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A new mint is reported to be the first designed to stop alcohol cravings and reduce binge drinking, the New York Post reports.
Clutch, from Oar Health, is reported to be a special formulation of naltrexone, a prescription-only medication, designed to combat alcohol and opioid abuse. The mint can be taken once a day and is reported to work quickly, dissolving on the tongue in less than a minute and bypassing digestion to, instead, be absorbed directly into the bloodstream, providing support within seconds.
Oar Health believes the dissolving process will give patients fewer side effects than other forms of naltrexone, which typically result in nausea and upset stomach.
“While the classic formulation is a great option, we’ve learned that some [people] need a discreet option they can use in the moments when alcohol use is most difficult to avoid or control,” Oar Health founder and CEO Jonathan Hunt-Glassman told the New York Post. “Clutch… meets those needs, empowering them to take back control over alcohol.”
Hunt-Glassman added that Clutch doesn't require strict alcohol abstinence and can be take prior to high-risk situations, which makes it more accessible than some alternatives.
“Medical professionals… may prescribe Clutch for daily use or targeted use, taking the medication before a drinking occasion or before entering a high-risk situation,” he added. “Although daily use is the best studied approach, evidence is accumulating that targeted use can also be effective, perhaps especially for binge drinkers.”