Vivitrol and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Che...
• June 16, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have struggled with alcohol for 15 years. Major depression & severe anxiety. Nothing took the craving away. I am surrounded by alcoholics & my husband is an alcoholic. I got a promotion at work, and one morning I went to work and thought I was going to die. I couldn't take it anymore & told them I had to go to the hospital. I detoxed at a great facility. They were incredible. They saved my life. I had previously been asked if I wanted the Vivitrol shot & I declined. This time I begged for the shot. Best decision I ever made! I got my 4th shot last week. I have no cravings. I have mental clarity. I'm off antidepressants. I have lost 27 pounds. Side effects...my body aches but I'll take it. I have no appetite so when I do eat, I eat healthy. Except for chocolate. I am extremely grateful for Vivitrol. I know it has saved my life. I actually died on my birthday a couple of years ago from severe alcohol withdrawal & critically low potassium. Didn't stop me from drinking again. Vivitrol did."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Just received my second shot of Vivitrol today. I can't really pinpoint any side effects except loss of appetite... so if losing weight is a 'side effect', sign me up! It helps with cravings, especially when paired with AA meetings and a mindset on sobriety. I would definitely recommend this for anybody having difficulty with alcoholism."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to opiates for 4 years before this shot. I finally feel like I'm not living a double life anymore! I was homeless within 6 months of first becoming dependent on heroin (IV from the start), and I've wanted to stop ever since. Willpower alone is not enough! I've tried every way on my own, but now, with Vivitrol, I can be confident in my recovery. It's closing in on the end of my first month on it. It has caused some stomach cramps, loss of appetite, lack of sleep, anhedonia, and slight depression. The best comparison would be the feeling when you first start to feel withdrawal setting in. My craving levels were eliminated after administration, however, toward the end of the month, I'm feeling them more."

• G54...
• June 23, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I had 10 months clean after being a heavy IV opioid user for years, I decided to stop on my last case, which also prompted me to drug court. Well, the judge, for some reason, put me on Vivitrol, even with all the clean time and program compliance. To summarize, I had planned to exercise and live healthy, and that is what was pushing me to stay clean. After getting the shot, I felt empty, confused, depressed, no drive, no motivation, no hunger, crippled libido, didn't care much about music, movies, or anything for that matter, exercising was torture. I asked the doctor if it would mess with my endogenous reward system twice, and both times he evaded my question. Seek recovery with healthy means, develop skills to stay clean, don't go be a lab rat for big pharma... go to inpatient."

• Viv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "After 16 years of opioid and heroin addiction, I had tried everything. Methadone for 3 years and off and on Suboxone for 8 or more years, I tried hard to get off Suboxone, and it was horrid withdrawal, so I relapsed on heroin. When I knew I might die if I kept it up, I put myself into detox and planned to leave after. Stayed for rehab, and the Vivitrol was suggested. I went back and forth with my decision because I still wanted to drink. Finally, I decided to get the shot. Side effects: muscle spasms, constant stretching that felt great, decreased appetite, weight loss. The interactions with my 3 mg of clonazepam are hard to explain. It's a high definitely, but not one I like too much. If I take Bentyl for the stomach cramps, I get really dipped out."

• Boo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2018

For Opioid Use Disorder "So was on the Vivitrol shot for 5 months, and while it did help with cravings, I had extreme nausea every time I woke up. I work swing shift, so I wake up at night sometimes and mornings sometimes, but no matter when I woke up, I felt sick and tried to fight throwing up. Loss of appetite caused me to lose 25 lbs over 5 months. It was hard, but I'm glad I did it and made it through. Been off of it for a month now and finally starting to feel normal again when I wake up. No more throwing up for me. Stay clean, my friends ✌"

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2018

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was an addict for 20 years. Mainly opiates. I decided to seek help and got into a mat program that provides Vivitrol injections for free and intensive outpatient programs (IOP). That's awesome and everything because I've been wanting to be on Vivitrol for at least a year, but I didn't think it was possible because I didn't have insurance. So I went through the whole withdrawal process because you have to be clean to get the shot, and then when I got the shot, I thought everything was going to be great. I was wrong. The first five days I could not eat or sleep. After that, I have been feeling a lot better, but my anxiety has been through the roof. And the injection site still hurts sometimes, even after 3 weeks. Next week I'm due to get my second shot, and I'm hoping it will be better. It kind of seemed like I was on chemo because the first 5 days after the shot had such terrible side effects."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2021

"A doctor put me on Klonopin and then I started drinking. After three years, I took the Vivitrol injection. I had not had alcohol or Klonopin for 14 days prior to taking the injection. (No, I don't take opiates.) The 2nd day after, I was in full withdrawal. The 3rd day was horrible too. On the 4th day, my hands are shaking, no appetite, and I feel terrible. I can only hope this passes. No, I do not have any cravings, but I only craved alcohol when I was taking Klonopin. Just took too long for me to figure that out. Has anyone else had withdrawal symptoms after no drugs or alcohol for 14 days prior to the injections?"