Cold Turkey or Opiate Replacement Therapy?

Introduction

Welcome back everyone and thanks again for checking out my blog about opiate addiction. I want to once again thank everyone who has taken a moment to check out my blog and note that I am quite pleased at the direction in which this blog is going (could still use some comments!). I'm going to make this post here about two common routes opiate addicts can on when deciding to quit opiates. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but at the end of the day, they are here to help us in battling our addiction to opiates. The two routes are Cold Turkey and Opiate Replacement Therapy. I have used each method in the past and am currently going the Opiate Replacement Therapy route as I have been on Subxone (and clean off Oxycodone) for almost 5 months now. It certainly isn't easy but I can honestly say I'm happy with the choice I have made. Quite honestly, I don't think I would be where I'm at right now if I went the cold turkey route but as I always say, everyone is different.

I've touched upon both methods before in previous posts so I won't bore you guys with repeating myself about either. The cold turkey route is basically stopping all use of opiates without the aid of any opiate medications such as Suboxone or Methadone. In my opinion, I believe one can still go cold turkey with the help of comfort medications such as Clonidine, Imodium, and some  benzodiazepines (be aware that these can be addicting and deadly if abused/mixed with other drugs so please be careful my friends). When one goes cold turkey, they will most likely experience the dreaded withdrawals that occur when we abruptly stop using opiates. One can also slowly taper themselves down to a lower dose and than go cold turkey in hope of lessening the withdrawals.

 

Meanwhile, Opiate Replacement Therapy is a route one can chose to go on by using drugs such as Suboxone or Methadone. I'm not including the Vivitrol shot in this post as it's almost like a combination of both due to the fact that one must first detox themselves of any opiates (any where from 7-28 days depending upon the drug) before they can get the Vivitrol shot which will help with cravings and by not letting the person get high. I did write a post about the Vivitrol shot if you guys are interested. Drugs like Methadone and Suboxone must be obtained by meeting with an addiction specialist/doctor. These drugs will help greatly with the withdrawals/cravings you would normally experience if you were to go the cold turkey route. Like I've said numerous times, it isn't a miracle drug and you may still experience some withdrawals/cravings. The problem with Opiate Replacement Therapy is that one day you will eventually have to come off these drugs and will probably feel some withdrawals and cravings. I disagree that these medications are just switching one drug for another as there not really there for getting high off and can help patients get their lives back together before making the jump off opiates altogether. Lets take a further look with a comparison of these two routes.

Time

 

When one stops opiates cold turkey, they will experience withdrawals for period of time. Depending upon the drug, amount used, length of time used, and other factors, withdrawals can last any where from a few days to weeks. I only have experience with Oxycodone and the basic rule of thumb is that you feel like absolute shit for about 3-5 days, then feel "crappy" for about 2 more weeks before things start to feel "normal." However, while the physical withdrawals will eventually leave, the mental cravings and mind games last quite longer. Another rule of thumb is that it takes about a year before your mind starts to feel "normal" again but that we will all most likely have an addicts train of thought for quite some time, perhaps the rest of our lives. The one thing I'm always told is that "with time, it does get better." Based on my 5 months of being on the Suboxone, I would have to agree with that statement.

 

The withdrawals from opiates can be quite painful, annoying, and uncomfortable so one may have to do a few things before they decide to go cold turkey. If possible, it is advised that you take some time off from school or work to really focus on yourself as going on with your every day life can be an absolute nightmare while going through withdrawals. Imagine trying to work or go to school while having the chills, restless legs, body aches, runny nose, diarrhea, and the sweats. Not to mention the anxiety and depression many of us get when going through opiate withdrawals. It's a tough thing to do so if you're lucky enough to get some time off and to yourselves, I highly suggest you do so if you do decide to go cold turkey. The good thing about going cold turkey is that once you get a year of sobriety under your belt, things do start to get better and if you don't mess up, you'll never have to face these awful withdrawals again.

 

 

The most common way with going about Opiate Replacement Therapy is that the patient will be put on a medication like Suboxone or Methadone for a certain period of time (months, or in some cases, years) before they eventually begin to taper off the drug. Patience is key for this route of getting clean off of opiates. Because the user is still getting an opiate with Suboxone or Methadone, they will experience little to no withdrawal. The day will eventually come when the patient, after tapering, must come off of all opiates. Unfortunately, this will usually result in withdrawals. There is really no easy way of getting off opiates and avoiding withdrawals. However, you can to a certain extent control how good or bad your withdrawals will be. If you taper slowly and patiently, eventually getting down to a small enough dose, you might be able to lessen the withdrawals. For some people this works great while for others, they feel like tapering had little to no effect in lessening withdrawals. Once again, everyone is different.

 

Basically, the cold turkey route is a quicker way (through often quite difficult) than going the route of Opiate Replacement Therapy. I won't sugar coat it for you guys, you'll most likely face some form of withdrawals either way. It sucks, I know but I guess this is the price we pay for getting into this situation in the first place. If you ask me which route I think is better, I don't really have a clear-cut answer for you guys. I think most people (myself included) lack the willpower to go cold turkey and remain clean. Some people can do it, while others fail. I think Opiate Replacement Therapy is great for someone who is really struggling to get clean and needs to get their lives in order. It allows you to get a job, go to school, take care of your kids/family, or to continue doing these things whereas doing these kinds of things while going cold turkey can be an absolute nightmare. On the other hand, if you go cold turkey you're basically stuck with about 1-2 weeks of hell and than another few weeks of feeling pretty crappy and kind of "off". Either route you choose to go, getting and staying clean is a lifelong job. Believe me, this stuff can really screw around with your head if you have been abusing opiates long enough. I want to stress this as it isn't as easy as just stopping, feeling out of it for a month, then going to back normal. You'll most likely feel "off" for quite some time after the initial physical withdrawals. This is where forming a good, solid support network, doing the right things, hanging with the right people, going to AA/NA meetings, seeing addiction specialists, and really focusing on taking care of yourselves is critical. Despite all the shitty stuff that comes with getting clean, there is a whole another life you can live, one that once you weather the storm is certainly worth living, and most importantly, enjoying.

 

Costs

 

I'm going to be brief here on this section as you can probably get what I'm saying after a few words. When you attempt to get clean by going the cold turkey route, the only money you're probably going to spend is on comfort medications (see above) and the money you may lose if you take time off from work to detox yourselves. Meanwhile, going on Suboxone or Methadone can be quite costly for some. It really all depends on your insurance and the treatment center you are going through. It is not uncommon for people to have to pay hundreds to even thousands of dollars for Suboxone or Methadone treatment. However, some insurances are pretty good at covering these costs and some treatment centers are cheaper than others. It really all depends on your situation.

 

Risks

 

Like anything in life, both these routes come with their own risks. Going cold turkey can sometimes be dangerous, even deadly for some. Once again, it all depends upon the person and their situation so this is why it is important that before you do anything drastic to talk with your support network, family, close friends, and your doctors about your decision to go cold turkey. Some people can have seizures from going cold turkey, and there have been a few cases of people actually dieing. I don't want to scare you guys, I just want to warn everyone of the risks of going cold turkey and also want to note that cases such as these are usually very rare. However, please, please, please be safe and don't do anything drastic on your own.

 

 

The risks that come with the Opiate Replacement Therapy route is that some people may have bad reactions to drugs such as Suboxone and Methadone, so once again, it is important that you are honest and talk frequently with your doctor and support network. These medications can also be addicting, habit forming, and abused so be cautious. I have been using Suboxone for almost 5 months now and I haven't had any negative experiences with the drug but everyone is different. It is also important that you have given yourself enough time from your last dose of any opiates before you start Suboxone or Methadone. If you don't, you risk the possibility of going into precipitated withdrawals which can be pretty ugly. Be smart my friends.

