Addiction - ADDICTS, Your potential savior medication is here!

[Lippmannk1]

SWIM is writing this because he is amazed at the power this new medication had on him. Swim knows the misery and sadness addiction causes to the addict and everyone around them. SWIM, having been saved by this medication, thought it might be prudent to share his experiences so that you, the reader, might benefit from his knowledge. Knowledge is power, and this letter is meant to give you the knowledge you can use to hopefully destroy your addiction.

You might or might not have heard about Vivitrol. Vivitrol is an extended release shot that will completely block even the strongest heroin high. It will block it to the point that if you try to overcome it you will kill yourself before you feel a buzz. You will essentially be FORCED off the Heroin/opates for 25 days if you take this, and you can get your life back together, pull yourself out of the gutter, get some money back, get your girlfriend/boyfriend back, get your house back, get your friends back, get your sanity back, or WHATEVER you lost to your addiction.

Here is the answer to all your questions from someone who has used it, and even a few tips to getting it out of your system slightly faster if an emergency arises where you NEED the opiates:

Swim had been abusing opiates for 3 years and nothing he tried let him kick the habit. Swim was a sad sack of shit at this point, and the last thing available was the relatively new drug called "Vivitrol" that his doctor had just recently found out about. Swim accepted it, knowing full well that if he kept up what he was doing he would probably lose his house and possibly his life.

FELLOW ADDICTS, this is the important part you need to read.

Swim took the shot and IMMEDIATELY FELT BETTER! Cravings diminished considerably, and the one thing that helped the most was knowing that no matter WHAT swim did, he was NOT going to get high on opiates anymore without killing himself first. For the first time, Swim was able to brush off that nagging little voice that told him "Get high!", and reply to that voice "I can't, why bother me anymore?" It has the potential to save your ass, and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about going on a Vivitrol program. Don't be afraid of WDing, you won't unless you recently binged on opiates 5 days before the shot or sooner. Don't be afraid of cravings, because the Vivitrol is going to help you with that. The only thing you need to worry about is some freak accident happening where you could need opiates. You shouldn't even be worried about this, though, because there are other drugs and certain tranquilizers that will put you in lala-land where the only thing you will notice is the pink rabbit you are having a conversation with.

So, here SWIM is, using Vivitrol for the first time. Immediately after he took the shot, he felt "brightened up" and slightly dizzy. Aside from being slightly depressed for 5 days after the initial shot, Swim was fine. About 6 days into the shot, swim could enjoy things around him again without opiates. Swim noticed colors more, noticed he had self control again, and noticed that he was getting back stuff he had lost to his addiction. The biggest improvement of all was SWIM got his sanity back and could LIVE again. SWIM was finally breathing the free air and living life. He got a girlfriend again and all was well except for the normal setbacks of life. All this happened within the first month of the shot. It was wonderful.

There was, however, a downside. There are pros and cons to everything, and this was one of the major cons of using vivitrol. Swim was 10 days into his second vivitrol shot. Swim was doing aerobic ball crunches and somehow sheared a rib off. It hurt. Every breath felt like someone was punching SWIM in the rib with brass knuckles. Swim has experienced a 1/2 force punch to the rib from a friend to see what it could do. The sheared rib from the crunches, however, hurt about 3x as bad. SWIM was taken to the ER and given a scrip for Hydrocodone/apap 5/500s. (5 mg hydrocodone/500mg tylenol). The doctor, obviously, had no clue he was on Vivitrol, and SWIM didn't bother to tell him because he was purple in the face with pain.

SWIM rushed over to the pharmacy and picked up those pills and, being an addict in severe pain, lost some self control. He immediately took 4 of them. Directions said a max of 2, but SWIM knew he was on Vivitrol and thought SWIM would need about this much for it to do anything. This was on day 10 of SWIM's second vivitrol shot. 20mg hydrocodone did NOTHING but give him one HELL of a searing headache in the back of his head that lasted 5 hours. Swim was pissed, in pain, and about ready to chug the whole bottle. He decided not to (best choice) and decided to keep a log on a calendar instead, where he would record his attempts to overcome the vivitrol opiate blockade. Swim is immensely glad that he did this, so that he can pass the valuable information on to you. This should give you some idea as to the raw power Vivitrol has in blocking opiates and stopping YOUR addiction. Every 5 days swim would take 4 pills and see what happened. Here are the results:

Day 10: 20mg hydrocodone: Result = Severe headache.

