Naltrexone and Depression: What Users Say

• Pal...
• March 9, 2019

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "I've struggled with alcoholism for 10 years. Vivitrol was suggested before but I couldn't afford it. I was able to find a clinic that got a federal grant for Vivitrol. The first 4-5 days I was tired, leg cramps up through my buttocks (felt like the flu), hip and ankle pain, irritable, sad, nauseous. Side effects eventually went away after 1 week. Cravings have been minimal to non-existent. Yesterday I was irritable; had a bad day at work which triggered me. Decided what the hell and see if the drug really did take away that feel-good feeling. I drank about half the amount I usually do and it didn't do anything other than the physical side effects. I ended up pouring the rest out and went to bed. This is a miracle! I am so grateful! Looking forward to continuing using it for this year while I complete my 12 steps in the AA program so I will not only be physically healthy, but mentally and spiritually too! THANK YOU VIVITROL AND THANK YOU TO MY CLINIC AND GRANT MONEY!"

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "I tried LDN (low dose naltrexone) in 2018 and 2019 - worked up from 0.50 to 3.00 mg over 4 months (never got to 4.5) - still got the worsened sleep (bad as it is) and then worse depression, agitation, drier eyes (burning) and mouth, pain still the same and worse in other areas of the body. When I got spontaneous bruising this last week on my arms, then thighs, I finally quit yesterday. Improved sleep in one night after quitting. Useless for my situation, but enjoyed the weight loss (not worth it this way!)."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2018

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "I'm on my 4th month of Vivitrol. I haven't drunk at all. I only think about drinking again when emotionally triggered. I think the drug is doing its job and will continue. I am tired and depressed, but that's just part of this whole cleanup process. A+ Vivitrol."

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2019

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "Works good for cravings, but with the side effects I don't like. I feel terrible for a week after the injection. Panic attacks, anxiety, depressed mood, and gastric discomfort. I have been in treatment for over 12 years, several rehabs, and AA. I wish it didn't have the side effects. I am debating about continuing use."

• ELM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I've been incarcerated for 47 months, and the treatment center I am going to for outpatient pushed the drug on me, said it would be a safety net for me. I got the shot today at 9 a.m., and I have been depressed, having horrible anxiety all day, no motivation. As one guy said, it felt like he was in a dream, and that is exactly how I feel. None of these side effects were explained to me at all. I'm so upset with myself for taking this. These rehabs get $ for pushing drugs like Vivitrol and Suboxone. I would not recommend this to anyone at all!! If this goes on for 28 days, I'm going to lose my mind, and no - these side effects are not me going through withdrawals or PAWS (Post-acute withdrawal syndrome). I'VE BEEN CLEAN 47 MONTHS!!!"

• ELM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I've been incarcerated for 47 months, and the treatment center I am going to for outpatient pushed the drug on me, said it would be a safety net for me. I got the shot today at 9 a.m., and I have been depressed, having horrible anxiety all day, no motivation. As one guy said, it felt like he was in a dream, and that is exactly how I feel. None of these side effects were explained to me at all. I'm so upset with myself for taking this. These rehabs get $ for pushing drugs like Vivitrol and Suboxone. I would not recommend this to anyone at all!! If this goes on for 28 days, I'm going to lose my mind, and no - these side effects are not me going through withdrawals or PAWS (Post-acute withdrawal syndrome). I'VE BEEN CLEAN 47 MONTHS!!!"

• thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2023

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "OMG. I feel like I'm dying of apathy at best, and a shaking, sweating, angry ball of anxiety at worst. I had gone through alcohol and benzo withdrawal a month ago, then got this horrible shot and immediately felt like I was going through it all over again, plus other weird side effects like ringing ears, insomnia but exhaustion, lack of motivation, and no interest in anything... at all. Today is only a week since I got the shot, and I can't stand to think that the next 3 weeks will be like this. Do your research, unlike me. If you have depression or anxiety, think this over. Yay, I'm not drinking or thinking about drinking, but I feel like I wouldn't get off the couch if the house was on fire, either. I would do benzo withdrawal twice over rather than deal with these awful side effects. Never again."

• Max...
• August 20, 2019

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "Vivitrol is a lifesaver for sure, but the mental aspects, such as the depression, lethargy, lack of motivation, and gastro problems, are all really side effects. But I was so depressed and lethargic from the shot I couldn't bear to stay on it any longer than a month. By day 25, the Vivitrol depression was lifting, and I started to feel normal again. You have to weigh the pros and cons of the shot. Nobody talks about how Vivitrol blocks the heroin from entering your opiate receptors, but it also blocks the natural production of serotonin and dopamine from entering these receptors as well. Vivitrol cannot differentiate between the two. It's a proven fact, and I know from experience. But the makers of the shot don't want you to know this. In the end, I have a love-hate relationship with Vivitrol. It gave me the time to heal, but the depression and lethargy the shot causes I wouldn't wish on everyone."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2017

