The naltrexone 50 mg tablet is the standard dose for treating alcohol use disorder. It is taken once a day, with or without food. This single daily tablet blocks the reward from alcohol for about 24 hours, which is why one pill a day is enough. It is the same strength used in the clinical studies that show naltrexone reduces heavy drinking.
What is the naltrexone 50 mg tablet?
The 50 mg tablet is the everyday form of naltrexone used for both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. It contains 50 mg of naltrexone hydrochloride, the active medicine. You can get it as a low-cost generic or under the brand name ReVia. The tablets are usually round and often yellow, and most are scored down the middle, which means they have a line so you can break one in half if your provider asks you to.
Why is 50 mg the standard dose?
Fifty milligrams is the dose that research settled on because it fully blocks the opioid receptors that alcohol acts on, and it keeps them blocked for about a day. That means one tablet gives round-the-clock coverage with a single daily dose. Lower amounts may not block the reward completely, and higher amounts usually do not add much benefit for most people.
How to take the 50 mg tablet
Take one 50 mg tablet once a day, at whatever time you can keep consistent. You can take it with or without food, though taking it with food can ease nausea in the first days. Swallow it with water. Your provider will tell you which schedule fits your goal.
Every day
One 50 mg tablet daily, at a time you can keep consistent. Take it with or without food, though food can ease early nausea.
DailyThe Sinclair Method
The same 50 mg tablet about one hour before you drink, on drinking days only, to cut back over time.
Before drinkingCan you split a naltrexone 50 mg tablet?
Yes. Because most 50 mg tablets are scored, they can be split into two 25 mg halves. Providers often suggest starting at 25 mg, which is half a tablet, for the first few days to reduce early nausea, then moving up to the full 50 mg.
50 mg vs. other naltrexone doses
The 50 mg tablet is the standard for alcohol use disorder, but naltrexone comes in a few other amounts for different needs.
| Dose | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| 25 mg (half tablet) | A gentle starting dose for the first few days |
| 50 mg (one tablet) | The standard daily dose for alcohol use disorder |
| 100 mg (two tablets) | A higher dose used in some cases |
| 1.5 to 4.5 mg (low-dose naltrexone) | A different, off-label use for pain and autoimmune conditions, not alcohol |
For more, see our naltrexone for alcohol guide, the full naltrexone dosage guide, side effects, and what to avoid.
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Daniel R. Karlin, MD, MA
Board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist. Author of 21+ peer-reviewed publications (1,355 citations) including recent work in JAMA (2025) and the British Journal of Psychiatry (2023).
- Sources. American Academy of Family Physicians. Alcohol Use Disorder: Medication Options. American Family Physician, 2024 (naltrexone 50 mg orally per day, may start at 25 mg).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prescribing information for naltrexone (ReVia) 50 mg tablets.
- Singh D, Saadabadi A. Naltrexone. StatPearls. National Library of Medicine.
This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Naltrexone is a prescription medication. Talk with a licensed provider about the right dose for you.