 

 

Concluesion

 

Unfortunately there is no easy way out there currently to get off of opiates. It can often be a lifelong task of getting and staying clean and is not by any means something easy to do. Like I said before though, it is possible. It takes a lot of work, willpower, and self determination to get and stay clean but anyone can do it if they set their mind straight and give an honest effort. You might be able to achieve sobriety your first time. Or, like many others, you may relapse. However, if you do relapse, remember that you always have the option to get clean. That is something nobody can take from you. Please remember that. Some people get it their first time, others their 100th time. It is often said relapse is part of recovery. It is important to understand that this is not an excuse to relapse and use through. Rather it means that if you do mess up and relapse, learn from your mistakes and get back on the wagon. There is a great quote out there that I really love that concerns addiction. I do not know who came up with this quote but would like to share it with you guys as I think it sums up opiate addiction perfectly. It's "Why give up everything for one thing when you can give up one thing for everything".

I have no experience with either of these organizations but know that they are pretty well praised and known. They are drug addiction organizations who provide information online and also offer a 24 hour hot line to help anyone who is suffering from drug addiction or problems related to drug addiction. I put the following links below this paragraph if anyone needs any help, has questions, or just wants someone to talk about their problem with. Here they are:

http://drugabusehelpline.net/

http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/
 

I would really like to get every one's input on this topic so please don't be shy and feel free to comment anything you may wish to add in the comment section below. Also, anyone is welcomed to ask any questions they have in the comment section and I (maybe even some other readers) will try to the best of my ability to give you an answer. I'm also open to any feedback or criticism regarding this post or my blog, so feel free to shoot. Don't forget to vote in my poll below as there are only a few days left to vote before it closes. I'll end this post like all my other previous ones by wishing everyone nothing but good fortune, luck, and happiness (I'm starting to sound more and more like a fortune cookie!). Take care my friends and keep seeing the light!

 

-Seeingthelight

 

 

*The two charts in this post were obtained online through the website U.S. Pharmacist. This website has some great information, check it out. The link to the website is below: 

http://www.uspharmacist.com/content/d/feature/i/874/c/16525/

 

A Soldier's Addiction

Hello everyone, it is my pleasure to bring you guys with what is now my 8th post on my blog about opiate addiction. I have been trying very hard to get the word out on my blog and it seems to be working. I've noticed that over the past few days, my page views has continued rising. I am so happy to see this and thank everyone who has taken some of their time to read my blog and for those who continue to come back to read my blog. I really hope this blog is helpful for some of you guys out there who are reading. The only thing I could ask of you guys is if you could comment on any of my posts, both new and old, so we can get some discussion going and to get readers of the blog more involved so please don't be shy! For anyone who is interested in reading any of my previous posts for this blog, just click any of the links below that may interest you.

Welcome Post
My Experience with Suboxone
The Dreaded Withdrawals
Why We Got Addicted to Opiates
Suboxone vs Methadone
The Vivitrol Shot
Addiction and Our Bodies

I would like to use this particular post to discuss drug addiction (most notably opiates) within our armed forces and with the brave men and women who have served our country. Based on some research I did, I found this topic to be quite interesting but also alarming and disheartening. Based on what I have read, there appears to be the presence of drug addiction within the armed forces in both soldiers currently serving as well as those who once served our great nation. I thought this topic would be something fresh as I have mostly talked about the basics of opiate addiction, treatments, and it's effects on the mind and body. I would also like each and every one of us to take a brief moment to honor and thank those who have served our country, both in the present and past. I am (and I'm sure many others) are truly grateful and honored to have such brave and noble men and women serving and protecting our country.

A big thank you for all who have served our country.

An addiction to opiates can reach anyone and like I said in my previous post, addiction rarely discriminates. Anyone from any where can become addicted to anything. This blog deals mostly with opiate addiction but also touches upon numerous other addictions as well. After all, at the end of the day, all addicts are addicted to something. I have no experience in the armed forces and have gotten most of knowledge of the topic through family and friends who served or from reading and school. One thing I do know is that these men and women are put under much stress during their time of duty. Many witness lives lost, devastating destruction, gruesome injuries, and so much more. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not uncommon for those who serve and is often a serious condition to have to endure. We recently discussed how mental illness, disorders, and disabilities can all play a role in leading to addiction and these illnesses, disorders, and disabilities are not uncommon in the military.

According to an Army inspector general's report made public in 2011, "medical officials estimate that 25% to 35% of about 10,000 ailing soldiers assigned to special wounded-care companies or battalions are addicted or dependent on drugs — particularly prescription narcotic pain relievers." This report also stated that "injured or wounded soldiers can wait more than a year for a medical discharge. They said most soldiers arrive in the units with narcotics provided by battlefield doctors or military hospitals. They also said a few soldiers under their care are buying narcotics out of pocket and may be mixing legal and illegal drugs." Most of the soldiers in this report were involved in the Warrior Transition Units, which are used to help soldiers who are wounded or experience any health issues to be seen by doctors to be evaluated and possibly medically discharge. The problem with these units is that it is apparently a long and painstaking process for these soldiers to be seen by the doctors resulting in many attempting to "self medicate" themselves.

A report issued by the Pentagon in 2008 also showed that "about one in four soldiers admit abusing prescription drugs, most of them pain relievers, in a one-year period." The report involved and surveyed more than 28,500 U.S. troops and showed that roughly 20% of marines had abused prescription drugs, mostly painkillers, during that same period of time. This really opened my eyes to this situation as I was totally unaware how prevalent the abuse of these drugs was in the military. It made me sad that these men and women who gave their lives for our freedom are suffering through such an awful thing. For those of us who have experienced addiction to opiates, we know how devastating these drugs can be on our lives. I wouldn't wish an addiction like this on my own worst enemy. I got the information from these reports after reading two articles from U.S. Today and wanted to include a few quotes from the article. The quotes are below this paragraph in blue front.

Painkiller abuse among troops has soared since 2005, the last time a similar study was conducted. The 2005 survey showed that 4% of soldiers had abused painkillers in the previous 30 days, compared with 13% in 2008. Abuse within the previous year was 10% in 2005 compared with 22% in 2008.

The 2008 survey asked more specific questions, such as whether troops were engaged in any non-medical use of the drugs they were prescribed.

Prescription drug abuse among the civilian population dropped in 2008 compared with 2007, a federal report released in September shows.

USA TODAY reported last year that narcotic pain-relief prescriptions for injured or wounded U.S. troops jumped from 30,000 a month to 50,000 since the Iraq War began.

Other survey findings include:

•The percentage of troops showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder increased during the war years. In a 2005 survey, 7% of the servicemembers described symptoms suggesting PTSD. That increased to 11% in the 2008 study.

The largest increases were within the Army and Marine Corps, the two service branches doing most of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The rate of soldiers who described problems suggestive of PTSD increased from 9% in 2005 to 13% in 2008, and from 8% to 15% among Marines, the survey results show.

•Nearly 60% of Marines admit engaging in binge drinking. The rate of heavy alcohol use — defined as five or more drinks per occasion once a week — among all servicemembers ages 18 to 35 remained higher than in the civilian population.

•Servicemembers admitting that they had thoughts of suicide during the year prior to being surveyed doubled from 1% in 2005 to 2% in 2008.

