Naltrexone Compared to Alternatives

For Alcohol Dependence: First night on the naltrexone medication for alcohol problems. Crazy, I swear to anyone looking for a change. I'm actually drinking at a point I should be hammered. Just not getting there at all. Only slightly feel something of a good feeling of drinking after the first drink then none of the big gains of drinking I always wanted to get. For me I'm bit surprised and thinking why I didn't I do this sooner. This is no rubbish and I swear to anyone thinking of a way out of alcohol addiction give it a try. I was worried but if day two and further can stop me, please at least try. Btw I'm 37 and drink almost a fifth a night for around 15 years.

For Alcohol Dependence: I was in AA for 12 years, treatment 3x, I meditation, prayed until my knees were black and blue, but nothing stopped me from relapse. 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 relapse. 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 relapse, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about Naltrexone.

For Alcohol Dependence: Its been a hit and miss venture with Antabuse, mostly hit. Sometimes I would take it for 2 months, miss a day, and then fall off the wagon that very night because I "forgot" to take it that morning. I literally cannot skip even ONE pill or else I will drink. BUT, if I take the pill every day... no drinking cravings. I can walk right by the LCBO and not be tempted. You must be vigilant when taking this med and not skip days. Put the pill where you'll see it every morning. I had mine stuffed in my desk drawer partly because I didn't want the wife knowing I was an alcoholic. The other thing that has aided me is my faith in my savior, Jesus Christ. He has given me so many chances to get my act together, and every time I fall I come crawling back to Him on my knees, crying... and He forgives me every time! Hopefully one day I will be able to stop taking Antabuse but I think it will be at least 2 years before sobriety is 'cemented'.

For Alcohol Dependence: This medicine is a God send. I've been in recovery for 4 years, pretty much done it all: AA meetings daily, 33 day detox/rehab, IOP, 1:1 therapy at an addiction center, prescriptions for naltrexone and Campral. Two years into treatment, I still wanted to drink. My husband was desperate and suggested Antabuse. I researched it on the internet and was willing to try anything. My primary doc knew I was crazy so he prescribed it. I took it for 3 months, drank once on it...thought I'd die and that was the end of that. After 3 months, I wasn't obsessing about drinking any longer so I stopped taking it daily. I carry it with me at all times. Take 1 here and there so I never know if its in my system. No side effects. This is not a magic bullet. You MUST have an honest desire to stop drinking.

For Opiate Dependence: Be 100% sure all opiates and methadone are completely out of your system, I had taken 60 mgs of methadone 6 days before I got my shot, I told my doctor up front, and I am not a chronic methadone user, maybe used it 4-5 times in the span of 2 months when hydrocodone wasn't available. It threw me into the worst withdrawals of my life. And I have had severe withdrawal in the past but this was so very intense unlike anything, for 2 days straight. The doc said it would be fine at 6 days but he was wrong, 15 min after injection I went into full fledge withdrawal, severe cramps, spasms, fever, vomiting, freezing yet burning up. Make sure it is out of your body completely before you start, if you test positive for methadone don't take the shot wait it out.

For Opiate Dependence: I took my first Vivitrol shot 7/31/12. 3 hours later I was having the worst withdrawals one could ever imagine. The worst lasted about 2 days followed by 7 days of symptoms like constant anxiety, sleeplessness, muscle spasms, then 3 or 4 days of regular side effects. My Dr. told me that I may not have been completely detoxed when I took the shot and that might have been the cause of my extreme reaction. I'm going to get my 2nd shot on 8/31. I feel that without the shot the possibility of relapse will be greater, so the benefit outweighs the negative side-effects. I'll let you know how it turns out.