Vivitrol (naltrexone) relapse prevention

[DoubleInTrouble]

I was doing great, 1 month clean from alcohol and norco , still clean from norco but I ended up drinking bcuz I started having really bad anxiety. I really felt so proud of myself and good in my heart , and now I'm going thru the guilt, shame and sadness.
I'm really thinking about taking Vivitrol shot to help with physical cravings and relapse prevention . Do any of u have experience with Vivitrol ( naltrexone therapy) ?

[dominosarah]

Have you thought about an addiction specialist??

[DoubleInTrouble]

Hello Sarah and thanks for responding , I was thinking about that as well bcuz my mental torture is what seems to bring me back to drink. I have this very strong unhealthy fear of relapsing , I do not hang out with anyone I drink with and have stopped going out at all. Like I said I have this unhealthy fear which is making me isolate myself from ppl and places as much as I can. But Iam very determined to stop and I will not be giving up, I just don't get why I have no desire to drink and want to stay sober so bad but end up drinking , my brain is totally playing games , I can't take it !!

[dominosarah]

Why not go to your doctor and talk to him/her about getting on some AD meds.  There are some good non narcotic ones out there.  That will help with the depression and anxiety.  Are you doing anything with recovery care?  Getting sober is the easy part, staying sober is the hard part.  You sound bound and determined to try the vivitrol.  My question is what happens when you no longer can lean on that?  Do you still hang out with people who drink?

[CML2014]

The WORK DT is to Accept the fear and anxiety as a part of getting sober. Meds will only help so far, the rest comes from your own will power.

You say you are desperate to stop, yet always fall back on getting the Vivitrol shot. So I say get it and see that it takes more than a shot of medication for maintenance of the acquired sobriety.

You have done it for a month, so obviously you can stop drinking, you need to not give up at the end of the month because you think there is something Vivitrol can do for you to STAY sober. Not going to happen.
So I say instead of asking if you should take this substance, over and over, just take it and get it over with. You will see what I mean by "the work"
Maintaining sobriety is the goal and you could swim in a vat of V and still come out afterwards going right back to drinking--the work is your own willpower.

[ibizan]

Vivitrol is expensive in a shot if you don't have insurance.Naltrexone can be taken in pill form.HOWEVER as i've said here repeatedly b4 it will not work unless u engage urself in a counseling program and a support group w/other ppl trying to live a clean sober life!Recovery isn't a task that can be undertaken flying solo!

[DoubleInTrouble]

Iam not looking for an easy way out Iam looking for what to do especially when Iam trying but keep going back to the same place , I do not want to drink but I end up drinking one night then here Iam at phase one again. I just want to do the right thing. What is the "work" that I need to do?

[CML2014]

Hi DT,

I suppose you are responding to my post .  "Just checking in" I was hoping you took the very good advice provided by a few posters. Ibizan even told you how to go about getting financial help to get the doctor you needed.

You say since you had been sober since March 5th, which is great. Now you have relapsed and are looking "again" for the easy Pill. Doesn't work that way , DT. We have already explained , YOU have to do the work. No Pill can be taken to live a sober life.

I think you are bound and determine to use Vivitrol, so get a doctor discuss this with him, and if he will give it to you Go for it. Then you will know once and for all what it is going to do for you.  Anxiety, sadness, shame , depression, fear--that happens to be what everyone that wants to get sober goes through. You are no different, you just seem to think there is an easier way out. Try it and be done with this question.

We cannot make you sober, a pill cannot make you sober, because Sober is living an alcohol free life. The only one you are accountable to is yourself--Try what ever you feel (and a doctor) is right for you. Then come back and talk to us, K?

[DoubleInTrouble]

I understand where I r coming from, and I know a lot of ppl are against meds on here and it shld be our strong will, determination and positive attitude that keeps us sober. But Iam more then willing and desperate to be sober, but I only last a month , do u not think maybe it is a good idea for me to see if there is something really wrong with me as far as anxiety or depression that keeps making me drink. I have admitted Iam powerless to alcohol and Iam allergic and can not drink like normal ppl do, then why do I still do it knowing it is poison for me. Do u honestly think I shld not give it a try? Majority of ppl on it say it has helped them, maybe I need that little help with the boost to keep me sober? It's non addictive and non narcotic with no withdrawl after quitting, Iam desperate , but also scared in the back oft head

[ibizan]

I believe this post has been answered many times in the past by quite a few of us!