Vivitrol User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Isa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Life changer for me. My alcohol use and cravings were out of control and affecting everything important to me. The day I first took this shot, I drank way less and stopped obsessing with thoughts of drinking. This may have saved my life."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I've been an alcoholic for the past 35 years. I'm 52, pretty sad. I tried every single way to stop, a year here, 6 months there. I thought I could just have one drink, but it never ever worked. I tried every which way I could, but it always rounded up to the same thing: drunk, staggering in a hospital or mental institute. I finally made the choice to get Vivitrol, and it was the best thing I could have ever done. I only had one shot so far, and the craving, which I couldn't get rid of, is gone. It's gone, one shot. I can't wait to get my second shot, it's a miracle. Thank you, Vivitrol, and for anybody thinking about it, seriously go for it, it's worth your life. I didn't get any side effects whatsoever. God bless us all."

• Cha...
• February 18, 2014

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have had the shot several times in the past but that has been over three years ago and I did have some side effects. The worst was vomiting in the morning, but it lasted about an hour after I woke up. It lasted for 2 weeks every time I got the shot. It has been 3 years and I started the shot again. I got the shot 3 days ago and I have one swollen lymph node under my neck, and my stomach is messed up with cramps, but it cramps I have never felt. They hurt but only in the morning, and I don't get sick. They are not that bad. I know one thing that sucked is my anxiety has increased, which is a problem for me and kind of scary. The shot is a good idea even with the side effects, it's 1000 times better than being dope sick."

• Rox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I had been drinking heavily for about 4 years. I had to go through withdrawal at a hospital just in case it was medically necessary, I was really far gone with alcohol. After detox, the doctor suggested Vivitrol-an injection every 30 days. Took my first shot 11/13/2018. I have not had any cravings for alcohol since. Scheduled to get another one in December. I hope my success with Vivitrol continues. I’ve read through a lot of Vivitrol reviews for alcohol on this website, and most of the reviews seem similar to mine."

• Per...
• March 4, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was so nervous to get the shot after reading all of the horror stories on the Internet. However, it was absolute rubbish. I went in to get my shot having not used for 11-12 days after going cold turkey from a nasty prescription pill habit. Roughly 90-120 mg per day and using Suboxone a few days a week when I couldn't afford the pills. The people who are feeding you these nightmare precipitated withdrawal stories are getting the shot with opiates still in their system. Obviously, the more and longer you use, the longer it may take for you to get completely opiate-free. But 10-14 days is long enough for nearly anybody. Just have the doctor give you the challenge with Naloxone before he gives you the Vivitrol. If you have no reaction, you'll be good."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "My wife has been on Vivitrol for about 2 weeks and is still drinking heavily. She says it is helping her, but I don't see it. Paying $1,200 for a shot that doesn't work is not sustainable. I was hoping for a silver bullet, but was unfortunately wrong. Good luck to everyone dealing with alcoholism one way or another. May have to look at something else, maybe look at Acamprosate."

• Mar...
• February 7, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I came off a two-year opiate habit. I’d bounce between heroin and Suboxone. I could get off the H and onto the Suboxone just fine. The problem was I couldn’t get off the subs. I went to a 30-day inpatient rehab. I detoxed, tapered off subs quickly, and felt fine for the next 14 days. I was getting better every day. Then I got the shot. Sick every day, no energy or motivation, trouble sleeping, etc. It’s been almost 3 weeks after the shot, and these side effects are not going away. I’ll never do it again. It’s not PAWS. I know the difference. For whatever reason, Vivitrol is a bad mix for me. I don’t really have any cravings, but I feel awful. Not dope sick awful, but bad enough that I won’t be getting a second shot. All of this got me to do some in-depth research, and I found some sketchy stuff with regard to how the mfg. tested this medication and used lobbyists to get it approved and into the court systems, etc. If it works for you, great. For me, not so much."

• rya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "First shot, five days out of rehab, now on my fourth. Longest clean time I've had in over five years. Such an amazing, non-addictive, non-opioid replacement. Gives me the power back to say yes to the shot once every 28 days (I take oral naltrexone starting daily at day 21), and I have a life again. I'm no longer just a junkie but a daughter, sister, fiancée, friend, and I have an amazing job. I am a RECOVERING addict. Amazing what rehab, meetings, IOP, and this wonderful tool can do for a heroin/oxy/methadone/all opiates IV drug user like me. The only needle in my body in 5 months was lidocaine followed by Vivitrol. I never thought it could happen as much as I wanted to be clean."

• JMJ...
• February 6, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "My son is addicted to OxyContin. He went to rehab twice and to an extended living facility. He relapsed after both. He is in his second month of Vivitrol treatment and so far is doing very well. He is going to school and says he has no cravings. Still, he has sleep issues and difficulty concentrating. We are very hopeful that he will get his life back. He is seeing a private therapist (psychologist) once a week as well. He is very confident that this combination, as well as lots of family support, will give him what he needs to succeed in living a drug-free life. Many people pray for him every day and we are all very hopeful. In seven weeks, he gained ten pounds. That is a big improvement."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2024

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been struggling with alcohol pretty much my whole life. I tried Naltrexone & Vivitrol about 10 years ago and they didn't work. This time I'm taking Vivitrol under careful doctor's supervision. I'm embarrassed that I had not tried this again sooner. Vivitrol is saving me."