Day 15: 20mg hydrocodone: Result = Severe headache, but less pronounced.

Day 20: 20mg hydrocodone: Result = Moderate headache, not even a buzz yet.

Day 22: (SWIM runs out of hydrocodone and switches to poppy tea, which he knows the relative strength of). Equivalency of about 30mg oxycontin in poppy tea: Result = A very VERY slight buzz and a moderate headache. Buzz went away in 20 minutes.

Day 24: Poppy tea 30mg oxycontin equivalent: Result = Mild headache and a very mild buzz that evaporated in an hour. Pain relief starts here.

Day 25: Same dose, increase of pain relief and euphoria by about 10-15%. No headache from this point forward.

Day 26: Same dose, increase of pain relief and euphoria by additional 10-15%.

Day 27: Same dose, increase of pain relief and euphoria by additional 10%. Estimated ammt. of opiate blockage remains at 75%.

Day 28. Same dose, increase of pain relief and euphoria. Estimated ammt. of opiates blocked drops to about 50%

Day 29: Same as day 28.

Day 30: Opiate blockade declines rapidly to 25%. Can now use with near full effect. Lowered poppy tea dosage by 1/3 to fit ammt. of pain relief needed.

SWIM was put back on the shot, and for the hell of it SWIM decided to find out if there was any way possible of getting this medication out of his system faster. There really isn't much you can do, and this is good because this helps you overcome your addiction. SWIM decided to try a few things:

1. Punch himself as hard as he could in the injection site to release more medicine quicker, thus trying to get rid of it faster.

2. Drinking a TON of water.

3. Consuming a multivitamin to give liver support so it might remove it faster.

4. Sitting in the sauna for as long as SWIM could to attemt a "sweat out toxins" routine. SWIM has no clue if this did anything, but it probably increased bloodflow to the area where the shot was injected, and thus thought it might be removed faster.

5. Consumed healthy non-junkfood foods and drank BOTTLED WATER. You have NO idea how much stress this takes off your body.

6. (This is the biggie). Exercised the hell out of the muscle that had the medicine injected into it. SWIM did targeted weightlifting. This loosens it up and causes the "microspheres" to possibly break up faster. They give you the vivitrol shot just above your ass. When you walk, this releases the medication slowly and steadily. In theory I thought that if you exercised this muscle enough, it would work some of the medication out faster.

After doing all 6 steps every damn day SWIM decided to test the blockade just for the hell of it. Swim screwed up here, but was intensely curious to see if anything he had done had helped. His little routine shaved off a measily 5 days.

There you have it. Vivitrol is almost impossible to beat. You don't have to deal with any of the "I'll just take it one more time and quit" bull shit anymore. Even if you attempt to shoot up (or whatever it is that you do), it plain won't work. SWIM recovered his life, and so can you.

Let SWIM take the opportunity to say something. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME THE VIVITROL LIKE SWIM DID. SWIM COULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF AND HE WAS DAMN LUCKY TO BE OK. IF YOU WANT TO KILL YOURSELF AND DEPRIBE YOURSELF OF LIFE, YOU SIR, ARE A DUMBASS.

SWIM is trying to be honest in this post and has flaws like everyone on this planet. SWIM will mention that he still likes to enjoy an opiate buzz from poppy tea every 30 days or so (when the vivitrol wears off). He knows damn well he shouldn't do this, and he only does this when he has purchased his new shot and it is waiting for him at the pharmacy to be used in 3 days. However, think how much of an improvement this is? Swim went from the equivalent of 50mg oxycontin a day down to the equivalent of 20-30mg oxycontin every 30 days. This gives me something to look forward to, especially when Harry Potter 6 comes out. It falls right on SWIM's "use" date. 8^) When all this is said and done though, swim has his life back. He has a girl, is continuing his education, has lots more money to spend, and is loving life better than he ever loved it on opiates. SWIM wrote this for you, the reader, and hopes that this helps. Swim has been through what you are going through, and wishes the best for you whether you use this medication or not.

