Experience with Naltrexone

[kimmy123]

Experience with Naltrexone

I'm confused

I am scheduled to get a Vivitrol (Naltrexone) injection. The literature says that you must abstain from opioids for 7-10 days before starting. It's not really clear whether they consider alcholol an opioid. What I am reading between the lines is that if you don't completely detox before starting, you will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you first start. Do you know if this is the case? Do I really have to avoid all alcohol for 7-10 days to avoid feeling really sick when I first start Naltrexone?

[Benedikt]

Experience with Naltrexone

Kimmy, abstaining from alcohol won't help your de-addiction process, from alcohol, assuming your using the Sinclair method. Opioids are a different creature altogether. If you're using Naltrexone for an alcohol addiction go to Sinclairmethod.com, it outlines the basics. If your still confused buy the book they recommend on that site. I already read the book and got my prescription from my doctor for naltrexone, the pill not the injection. I just took my second liver test today and will start on my Naltrexone+Drinking "therapy" as soon as the results come back, just go to the website and buy the book if you need, just remember all this is for alcohol, I'm not sure about opioids. Good Luck
Another thing you can do to educate yourself is go on Wikipedia and look up "sinclair method", go to the bottom references section and there are 2 links to 2 very interesting interviews with Dr. Sinclair, or here's the links:

Shrink Rap Radio Psychology Interviews: Exploring brain, body, mind, spirit, intuition, leadership, research, psychotherapy and more! ? #64 - The Sinclair Method for Treating Addiction
and
Intellectual Icebergs - Home then go to show #6

[Benedikt]

Experience with Naltrexone

I passed my liver test fine, which I was worried about, so tonight I start taking my Naltrexone, 25mg for the first two days, one hour before I start to drink. I'll let everyone know how I progress

[bloggy]

Experience with Naltrexone

Benedikt;462143 wrote: I passed my liver test fine, which I was worried about, so tonight I start taking my Naltrexone, 25mg for the first two days, one hour before I start to drink. I'll let everyone know how I progress

Hi Benedikt

I was just wondering how you were doing?

[Benedikt]

Experience with Naltrexone

More rich tasting booze please

Hey Marbella,
I'm on my second night of taking the full 50mg dose, I feel fine, the first night on 25mg I had some time distortion, but that's it. So far, when I drink it feels the same,except for that happy relieved feeling that comes from drinking,it's not there anymore, it's like I'm buzzed but still sober, the other thing is that drinking with naltrexone makes me more tired than usual, easier to fall asleep though. I'm gonna keep going and keep recording in my drinking diary so I can track my progress. I'm optimistic so far, but this is supposed to take a while before I notice any real difference in my drinking patterns. So for now I'll just keep on boozin it up with my naltrexone, I'll keep you up to date.
Have you ever had a liver test, since you noticed the yellow in your eyes?
What about supplementing Milk Thistle or anything else?

Benedikt

[bloggy]

Experience with Naltrexone

Benedikt;465991 wrote: Hey Marbella,
I'm on my second night of taking the full 50mg dose, I feel fine, the first night on 25mg I had some time distortion, but that's it. So far, when I drink it feels the same,except for that happy relieved feeling that comes from drinking,it's not there anymore, it's like I'm buzzed but still sober, the other thing is that drinking with naltrexone makes me more tired than usual, easier to fall asleep though. I'm gonna keep going and keep recording in my drinking diary so I can track my progress. I'm optimistic so far, but this is supposed to take a while before I notice any real difference in my drinking patterns. So for now I'll just keep on boozin it up with my naltrexone, I'll keep you up to date.
Have you ever had a liver test, since you noticed the yellow in your eyes?
What about supplementing Milk Thistle or anything else?

Benedikt

After just a few days off the booze my eyes go quite a clear white- infact surprisingly so for my 43 years so I don't think there is too much wrong, but I probably should go for a test- I just have a bit of a phobia against doctors in general due to some negative experiences.

I will get the milk thistle- I am thinking of just taking the naltrexone again on days when I feel I might relapse- with opening a new business and taking my last antabuse drinking has been out of the question, but now things are settling down it is very likely to rear its ugly head again.

I am glad it seems to be working for you- hopefully you will be one of the successes- bit by bit it loses its allure until you can't really see much point in it and the habit drops away.

[Benedikt]

Experience with Naltrexone

I'm on my 7th day of Naltrexone+drinking, everything is going well, and I'm slowly noticing that my desire to drink is slightly lessened. For example, today I was gardening and was more interested in gardening than going inside to have a drink, that's pretty cool.

[bloggy]

Experience with Naltrexone

Benedikt-

That's wonderful!!!!

Stick with it- I have my fingers and everything else crossed for you!!!

[trixietrack]

Experience with Naltrexone

I really enjoyed listening to the podcast. such a positive way to take care of heavy and uncontrollable desires to drink.

[Benedikt]

Experience with Naltrexone

Thanks for your support Marbella, I'm excited about next weekend, which will be 2 weeks of Naltrexone+Drinking, because I'm going to NOT have any naltrexone or alcohol, so it should be interesting, I've read that everything is a bit more fun due to unregulation of the endorphin receptors in the brain. I just gotta stick with it and keep my drinking diary updated daily. I hope when this is all through, 3-6 months??????????, maybe you'll try the Sinclair Method again, but then again I don't know your situation, its strange I've never been so confident in anything to help me to decrease and eventually eliminate my drinking all together,
All the best to you, and everyone else on this blog.

[kaponium]

Experience with Naltrexone

Hi all - I am scheduled to start Naltrexone today. I am 14 days AF, and an active member of AA...would love to get this thread active with other members on Naltrex. I am also a recovering drug-addict, so a big part of me is quite "excited" to be able to take some sort of drug on board, and my addiction side is looking forward to the possible positive side effects (!?!?!) - although my life clean and sober is OH-SO-GOOD...this is the paradox of addiction. ay.Alcohol is my drig of choice and when I pick up the first drink, there is no telling whether I will just get drunk the One day or go on and on and on and on - have been around the clock drunk for up to three months. Have experienced severe withdrawls and delerium tremens of the hallucinatory kind (though not for a few years now, thank God). I HATE drinking and am trying (with AA mainly) to get my emotional sobriety on track. I DEEPLY welcome feedback and contact on this thread! Thanks

[boozehag]

Experience with Naltrexone

Hey K
I got your back! God luck with the meds. Keep us posted I am sure lots of people will be interested in your experiences. Marby started by tracking her experience on this thread which was very interesting - so you could do that same. Sometimes people dont reply to every post but it doesnt mean they are not reading and learning from your experiences. I for one will be watching closely with interest.
BH

[bloggy]

Experience with Naltrexone

I am very excited about hearing how you get on too Kap!

I have been deciding whether to try again with it if I get urges- I have a few AF days now because I was sick- but I am worried now as I get back to normal the old 'One will be OK' feelings will come back.

At least with the naltrexone one is OK- you don't really want anymore!

The best of luck to you!

[kaponium]

Experience with Naltrexone

Well haven't started yet - the pharmacy in the town I live in didn't have it (hadn't bloody heard of it LOL!) but they ordered it yesterday and my darling son picked up my script today while I was over the hill visiting family etc so TOMORROW! Phew - made it through today, few to no worries!

[kaponium]

Experience with Naltrexone

Nearly 8am SUnday - hello all. Started Naltrexone about an hour ago...finding my hands are shaking !?!) I have been told some years ago by my GP that they will probably always have a slight tremor due to my prolonged alcohol abuse, but it is quite significantly more noticable, and I feel a bit foggy...is this normal? However, VERY very early days, so will leave it at that and keep posted. Thanks!