Wow. That's basically how I felt after reading this article as it really struck me to how much of a problem this has become. I was well aware that prescription drug abuse was on the rise and becoming a real problem in cities across the country, but I honestly didn't know how it had reached the military. I feel nothing but sympathy for anyone who suffers from addiction, especially these men and women serving our nation. My guess and opinion is that most of these men and women suffer from some form of mental illness, disorders, disabilities, and stress as a result of their time in the military. I have a friend who is currently serving in the army and while he has not had any trouble with drug addiction, he has mentioned to me how stressful the job can be. He also told me how he now has trouble sleeping and that he sometimes feels "out of place" among his peers. He told me that it would be hard to understand if you had never served in the military, but I somehow felt like I at least understood where he was coming from.

After reading an article from the website AlterNet, I learned even more. The article presented an interview of a former marine who was now an alcoholic. This man stated that he drank so "I don't go to shit,” and that he "drink(s) because I have to." I found this quote really sad and it really hit me how much our soldiers go through. The same article also revealed that "between 24% and 38% of service-members between the ages of 18 and 25 (depending on their branch) qualified as “heavy drinkers” in a 2006 study, compared to 15% of the civilian population." Some other information I got from this article showed the following, once again in blue front.

 
"A total of 11,200 active-duty soldiers were busted for using illicit drugs in 2011, up from 9,400 in 2010. And 17% of active-duty personnel admitted to “misusing” prescription drugs—primarily opiate painkillers—in a 2008 survey by the Department of Defense. By comparison, a 2010 survey of civilians found that 6% reported “nonmedical use” of prescription meds.

Among veterans who’ve sought treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the years following their military service, between 50% and 80% also suffer from addiction.

This link between addiction and mental health is precisely what makes the situation of today’s soldiers so dire. More men and women who have seen combat in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are suffering from brain-based damage—primarily, PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI)—that frequently precipitates addiction. And, crucially, these soldiers have received grossly inadequate care from the military’s medical system.

They’re also suffering from devastating rates of PTSD, often described as “the invisible wound” of this generation’s wars. The condition, estimated to afflict at least 25% of returning service-members who saw combat, is characterized by a bevy of symptoms, including rage, insomnia and anxiety—that can often be soothed with alcohol or drugs.

Myriad studies have long found a distinct connection between PTSD and substance abuse. A comprehensive 2006 analysis by Veterans Affairs sums them up: An estimated 52% of those afflicted with PTSD will be diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence, and 34.5% with dependence on drugs. According to the report, PTSD doubles one's odds of an alcohol-use disorder, and a drug-use disorder triples the risk.

Thanks to technological breakthroughs in better body armor and battlefield medicine, more soldiers are also coming home alive: With injury survival rates that exceed 90%, more members of our military than ever before are living with brain damage, physical disability or chronic discomfort caused by injuries that, in previous wars, would have killed them

Since 2001, the military has confirmed traumatic brain injury—the precursor to CTE—in more than 220,000 of the 2.3 million troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, although many experts say that the actual number is much higher.

With adequate preventative measures, those factors—repeat deployments, grueling physical and mental health problems—might never have resulted in what is looking more and more like an epidemic of PTSD and TBI, as well as a substance abuse crisis, among veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

But the military and Veterans Affairs are both overwhelmed, short-staffed and cash-strapped, after so many years combat. As a result, soldiers are falling through the cracks of a healthcare system stretched far too thin."

I know that I'm giving you guys a lot to read and digest, but I think these two articles really get my point across. These brave men and women need us more than ever and are deserving of much more. Like many other areas of addiction, there is a lot of gray and the issue is quite complicated. One thing is certain through, and that is these soldiers are in need of better attention, aid, and concentration. Think about how often we hear of a soldier having a total mental breakdown and causing harm to themselves or others. Could this be because of the lack of aid available to them and the conditions they are forced to endure? In my opinion, I think absolutely. I'm not a doctor and unfortunately I'm not in a position where I can do a hell of a lot. One thing I can do (and many others as well) is to raise awareness and provide whatever sort of help I can to these people. Just like how someone brought up in a poor, abusive home with drug use or drinking around them is vulnerable to become addicts themselves, these men and women are put in an eerily similar position.

I want to make clear that I am in no way, shape, or form trying to knock or criticize our soldiers. I simply want to raise awareness for what they are going through and how serious this matter is. These people did so much for us, it's the least I can do. I also want to make clear that not all soldiers suffer from illness, disorders, disabilities, and addiction. Some get it worse than others while others experience none of these scenarios. But in my opinion, too many do.

I want to leave the rest of this post for you guys to comment and discuss how you feel about this matter. Feel free to comment your opinions or any experiences/stories you have of the matter. I think this is one of the more depressing yet interesting posts we've had thus far. I have also listed below some links that will provide you guys with more information about this matter. The first two links below are the two articles I have mentioned in this post. The rest are just as interesting and are deserving of attention.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-01-26-soldieraddicts26_ST_N.htm
http://www.alternet.org/story/155635/soldiers_are_coming_home_injured_and_addicted_--_will_we_pay_our_debt_to_our_vets?page=0%2C0
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/substance-abuse-among-military-veterans-their-families
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/addiction-in-the-ranks-soldiers-and/

I want to end this post by once again thanking all those, past, present, and future, who serve and protect this great country of ours. Despite this article being somewhat depressing, I am still extremely proud and grateful to be part of the same nation as these courageous men and women. We are truly blessed to have you guys. Once again, thank you for your service, it will not go unforgotten or overlooked. Please feel free to comment on this post or any others of this blog, your comments are very valuable to me and I will always answer you guys back. Take care my friends and see the light, it's there for everyone.

Sincerely,

Seeingthelight

Addiction and Our Bodies

Introduction

Hello, bonjour, hallo, buon giorno, hola, tja! Well if you're not someone who can speak five or more languages, I'll tell you what I just said was hello (you probably could have figured that one out just by the first word of this post but I like to keep things fresh.) I started this post like that because it has something to do with our discussion today. Similar to how in every part of the world, there is a way to greet someone and say hello, there are people throughout the world of different nationalities who experience addiction in different ways. However, no matter the drug, the person, the place, or the situation, at the end of the day we are all fighting one thing; addiction. Addiction doesn't discriminate nor does it has its favorites. Anyone can become addicted to something at some point or another. Some of us might be addicted to something for a short period of time before being able to straighten out while others are stuck addicted to something till the day they leave this earth. It sucks, is sad, and unfortunate but it's the way things are. Man, did this post turn gloomy quick.

The topic of this post is how addiction effects us and how certain factors can also play an impact towards one developing an addiction to something. Wait a minute, didn't I just say that addiction doesn't discriminate? Well, I did and I wasn't lying when I said that either. Anyone can develop an addiction to something from the richest to the poorest, the most mentally stable to the least, the nicest to the meanest, the smartest to the dumbest, and..., well you get my point. Addiction doesn't discriminate. However, there are other factors that DO come into play in whether someone does or does not develop an addiction. Think of it like the lottery. Anyone can win the lottery as long as they purchase at least one ticket. But someone who purchases more tickets than someone else has a greater chance of winning the lottery (although still an extremely slim chance). Well, anyone can develop an addiction but some appear to be at greater risk (higher chance) of developing one than others. Some people can be try a drug once and never even think of using it again. Others can be what many call weekend warriors, people who get high only on weekends. Others try something once and soon begin to develop an addiction rather quickly. Like I always stress to you guys, everyone is different.

