People whose lives have been ruined by alcoholism and drinking problems welcome a drug called “Ozempic for sobriety.”
The drug, called naltrexone, costs just £2 to £3 a pill and helps block chemical signals in the brain that lead to the development of addiction.
This gave rise to the nickname “Ozempic for drinking”. The active ingredient in the fat-busting jab, semaglutide, also sold as Wigovy, works through chemical changes in the brain, helping to redefine your relationship with food.
Forums and social media websites like TikTok are filled with people who have taken naltrexone, sharing success stories about how it redefined their relationship with alcohol.
One of them, Katie Lane, is now helping others with drinking problems use drugs to improve their health through her program, Thrive Alcohol Recovery.
The drug, called naltrexone, costs just £2 to £3 a pill and helps block chemical signals in the brain that lead to the development of addiction. stock images
But Lane insists it’s not as simple as just taking a drug and making your alcohol craving go away.
She instead advocates a treatment called the Sinclair method.
This uses naltrexone in a targeted manner, reducing drinking over time by taking the drug about an hour before drinking.
By doing this, your brain doesn’t “learn” the connection between alcohol and the production of the feel-good chemicals that cause addiction in the first place.
Lane likened the process to weight-loss therapy, saying it took about nine months to a year to take full effect, but cited studies showing success in four out of five patients.
Lane said that before she tried naltrexone herself, she had a 10-year drinking problem that often made her feel ashamed, hopeless and full of regret.
She said what started as social drinking spiraled into daily binge drinking and “dangerous behavior”.
However, in a TikTok video, she detailed the changes alcohol has brought to her relationship with alcohol.
“After taking the drug naltrexone, I regained control of my alcohol, started trusting myself again, and started enjoying drinking,” she said.
“If I said, ‘I was going to have two drinks,’ I would stick to two, but before the Sinclair Method and naltrexone, I would almost always drink too much and binge and pass out.”
Others with long-standing problems with alcohol have reported similar success stories.
On Reddit, a user named “JimmyLongn Wider” described himself as “a guy who drank 4-5 beers a day for decades” before trying the drug.
“Within a week of starting naltrexone, I immediately lost almost all interest in beer,” he wrote.
“I drink a lot of beer, and I probably just feel the same thing that a non-drinker would feel: lightheaded, a little dizzy, but no excitement at all.”
“Now I just have to figure out how to make up for the time I used to spend drinking and eating vegetables after drinking. It’s really a wonderful medicine.”
Another user named “Just_Tachie” described a similar experience.
The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. This equates to 14 single shots of spirits, 6 pints of beer, and one and a half bottles of wine.
Katie Lane said she had had a drinking problem for 10 years and often felt ashamed, hopeless and full of regret.
“I blacked out from alcohol once or twice a week. I was so destructive, violent and unpredictable that at times, I’m so embarrassed to say it, I stopped driving.”
“I’ve been taking naltrexone since May, and I lost consciousness once when I started treatment.
“I still drink, but I just know when to stop. I’m always conscious and never destructive or violent.
“I’m in control. Naltrexone turned the tables and the cards are now in my hands.”
Plus, “My daughters feel safe with me and now tell me they love me more.” My husband doesn’t suffer from my drunken violence or disorder. ”
Naltrexone has been hailed as a wonder drug for recovering alcoholics and problem drinkers, but like any drug, it can have side effects.
Most seriously, it can cause not only hallucinations but also depression and even suicidal thoughts. However, it is rare and only occurs in about 1 in 100 patients who take this drug.
She said what started as social drinking spiraled into daily binge drinking and “dangerous behavior”. But she said taking naltrexone changed her relationship with alcohol.
By far the most commonly reported side effects, affecting one in 10 people, are problems such as headaches, nausea, and decreased sex drive.
Another important factor when taking naltrexone is that it does not block the intoxicating effects that alcohol has on the body.
This means that a person can become intoxicated while taking it and must be careful to avoid activities such as drinking and driving.
Experts also say people considering taking naltrexone are also considering why they drink in the first place as part of their recovery.
Although effective, if people are using alcohol as a crutch for stress or mental health issues, the drug won’t directly solve it and will need to be addressed in other ways.
NHS-backed data shows around 17,000 naltrexone scripts for use in drug addiction were issued last year, costing around £2.15 each.
Alcoholism is one of the biggest causes of preventable disease in Western societies, with alcohol-related harm costing the NHS an estimated £3.5 billion a year in the UK alone.
Regular alcohol consumption has been linked to several cancers, liver failure, blood pressure, and mental health conditions such as depression.
The Office for National Statistics reported that there were just over 10,000 alcohol-related deaths in the UK in 2022.
In the United States, excessive alcohol consumption is the leading cause of preventable death among adults, accounting for 95,000 deaths, or 1 in 10 adults.
NHS advice advises that men and women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis.
Do you drink too much alcohol? 10 questions that reveal your risk
One screening tool widely used by medical professionals is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test). This 10-question test, developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization, is considered the gold standard in helping determine whether someone has an alcohol abuse problem.
This test is reproduced here with permission from WHO.
To complete, answer each question and note the corresponding score.
Your score:
0-7: You are within a reasonable drinking range and your risk of developing alcohol-related problems is low.
8 or more: Indicates harmful or dangerous drinking.
8-15: Moderate risk. If you drink at your current levels, you risk problems with your health, work, relationships, and other areas of your life. Consider cutting back (see below for tips).
16-19: Increased risk of complications from alcohol. At this level, it may be difficult to reduce your diet on your own as you may be dependent, so you may need professional help from your GP or counselor.
Over 20 years old: Possible dependence. Your drinking is already causing you problems, and it’s very likely that you’re addicted. You should consider gradually quitting or at least reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. You should seek professional help to determine your level of dependence and the safest way to withdraw from alcohol.
Severe cases of addiction may require medically assisted withdrawal or detoxification in a hospital or specialized clinic. This is because severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms may occur within the first 48 hours and require professional treatment.
