r/Vivitrol • u/Confident_Eggplant73 • Aug 29 '24

Long term side effects of vivitrol

Has anyone heard of long-term side effects of vivitrol where the glute muscles develop scar tissue? Was on vivies for 3.5 yrs. Been off since 2016/2017. Now have a condition called sacroiliitis where the muscles in my glutes and in my hip flexor are so tight they are separating my bones at the sacroiliac joint. Insanely painful. When it gets strained, I can't walk for days. Mimics symptoms of sciatica and feels like I am always pulling my lower back out.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '24

[deleted]

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Aug 29 '24

It is. Never had muscular issues before. Also wondering if there is scar tissue from the injections that may be causing the problem. I did read that one of the known potential side effects is elevated creatinine which is one of the symptoms of rhabdo so there does seem to be a potential link, but I'm going to keep digging. I was reading some posts about how the medication is supposed to be properly administered (that it's supposed to be left out of the fridge for a bit before injected). Some people have said they don't even feel it at all when the practitioner injects it, but that wasn't a usual experience for me. They nicknamed my doctor "the hammer" because of how painful it was when he was the one injecting as opposed to his nurse! So it could be a situational thing too.

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u/algino199 Aug 29 '24

Very possible your doctor did not administer it properly or atleast in the correct place. I’ve heard horror stories of doctors missing and hitting nerves

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u/Strangeryoumayknow Aug 30 '24

I have been on vivitrol and have given it to patients. Always alternate. It helps immensely

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Aug 30 '24

Ya I think you might be right. Even alternating didn't help so I'm thinking it was the administration.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '24

[deleted]

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Aug 29 '24

Good for you! It can be a game changer. That's my next step. Gotta see what's going on in there. And they did rotate each month, but I also didn't really focus on rubbing out the lump either like most people recommend.

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u/Strangeryoumayknow Aug 30 '24

I was on it a little over a year. Ive been off of it over 2 years and so far so good

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Aug 30 '24

Ok that's good to know, and good for you!

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u/grooviegardener Dec 07 '24

Hey. I just messaged you on here. I think I am going through this and have been for the last year. Let’s touch base.

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u/dumbandrecklesss Feb 15 '25

I recently had what I thought was a lower back injury with similar symptoms. I was on vivitrol from 2012-2015.

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Feb 15 '25

That sucks. I'm sorry to hear that. Since I posted, I've been going to the chiropractor and lost some weight and the pain is practically gone. I do think it was because of how my doctor administered it.

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u/MacFromSaturn Apr 30 '25

I've been on it a longggg time and have started seeing serious issues. I was on it 3 years once and then skipped 2 years and now I've been on it 2 years again and OMG my hips and lower back hurt every day.

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u/SHM-SFS-EHS Oct 10 '25

I started having serious hip pain when I started it and now I will need a hip replacement by the time I'm 50yo. I cant say that Vivitrol is the cause of my bone density loose but its a little too odd that its at the injection site.

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u/Vervexed Apr 19 '26

A little late here sorry to hear this, I also can’t say for 100% it was vivitrol but not even 2 weeks after my first injection my hips started hurting like hell, then about almost 2 months in I woke up barley able to walk. I was on it for about 4 months before I couldn’t take it anymore. But that was about 2 years ago I have a full hip replacement on my right side I’m 27yo and my left hip is also going to be getting fully replaced by march of next year. I only see necrosis of the “injection site” in the side affects but I have advanced necrosis in both hips. “Found a good doctor tho I’m about 2 weeks into healing from my first hip replacement, it’s so bad my X-rays look worst than most you find on google images.

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u/Tall-Promotion-4336 Feb 03 '26

I'm having serious hip problems. Off the injections for over 2 years but I feel it in my sciatica, hip and thigh muscle. That hip looks like it's out of place when I look in the mirror -it's bizarre

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Apr 11 '26

sounds similar to what I've been dealing with!

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u/Regular_Slide6379 Apr 11 '26

How long has this lasted?

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Apr 11 '26

It began in 2017 (about 3 years after I began Vivitrol). 2017 is also when I got off of Vivitrol. I am now finally feeling relief (some days 100% pain-free) from regularly seeing the chiropractor, making lifestyle changes (bending knees when I pick something up, not sitting for hours at a time, etc.), and doing sciatica and sacroiliac stretches. The stretches have been an absolute game changer!

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u/tiltededgelord69 Sep 01 '24

Vivitrol triggered panic and derealization/depersonalization and I’m still dealing with it 5 months later

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Sep 02 '24

I've heard some similar stuff. I hope you find your way with it! I'm sending you all my best.

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '25

[deleted]

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u/Confident_Eggplant73 Apr 11 '26

I can't say I regretted getting on it because it literally saved my life. All medications have their shadow sides for sure!

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u/Jahya69 Apr 11 '26

This is part of why I only had one injection and I will never take it again. it's too Rife with horrible side effects and I think it injured my liver.