There are numerous reasons that scientists, doctors, consulars, and the like have created and thought of in trying to think of why people become addicted to something and why others don't. I have neither the time nor the knowledge to get into all of them so I'm only going to get into a few of them for this post. The ones I'm going to get into are some of the more popular theories and ones that I think seem most realistic. They are genetics, our personal history, our upbringings and the environment(s) we grew up and live in, and our health. So on that note, lets begin guys.

 Genetics

The theory that people can become addicted to something with the influence of genetics has been around for quite some time now and is one that is really debated among those in the addiction community. I don't want to get into arguments or major debates here so I won't really go deep into my beliefs behind the topic other than I am one of the people who believes that genetics can play a role but that there are certainly a lot of other things that do as well, some more than others. Basically the theory behind this is that if you have family or ancestors who were addicted to something, you are more likely to develop an addiction to something at some point of your life. Now this isn't saying that anyone with a family history of addiction will become addicted to something, as many don't, but that there is a chance that one most certainly could become addicted. Then again, there are people, like myself, who have little to no addiction in their family and who grew up with a very good upbringing that become addicted to something. I had a great childhood, came from a relatively wealthy family, finished high school and college, got a job, had good friends, never got in trouble yet still messed up and became addicted (in my case, to Oxycodone).

There has been studies on identical twins from the day in which they were born till the day they die in which doctors studied the effects of addiction on them. The twins were given no special treatment or anything as they lived their lives just like everyone else. The sets of twins were divided into two groups with one group consisting of twins who have a history of addiction in their family while the other group consisted of sets of twins who had no history of addiction in their families. The results found that twins whose families had a history of addiction were more likely to become addicted to something. These studies also showed that if one of the twins became addicted to something in their lifetime, the other twin was also more likely to develop an addiction at some point in their life. There has been numerous other studies involving parents and their children, families as a whole, only-child, children with many siblings, single parent homes, and much more. Some studies come back inconclusive while others appear to tell a lot. In my opinion, I think the topic of genetics playing a role in addiction has a lot of promise but definitely needs more research, time, and effort put into it. I think it is important to note that no one is really born an addict but that they become an addict due to a variety of circumstances. And yes, I realize that there have been cases of babies being born addicted to a drug or withdrawing because their mother used a certain drug while pregnant. I don't know enough about cases such as these other then that they are under much debate as well. I also have a story for you guys about this that I will share later in the post.

It is important to note that there is no gene (at least that scientists know of yet) that makes one become addicted. Rather, when these studies are conducted scientists look to see if those involved in the case study or experiment exhibit common characteristics among one another. For example, if a group of individuals tend to experience a harder time quitting smoking all share a common gene, scientists may speculate that this gene has something to do with it. Another example would be if a group of individuals sharing a common gene had a bad reaction to a certain medication or drug while another group of individuals lacking this gene experienced benefits when taking the same drug or medication. So while having or lacking certain genes won't turn you into a addict, it can determine how vulnerable or invulnerable you are to potentially becoming an addict of something. This is what I want you guys to get out of this post most, that addicts are not created but rather are made over time and experience.

The story I wanted to share with you guys was about a buddy of mine. We are no longer that good of friends anymore as we simply faded away from one another. Our friendship did not end on a bad note and I simply wish the best for him. My buddy was born from a man and a woman who suffered from an addiction to crack cocaine. When the mother gave birth to my friend, the State did not see her fit enough to care for the baby due to her addiction to the crack cocaine. As a little baby, my friend was adopted by a couple who were unable to have children at the time. He would never see his parents again and still hasn't to this day. I don't think he even truly knows where his parents are or if they are even still alive. My friend never drank, smoke, or did any drugs up until his senior year of high school. He used to always joke with us that he was afraid to try drinking or drugs because of his former parent's addiction to the crack cocaine. Well, come senior year of high school, my friend begun drinking on weekends before eventually smoking pot for the first time. Within a few weeks of his first sip of alcohol and first toke of weed, he was smoking pot on a near everyday basis. Next thing I knew, my friend was messing around with the Oxycodone 30 mg pills often and had tried cocaine, mushrooms, LSD, crack, and tobacco. I had never seen someone in my life go from someone who wouldn't even have a sip of booze to someone who was willing to try any drug you put in front of them. All this in a matter of just a few months.

By the Spring of his senior year, he was using the Oxycodone 30 mg pills on a daily basis and had developed quite a habit. He was skipping class, getting arrested, and getting kicked out of his own home. He would throw away all he had accomplished over the years and not graduate high school. In a matter of less than 6 months, he had morphed into what we all feared, a heroin addict. After about a year of his first time getting drunk and high, he was in prison for home invasion and theft. Like I said, I have never seen a drug change someone so much and so quickly. It was really sad and disheartening to see a good friend go down this path. I look back at this and struggle to understand why it didn't stop me from continuing to use the Oxycodone 30 mg pills. I'm just grateful I didn't end up going down the same path as him, but who knows what would have happened to me if I were to not quit and seek help. I tell this story because it really opened my eyes to the possibility that addiction could really be in our blood or in our genes. It also showed me how addiction can get to anyone and how a drug can take such control over a person's life and change them dramatically. Maybe this was an example of that, or maybe it was just a unique situation, I'll probably never know.

There is so much information out there and some of this stuff can be really hard to explain, especially over the computer without writing a 1000 pages of material for you guys to read. Therefore, I am going to post below a few links that I read which seemed real interesting and helpful in talking about the role genetics can play in addiction. I try my best to provide you guys with as much information as I can but I have my limits so please don't shy away from reading these posts or the provided links below. I think it is extremely beneficial for addicts to know as much as they can about both themselves and addiction. The old saying that "knowledge is power" is really great for this situation. Anyways, here are the links to those articles below. The 2nd link (University of Utah) is really good. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/is-addiction-a-disease.htm

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/genetics/

http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/12/16/why-do-people-become-addicted-to-drugs/

The Environment Around You

The environment around us also plays a major role in how some people become addicted. When I say environment around us, I am talking about the area we grew up in, the people we grew up around and associate ourselves with, the kind of upbringing we had, the careers we have, and much more. For example, someone who grew up in say a poor, abusive home whose parents used drugs or drank carry a higher risk of developing an addiction. Now, I'm not saying this is the case for everyone as I know people who have had tough upbringings who went on to become very successful and happy people while other people I grew up with who had a great upbringing that turned out addicted to drugs or alcohol living an often unsatisfying life. It's not always the way the you grew up but rather the type of person you are on the inside. But in many cases, the people who grew up without good role models or in a "rough" childhood often do not learn the things they need due to their parents nature or environment they grew up in. There is a book that's been out for quite some time now that is called The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck, which talks a lot about this among many other things. The book is highly recommended for people who suffer from addiction and is something I'm currently reading. The book isn't the most interesting thing to read but it does have some good stuff in it.

The environment around us also includes the place in which we grew up as well as the area we now spend most our lives in. For example, someone may be more likely to become addicted to cocaine in an area that is notorious for cocaine addiction and dealing. In areas that are more isolated and with not much to do, there has been some evidence that drug use and drinking can be higher in these areas. An example would be a place like Alaska. Once again, not everyone from these places grows up to become an addict as many go on to live nice, successful, and enjoyable lives. Having family, teachers, and those around us to educate us about drugs and drinking at a young age can be very beneficial and this is why programs like D.A.R.E. are viewed as important aspects of a community. Sometimes they work great, other times not so great. Just like people, not every place is the same.