If you have any questions please ask. Swim will answer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--Here are some of the questions that have been asked, and that SWIM has answered below. Swim was going to leave it as a reply, but thought that some of the information below was too important to leave out of the main post.--

Q:Will Vivitrol help with the pains of withdrawls?
A: No. It will only keep the cravings away and prevent you from slipping back into your addiction. For withdrawls, SWIM (who has gone through extreme withdrawls and learned how to deal with them) would suggest that you take really hot baths and consume the max of tylenol, ibuprofen, and asprin all at the same time. Yes, this is a little hard on your liver, but you will be OK. It would also be wise to find a benzodiazepine to take during your withdrawls also. An example of a benzo would be Xanax or Alprazolam. DO NOT OVERDO THE BENZOS!!! You can kill yourself on them. Just take the ammt. printed on the bottle. If that doesn't help call your doctor and tell him what is going on. Ask if you can take a second. The final thing I can recommend is to GET A MASSAGE. Massages are incredible when it comes to helping withdrawls.

Q: Was SWIM doing Vivitrol when he was detoxing?
A: No. Immediately after SWIM detoxed for 5 days he took the Vivitrol shot. It helped with the cravings like you can't believe.

Q: Vivitrol is expensive, isn't it?
A: Yes, but so is rehab, and so is your addiction. SWIM's addiction in one month outweighed the cost of his shot by a factor of 2.5 times. For the cost of your shot, you are also getting things that are PRICELESS. You are recovering your life, recovering your family, and an infinite number of things that you lost to your addiction and didn't even realize. Can you even put a price on the stuff I just named in the last sentence?

Q: Whats the difference between Vivitrol and Methadone/Suboxone?
A: With Methadone and Suboxone, you just substitute one addiction for another and go in an infinite cycle. Methadone is particularly bad because it takes 5 times longer to withdrawal from then Heroin. With Vivitrol, however, you can't use on top like you can with Methadone and Suboxone, and you take one shot and your DONE for a whole month. You don't have to fight yourself or keep going into a clinic to get methadone, which most people end up abusing anyways.

Statement: Vivitrol isn't new! It's just Naltrexone, isn't it?
A: WRONG. Vivtrol is EXTREMELY new. Naltrexone isn't. The difference between the two is this: Vivitrol is composed of tiny bits of naltrexone covered in plastic. The plastic degrades very slowly over time allowing for the continuous release of Naltrexone which will block all opiates. Vivitrol has only been in existence for less than 5 years. It was created to help Alchoholics, and in the process they found that it works many fold times better for Opiate addicts. It works the same way with Alchohol, because the euphoria from Alchohol uses the very same opiate receptors that we here are all oh-so-familiar with. Only very recently (about a year) have they even started to give Vivitrol to Opiate addicts.


Originally Posted by east_of_eden
most heroin addicts swim knows think of heroin like the great love of their life but in a destructive relationship kind of way, so swim would honestly like to know, if swiy takes this shot, how is it that the person doesn't feel depressed and sad like they lost their lover or best friend?

swims not trying to romanticize heroin here but some posts have made it sound like people just walk right out of their heroin addiction like it was never a part of their lives and if that's the case, then how and why?

does this shot actually change someone's brain chemistry in some way (in addition to blocking opiates), where they just don't think or feel the same way anymore about using?


This is one of the critical questions I have been waiting for. I am sure that many of you are screaming "YEAH, THAT MAKES A TON OF SENSE, FUCK VIVITROL!" Hold your horses please, let me explain.

When someone gets addicted to an opiate, it starts to replace all your natural feel good endorphins. SWIM's brain chemistry was so screwed up that he couldn't even enjoy sex without opiates. SWIM was THAT bad. Please realize that your own feel good endorphins are much more potent than opiates. Opiates, when used recreationally, destroy you untill there is NOTHING left. The love for opiates blinded SWIM to the point where he nearly threw everything good in his life away. Please, take it from someone who was once in your shoes: You are sick. You are very sick, and I was once very sick. Your sense of reason, much like mine once was, is just as impaired as a blind man is to his sight. It SEEMS that life is not worth living without opaites, but you are being tricked by them.

