Naltrexone for Alcohol Use Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• jbi...
• March 2, 2015

Naltrexone "I took Vivitrol for the recommended year and have not had cravings, and remain alcohol-free (since 1-31-14). In some ways, I think it also helped me quit smoking. However, after 13 shots, I feel stiffer than I ever have, and I was wondering if anyone else shared this experience. Some days my shoulders are almost immovable. I didn't feel this way before the medicine, and I was wondering if there was a correlation. It is actually painful to get out of bed some days."

• Six...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 9, 2020

"I've been abusing alcohol since I was 16, but I became fully addicted when I was about 20. That's when I noticed the cravings and withdrawal (even with being prescribed clonazepam). I'm 28 now. I've been taking naltrexone since February of 2020, and I don't think I'd have been able to get sober from alcohol, or stay sober, without it. It dulls the cravings and allows me to think clearly through them. I feel a bit more like I did before alcohol changed my brain chemistry. Every time I have a craving, it feels like the feeling is being 'smothered' or 'cut off,' depending on how strong the craving is. The only negative side effect I've had is very mild and short (5-10 second) headaches that happen maybe two or three times a month, and have lessened the longer I've been on it. I barely notice them anymore. I am a strong supporter of this drug, but we'll have to see what the long-term (if any) effects are on the brain."

• A...
• December 27, 2015

"I'd been drinking and getting drunk for 25 years. I've driven drunk too many times to count. By God's grace, I never hurt myself or anyone else, or ever been pulled over by the cops. I recently lost what I think could have been the love of my life. My words were harmful when I got drunk. He had enough and won't accept another apology from me nor my many attempts to contact him. I had to do something. Naltrexone is changing my life! I can't wait to get used to not overdoing it. I can't wait to be in a relationship without cursing him out due to me overdoing it. Hopefully I can get back the love of my life one day but for now I'm working on myself. I'm a little bored and a little lonely but me being sober is worth it."

• Nal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2015

Naltrexone "After abusing alcohol for many years, I received the shot last week, and cravings are minimal and pass quickly. Having relapsed early in sobriety before, I feel that going to meetings and the shot will help prevent another."

• jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2016

"Amazing. Like anyone who's reading this page for help and guidance, I've been battling alcohol abuse forever. Even with a wife and child and a great job that I love, I just couldn't stop. After searching the web for ANY new solution, I found naltrexone, and more specifically, the Sinclair Method. I'm at the end of my first week taking it. I've had drinks four times this week. Took a pill an hour before drinking each time. I've had less to drink each time and tonight, I just POURED OUT two beers. Absolutely unheard of. It takes the gilded edge off drinking... the thing that makes us want more and more and more? GONE. I'd have given it ten stars, but it has made me feel a little woozy. Totally worth it though. GET IT NOW."

• Kaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2012

"I've been dealing with alcohol dependence for over 15 years. I have tried counseling numerous times on advice from previous doctors but always returned to drinking. Finally, I found a doctor who identified my patterns as worthy of medication. I've been on naltrexone for 3 weeks now and I feel like I have my brain back, my thoughts are healthy. I can go out to see bands with my mates and not feel like I want a drink. I have fun and enjoy a sober night. This medication is a blessing, and I would recommend it highly. Small side effect of constipation, but nothing a little extra fiber can't help with."

• PAC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2014

"I started taking naltrexone 4 days ago, 25mg initially. Also taking Cipramil for depression/anxiety. I have found with naltrexone I rarely think about drinking, and if I do, it is just a fleeting thought that passes. Whereas before, the thought would take hold, and that would be all I could think about until I got a drink. I haven't tried drinking on it and don't feel like I want to. I have had some side effects and not sure if this is because I'm taking Cipramil too, mainly feeling a bit spaced out. I took a full 50mg yesterday, after about an hour, couldn't keep my eyes open. Today I'll try taking it at night. So glad I'm on this medicine though, it's helping with some obsessive-compulsive disorder traits I have."

• mid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2017

"I started taking a daily dose 3 days ago. I poured myself a drink today as an 'experiment' and noticed right away that the smell of the alcohol seemed different and was a real turn-off. I nursed the drink for almost an hour, which is almost unheard of for me (I'm a chugger). I finished the drink more out of obligation to the experiment than anything, and I never got the usual 'buzz' I'd get. Now I have a slight headache, and I'm a bit tired. Honestly, if any future drinking feels like this, then I can definitely see how this will curb my drinking as there is no reward anymore. And I've been trying to gain control of this for 10+ years: therapy, counseling, rehab, AA, etc."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2017

"It's day 4 for me on naltrexone. The first day I took 25 mg, and it made me a little sedated. I went to dinner, couldn't finish my wine, and had a glass later knowing cold turkey is a bad idea. I was a 1 to 1.5 bottle of wine drinker daily. The next night, I took 12.5 mg, had maybe 6 oz of wine, the next night 2 Corona lights, and the next night one beer. No cravings at all, no shaking. I had some irritability, but I think that's to be expected. This drug has made it easy to wean off alcohol. Alcoholism killed my father and ruined my marriage. Both of us drank. No bueno. I am very vocal with family about my desire to quit. I tried a few times before, and naltrexone is a godsend. Good luck, all!"