In my opinion, I think the social environment, our upbringings, the people we surround ourselves around (sometimes, not by choice), and the places we spend a majority of our time in all effect the type of person we grow up to be. These aspects can have both positive and negative effects on us and can effect each and every one of us with not just drug addiction, but in many other parts of life as well. Once again, there is a lot of information out there about this kind of stuff, some of it better explained to you by experts than by myself. Here are some links to sites I think can provide you guys with some solid information. The first link is to that book by Scott Peck (The Road Less Traveled) that I mentioned earlier in case anyone is interested in it.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347852.The_Road_Less_Traveled
http://www.thefix.com/content/trauma-and-addiction9180
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/163/7/654.full
http://www.drugrehabtreatmenthelp.com/blog/Reason+for+Addiction+1%3A+Social+Context/

Health

Both our physical and mental health can also play a role in our addictions. Numerous studies have found a link between drug or alcohol addiction with mental illnesses, diseases, or disabilities. I think this is an area that is very deserving of further research and concentration as I believe there are some people out there who are wrongfully imprisoned or looked down upon due to being what many perceive as a good for nothing drug addict. What many do not understand is that there are thousands of people who have mental illnesses that can effect the way they think and act. Many of these people "self medicate" themselves as they find certain drugs or drinking as a way out and something to help them. Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of criminals and bad people out there who just like to get high or do other things, but I believe some people with an illness or a disability who are wrongfully put under the same category as these people. It's an issue that has a lot of gray area and is something that I think we as human beings will eventually learn to better cope and deal with. Not even a 100 years ago were people with diseases or mental illnesses imprisoned due to a lack of knowledge and sense of prejudice at the time. Now many of these people (but still not enough) are treated with better care and a better sense of understanding.

Members of the addiction community are now really beginning to learn how many social disorders also can play a role in drug addiction. These disorders can be very apparent like someone with OCD or they might not seem to stand out much such as those with a anxiety disorder or extreme shyness. There's so many disorders out there its nearly impossible to discuss them all. In fact, research has recently shown us that as many as 1 out of every 5 people has some form of mental illness or social disorder. That's a lot of people and it's disheartening to see and hear about those who can't get the help they need and then turn to drugs. Now, I also want to point out that not every addict has a mental illness or social disorder. Some of us are addicts for an entirely different set of reasons and mental health is just one of many factors that can effect whether one develops an addiction. Also, not all people with mental illness or social disorders become addicts. Once again, everyone and their story is different, and this is something we should all respect and really learn to understand.

A high percentage of people with mental disorders are also addicted to drugs of abuse.

A final aspect of our health concerns those who are disabled. Those who are disabled can sometimes be put into very difficult situations. Sometimes, they cannot do certain things, run as fast, jump as high, or lift as much as others among other things. Having a disability can make many feel uncomfortable and subconscious which can lead to these people isolating themselves and/or becoming depressed. These factors, among other things as well, can lead to drug or alcohol addiction. Once again, not everyone who is disabled becomes an addict and there are thousands of disabled individuals who live life to the fullest. Sometimes I see disabled people and am truly amazed at how they have the courage and willpower to do the things they do when I struggle doing things that I often do not realize I am fortunate enough to be doing in the first place. To help you guys get a better picture of what I'm talking about with drug addiction and  it's relation to health, here are a few more links below.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203090143.htm

http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dual_Diagnosis_-_Substance_Abuse_and_Mental_Illness.htm

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=174934

http://thecyn.com/drug-addiction/how-is-drug-addiction-and-depression-related/

http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/depression-and-substance-abuse.aspx

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder/social-anxiety-and-alcohol-abuse

Our Personal History

This section of my post is pretty broad and even covers some of things we just talked about so bear with me. When I say our personal history, I mean everything about us and our past. Our personal history can have a lot to do with not only drug addiction, but the outcome of our lives. For example, research has shown that people who start to use drugs and who use them more often at a younger age than most of their peers, are more likely to develop an addiction. Think about it like this. Think back to when you were a little kid in middle school or high school and think of that kid in your grade who was the wild kid. The kid who was always getting into trouble and who was already drinking and smoking pot by the time they were in the 6th or 7th grade. Every grade has this kid(s). Some of us here may have even been that kid. OK, now try to think where that kid is now and how his life shaped out to be? If you're like me, that kid you went to school with is probably living a pretty shitty life, is homeless, in jail, or even worse, dead. I don't mean to sound like a jerk by saying that, I just want you guys to get the point about what usually (not always) happens to kids like that. Now, sometimes these kids turn their lives around and grow on to be successful, happy people. But many other times, they don't.

The people we grew up around, the things we grew up doing, our likes, our dislikes, our experiences, and virtually every other frigging thing we've done since our first day on this planet has in some way, shape, or form an effect on our lives. I look back at my life and can think of a few things that probably had something to do with me developing an addiction to Oxycodone. I had a lot of friends, some were good kids who never got into trouble and others were, well, the naughty ones. I was always a quiet kid growing up as well so I think that may have had something to do with me liking the Oxycodone. I really liked to just relax and chill by myself. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing my friends and family, but my ideal Friday night was just hanging out, watching a movie or playing a video high as a kite off of Oxyocodne and weed. But that's just me and my story. I also have a disease that I've had nearly my whole life which causes me some pain, discomfort, and which makes me subconscious sometimes as well. I believe this may have made me look to the Oxycodone high as a quick and easy way out of reality. I'm sure you guys have your own thoughts on what you think may have had some impact on you developing your addiction to opiates.

Conclusion 

Talking with a consular and doctor can really help a lot in you getting to know yourself and more about your addiction. Believe me, I thought the whole talking to a consular thing was a bunch of B.S. and a waste of time. I absolutely hated every minute of it at first. But over time, I really did learn some stuff and it actually started to feel good being able to vent my emotions and problems to someone. I was also never really big into learning about addiction and the way it affects the body and mind until, well, I was someone experiencing it. There's so much information out there on this stuff and still so much more to have yet to be fully understood. I can only recommend to you guys that you really take a step back and look deep inside yourselves to learn who you truly are. I know I probably sound like a whack job talking like that but I'm dead serious. I'm still early into recovery but now have over 4 months under my belt with the help of Suboxone and my support network. I'm not going to lie, some days I feel great and really confident in the direction I'm going in. Other days, I feel like shit and want to get high really, really, really, really bad. I haven't cracked yet though and that's something I can say I'm proud of.

I hope this post was really helpful and interesting for you guys. I know it's a lot of information to read and digest. I also know that the links I added result in even more information to read. I'm not a teacher and I'm not someone who expects you to do all this reading in one night, or even ever. Take whatever you want from it. I'd like to dedicate the comment section of this post for you guys to post or talk about any information you have in regards to the topic of this post. Also, feel free to ask any questions or make any suggestions in regards to this post or the blog as a whole if you wish. I will always answer back to you guys ASAP. Also check out the applications I have at the bottom of the page and vote on the new poll I just installed. I think the poll can be pretty fun for all of us to hear what everyone thinks. Until next post my friends, take care and be well. Keep seeing the light, you won't regret it.

Take Care,

Seeingthelight



The Vivitrol Shot

Hello everyone, both new comers and loyal readers, I welcome you guys to my blog about Opiate addiction. This is now my sixth post on this blog and I am happy in the direction in which this blog is going. Some of the things we have talked about so far include the Introduction and Welcome of this blog, my experience with Suboxone, opiate withdrawals, the reasons why we got addicted to opiates, and a post about comparing Suboxone and Methadone. You guys can read any of those posts by simply just clicking on any of the topics I just mentioned in the previous sentence or by going to the homepage of my blog. I would also like to tell all you guys about some of the features I have just added to this blog to help make things a little cooler and interesting. I won't go into much detail but I have added some new features that I think you guys might enjoy. They include an application that provides inspirational quotes and pictures, an application that allows you to share any of the posts through Facebook or Twitter, a new poll that will be updated monthly, and a language translator. All of these applications can be found at the bottom of each post's page and are pretty easy to use. Feel free to play around with them if you want or simply feel free to just ignore them. I want this blog to have a more personal feel to it and hope to develop a type of online community with readers that feel they can come to this site for help and conversation in regards to their addiction to opiates.

