Vivitrol and Tremors: What Users Say

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2017

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been on Vivitrol since November 2016. I have remained sober for 5 months. The urge to drink went away, and it felt good knowing that even if I drank on the shot, I wouldn't feel the warm fuzzy feeling that I was so addicted to. So recently, I did drink, and I feel so terrible - shakes, sick to my stomach. Alcohol withdrawal is terrible, and it really sucks. Now I know why I love feeling sober. Vivitrol has not only kept me sober, it truly saved my life because I know that I have control of my life. I would recommend this to anyone who has a problem with alcohol. It truly takes the cravings away and helps you find yourself."

• thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2023

For Alcohol Use Disorder "OMG. I feel like I'm dying of apathy at best, and a shaking, sweating, angry ball of anxiety at worst. I had gone through alcohol and benzo withdrawal a month ago, then got this horrible shot and immediately felt like I was going through it all over again, plus other weird side effects like ringing ears, insomnia but exhaustion, lack of motivation, and no interest in anything... at all. Today is only a week since I got the shot, and I can't stand to think that the next 3 weeks will be like this. Do your research, unlike me. If you have depression or anxiety, think this over. Yay, I'm not drinking or thinking about drinking, but I feel like I wouldn't get off the couch if the house was on fire, either. I would do benzo withdrawal twice over rather than deal with these awful side effects. Never again."

• JTE...
• February 16, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I recently went through a medical detox from heroin, and after 6 days, when my vitals showed I was opiate-free, I was administered the Vivitrol shot, which is pretty deep and painful in itself. I experienced terrible symptoms like upset stomach, diarrhea, severe restlessness, muscle cramps and twitches, nausea, chills, fever, enlarged pupils, lazy eye, extreme irritability, high anxiety, rapid heart rate, shakiness, and sleeplessness, plus the site where the shot was administered ached like an epidural. I ended up in the emergency room with an adverse reaction. I feel like death and can barely focus on my actual detox and life. Next month, when this shot is hopefully out of my system, I will not get it again! At least I'm off heroin!"

• Jak...
• July 6, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "Vivitrol has made me completely useless. I was taking methadone as prescribed every day for the last six years. I actually cut my dose in half the last 24 months. But, I decided to quit cold turkey to get on Vivitrol. Now I am so miserable! I can only get myself to take a couple bites of food a day if I can keep it down. My head is constantly throbbing. I haven't slept more than two hours every night for at least a month. My body is so weak, yet I'm constantly freezing and sweating. My hands shake all the time, and the ringing in my ears is so loud I have a hard time hearing things sometimes. I find that I don't care about anything. I don't even want to be around my own son anymore. I am not surprised people get suicidal on this drug."

• Lyn...
• February 21, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "I did a rapid detox of Subutex after 7 years. Got the Vivitrol shot. Woke up after detox in instant withdrawal. They said it was post-acute withdrawal, but it's full-blown and miserable. Day 7 and I'm literally just surviving on clonidine and gabapentin mainly. I'm weak, shaking, and miserable. I just want my life back. I just want relief. Here's to 3 more weeks. Maybe it won't be so bad, but at this point, I'm going back on Sub. This blows."

• K9h...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "This is the first time I have ever posted on a forum regarding medication, but I felt compelled to for this one. I am a 52-year-old male. Started drinking vodka pretty lightly a few week nights and on weekends about 4 years ago. Following a divorce and the loss of a few loved ones, my drinking got progressively worse, where I would make a beeline to the liquor store after work every day. Every night sitting alone in front of the TV getting drunk. Drinking by 10 a.m. on the weekends. Just pitiful. I wanted to quit so bad, but couldn't. I always had the shakes, and they wouldn't go away until I had the first cocktail for the evening. Always felt like throwing up in the morning and called off sick or took vacation days just because I felt like crap or was afraid to get through the day at work. Concentrating at the job was a real challenge and downright sucked. I started taking oral naltrexone. It was amazing. Literally, on day 2, the craving virtually disappeared. I couldn't believe it!!"

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Vivitrol has absolutely changed my life. There was no doubt I was headed towards death. Since my 1st injection, I've been sober 89 days. Cravings are minimal. It's kind of like a flip of a switch. Alcohol just became kind of eh. I prefer my La Croix. I have little to no side effects. My hands are a little shaky, and I eat less. But other than that, I finally feel alive again. No more hangovers or throwing up at 4 am. I actually get real sleep. You can't go wrong with this injection. It is a little pricey, but some insurances will work something out with you."

• 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?"