• dru...
• February 2, 2014

"Naltrexone is awesome! I have been through hospitalizations, AA, and rehab. Naltrexone took away 90% of my urges/cravings for alcohol. My doctor also put me on Campral, and now I am 100% free of urges/cravings. The only thing I don't like is that I can't ejaculate during sex. My doctor said that will go away. Your insurance will cover these meds as long as your doctor puts in a pre-authorization. I got control of my life back because of these medicines."

• Art...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2017

"My husband used to drink daily, approximately 9-15 standard full-strength beers and binge drink anywhere from 1-4 times in a fortnight, adding in rum and whiskey. He couldn't go one day without a drink. He has been on the pill form of naltrexone for 15 days now. He has drank on 3 separate occasions in this time (1 beer then stopped drinking). He has gone this far without counseling, no 12 steps, etc., as his counseling appointment is not for another week. I think this med is a Godsend for alcoholism, if someone wants to stop drinking, then give it a go. He said it has helped him realize how much he would be thinking of alcohol, and now his mind is clearer each day without the constant burden of alcoholism weighing him down. He is more easygoing to be around now."

• Pau...
• January 16, 2016

"I spent 2 years in and out of AA. It was miserable. I was not an 'AA person' at all. In fact, AA meetings made me want to drink. My doctor put me on Naltrexone. It worked immediately. It actually worked too well. I no longer craved or thought about alcohol, but I also didn't like the taste of food. I lost interest in sex. I lost interest in being physically active. I was spaced out constantly. It was not living at all. So I went off of Naltrexone and resumed drinking. When I was ready to try giving up alcohol again, I went back to Naltrexone but only took half a pill a day. This made a huge difference. I still feel as though I don't enjoy many things like before. But I don't have the option to drown myself in booze."

• Wes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2020

"I got prescribed 50 mg once a day. First day, I took 25 mg (I'm tiny and didn't want to try the full dose right away). I took it at 5 pm in case it made me sleepy. Well, it did the opposite: wide awake all night, cold sweats, anxiety, did not sleep a minute. Waited a day then tried again in the morning with 25 mg, and it was great. I fell asleep fine, no side effects, no cravings. I have only had one beer in a week. I normally binge drink two times a week to the point of passing out. I'm going to up my dose to 50 mg in a few days to see how I respond to it."

• Cjh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 2, 2024

Naltrexone "I’m 52 and a severe alcoholic/addict. Drank at least 24 beers or close to a liter of vodka a day. My physical and mental health were really bad. After seven days inpatient, I started receiving Vivitrol by injection every four weeks. I’ve been sober for 16 months. My cravings are limited to seconds. This drug is saving my life!"

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2017

"A miracle cure it is... 20 years of alcohol dependency. In the last 10 years, a bottle of wine every night, 7 days a week, sometimes closer to 2 bottles. Day 1 of naltrexone (25 mg), mild side effects, tried my wine, had 1/2 glass, tasted great as always, just no desire to drink it. Day 2, 25 mg - less side effects, 1/2 glass of wine with no interest in more. Early days, but it's as if a switch has been turned to the OFF position in my head. It's nothing to do with willpower, I'm not trying not to drink, but my brain appears to be just not telling me to drink! For those that understand the science behind this medication, this will make sense."

• Dou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2020

"I was prescribed naltrexone while in a Malibu rehab, and 2 years later, I believe this medication has changed my life and saved my life. I have recommended this to several friends and coworkers after speaking with their doctors. They all have had positive life-changing experiences. Cravings are gone, and we all have our lives back."

• Ma ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2019

"Been on 50 mg naltrexone (Nal) for 21 weeks for my excessive alcohol use. I was drinking 45+ drinks/week when I found the Sinclair Method. My liver panel was elevated. My drinking decreased by 10 drinks/week when I started Nal. The past 2 weeks, I had a dramatic drop in my drinking. 20 drinks during week 19, 17 (!!) drinks during week 20. Moderate drinking levels for an American woman are 14 drinks/week. I NEVER could have done this alone. I still have weeks where I spike and days I binge. It’s happening less and less. I do have cravings and I still drink between 5-6 days/week. But I think over 50% reduction in 5 months with virtually no effort on my part-that’s amazing. Medication has been cheap. $26 per 30 pills. I use a telemedicine doc who only does the Sinclair Method and Nal. They don’t take insurance to ensure your privacy. My latest liver panel showed a perfectly functioning liver! No side effects. By using Nal, alcoholics can avoid withdrawal and slowly reduce their drinking as the body and brain adjust."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2019

"I've switched from one addiction to another, to another, for years. My current and long-standing vice is alcohol. It's been about ten years of heavy drinking. I finally calmed down on hard liquor in January '18, but it's become a usual routine to drink 10 - 12 beers every night for a while now. I love to drink, but I am tired of it. I heard about naltrexone for alcohol problems yesterday at my psychiatrist appointment and decided to move forward with it. Fifteen minutes after taking it, my cravings were dissipating. I'm ecstatic! I had three beers last night, and I was good. I didn't want or need any more. Same thing today. Naltrexone helps kill that instant pleasure I get from drinking that was eventually sending me into blackout nights. I can finally just stop, and it's so much easier than doing it on my own like I've been trying to for years. So happy to have finally tried something. I'm excited to see where this leads."

