Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Ali...
• January 5, 2016

"I'm a 23-year-old heroin addict. I started on oxycodone, went to heroin/crack, to methadone/suboxone for about 4-5 years. Even on methadone, I was still using on top of it every day, I would barely get a buzz, but my cravings were that strong. Finally, after an overdose/suicide attempt, I was referred to an amazing ADHD/addiction doctor who prescribed Rivea (oral). I have almost a year and a half clean with only a 1-day relapse. I'm from Canada, and we don't have the shot. This was a game changer. Zero cravings, and there were no side effects for me. The downside is you have to have the willpower to take it every day (upside for places that have the shot, very jealous). Stops me from impulsive mistakes as it blocks for up to 72 hours. Blessed to have found this and grateful it worked for me."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 24, 2018

Naltrexone "I had to stop my injections because of bad skin reactions, pain at the injection site, hematoma at the injection site, hard lump (which is still there now) at the site. My doctor said I can’t do it anymore. I have to take Naltrexone pills. I’m worried that all I have to do to get high again is not take the pills again. One day at a time, I guess."

• On...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2020

"I've been on Vivitrol implant for 3 weeks. I now have severe anxiety, headaches, my brain feels scrambled, it's hard to explain. Sex drive is gone, not suicidal, but I have suicidal thoughts. I don't have a desire for opiates, probably won't get another implant at the end of 2 months. I feel worse than I did going through withdrawals. IDK, my brain's a mess."

• Lau...
• April 23, 2019

Naltrexone "While on the shot, I had extreme fatigue and couldn't orgasm. Those aren't horrible, except the orgasm part. It's getting off the shot that has given me constant headaches that nothing touches, extreme anxiety, and irritability. I feel crazy, my mental health is not right. This is not my first rodeo, I was sober for 15 months through AA before I relapsed and got on the shot after a treatment center. This is not normal for me, and the only thing that's different in my life is I was on the shot and now I'm not. I recommend it for someone struggling, being sober is better than dying from the disease. Though the way I have been feeling could have easily made me go change the bad way I feel if I didn't have the support I do."

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2015

"I just got my first shot yesterday after detoxing for 4 days. I have had no reaction to the shot so far besides not being able to sleep as great as I would have liked to last night. I have been struggling with my addiction to pain pills for many years now. Tired of Suboxone and stayed somewhat clean using here and there when I felt like it, I would sell my subs to get h. I’ve been to a detox center a few times, even detoxed myself at home, and this is coming from a person that has bad withdrawals like vomiting for 6 days straight. But for some reason, I would always go right back to it. So reading these comments makes me hopeful for my future, and I will let you know how things are after my second shot."

• Gus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2022

"The medication saved my life. I thank the doctor at my clinic for the rapid detox (6-hour procedure) and few days in the hospital recovering. I couldn't kick heroin, acute withdrawals always won. I got 21 days after another treatment center, went back, and sabotaged my girlfriend, who was ready to give up on life. I felt so stuck, like I couldn't do it again (between 15-20 at home and 2 other rehabs). My job canned me after the 2nd rehab, got real depressed, started sleeping 14 hours a day and going 6-7 days between showers. I just wanted to die because, like every kick, it takes a bit of your spirit, I had no more fight left. My girlfriend got us to a great rehab, it's pricey, but the dude is literally the best in the world when it comes to treating opiate dependence. Are you used to hearing 'addiction is a disease' or 'get a sponsor, work the steps'? This doc said it is BS, take naltrexone daily, and in 6 months, your brain is normal. 3 months still clean. Naltrexone is why, not me."

• Pab...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2019

Naltrexone "I've been on and off of naltrexone since 2011, and I have mixed feelings about medicated assistance. It has helped me stay clean for 30 months this time around, but I attend meetings and really want to stay clean. Vivitrol only acts as a buffer if I do get thoughts of getting high now. I plan on taking Vivitrol until my insurance will not cover it anymore. I have had precipitated withdrawal from it before many years ago when the obsession to get high was greater than my desire to stay sober. If you have any inkling of getting high, this drug is not for you. It was the worst form of detox there is."