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to opiates for 4 years before this shot. I finally feel like I'm not living a double life anymore! I was homeless within 6 months of first becoming dependent on heroin (IV from the start), and I've wanted to stop ever since. Willpower alone is not enough! I've tried every way on my own, but now, with Vivitrol, I can be confident in my recovery. It's closing in on the end of my first month on it. It has caused some stomach cramps, loss of appetite, lack of sleep, anhedonia, and slight depression. The best comparison would be the feeling when you first start to feel withdrawal setting in. My craving levels were eliminated after administration, however, toward the end of the month, I'm feeling them more."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2017

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to opiates for 4 years before this shot. I finally feel like I'm not living a double life anymore! I was homeless within 6 months of first becoming dependent on heroin (IV from the start), and I've wanted to stop ever since. Willpower alone is not enough! I've tried every way on my own, but now, with Vivitrol, I can be confident in my recovery. It's closing in on the end of my first month on it. It has caused some stomach cramps, loss of appetite, lack of sleep, anhedonia, and slight depression. The best comparison would be the feeling when you first start to feel withdrawal setting in. My craving levels were eliminated after administration, however, toward the end of the month, I'm feeling them more."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "I was prescribed LDN at a low dose of 1 mg. It was one of the worst things I ever did to my body! I suffered extreme depression and suicidal thoughts on it. I couldn’t feel happy and didn’t know why. It never seemed to help my pain, but I became dizzy, extremely fatigued, and unable to live my life. I started having heart episodes while on it. Getting off it was one of the best things I ever did for my health."

• G54...
• June 23, 2017

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I had 10 months clean after being a heavy IV opioid user for years, I decided to stop on my last case, which also prompted me to drug court. Well, the judge, for some reason, put me on Vivitrol, even with all the clean time and program compliance. To summarize, I had planned to exercise and live healthy, and that is what was pushing me to stay clean. After getting the shot, I felt empty, confused, depressed, no drive, no motivation, no hunger, crippled libido, didn't care much about music, movies, or anything for that matter, exercising was torture. I asked the doctor if it would mess with my endogenous reward system twice, and both times he evaded my question. Seek recovery with healthy means, develop skills to stay clean, don't go be a lab rat for big pharma... go to inpatient."

• G54...
• June 23, 2017

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I had 10 months clean after being a heavy IV opioid user for years, I decided to stop on my last case, which also prompted me to drug court. Well, the judge, for some reason, put me on Vivitrol, even with all the clean time and program compliance. To summarize, I had planned to exercise and live healthy, and that is what was pushing me to stay clean. After getting the shot, I felt empty, confused, depressed, no drive, no motivation, no hunger, crippled libido, didn't care much about music, movies, or anything for that matter, exercising was torture. I asked the doctor if it would mess with my endogenous reward system twice, and both times he evaded my question. Seek recovery with healthy means, develop skills to stay clean, don't go be a lab rat for big pharma... go to inpatient."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2020

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I've only gotten the shot twice, February and March 2020, and I'm not sure what to think. It's good, as a heroin addict, you know you can't get high, so don't even try, 'cause it will just annoy you. But the cravings are still the same as without it, and the migraines every day and nausea are terrible. My sex drive went from very healthy to not wanting to touch my husband of 11 years, and that's not like me at all! And let's talk about the depression - I've never been so depressed in my life, and I already have depression, but it got so bad I would just lay in bed and cry. I didn't realize it had anything to do with the shot until I read more about it and what people have said. I thought something was seriously wrong with me. It's getting better now due to me not having got my dose this month due to COVID-19 and my insurance... but I don't think I'm going to do it again..."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2021

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "Received the injection 30 days ago and have been depressed since. Endorphins play a major role in depression. Endorphins get released in response to drugs and alcohol. They are also released naturally by coffee, exercise, and good experiences. You only need a small amount of this drug in your system to block the 'happiness' receptors. The drug will be gone anywhere from 25 to 50 days. I cannot wait for it to be gone. Yes, I'm not drinking, but I'm miserable. Who would want to live like that? My doctor said she was surprised that dysphoria happened, well, then that doesn't help me."

• Ott...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 6, 2016

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "I still don't know if cravings and anxiety are one and the same, but I've been on this for 6 months. I notice a lot of headaches, increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and male sexual problems. I still need 0.5 mg Xanax 5 times a day for the anxiety, and Ambien CR for insomnia. The product coordination nurses deny that this causes male sexual side effects. I've had sex twice in 6 months on Vivitrol, and that includes my honeymoon. I think Vivitrol helped me the most by making it clear that if I tried any opiates, I could overdose immediately and die. So I've put up with the side effects, but I hope to be off this in 1 year. And, yes, I want my sex life back."