• Nic...
• March 1, 2020

Naltrexone "I'm 25 years old, about to be 26. I have struggled with heroin addiction and alcoholism, and right now I'm on parole in the state of New Jersey. I keep trying to find every way possible to get over and get high or drunk any way possible and pass my drug test. I just want everyone to know that I am an absolute idiot, and it sucks because sometimes I feel like there's no other escape for me, and I just want to drink or do drugs, but I definitely can't get away with doing drugs. Anyway, I figured let me take the Vivitrol shot, and maybe I can still drink on it. If you're wondering what it is like to drink on Vivitrol, just saying my body feels drunk, but my mind is absolutely miserable, and I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like someone stuck a needle full of meth in my neck, and it's so hard to get back to sleep - very poor choice of mine."

• Got...
• February 25, 2019

"I was in AA for 12 years, treatment 3x, I meditated, prayed until my knees were black and blue, but nothing stopped me from relapsing. I had the best intentions, did everything each program suggested, worked the steps, went to meetings (regularly), had a sponsor, did service work, prayed, meditated nightly. I have nothing but respect for AA and all of these treatments, but none of them kept me from relapsing. Then I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed Naltrexone. I had zero faith it would work. I got the script filled (50mg), went home, took it, felt nothing, went to bed. I kept taking it daily, nothing for the first week, but then it occurred to me that I had thought about drinking much less than normal. By 2 weeks I hardly thought of it at all, and now after 2 months, I have my life back. Naltrexone did for me in 2 months what other methods couldn't do in 12 years: removed the obsession. If you're having trouble with repeated relapses, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about Naltrexone."

• San...
• October 8, 2019

Naltrexone "1st shot of Vivitrol on 9.9.19 & I immediately tried to test it but didn’t go hardcore. I did feel motivated to clean and care about responsibilities more than usual. Within a few days, I was drinking heavy again & it was BAD. I suggest taking Antabuse before you even leave the office & keep taking it for at least a week so drinking is not an option. On 9.23.19, I met with my therapist and our talk helped, but I still wanted to drink. Today, 10.07.19, I had my second shot. I was determined to not drink for a week to see the results and somehow ended up at an AA meeting on a whim. There I met a woman that talked to me for 3 hrs after the meeting where she called me out on my BS in a way only another alcoholic can. My recommendation: Vivitrol shot, Antabuse at first, a therapist you trust and respect (good luck, it’s a challenge), & AA meetings. Vivitrol is not a miracle. It is one ingredient in a recipe. Alone, it’s like eating plain flour and expecting it to taste like cookies and cake."

• Liz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 20, 2019

"I started on the Sinclair method using naltrexone for my alcohol issues a year ago. My result is I have now been easily alcohol-free for 4 months, and it is not a hard process. I actually feel free from thoughts about alcohol. There is no reward from drinking. I had virtually no side effects. This drug naltrexone saved my life, literally."

• Dma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2019

"I have been drinking for 25 years, and in the last 7 years, my drinking has become horrible. Hangovers are unbearable, along with nightmares and a racing heartbeat that causes bad anxiety and all kinds of other issues. So I discovered naltrexone. I'm on 50 mg once a day, have just had my second pill today. It's truly amazing, it works! I'm just wondering what the catch is? So far, I've experienced very mild stomach pains and insomnia. I've also lost interest in sex, not completely, but the most strong side effect would be drowsiness. But I don't care, it's a price I'm willing to pay. I highly recommend it if you want a good shot at stopping drinking, then take this pill!"

• pur...
• April 23, 2008

"I started using this for alcohol dependence. After a month, I asked for my dose to be increased, as I usually have to have a higher dose of anything that I take. After having the dose increased, I have been without cravings. I love naltrexone and have been sober for four months now."

• Jus...
• March 13, 2017

"I am a serious alcoholic. I blew numbers as high as .49 in detox. I had 4 seizures in 3 days the last time I tried to cut back. I'm a woman and not a big one, I wear a size 4-6 and can easily drink most 280 lb men under the table. My life is in shambles, and 12-step has not done the job. I've had 3 1/2 years twice. Meetings 9 and 10 a week, fellowship, sponsors, and sponsorship have been great and have made me a better person, but haven't kept me sober. At this point, total abstinence is something I've tried and tried but haven't been able to do. I had lost all hope when Naltrexone and the Sinclair Method was mentioned. Today, I took the Naltrexone before drinking. I was able to stop after 6 drinks and had no further cravings. HOPE at last!"