Enough of that, let's get to the heart of this particular post. I would like to dedicate this post to a pretty new method of treatment for opiate addiction. This new treatment method seems really interesting and almost like that miracle cure we all desperately wish would just suddenly appear. How many times have you guys wished your addiction (and any other problems for that matter) would just magically disappear and never return? I know I certainly have. Unfortunately it's not that easy and there isn't such a cure at this moment. Although, I wouldn't put it past man and science to one day really come up with something so insanely cool (seriously, some of the shit we have created is amazing). Anyways, the method of treatment I am going to be talking about here is Vivitrol.

The Vivitrol Shot

To those who have not yet heard about Vivitrol or know little about it, let me explain. Vivitrol is a method of treatment for opiate addiction (and alcohol addiction as well) which comes in the form of an injection (shot). The injection is given usually once every 28 days or month and its main purpose is to help addicts remain clean by lowering the sense of cravings and wanting to use. The main ingredient in Vivitrol is Naltrexone and is something I will talk about later in this post. Some of the other things I want to discuss in this post include how Vivitrol works/is used, how successful it can be, some side effects/warnings of the drug, the process of a Vivitrol program, and whatever else I can throw at you guys. I have never used Vivitrol myself but have talked to about 4 or 5 people who are either currently on it or have used it as well as asking both my drug addiction consular and drug addiction doctor. Let's start out by talking about the makeup of Vivitrol and the history of the drug.

As already mentioned, Vivitrol's main ingredient is the drug Naltrexone. Naltrexone is classified as an opioid receptor antagonist and it should be noted that Naltrexone is not the same thing as Naloxone, which is often used to treat someone who is experiencing an opiate or heroin overdose. Naltrexone works well for opiate addicts as it can block the euphoric effects of an opiate taken to get high. Basically, when a patient is on the Vivitrol shot, they cannot get high or will at least have much more difficulty in getting high. Most people that I have talked to that have used the Vivitrol shot say that the thought that they can no longer get high makes them feel less likely to use as they feel it is pointless to spend money on not being able to get high or to get a shitty high. However, this is not say it takes away all cravings and that you can't get high or attempt to get high. I have actually had some people I know and friends of friends who have overdosed or even died by trying to get high off opiates or heroin while on the Vivitrol shot. What usually happens in these cases of people overdosing and sometimes dying is that they attempt to get high while on Vivitrol but are unsuccessful so they attempt to take more of whatever drug they are attempting to get high off. This often leads to them taking far to much and overdosing.

Vivitrol was initially used to help with alcohol dependence and was just recently approved by the FDA in 2010 in the form of the once a month shot for the use of helping with opiate addiction. Naltrexone has been studied far more for alcohol dependence than in treating opioid dependence and there are still some cloudy questions/concerns about the drug as of now. Naltrexone was approved for aiding with opioid dependence in 1984 (at that time not in once a month shot form) but hadn't really started to become popular until just recently. Members of the addiction community felt that a main advantage that the Vivitrol shot has over drugs such as Suboxone and Methadone is that the Vivitrol shot is needed to be taken only once a month rather than having to take a pill on a daily basis like you normally would if you were on a Suboxone or Methadone program. This way it is more convenient for the patient and lowers the risk of the patient being able to skip their dose if you wish to get high like some do with Suboxone or Methadone. In addition to the shot, Vivitrol also comes in the form of an implant which is implanted into the body and is needed to be replaced over a period of 1-4 months depending upon the situation. For this particular post, we will only be discussing Vivitrol in the form of the once a month shot.

It is stressed that Vivitrol be used along with a support network, counseling, and attending of AA/NA meetings. Vivitrol has proven quite successful in helping those who suffer from alcohol addiction but there is not yet enough feedback and information as to how successful it can be with treating opiate addiction. Similar to how one must detox themselves off of opiates to begin a Suboxone or Methadone program, the Vivitrol injection should not be given to patients who are currently still drinking alcohol, people who are still using opiates or street drugs, and people who have used any kind of opiates within the past 7-10 days. To get onto a Vivitrol program, your addiction doctor will require you to take several drug tests in order to ensure that you have no opiates or alcohol in your system before your first (and every other) shot. Similar to Suboxone and Methadone, patients who have not waited long enough since their last dose of alcohol or opiates risk going into precipitated withdrawals. This is why it is important to be upfront and honest with your doctors and support network and to talk to these people frequently. The great thing about the Vivitrol shot is that it is not addicting or habit forming like Suboxone, Methadone, and so many other drugs that are out there. You will not get withdrawals from stopping Vivitrol period. However, it is important to note that if you do stop Vivitrol treatment, you can continue getting cravings or urges depending upon the person and their situation.

Nora Volkow, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), stated the following about the use of Vivitrol in patients suffering from opiate and alcohol addiction:

“As a depot formulation, dosed monthly, Vivitrol obviates the daily need for patients to motivate themselves to stick to a treatment regimen - a formidable task, especially in the face of multiple triggers of craving and relapse. This new option increases the pharmaceutical choices for treating opioid addiction, and may be seen as advantageous by those unwilling to consider agonist or partial agonist approaches to treatment. NIDA is continuing to support research on Vivitrol's effectiveness in this country, including a focus on criminal justice involved populations transitioning back into the community.”

The following statement was issued by the FDA in regards to clinical studies of the Vivitrol shot and the success of it within these clinical studies:

"The phase 3 clinical study upon which the FDA granted approval for Vivitrol in treating opioid dependence had an enrollment of 250 patients and treated for six months. Primary outcome measures were percentage of weekly urine tests negative for opioids and length of study retention during the double-blind period. Alkermes presented positive results from this study at the American Psychiatric Association 2010 Annual Meeting in May 2010. The study met its primary efficacy endpoint and data showed that patients treated once-monthly with Vivitrol demonstrated statistically significant higher rates of opioid-free urine screens, compared to patients treated with a placebo, as measured by the cumulative distribution of clean urine screens."

I was very curious about Vivitrol myself after talking to some other opiate addicts and my consular so I decided to ask my addiction doctor about Vivitrol. As I have said before in other posts, I am currently on a Suboxone outpatient program after battling a 2 year addiction to the Oxycodone 30 mg pills (my daily habit was between 180-300 mg per day). The Suboxone has worked really well for me and I am now over 4 months clean off of the Oxycodone. However, I will eventually stop using the Suboxone one day after my tapering program is finished which has made me somewhat worried and concerned about how I will fare without the Suboxone when that day comes. This has made me to give the Vivitrol shot some thought as I think I may switch over to the shot after I finish my Suboxone program (for how long, I have no idea yet). When I asked my addiction doctor about the shot, she told me it has been quite successful in her patients and gave me a pamphlet about Vivitrol. Everything about the Vivitrol shot seemed great but one thing really stood out to me. Now I realize that nearly every medication out there comes with its own risks and side effects, but man did Vivitrol seem to have a lot. There were a lot of warnings about some of the side effects people can experience when on Vivitrol which began giving me second thoughts, especially with the small amount of information out there on the Vivitrol shot for use of opiate addiction. To sum things up a little quicker and makes things easier, I'm going to post below some of the side effects or risks involved with the Vivitrol shot as a method used to treat opiate addiction. I put it in blue front so you guys can tell what they say and what I am writing, here it is:

