
    Where
    42 states1

  • Option: Reframe

    Built around
    A daily app program and community; Med+ is an add-on that its FAQ says isn't meant to diagnose or treat alcohol use disorder18
    Medication
    Med+: compounded naltrexone + vitamin B618
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    App: Apple lists $13.99/mo to $119.99/yr19; Med+: not posted18
    Insurance
    App: no20; Med+: not stated
    Where
    Med+: 50 states + DC18

  • Option: Sunnyside

    Built around
    A daily drink plan by text; Sunnyside Med is an add-on that its Med page says is not designed to treat alcohol use disorder21
    Medication
    Sunnyside Med: compounded naltrexone + vitamin B621
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    App: from $8.25/mo22; Med: $99/month, billed every 3 months, plus a $50 intake fee named only in a co-founder's Trustpilot reply (Sep 23, 2026); first charge $347 (our math)21,23
    Insurance
    No; cash price21
    Where
    Med: 50 states + DC21

  • Option: Ria Health

    Built around
    Insurance, a weekly coach and several drug options
    Medication
    Naltrexone, acamprosate, and three off-label options for alcohol (topiramate, baclofen, gabapentin)16
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    Not posted; insured members still owe copays and deductibles, charged to their card24,25
    Insurance
    In network with several large insurers26
    Where
    Check by state27

  • Option: Workit Health

    Built around
    Insurance, with your own pharmacy
    Medication
    Naltrexone or acamprosate, sent to your pharmacy28
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    $25–$35/month with most insurance; self-pay $250 first month, then $150/month; medication billed separately17
    Insurance
    Yes17
    Where
    14 states29

  • Option: Your own doctor + generic

    Built around
    A clinician you already see
    Medication
    FDA-approved generic tablets
    Price (as posted Oct 17, 2026)
    Visit cost varies; medicine billed through a pharmacy
    Insurance
    Depends on your plan
    Where
    Anywhere

Our Reframe review covers that app in full, and the naltrexone cost guide covers program, Vivitrol and insurance costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is Oar Health legit?

Yes. It's a Brooklyn company, incorporated in 2020, whose licensed clinicians prescribe naltrexone; most complaints concern billing and renewals. See Is Oar Health legit?1,3,5

How much does Oar Health cost?

$50 for the assessment, then $297 every three months if prescribed, or $1,238 for a year (our math). See costs.1

Does Oar Health take insurance?

No, not insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, though many HSA and FSA plans work.1,2

Can I get a refund from Oar Health?

Usually not. The assessment fee and memberships are non-refundable, apart from errors such as double charges.1,2

How do I cancel Oar Health?

Log in, go to your profile, and choose "Cancel subscription" before your next three-month cycle starts. A cycle that has already begun can't be cancelled.2

Is Oar's Clutch mint FDA-approved?

No. Clutch is compounded, and it's designed for taking before drinking, which is not how the FDA label doses naltrexone. See the medication.6,12,13

Do I need a video visit with Oar?

No. You complete an online assessment and talk with your clinician by message.1

What are the side effects of Oar Health's naltrexone?

The most common are nausea, headache, dizziness, nervousness and tiredness, and the label also warns about liver injury and overdose risk after stopping. See side effects.12

How we checked

  • Read on October 17, 2026: Oar's homepage, FAQ, subscription terms, terms of use, clinician page and Clutch pages, plus its Trustpilot and BBB pages. We didn't sign up, pay or talk to Oar.
  • BBB complaints: we read the 10 of 21 complaint texts BBB displays and flagged those about billing.
  • States: Oar's list was compared with all 50 states and DC.
  • Not used: Oar's member-survey figures, such as "69%" who drink less, which no outside party has checked.6

Related guides

References

29 sources, numbered in the order they are first cited (AMA style). Each is labelled by type so you can weigh it; commercial and media sources are never the only support for a clinical claim.

