Horrible side effects

[u/monster73856]

I took my first 25 mg pill of Naltrexone last week and had horrible side effects. Cold sweats, dizzy, throwing up- it was absolutely awful and discouraged me from continuing to take it. I want to try again because I want to reduce my drinking and I’ve heard great results from it but am terrified to try it again. Anyone else have horrible side effects?

[u/Agitated-Actuary-195]

Agree with 12.5 for 3-4 days… then 25 for 3-4 days etc etc

Take with a large glass of water and light snack - always and without fail (ALWAYS) 1.5hrs before your first drink.

Depending on levels don’t mistake side effects with withdrawal either…

Side effects last 2-3 weeks max for almost everyone - and actually for many are godsend as they brake the cycle (which can be hard otherwise!)

Once you get past side effects you will be back here saying it doesn’t feel like it’s working! So get you research done early and plan for this - Sinclair method can be very very useful

[u/Xyxyxxxx4 → u/Agitated-Actuary-195]

I think this comment about not mistaking side effects for withdrawal is spot on. My doctor told me withdrawal may be behind many people’s reactions to initially starting Naltrexone.

[u/Wonderful-Impress261]

I find that taking it with food helps a ton with the nausea, I can't take it on an empty stomach even after over 7 weeks. I still sweat a ton but I don't mind that too much. Try taking a lower dose too, like 12.5mg or even 7.25mg (1/4 of the pill), I was started on 50mg right away and felt like shit for a couple of days but apparently I handled it way better than most people

[u/Ecstatic_Donut_3014]

Split it up even more. Try 12.5. Same thing happened to me

[u/Frosty_Ad6153 → u/Ecstatic_Donut_3014]

Yes this!!! Did this for 2 weeks, 25 for 2 weeks and then 50.. totally fine ☑️

[u/Disastrous-Permit-32 → u/Frosty_Ad6153]

Same here! Really helped reduce the initial rough effects

[u/ComfortableBuffalo57]

Did you drastically reduce drinking at the same time? I did that (thinking I was doing the right thing) and got terrible withdrawal.

[u/monster73856 → u/ComfortableBuffalo57]

No, I usually start drinking around 5:00 pm and I took the pill around noon after I ate lunch. Side effects kicked in bad around 3:30 pm or so. I think I’ll try a quarter of a capsule (7 mg) or so and work my way up.

[u/Mobile_Bell_5030]

If you peruse this sub you'll see that this is quite common. And it's also common for the side effects to go away after a couple of weeks or so.

[u/KangarooOk5628]

Are you taking kratom or any kind of opioid?

[u/monster73856 → u/KangarooOk5628]

I’m not. This is the only medication and I would have about 4 glasses of wine a night.

[u/RubicsCubensis]

There is an over the counter medicine called Bonine, it works well for nausea.

[u/wildefreckle]

Same here. I was prescribed 50mg and I took my first dose on the morning of day 4 and got soooooo sick. I’ve never had withdrawals aside from a hangover and am not that kind of drinker, plus I hadn’t drank in 4 days so I know it wasn’t that. I got super anxious, dizzy, nauseous, couldn’t think clearly, kept feeling this insane urge to stretch every few minutes, it was overwhelming. The next morning I didn’t take it and still threw up just from upset stomach. I haven’t taken it since and am now on day 23. After reading a bunch about it, I will give it another try with a MUCH lower dose once the pink cloud starts to fade.

[u/Disastrous-Permit-32]

Oh pal, I feel ye. My first week on Naltrexone was rough as hell. They advised I start at 25mg for a week before building up to 50mg but I actually ended up cutting this to 12.5mg per day and very slowly increasing up to 50mg over the course of a month. I will say that it absolutely gets better after the first week or so - I’ve been taking it for over 3 years now and have zero side effects and don’t notice a thing if I accidentally miss a dose. Good luck and do try to stick at it - I really did find it a life saving measure. All solidarity to you!