Naltrexone to drink less
A real medicine, with real trials.
A real medicine, with real trials.
Oar Health prescribes naltrexone online and advertises it as a way to “freeze your alcohol cravings”, with 73% of members drinking less within two weeks. Short answer: naltrexone is one of the best-tested medicines for alcohol use disorder — pooled placebo-controlled trials found fewer people returned to heavy drinking. The 73% is Oar’s own number, not a trial result. It is a prescription medicine, so a clinician has to check it is safe for you; Oar’s own page warns it must not be taken by anyone using opioids.
Each claim (middle), the studies that tested it (left) — green found it, red found nothing — and the grade they add up to (right). Drawn from the same records as the grades below. Tap to open full size.
Naltrexone for drinking less (Oar) · evidence checked 2026-10-27
Grades are calculated from the studies listed, by fixed rules.
Pooled placebo-controlled trials of 12 weeks or more found fewer people returned to heavy drinking on naltrexone; about 11 people need treating for one to benefit. Nausea and vomiting were more common. The review supports it alongside counselling, not instead of it.
“Freeze your alcohol cravings / 50,000+ Treated / 73% Drink Less In 2 Weeks”
Oar Health · Facebook ad, seen Oct 2026
The 73% is Oar’s own figure about its members, not a trial with a comparison group, and the trials above ran 12 weeks or more. Oar’s own page says naltrexone must not be taken by anyone using opioids, and that its under-the-tongue “Clutch” mint is a compounded medication not reviewed by the FDA.