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Naltrexone Pill
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids and reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids.
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids and reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids. Used for Opioid use disorder, Alcohol use disorder.
At a glance
| Generic name | Naltrexone Pill |
|---|---|
| Also known as | naltrexone IM 380mg, Naltrexone, low dose naltrexone, Oral naltrexone, LDN |
| Sponsor | Albert Einstein Healthcare Network |
| Drug class | Opioid receptor antagonist |
| Target | Opioid receptors (mu, delta, kappa) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Naltrexone competitively binds to opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa) in the central nervous system, preventing opioid agonists from activating these receptors. This mechanism reduces the rewarding effects of opioids and alcohol, thereby decreasing cravings and supporting abstinence. It is used in addiction medicine to support recovery from opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.
Approved indications
- Opioid use disorder
- Alcohol use disorder
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Abdominal pain
- Anxiety
Key clinical trials
- Pharmacological and Behavioral Treatment After Bariatric Surgery: Acute (Stage 1) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for Management of Fatigue in Prostate Cancer Patients on Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) (PHASE2)
- Rapid Antidepressant Improvement Secondary to Excitatory Brain Responses (PHASE4)
- Pharmacological and Behavioral Treatments After Bariatric Surgery: Maintenance Treatment (Stage 2a) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Targeted Naltrexone to Support Individuals Participating in Dry January (PHASE2)
- Study of Injectable Naltrexone and Oral Bupropion Among Cigarette Smokers With Schizophrenia (PHASE1)
- Metabolic and Behavioural Effects of CONTRAVE as Potential Mechanisms of Weight Loss in Adults With Obesity (PHASE4)
- Delivering Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation to Improve Relapse Prevention in Opioid Use Disorder (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Naltrexone Pill CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Naltrexone Pill updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Albert Einstein Healthcare Network portfolio CI