I can make you this promise that if you take the Vivitrol consistently for 3 months, you will realize that life is so much better without them. I can't even express in writing how important it is for you to find this out for yourself. Is it possible that you can be depressed for a week after? Yes, that is very likely, and you should ask your doctor for some xanax to make it through that short period. BUT, IT WILL PASS!!! and you will be a better person for it!

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Good first hand experience. Thanks for sharing.
	What an excellent first hand account.

[nojokeshere]

I have a question - will the meds take away the pain from withdrawls? And if so, can you just go to the ER room or reg doc and ask for it? I'd assume they'ed be more than happy to help a person kick a habit.

[Spucky]

Originally Posted by nojokeshere

I have a question - will the meds take away the pain from withdrawls?

Just read everything here in this Forum about "Naltrexone"
This Medicament is not new or without pleas!

[chillinwill]

Originally Posted by Spucky

Just read everything here in this Forum about "Naltrexone"
This Medicament is not new or without pleas!

Naltrexone isn't new but the Vivitrol shot is relatively new (2006 I believe). As far as the shot goes, without insurance, it costs $800+ so I doubt you can just go to the emergency room and get it. A doc can prescribe it though as this is the situation for Red Rock. One must be clean for 7-10 days prior to the shot being administered thus making one have to go through most of the withdrawals before getting the shot. Red Rock went from slightly over a gram a day IV heroin habit to 16mg Suboxone to straight cold turkey for 7 days in order to get on the Vivitrol shot. Even once the shot was administered for the first time, minor to moderate withdrawals were still felt.

Don't get Red Rock wrong though; this shot has saved his life. It has worked so much better for him than being on methadone and Suboxone.

Reputation Comments on this post:

nice clarification, thanks for including the personal take on it

[Zendo]

Originally Posted by chillinwill

Naltrexone isn't new but the Vivitrol shot is relatively new (2006 I believe). As far as the shot goes, without insurance, it costs $800+

Woah how is $800 justifiable, that blows my mind

[Wallet]

Might be a little off topic but I remember that when I had to get a blood clotting shot it was $500 a shot. I needed two every day for like 10 days. I went to another doctor and she gave me a perscription for a different brand of shot that cost like $300 for the whole set instead. For some reason the other doctor didn't mention those It's things like that that make me hate out current health care system.

[H Bomber]

Originally Posted by Zendo

Woah how is $800 justifiable, that blows my mind

Guess it depends on how much swiy spends on opioids. Swim could spend 800 in a few days, tops, if he has a bad habit. So not only can this be a cheaper than the amount swiy might spend, but also the question one must take into account is "how much is it worth to me to not be strung out?".

Oh, and in response to what wallet said, swim is pretty sure that vivitrol is a new enough medication that all it's patents and copyrights and what not are still in full effect. This would mean that a generic form and/or other brand name isn't available on the US market yet, unfortunately.

[dyingtomorrow]

SWIM's psychiatrist tried to make him start taking the Revia pills when he first started going a couple months ago, which is the same thing except in daily pill form.

SWIM was lucky that he didn't. His psychiatrist also put him on 2 other bi-polar drugs, and an anti-depressant, which as the days passed made SWIM more and more constantly obsess about suicide until it was the only thing in his mind and he started getting manic about it. One morning he woke up in a purely practical and emotionless mind state determined to do it, but then went and got some heroin instead, and it made him feel "normal" again. Had he been on the Revia/Naltrexone it would have been game over.

[chillinwill]

Was this when SWIY was detoxing? Also, of course most people would want and choose the heroin over something that that is unproven to most of the community, but how does SWIY know that by taking the naltexone pills, this would have made them worse off than before?