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2022

Naltrexone "Getting the Vivitrol shot was the worst thing that could have happened to me. Before getting the Vivitrol shot, I was two years sober from opiates and thought I was ready to get off and stay off Suboxone. I was wrong. After getting the Vivitrol shot, I became severely depressed. The most depressed I’ve ever been in years, and as the month went on, it got worse. On top of that, it didn’t help whatsoever with my cravings. If anything, my cravings returned after being gone for two years. I hear Vivitrol helps a lot of people, but I’m one of those people it didn’t. The severe depression caused me to relapse after 2 years sober towards the end of the month once the shot wore off. Now I’m back to day one and getting back on Suboxone and going to rehab. Just know depression is one of the main side effects of Vivitrol. Be careful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2013

"I am now 20 years old and have struggled to kick my heroin addiction for the past 6 years. After four treatment centers and a ton of detoxes, my doctor finally told me about naltrexone. I found a doctor right away and started getting my injections! I am now almost 6 months sober and recently found out I was pregnant. So now I face the question of continuing my injection or stopping because of the complications it could have on my pregnancy. Although there are no studies or information about it hurting my baby, they also don't have any idea."

• Bel...
• February 19, 2020

Naltrexone "I have been on Revia for a few months now, and it's the best thing I could do for myself. I have no cravings, but the main side effect for me is I'm never hungry. I've lost about 10 lbs in 2 months, I have absolutely no desire to eat. Another side effect is my sex drive went down, and I don't feel things sexually now, which is frustrating. But totally worth it to be staying sober."

• Dea...
• May 8, 2015

"I was on methadone for 4 years at 140 mg and tried twice to taper down and get off. But the withdrawal symptoms going down each time caused stress, anxiety, and I failed both times despite my true desire to have my life back. I went to the Colman Institute desperate for help to get off deathADONE! It ruined my life, I got fat, I was lazy, unmotivated, and it ruined my T count also. I checked in on the 23rd having taken my last dose of methadone on the 18th and used some H till 3:30 on the 22nd. In eight days I took urine that was totally clean of all methadone and H. Then they made a small incision and put in a naltrexone pellet. Today is May 9th and I'm doing great. All of a sudden my smells come back, my taste, all my senses!"

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2011

"I use naltrexone 50 mg/day for amphetamine dependence. I am 120 days abstinent of amphetamines after taking naltrexone. I am noticeably less impulsive and no longer feel dominated by an out-of-control libido. Naltrexone has offered me new breath and a chance to be and feel like myself as though I had never taken amphetamines. I have abused amphetamines for many years, and I can confidently say that naltrexone continues to show great promise."

• Rsg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2016

"You cannot avoid opiates without Naltrexone. Being addictive, the mindset we continue to push our efforts in getting the next fix, but if there is no reward, I mean high, then what's the use? Being an opiate user for the last 10 years, I tried almost every opiate available. I could say that this is one pill or shot you must not forget to take. Although initially, there is trouble sleeping, loose bowel (very bad), and sex drive nil, I hope this is temporary since I've only been taking this pill for a week or so. I was earlier taken for two months then relapsed. That's why it's important to remind yourself that this pill can only save your life. All the best to recovering addicts."

• Dri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2017

Naltrexone "I’ve been on Vivitrol for 2.5 years, and it saved my life! I cheated my way into it by getting the pill first, and after 4 years of heroin use, it sent me straight into withdrawal, but in three days, I got my shot, and on the 4th day, I felt like a new man! No cravings, no side effects, and you can drink on it, there is an additive they put in for alcoholics! I advise every opiate addict to seek help and get this shot, it is life-saving! Oh, and as bad as this sounds, I quit methadone to get back on dope, so my withdrawals were not as severe! It worked!"

• n3v...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

Naltrexone "I was an average H addict for about a decade, tried quitting a million times, then did a 7-day rapid detox on comfort meds and got the Vivitrol on day 8. The next 2 weeks, brutal depression, couldn't work, suicidal thoughts. I tried H for the first few days, nothing happened, so I gave up. Soon after, I felt normal, no cravings. I stayed on it for 6 months. Saved my life for sure. Stayed clean for 3 years! Then relapsed during COVID, so I just did another 7-day rapid detox, and today is day 2 after the shot, and I can't get out of bed. But I know a few days of this is expected, the feeling of ice cream inside my bones is the worst part. And all the other side effects I think are just from no opioids. I have ED, oh well. This is only if you're 100% serious about quitting."

