Heroin Vivitrol: Precipitated Withdrawals

[zorkmids]

Hey there, I should be taking the Vivitrol (naltrexone) injection in a few days. I know that it's recommended that you be completely detoxed from heroin before using the shot to avoid precipitated withdrawals, but I'm afraid I might not be able to make it through a few days of cold-turkey detox. I'm wondering what I should expect if I continue to use right up until the night before of the Vivitrol injection. I've heard some horror stories about precipitated withdrawals, but none from any reliable sources.

Specifically I'm wondering about:
-Severity of W/D (puking, diarrhea, pain level)
-Length of W/D (I've heard it can all be over in an hour, but then I've also heard six, I've even heard 24-48 hours)
-Methods to ease W/D symptoms (Immodium, shooting a small amount in an effect to almost 'taper' off)

My habit hasn't been too crazy lately, ranging anywhere from .2g to .8g to 30-60mgs oxycodone.

I was hoping that maybe someone had some solid experience with these precipitated withdrawals, especially from Naltrexone, as I'd imagine W/D's induced from Suboxone would be slightly different seeing that it contains an opiate.

I'm very nervous about this experience, but more than anything I am excited at the chance of having a month+ of guaranteed sobriety. I have OD'd several times lately, and this shot may very well save my life, and would certainly give me a chance to start rebuilding what's left of my life after 8 years of opiate abuse. Thank you very much for your shared experiences and/or suggestions.

:D

 

[Tryptamite]

Why are you getting this shot if you know you won't be able to go three days without? Also with heroin I think 24 hours is long enough, though I could be wrong.

If you can't go three days without how are you going to get clean? You either will have to deal with the pain or keep using. Have you thought about a fast methadone or bupe taper? Or failing that, maintenance? Bupe would be better as it would stop you from using on top, which sounds like the reason you want the vivotril injection.

 

[Effect]

Why are you getting this shot if you know you won't be able to go three days without?

One has to imagine that he was given an ultimatum. Otherwise I'm sure that nobody would forcibly subject themselves to an unknown amount of pain/discomfort due to W/Ds.

 

[sekio]

-Severity of W/D (puking, diarrhea, pain level)
Considering naltrexone is an opioid antagonist (not even a partial agonist like bupe), it's just about the worst possible. From no W/D to full blown W/D in probably under 20 minutes.

-Length of W/D (I've heard it can all be over in an hour, but then I've also heard six, I've even heard 24-48 hours)
Depends on how long you have been using opioids, and at what dose, and personal physiology. Expect a longer withdrawal rather than a shorter one. If you stay mobile and try to push through the soreness you will recover faster than if you sit around all day in bed. Peak effects of w/d are probably 24-72 hours, but expect some residual signs for the coming weeks.

-Methods to ease W/D symptoms (Immodium, shooting a small amount in an effect to almost 'taper' off)
By the time you are on naltrexone, Immodium and other opioid-based methods of "tapering" are not an option. there's an antagonist blocking your receptors and it has higher affinity than most narcotics do, so taking immodium won't do anything.

You have to stick to holistic methods of controlling the W/D. Stay active, hydrated, and try to approach it with a positive attitude (you're getting better with this treatment, not getting worse).

Unfortunately, it's not going to be a walk in the park. Don't expect that you will go in, get a shot, and come out "cured". If you are considering continuing to use narcotics right up until your shot... that should tell you something.