  1. 1.Frequently asked questions. Oar Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/faqCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  2. 2.Automatically renewing subscription terms. Oar Health. Updated October 5, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/subscription-termsCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  3. 3.Oar Health, Inc. complaints. Better Business Bureau. Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/telemedicine/oar-health-inc-0121-87158257/complaintsNonprofit organization · Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date.
  4. 4.Terms and conditions of use. Oar Health. Updated August 1, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/terms-and-conditionsCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  5. 5.Oar Health, Inc. business profile. Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York. Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/telemedicine/oar-health-inc-0121-87158257Nonprofit organization · Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date.
  6. 6.A daily pill to drink less or quit. Oar Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  7. 7.Landau I. Safely & confidentially get an naltrexone online prescription. Oar Health. Published February 16, 2022. Updated April 28, 2026. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/medication/naltrexone-online-prescriptionCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  8. 8.Oarhealth reviews. Trustpilot. Third-party review aggregate; figures as displayed on the access date. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/oarhealth.comCommercial source · Third-party review site; individual reviews are unverified.
  9. 9.Oar Health, Inc. customer reviews. Better Business Bureau. Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/telemedicine/oar-health-inc-0121-87158257/customer-reviewsNonprofit organization · Third-party listing; figures as displayed on the access date.
  10. 10.Our clinicians. Oar Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/our-cliniciansCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  11. 11.Kopp D. Oar Health reviews: alcohol moderation success stories. Oar Health. Published October 25, 2023. Updated April 9, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/recovery-stories/oar-health-member-reviews-alcohol-moderationCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  12. 12.Naltrexone hydrochloride tablets USP, 50 mg. Prescribing information. SpecGx LLC; revised May 2026. DailyMed SPL version 15. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=06ff2d5a-e62b-4fa4-bbdb-01938535bc65FDA drug label
  13. 13.Dion K. How to start Clutch: the fast-acting naltrexone mint. Oar Health. Published September 17, 2025. Updated May 7, 2026. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/medication/how-to-start-clutch-tm-the-fast-acting-naltrexone-mintCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  14. 14.Compounding and the FDA: questions and answers. US Food and Drug Administration. Content current as of September 16, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answersGovernment source
  15. 15.Drugs@FDA: products with active ingredient naltrexone (openFDA drugsfda endpoint query). US Food and Drug Administration. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://api.fda.gov/drug/drugsfda.json?search=products.active_ingredients.name:%22NALTREXONE%22&limit=50Government source
  16. 16.Frequently asked questions. Ria Health, Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://riahealth.com/faq/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  17. 17.Insurance and pricing. Workit Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.workithealth.com/insurance/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  18. 18.Reframe Med+. Glucobit Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.joinreframemed.com/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  19. 19.Reframe: Drink Less & Thrive. App Store (US) listing and iTunes Search API lookup (id 1485756576). Apple Inc. Third-party rating aggregate; figures as displayed on the access date. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reframe-drink-less-thrive/id1485756576Commercial source · Third-party app-store listing; figures as displayed on the access date.
  20. 20.FAQ. Reframe. Glucobit Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.joinreframeapp.com/faqCommercial source · Provider's own page.
  21. 21.Sunnyside Med: homepage and FAQ. Cutback Coach, Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.joinsunnysidemed.com/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  22. 22.Sunnyside: alcohol habit change app. Sunnyside. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.sunnyside.co/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  23. 23.Sunnyside - Naltrexone & App to Drink Less or Quit: 1-star reviews and company replies. Trustpilot. Individual user reviews (unverified claims) and company responses. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/sunnyside.co?stars=1Commercial source · Third-party review site; individual reviews are unverified.
  24. 24.Get access to online alcohol treatment (landing page; riahealth.com/optum/ redirects here). Ria Health, Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://riahealth.com/lp/get-access/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  25. 25.Ria Health terms of use. Ria Technology Management Inc. Latest revision October 24, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://riahealth.com/terms/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  26. 26.Insurance coverage for alcohol treatment. Ria Health, Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://riahealth.com/insurance/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  27. 27.Locations. Ria Health, Inc. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://riahealth.com/location/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  28. 28.Alcohol addiction treatment. Workit Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.workithealth.com/alcohol-treatment/Commercial source · Provider's own page.
  29. 29.Locations. Workit Health. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.workithealth.com/locations/Commercial source · Provider's own page.

Medical disclaimer

This page is for information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Don't start, stop, or change any medicine — including naltrexone — without your prescriber. Naltrexone must not be used by people taking opioid pain medicines, people dependent on opioids, or people in opioid withdrawal (FDA label). In an emergency call 911; for crisis support call or text 988. Full medical disclaimer.