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

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."

• Dba...
• July 19, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I received my 2nd shot yesterday. I've been a heavy opiate, mostly heroin IV user for 13 years. I was put in jail for 14 days to clean out for my 1st shot. Immediately after the shot, I had no cravings. I was put on Xanax for anxiety because it's been super high. I have acne due to the shot. I get leg cramps. It saved my life."

• T-L...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been an opiate addict for 7 years. When I first became addicted, OC was everywhere. A few years later, I struggled to find any OxyContin, shortly, they changed from OC to OP, which I struggled with for a while. I just wanted out. I tried Suboxone, but it didn't work for me because I have a migraine issue, so I joined a methadone clinic and became a functioning addict. I was on methadone for 3 years. I kept clean from any other drug throughout my time on methadone but was still an addict because both Suboxone and methadone are opioids. I found an institute, there are many across the country. They do what is called a rapid detox, which was pretty pain-free. At the end of your detox, I got a Vivitrol implant. It's saved my marriage."

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

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."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "Was not given the correct information and was not monitored after injection. I was honest and told the doctor I took Suboxone 6 days before the shot, and he said I would be fine. Well, about 30 minutes after the shot, I started having terrible withdrawals. Sweating, and it felt like my skin was on fire for the entire month. I urinated every 15 minutes. Couldn't sleep and had extreme restless leg syndrome. Constant headache and urinary tract infection to boot. Zero sex drive and a bad mood the whole time. Sought therapy at Calvary House and told all my symptoms. No one cared. At $1,200 each month, why would they?"

• Hob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I couldn't stop using dope for the life of me. Literally. I used within 24 hours of getting the Vivitrol shot. My doctor knew, but he also knew if he didn't get it into me, I would keep using and die. I had two days of intense withdrawal. Worse than I'd ever had. Then about five more days of laziness and being agitated. But once your mind finally gives up and comes to terms that you can't get high, you calm down. The hustle stops. This was my only option to stop. Feeling like death for two days was worth the lifelong nightmare I was pursuing."

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

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."

• Thr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was a heavy IV user for 2 years, have been in and out of treatment programs, relapsing every time. My doctor, who was prescribing me subs, told me she had to cut me off because I could not pass a urine analysis. So basically, she started telling me about this shot that she was getting trained on and could give me next week, the Vivitrol shot. She told me I needed to be at least 7 days clean before getting it, otherwise, I would have severe withdrawal. Finally, I manned up, went in to see my doctor, told her I couldn't stay clean and that I had used the previous day, but I wanted her to give me the shot anyway. Got the shot, by the time I got to the car, I was in full-blown precipitated withdrawal. Day 4, feeling better, just can't sleep at all."

• exf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I just spent six years in the penitentiary. As an ex-drug addict, this shot was offered to me as an option and alternative to other opiate blockers. So far, I have taken two of the injections: one while in prison and the second as I left the facility. So far, so good. Some minor joint pain and a few aches. They were able to be worked through with a little walking and exercise. No cravings and definitely no thoughts about trying ANY opiates after seeing the results firsthand. The withdrawal it causes is life-threatening. It's not worth it. The naloxone is good for our situations. If you really want to get clean, give it a whirl!"

• Max...
• August 20, 2019

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."

• Pos...
• June 10, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I am coming off of Suboxone. It has been 24 hours since the shot was administered. I feel great. Now rewind... at 1 PM I got the shot. By 2 PM the withdrawals kicked in. I wasn't vomiting or anything but was very sleepy and dizzy. I went to bed. By 6 AM the next morning, I felt 60% better. I got up, had a cup of coffee, and felt great. By 1 PM (24 hours) I am about 90% better. I would just like to give people some encouragement. The reviews on here scared me as well. I tapered myself down before getting the shot... and I feel so far so good! It can be done! You do not have to sit home and withdraw for weeks and even months. Everyone's body is different, but I highly recommend this!"

• Gyp...
• December 1, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "Have been on the shot for 2 years now. It helped me recover from alcohol, but I also found it helps my major anxiety and sleep. I don't think they have done enough studies on it to see what else it can help with."

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

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!!!"

• Rem...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 26, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been on Naltrexone and, more recently, Vivitrol for 8 months now. I was a heavy opiate user and occasional drinker. Having tried Methadone and Suboxone in the past, I knew that options just led to dependence on another drug, so after my latest relapse, I got on it. I am not going to lie, the first week was hard. That's mostly my fault because they told me I had to stay sober for a full week before taking it, and I didn't. But now, after having time to adjust, I gotta say it is a lifesaver for me. I have gotten acne on my back and even on my scalp, which I have heard others say happened to them, but other than that, zero side effects so far. If you have an opiate addiction and you want guaranteed results, TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I cannot stress enough how much this has saved my life. I have no cravings and no overwhelming urge to get high."

• Tom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I just want to let everyone know Suboxone withdrawal can happen days after the last dose. It's not the shot that makes you sick. As for feeling lethargic and lazy as well as everything else, welcome to recovery. It can take several months for your body to recover back to normal. That means having energy, a good appetite, sleeping normally, regular bowel movements. And that can all happen even if you're not on the Vivitrol shot and just doing cold turkey. So please, people, do your research before you post information that could sway someone from taking this method of recovery. Because it could decide on if they live or die. And yes, I am talking from experience."