Before receiving naltrexone injection,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to naltrexone, any other medications, carboxymethylcellulose (an ingredient in artificial tears and some medications), or polylactide-co-glycolide (PLG; an ingredient in some injected medications). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't know if a medication you are allergic to contains carboxymethylcellulose or PLG.
• tell your doctor if you have taken any opiate medications including certain medications for diarrhea, cough, or pain; methadone (Dolophine); or buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex, in Suboxone) within the last 7 to 10 days. Ask your doctor if you are not sure if a medication you have taken is an opiate Also tell your doctor if you have used any opiate street drugs such as heroin within the last 7 to 10 days. Your doctor may order certain tests to see if you have recently taken any opiate medications or used street drugs. Your doctor will not give you naltrexone injection if you have recently taken an opiate medication or used street drug.
• do not take any opiate medications or use street drugs during your treatment with naltrexone injection. Naltrexone injection blocks the effects of opiate medications and street drugs. You may not feel the effects of these substances if you take or use them at low or normal doses at most times during your treatment. However, you may be more sensitive to the effects of these substances when it is almost time for you to receive a dose of naltrexone injection or if you miss a dose of naltrexone injection. You may experience an overdose if you take normal doses of opiate medications at these times, or if you take high doses of opiate medications or use street drugs at any time during your treatment with naltrexone. An opiate overdose may cause serious injury, coma (long-lasting unconscious state), or death. If you take or use opiate medications or street drugs during your treatment and you develop any of the following symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency medical care immediately: difficulty breathing, slow, shallow breathing, faintness, dizziness, or confusion. Be sure that your family knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor or emergency medical care if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
• you should know that you may be more sensitive to the effects of opiate medications or street drugs after you finish your treatment with naltrexone injection. After you finish your treatment, tell any doctor who may prescribe medication for you that you were previously treated with naltrexone injection.
• tell your doctor what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have stopped taking opiates or using street drugs and are experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sleeplessness, yawning, fever, sweating, teary eyes, runny nose, goose bumps, shakiness, hot or cold flushes, muscle aches, muscle twitches, restlessness, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps, and if you have or have ever had bleeding problems such as hemophilia (a bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally), a low number of platelets in your blood, depression, or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving naltrexone injection, call your doctor.
• if you need medical treatment or surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving naltrexone injection. Wear or carry medical identification so that healthcare providers who treat you in an emergency will know that you are receiving naltrexone injection.
• you should know that naltrexone injection may make you feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you.
• you should know that people who drink large amounts of alcohol or who use street drugs often become depressed and sometimes try to harm or kill themselves. Receiving naltrexone injection does not decrease the risk that you will try to harm yourself. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience symptoms such as feelings of sadness, anxiousness, worthlessness, or helplessness, or thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor right away if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
• you should know that naltrexone injection is only helpful when it is used as part of an addiction treatment program. It is important that you attend all counseling sessions, support group meetings, education programs or other treatments recommended by your doctor.
• talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of naltrexone injection before you receive your first dose. Naltrexone will remain in your body for about 1 month after you receive the injection and cannot be removed before this time.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Naltrexone injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• decreased appetite
• dry mouth
• headache
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• dizziness
• tiredness
• anxiety
• joint pain or stiffness
• muscle cramps
• weakness
• tenderness, redness, bruising, or itching at the injection site

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• pain, hardness, swelling, lumps, blisters, open wounds, or a dark scab at the injection site
• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• hives
• rash
• swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, lips, tongue, or throat
• hoarseness
• difficulty swallowing
• chest pain

Naltrexone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.

Adverse Effects

The most common side effects reported with naltrexone are non-specific gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea and abdominal cramping.

Naltrexone has been reported to cause liver damage (when given at doses higher than recommended). It carries an FDA boxed warning for this potential rare side effect. Due to these reports, some physicians may check liver function tests prior to starting naltrexone, and periodically thereafter. Concerns for liver toxicity initially arose from a study of non-addicted obese patients receiving 300mg of naltrexone. Subsequent studies have suggested limited toxicity in other patient populations.
Naltrexone should not be started prior to several (typically 7-10) days of abstinence from opioids. This is due to the risk of acute opioid withdrawal if naltrexone is taken, as naltrexone will displace most opioids from their receptors. The time of abstinence may be shorter than 7 days, depending on the half-life of the specific opioid taken. Some physicians use a naloxone challenge to determine whether an individual has any opioids remaining. The challenge involves giving a test dose of naloxone and monitoring for opioid withdrawal. If withdrawal occurs, naltrexone should not be started.

It is important that one not attempt to use opioids while using naltrexone. Although naltrexone blocks the opioid receptor, it is possible to override this blockade with very high doses of opioids. However this is quite dangerous and may lead to opioid overdose, respiratory depression, and death. Similarly one will not show normal response to opioid pain medications when taking naltrexone. In a supervised medical setting pain relief is possible but may require higher than usual doses, and the individual should be closely monitored for respiratory depression. All individuals taking naltrexone are encouraged to keep a card or a note in their wallet in case of an injury or another medical emergency. This is to let medical personnel know that special procedures are required if opiate-based painkillers are to be used.

There has been some controversy regarding the use of opioid-receptor antagonists, such as naltrexone, in the long-term management of opioid dependence due to the effect of these agents in sensitizing the opioid receptors. That is, after therapy, the opioid receptors continue to have increased sensitivity for a period during which the patient is at increased risk of opioid overdose. This effect reinforces the necessity of monitoring of therapy and provision of patient support measures by medical practitioners.

As I have said before, I have no experience with the Vivitrol shot so I don't want to seem like I am either knocking it or praising it. I am simply trying to provide you guys with some information about this method of treatment. In my opinion, this option seems to have much promise and appears quite interesting but I would certainly feel more comfortable talking to/hearing from other people about the matter and being able to read more about it. Like always, talk to your doctor and support team before trying the Vivitrol shot or making any drastic moves. Most of the people I have talked to said that the Vivitrol shot works really well for them but nearly all of them said they knew someone or knew of someone who overdosed by taking to much of their drug of choice trying to get high while on the Vivitrol shot. I've also heard of this happening with people who are on Suboxone and Methadone as well as people who were clean after going cold turkey that relapsed and used too much of their drug of choice to achieve a high resulting in overdose. Like anything, be careful and smart my friends with whatever you do, these things really can happen to anyone and usually occur so unexpectedly.

For anyone who is interested in knowing more about Vivitrol, I have listed the link to their official website below:

http://www.vivitrol.com/isi?s_mcid=ps-awb-opd-ma-site

The following was taken from their website homepage and is related to what exactly Vivitrol is, who should take it, and once again warnings and possible side effects. You can see the full medication guide on the site if you wish, it is located at the bottom of the company's homepage on their website that I have listed above this paragraph. Once again, I'll put this information in blue front for you guys.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

           

WHAT IS VIVITROL?

VIVITROL^® (naltrexone for extended-release suspension) is a prescription injectable medicine used to treat alcohol dependence, and to prevent relapse to opioid dependence, after opioid detoxification. You should stop drinking before starting VIVITROL. To be effective, treatment with VIVITROL must be used along with other alcoholism or drug recovery programs such as counseling. VIVITROL may not work for everyone. VIVITROL has not been studied in children under the age of 18 years.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE VIVITROL?

