Naltrexone for alcohol addiction Unlike its effect on opioid addicts, naltrexone does not block alcohol processing in the body. Naltrexone reduces cravings for alcohol. Exact mechanisms are still unknown, but clinical trials show the success of Naltrexone in this field. Like in opioid treatment, a patient has to be detoxified before treated with Naltrexone and Disulfram (a drug that does block processing of alcohol in the body). Even in the early stages of alcoholism an alcoholic experiences some withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, insomnia) which are quite severe in the case of long-term dependence (muscle spasms, shakings, sweating, panic attacks, delirium tremens hallucinations). That is why we urge our patients to allow our experienced doctors to do the alcohol detox at our clinic where it can be performed safely and painlessly.