My experience with Naltrexone

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Naltrexone is a prescription medication that is used to treat alcohol abuse disorder and opiod use disorder. The brand name is Revia. It works by blocking certain receptors in the brain that cause the euphoria or relaxation effects of opiods and alcohol. If you drink while taking naltrexone you won't necessarily feel anything or the same level of "alteration" that you would without it. That is supposed to decrease the urge to use substances because you don't get the same effects. While I was on my spa retreat (rehab) in August I expressed interest in getting the Vivitrol shot. It is an extended-release injection of naltrexone that you get once a month. I figured that it was worth a shot. I did meet someone at the day spa who said he had tried it 5 times and it never worked but he also said he's been to rehab 60 times so I think his issues are a bit more than just a medication can handle. Anyway the NP said that she would prescribe me the pill version of naltrexone so I could take it and see if I had any adverse reactions. She said the pill is a daily thing but if we went straight to the injection and I had an issue I would be dealing with it for a month. Makes sense. A 50 mg tablet is typically taken at bedtime but holy hell that first night I was up until like 1am and I'm someone who goes to bed at like 8 or 9. The NP said to take it in the morning instead. Ironically one of the listed side effects is "drowsiness" (hence the take it at bedtime) but it amped me up at night. I have noticed that I am sleepy and ready for a nap at like noon when I take it at 6am. I've been doing well on naltrexone. I'm not going to lie--I haven't been completely abstinent from alcohol but I also haven't been overindulging. I have been scaling WAY back. It is definitely helping me on this project to get things under control. Aside from the drowsiness I have noticed that my weight is up a bit (but it fluctuates 10 pounds in any direction from week to week or month to month) and I've had some swelling in my ankles in calves. Oh and muscle cramps--that one is a listed side effect. That all is annoying but it isn't enough for me to want to discontinue taking it. I have a telehealth appointment with a NP at my employer's health clinic tomorrow. I need to get a bunch of prescriptions refilled and I want to continue with the pill version of naltrexone. I'm not afraid of needles or anything but I am far more likely to swing by CVS to pick up the pills rather than go out of my way to find a place where they administer Vivitrol. I know myself. I'm doing well with this stuff (ankles aside) so I need to just keep it going. They also wanted me to come in for bloodwork. I was like "I just had bloodwork done 3 times last month at the day spa. Get those results." Nothing was crazy bad on them. Platelets were much improved and almost normal and my last blood sugar was like 131 but it was a non-fasting test. The NP at the retreat said not to even worry about it. I googled naltrexone to see what the possible side effects were. All sorts of sites popped up. If you don't have insurance or don't want to go insurance you can get a monthly supply for like $100. I have insurance and it is the generic version so I pay $5 fo 30 days. That is 1000% worth the money.