• Sov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2016

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Opioid Use Disorder "Week three after Vivitrol. Still having severe insomnia, goosebumps, depression, lack of energy, and weakness. It did curb my desire for cigarettes, but because I feel so horrible for so long, I am craving a fix. I'm only on the fence with this injection."

• koo...
• July 13, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Day 2 on naltrexone. I used to take Topamax for 6 months but stopped because the side effects were horrific! Couldn't remember words, memory loss, speech impediment, brain fog, hypoglycemia, piercing headaches, nightmares, and depression and really dark thoughts! I pray that naltrexone works as my drinking is ruining my life. Heavy drinker for 15 years. I have become a bit of a hermit as I prefer to drink at home so my friends and family don't know how much I actually drink (1-2 bottles of wine every day). Also, to avoid making an ass of myself - which I have done on way too many occasions. The only times I had an alcohol-free day was because I way overdid it and was way too hungover. I need so badly for this to work as AA is out. I don't believe in it - for me - I know it has worked for many people, but I also know many that it did nothing for many others. I do see a therapist."

• Lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2018

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "I received the Vivitrol shot 3 days ago for alcohol dependency. So far, it has helped with the craving to want to drink. The side effects that I have are I’m constantly tired and have no motivation. I just feel blank and withdrawn from the world. I hear this lasts for only 4 days or so, I truly hope that’s true. Hopefully, my body adjusts to this medication (injection) so I can get up out of bed and enjoy life again. I’m just so not used to being down, I’m normally full of energy and have motivation to do things. Fingers crossed."

• Dev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "My partner took naltrexone through a private prescription. He has a long-term problem with alcohol and so detoxed before he took the naltrexone. Initially, the drug reduced his daily alcohol intake, but after a few weeks, he started to creep back up to his previous levels. His alcohol addiction was stronger than the naltrexone. He stayed taking one pill a day for 8 months, and it has made him very depressed and anxious - much worse than before he took the drug. He is now trying to come off naltrexone, which is proving extremely difficult. Overall, naltrexone has done him no good at all - in fact, it has harmed him and made an awful situation worse. We both wish he'd never started on it."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2021

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "It made me really depressed. I will never take it again. It is day 42 and I still feel happiness being blocked. Other things to note, it blocks the effect of coffee, exercise, and pleasure in general. Would not recommend."

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2016

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Alcohol Use Disorder "I think my experience with the clinic may be coloring my opinion of Vivitrol. As far as I know, it does work to curb cravings-I haven't had any to speak of in the 6 months I've been getting the injections. OTOH, I've noticed that my depression gets significantly worse for a few days after each injection, then it eases up to my normal low (someday I hope to feel actual happiness again). My problem is with the clinic and the hour-plus wait times. I'm clean. I'm in therapy. I go to AA meetings daily. I have a strong support system in place. But I'm thinking of discontinuing because I don't have 2.5 hours to spare every time I have an appointment (commute to clinic, time at clinic, commute to work)."

• SC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "I experienced some odd side effects: drowsy all day on a low dose, hard time working as all I wanted to do was sleep. No pain relief for fibromyalgia, instead, I woke up each morning with stiffness and pain in lower limbs to knees and neck and upper arms pain to elbow. In addition, I felt down most of the time, just depressed and blue. I also had diarrhea throughout the day. Bizarre side effects included the limb stiffness and unusually frequent sexual thoughts, not normal for me. My appetite was lower, and I slept longer at night. It was very difficult to work though with drowsiness all day, which made pushing through heavy fatigue difficult. I drove my car to do errands nearby and had trouble navigating and drove over curbs a couple of times. That scared me. So finally, with these side effects in a two-week period, I stopped taking the med. My side effects are unusual from what I have read."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "I have slowly eased up to 4.5 mg of naltrexone to treat fibromyalgia associated with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) disease from chronic mold exposure. As my dosage increased, I developed more diarrhea and neck and back pain. During this time, I also stopped gluten and was diarrhea-free during the first week of stopping the gluten, but I would have terrible diarrhea beginning again several days later. CIRS is a chronic inflammatory disease, so this may be contributing to the problem, but the naltrexone side effects of rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, severe anxiety, fatigue, depression, and agitation are all very real and scary for me. Because this is not an addictive drug, I will stop immediately. I’m surprised my doctor didn’t suggest going off of this drug (vs. all my other drugs) when I began to feel this sick with the very common and noted side effects of naltrexone."

• luv...
• August 28, 2017

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I was on this drug for 6 weeks and found it did not change my desire to drink at all. The only thing it did was alter my mood. On days when I managed to not drink (usually because there was nothing in the house), I did feel calmer and didn't have the angry mood swings I had before naltrexone when I tried to stay sober. Also, the depression and disappointment I had felt in myself whenever I drank before starting naltrexone went away when I started the drug. Basically, naltrexone turned me from a very moody and remorseful heavy drinker to a chill heavy drinker. Upon the recommendation of my psych, I'm switching to Campral to see if that helps better."