Vivitrol - Just Curious

[Jenny9906]

Hey everyone....well, I'm quickly approach my 4 month clean mark....April 7th will be 4 months. I very a lot of challenges and issues that I'm still dealing with, but I'd still say that I am doing alright.  I spend quite a bit of time reading stuff about addiction and ways that people overcome it...lots of different blogs and stuff. I recently read a blog about something called Vivitrol....a monthly injection that helps people to detox and overcome their addictions. I have never heard of this....and although I don't need an injection like this, I was curious if anyone on here has gone this route, and what it is all about. I've been really educating myself on addiction recovery in all aspects...and the fact that I don't know anything about this peaks my interest!

[Jenny9906]

Hmmm this is very interesting to me, it seems to be a godsend for a lot of people regarding the very long hellish stage after detox.  I wonder how long after detox it can be administered.  Even at almost 4 months clean I'm having a god awful time with cravings and just feeling like crap.  I'm going to be going to a new dr to try and get some of my other medications (depression, anxiety and ADD) straightened out...because I feel that they all need to be tweaked....and hoping that is just the answer for me.  I have to admit, I get very jealous when I see people on here that are like "I'm a month clean and I feel outstanding!" LOL!!

[Amandag78]

Yeah i had the naltrexone implant where they cut a small hole in your lower abdomen and insert the tablets into your stomach. The tablets are in a plastic tube that also disolve with the tablets.
Our doctor in Perth, Western Australia designed the naltrexone implants. Doctor George Oneil and the clinic is called Fresh Start Recovery Program, townsend rd, Subiaco.
I had implants two seperate times and they block the opiate receptors, meaning when you try use heroin, it will have no effect at all or you will overdose.
It works 100% and is brilliant.
The naltrexone injection is completely different, it is also soposed to work on alcohol ( so ive heard ) and heroin and opiates.
If you want more info just google " Doctor George Oneil, Fresh Start Recovery Program, Townshend rd, Subiaco " this will give you a run down of what the naltrexone does for you.
Im almost certain the naltrexone injection is a copy of Georges work and he did not design it, so it may not have a 100% success rate. But at least you can get some info. Hope this helps you.

[Jnjlwf]

Naloxone is the same drug used is hospitals (narcan) to treat a patient when too much opiate is given... It reverses the effects .., for this purpose it would be given to block the receptor if u tried to use..

[Jnjlwf]

Naloxone is the same drug used is hospitals (narcan) to treat a patient when too much opiate is given... It reverses the effects .., for this purpose it would be given to block the receptor if u tried to use..

[dirtydirk]

vivitol is a blood lowering medication its simular to the first phase wds medication cloindine only difference is clondine deals with first phase wds and  vivatol deal with the 2nd phase of wds.....i would not call it naloxone....its giving 2 drunks (sry bout the name calling im not  trying 2 be) first and formost but has recently been found to deal with opiate cravings....its not habit forming so its benefical for opiate dependent ppl ...plz ask your doctors about this med b4 u think its the solution 2 the problem.....but i have heard good things about this drug for opiate dependent ppl!!!

[lulu747]

ps JENNY congrats on 4 months clean!!  That's a huge accomplishment (:

[lulu747]

I have to throw my two bits in here- I did the naltrexone thing and it was AWFUL!  I mean, it made me feel like total cr*&.  I wasn't taking it for cravings but rather it was a combo pill of oxy/naltrexone that was invented in Australia (I took it for pain after I weaned of high dose dialaudid and fentanyl.  It was a horrible drug that was the impetus to make me go cold turkey because I felt like my soul was being robbed.  I'm not sure what it would be like alone but thought I'd share my experience for what it's worth.

[Dave317]

I've been on Vivitrol for 6 months now. It really curbs my cravings. It gives me the strength and energy to carry on every day. It truly is the wonder drug!!  Nothing else worked for me. Plus my insurance covers it I pay nothing!!!!!

[Jenny9906]

Thanks Amanda! Yes, I believe Vivitrol is the brand name for the monthly naltrexone injection.

[Amandag78]

Congratulations on coming up to 4 months clean. What a great accomplishment for yourself!!!
Not sure if you guys are talking about Naltrexone injection?

[Merri123]

This shot is basically Natrolene or whatever is the right name. It is not addictive and many insurances cover it. It is once a month. It is not suboxone etc. it is supposed to work well.

[Jenny9906]

Motye - yeah, I remember when the dr told me years ago that tramadol was this wonderful non-addictive alternative....uh huh....that sh*t messed me up way more than hydros or oxys ever did.  

Rosy - yeah, I'm definitely curious to see if anyone on here has first hand experience with it....especially if it is something that helps with the long haul.  For me, the detox period is manageable, and it's a period of time that I think most people are in the mindset that they don't want to touch pills ever again because of how awful they feel.  But once they get through that time, they tend to forget and are much more apt to relapse.  I'd be interested to see if this injection helps with that...with the cravings...and if it is something that when you discontinue it, that there aren't horrible withdrawals like with subs.  

[ROSYouralright]

Something I heard about this.. (I haven't researched the validity of it) is that you have to be clean from opiates/alcohol for 7-14 days BEFORE beginning the injections. At that point most of the physical aspects of wd would be behind ya.
I'm not sure, but, like you, I AM curious by nature and can't wait to see the responses you get..

[motye51]

My Dr said its not addictive..but, u don't have much faith in that. They called me b/c I missed 3 appts so no $$ for them. I'm not sure my drs motives are good? Research it.

[Jenny9906]

Interesting....is it like a sub? Or not addictive like that?

[motye51]

This is the "injection" that my sub Dr called me a few weeks ago and told me I should come in and get. $500/ per shot. They claimed it worked wonders with cravings.