Do not take VIVITROL if you are using or have physical dependence on opioid street drugs, such as heroin, or opioid-containing medicine, such as prescription pain medicine. You must not take opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs for 7-10 days before you start taking VIVITROL. You should not take VIVITROL if you have opioid withdrawal symptoms or are allergic to VIVITROL or any of the ingredients in the liquid used to mix VIVITROL (diluent). Click here to read the full medication guide to find out more about opioid withdrawal symptoms and to see a complete list of ingredients in VIVITROL and the diluent.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

SEVERE REACTIONS AT THE SITE OF INJECTION
Some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe reactions at the site of injection (injection site reactions), including tissue death (necrosis). Some of these injection site reactions have required surgery. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following things happen at your injection site: intense pain, the area feels hard, large area of swelling, lumps, blisters, an open wound or dark scab.

LIVER DAMAGE OR HEPATITIS
Naltrexone, the active ingredient in VIVITROL, can cause liver damage (including liver failure) or hepatitis, if you take more than the recommended dose. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems during treatment with VIVITROL: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your doctor may need to stop treating you with VIVITROL if you get signs or symptoms of a serious problem.

RISK OF OPIOID OVERDOSE
If you have used opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs in the past, you may be more sensitive to lower doses of opioids after VIVITROL treatment stops, when your next VIVITROL dose is due or if you miss a dose of VIVITROL. Using opioids in amounts you used before treatment with VIVITROL can lead to overdose and death. You may not feel the usual effects if you use or abuse heroin and other illegal (street) drugs while on VIVITROL. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as prescription pain pills, or heroin, to overcome effects of VIVITROL. This can lead to overdose including serious injury, coma, or death. You may not feel the usual effects of opioid-containing medicines including medicines for pain, cough and diarrhea while on VIVITROL. It is important that you tell your family and the people closest to you of this increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose. You or someone close to you should get emergency medical help right away if you: have trouble breathing; become very drowsy with slowed breathing; have slow, shallow breathing (little chest movement with breathing); feel faint, very dizzy, or have unusual symptoms.

SEVERE ALLERGIC PNEUMONIA
Some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe allergic pneumonia. Call your doctor right away if you experience shortness of breath or coughing that does not go away. You may need to go to the hospital for treatment with antibiotic and steroid medicines.

SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Serious allergic reactions can happen during or soon after an injection of VIVITROL. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: skin rash, swelling of your face, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing or wheezing, chest pain, feeling dizzy or faint.

           

OTHER POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

VIVITROL can cause other serious side effects, such as depressed mood that can sometimes lead to suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. You should tell your family members and the people closest to you if you are taking VIVITROL. Call your doctor right away if you experience signs of depression. Click here to find out more about some symptoms of depression.

Common side effects of VIVITROL include nausea, tiredness, headache, vomiting, decreased appetite, painful joints and muscle cramps. In addition, common side effects in people taking VIVITROL for opioid dependence also include cold symptoms, trouble sleeping, and toothache.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call
1-800-FDA-1088.

I hope this information is helpful for you guys and can only recommend that if you choose to give Vivitrol a try to really talk it over with your doctors and support network. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't shy away from doing your own research into the matter in addition.

I would also like to talk about how exactly you take the Vivitrol shot and the basic process of getting into and staying with a program that offers Vivitrol. Like Suboxone and Methadone, you must see a doctor who is licensed to offer Vivitrol and you will most likely have to submit to drug testing and meet with a doctor and/or consular on a regular basis. You do not take home the shot and give it to yourself, rather the doctor will be the person giving you the shot. The shot is injected into a person's buttocks. I have no idea how big the needle is or if its painful, or if you can get the shot anywhere else on your body. I also want to note that getting into a Vivitrol program can sometimes be expensive and challenging. Some insurances cover the costs better than others and some do not cover it all so be sure to ask your insurance provider about the shot. I have also heard of some programs and doctors willing to work with their patients in regards to costs and that you can sometimes get like discounts/coupons for treatment like they have for Suboxone programs. I'm not sure if there is a certain limit to the amount of people a doctor can prescribe Vivitrol to such as with Suboxone or Methadone, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was one. Therefore, be sure to do your research and to call around for programs offering the Vivitrol shot if you wish to try it. Also, be sure that you are aware and know of the requirements of the program and are willing to go by their rules.

How the Vivitrol shot is given

A final thing I want to talk about is the Vivitrol Curve Chart, which is basically a chart that shows patients how Vivitrol in body slowly rises until it reaches a peaking point and than begins to drop. Some patients report being able to get high or that they begin to get urges/cravings before their next dose is due. Doctors believe that this is because the Vivitrol shot is beginning to wear off resulting in another dose being needed. This is why you must get the shot every 28 days or so. My doctor told me that sometimes he will prescribe patients a week supply of Naltrexone in the form of a traditional pill the last week before their next dose to help with this issue. This is also why going to meetings and/or getting support from a consular is important when you're on the Vivitrol shot as it will help with urges/cravings and remaining clean. Doctors may also give their patients a one week supply of the Naltrexone before they start their Vivitrol treatment to make sure the patient is OK to take the shot and doesn't have any bad reactions to the Naltrexone.

This graph shows how Naltrexone (Black) in the Vivitrol reaches a peak period then begins to decrease over time resulting in the individual needing to get their next dose. The Gray lines represent Naltrexone in the pill form which stays at a much steadier rate but must be taken on a daily basis.

Another thing about Vivitrol to note is that it doesn't really help with withdrawals you would experience from stopping opiates all together. The Vivitrol is more for helping with the urges/cravings rather than for the withdrawals. Some people say it helps greatly while others say it is not that helpful proving once again that everyone is different and reacts differently to things. Around where I live, Vivitrol is real popular for helping people who have just came out of a Rehab or Detox program as well as people who have recently stopped using Suboxone or Methadone after they waited long enough to get the Vivitrol shot.

Here are some links to some articles or websites devoted to discussing the Vivitrol shot.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/month-vivitrol-shot-opioid-addicts/story?id=11865152
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-naltrexone_injection/article_em.htm
http://www.soberliving.com/specprograms/vivitrol-shot-opioid-opiate-oxycontin-heroin-methadone-addiction-rehab
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/10/13/130534315/vivitrol-once-a-month-drug-is-a-new-anti-addiction-option
http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/addiction/vivitrol-slowly-makes-its-way-into-opioid-dependence-treatment
http://www.stopoxy.com/vivitrol-suboxone-probuphine-addiction-implants
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm229109.htm
http://www.drug-rehabilitation.org/5_benefits_of_vivitrol.php

That's all the information I have for you guys and hope it helps. Talk to your doctors and support network about the Vivitrol shot if it is something you're interested in trying. This post is more for people looking to Vivitrol as a way of helping with opiate addiction rather than for drinking dependence. I would really like to hear what you guys think and know about this new method of treatment and if anyone has any experience with the Vivitrol shot to please feel free to comment and talk about it. I'll leave the rest up to you guys to comment and get some conversation going. Also, don't forgot to check out the new applications and to vote on the new poll listed below. Thanks.

I'm not too sure what my next post is going to be about so if you guys have any ideas, feel free to leave them in the comment section. Until next time my friends, take care, be careful, and be happy. Life is far to short to be living the ways we lived as addicts. There is so much more out there besides getting high and this is coming from someone who really loved getting high. Vivitrol is just one of the many methods to help treat opiate addiction so don't feel as if your options are limited. It is not the path you took to get sober, it is the fact that you are now sober that matters most. Keep seeing the light my friends.

Sincerely,

Seeingthelight