• Gee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2017

Naltrexone "I had a choice between the Suboxone, which then I wouldn't be able to take my Adderall, or the Vivitrol, which I can take with any meds. So, of course, I did the half-pill test in the Dr.'s office and sat for 15 mins to see if I would have a bad reaction. I was okay, so then we went ahead and did the shot. I was excited to finally get this burden of the opiates that led to Suboxone, then stuck without knowing what to do. I'm done, don't want to live on this anymore... it's not living. I went in and did this shot, and at first, I freaked out when I got home, like my body went into instant withdrawal. My body was spasming, and I was freaked out. My cousin called 911, and they had given me four shots of Ativan on top of two of my 2 mg Klonopin that I barely take."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

"I got naltrexone 25 mg daily from my general practitioner as a means to lose weight, however, there have been other benefits too. I was a functioning addict of anything I could get my hands on for many years. The only person who really knew this was my husband. I couldn't handle the side effects of nausea and vomiting the first few days, so my doctor prescribed me an anti-nausea med. Ever since then, I have been feeling great. I am losing weight, yes, but I'm also free and clean, which I wouldn't have been able to say without this medication."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2011

"This medicine is a definite winner if you want to stay clean. I find its effects almost hypnotic, I rarely think of smack anymore. But I've lost over a stone in weight since starting my script 5 months ago. I want to stay on it but am afraid I'll fade away."

• Bay...
• June 17, 2021

Naltrexone "Took the injection after medical opiate detox. Instantly, I was puking and having horrible diarrhea. Things remained horrible. Couldn’t eat for 5 days. Constant severe blood pressure increase. I “thought” it was due to detox, but now I know that I am allergic to this injection. I immediately had to go on high doses of blood pressure meds in order to not have a heart attack or stroke. The symptoms are still here 25 days after injection. Night sweats, insomnia, severe depression. This was the worst decision I have ever made. And life threatening. Pulled medical records past 5 years, never had high blood pressure. I paid $30K to go to the best medically induced opiate detox, then stay at a million dollar home with staff. I had to stay 3 extra days while others would leave completely fine 4 days earlier. I was the sickest I have ever been. In one week, lost 26 lbs, no sleep, high blood pressure, extreme fatigue. I'm just praying all these horrific side effects go away soon. Absolute worst decision I’ve made."

• sta...
• March 28, 2010

"I've been using daily ultra low doses of naltrexone (15 micrograms, not milligrams) for 3 weeks now in conjunction with exogenous opiates and have found that my tolerance has been reduced by half within this period. I cannot attribute this to anything else, especially not placebo, as I have been highly skeptical about the whole thing. Scientists have suggested that naltrexone blocks the surplus opiate receptors which contribute to tolerance. Furthermore, it is also suggested that it blocks the release of endorphins which contribute to tolerance. I have not encountered any side effects at all (the dose is almost homeopathic) and would recommend this for any user to reduce their tolerance, leading to easier withdrawals."

• Ryg...
• March 26, 2018

Naltrexone "Listen up. It's probably worth the risk of trying it for a month to see if you get the side effects or not. I did, I got extreme anxiety, depressing thoughts, and fatigue. Constant stretching and 0 motivation in the first five days. Then it gets a little better, so I don't know, it drove me to go smoke meth, but I didn't do heroin or want to. And now that I have made it through the 5 days of side effects, I guess I could say it's worth it."

• ADT...
• December 31, 2017

Naltrexone "I tried this the year it came out for trial runs, and it worked great. I still had some sensitivity after the medication wore off, but that only lasted about another month. I think it worked like it was supposed to. I think you should be off your Suboxone/Subutex for more than 72 hours for it to work properly."

• Ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2020

"Completed a 17-day detox ready for a 6-month implant at $2000 in June 2020. It's been 9 weeks. Headaches galore, which aren't going away, sex drive gone too. No cravings, which I'm pleased with, haven't attempted to even try to use either (just for curiosity). Have felt weird, like I'm blasé to the world. Looking forward to it wearing off so I can gain my life back drug-free, too. Thankful for the clean time to date, though."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2017

"UK user H and crack for 10 years on and off. Please acknowledge an opiate life will mask all your aches and pains and the longer the addiction, the longer the payback. 1000,000% you'll go nowhere continuing on subs, meth, or gear. Had a 2-month implant of naltrexone and getting another 9 months on Tuesday. Your life will only get worse otherwise. My recommendation is to go for the naltrexone and read this again and again and again. Good luck."

• Wok...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2017

"My doctor had me take this medication, saying it worked as a good pain med for one of her patients. Knowing I was on pain medication, methadone, she wrote the script. 45 minutes after taking naltrexone, I started convulsing, sweating, was taken to the ER, the last thing I remember was losing my bowels. I woke up in ICU 2 days later. I have filed a complaint with the proper authorities. I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. I've had one hip replaced. After 10 years of doctors and the medical association, I'm scared to trust anyone."