[east_of_eden]

swim will have to read more about this but she doesn't think this would be an easy thing to do being that she has a triple habit of heroin, methadone and a combo of benzos taken daily.

if someone could go from using to getting this shot without withdrawals that would be amazing and she would probably think about it more seriously, but the idea of trying to come off of H/M.D./benzos is too much.

swim is not sure she could cold turkey it this time, but she supposes someone could go to a detox hospital first, then directly to the shot?

swim still doesn't believe that the depression and desire to use wouldn't be overwhelming though. it seems like a nightmare but swims read a few people's posts saying they didn't feel this way, so hmm...

[chillinwill]

The desire to use is still there but Red Rock has found that it is MUCH more infrequent and not as severe cravings when it does happen.

[east_of_eden]

most heroin addicts swim knows think of heroin like the great love of their life but in a destructive relationship kind of way, so swim would honestly like to know, if swiy takes this shot, how is it that the person doesn't feel depressed and sad like they lost their lover or best friend?

swims not trying to romanticize heroin here but some posts have made it sound like people just walk right out of their heroin addiction like it was never a part of their lives and if that's the case, then how and why?

does this shot actually change someone's brain chemistry in some way (in addition to blocking opiates), where they just don't think or feel the same way anymore about using?

[Lippmannk1]

Sorry to all who have asked a question, I have been on vacation for the past few days and have just read the responses here. SWIM is happy that the responses were positive and that SWIM has been given a few good reviews.

Q:Will Vivitrol help with the pains of withdrawls?
A: No. It will only keep the cravings away and prevent you from slipping back into your addiction. For withdrawls, SWIM (who has gone through extreme withdrawls and learned how to deal with them) would suggest that you take really hot baths and consume the max of tylenol, ibuprofen, and asprin all at the same time. Yes, this is a little hard on your liver, but you will be OK. It would also be wise to find a benzodiazepine to take during your withdrawls also. An example of a benzo would be Xanax or Alprazolam. DO NOT OVERDO THE BENZOS!!! You can kill yourself on them. Just take the ammt. printed on the bottle. If that doesn't help call your doctor and tell him what is going on. Ask if you can take a second. The final thing I can recommend is to GET A MASSAGE. Massages are incredible when it comes to helping withdrawls.

Q: Was SWIM doing Vivitrol when he was detoxing?
A: No. Immediately after SWIM detoxed for 5 days he took the Vivitrol shot. It helped with the cravings like you can't believe.

Q: Vivitrol is expensive, isn't it?
A: Yes, but so is rehab, and so is your addiction. SWIM's addiction in one month outweighed the cost of his shot by a factor of 2.5 times. For the cost of your shot, you are also getting things that are PRICELESS. You are recovering your life, recovering your family, and an infinite number of things that you lost to your addiction and didn't even realize. Can you even put a price on the stuff I just named in the last sentence?

Statement: Vivitrol isn't new! It's just Naltrexone, isn't it?
A: WRONG. Vivtrol is EXTREMELY new. Naltrexone isn't. The difference between the two is this: Vivitrol is composed of tiny bits of naltrexone covered in plastic. The plastic degrades very slowly over time allowing for the continuous release of Naltrexone which will block all opiates. Vivitrol has only been in existence for less than 5 years. It was created to help Alchoholics, and in the process they found that it works many fold times better for Opiate addicts. It works the same way with Alchohol, because the euphoria from Alchohol uses the very same opiate receptors that we here are all oh-so-familiar with. Only very recently (about a year) have they even started to give Vivitrol to Opiate addicts.

Lippmannk1 added 25 Minutes and 57 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by east_of_eden

most heroin addicts swim knows think of heroin like the great love of their life but in a destructive relationship kind of way, so swim would honestly like to know, if swiy takes this shot, how is it that the person doesn't feel depressed and sad like they lost their lover or best friend?

swims not trying to romanticize heroin here but some posts have made it sound like people just walk right out of their heroin addiction like it was never a part of their lives and if that's the case, then how and why?

does this shot actually change someone's brain chemistry in some way (in addition to blocking opiates), where they just don't think or feel the same way anymore about using?

This is one of the critical questions I have been waiting for. I am sure that many of you are screaming "YEAH, THAT MAKES A TON OF SENSE, FUCK VIVITROL!" Hold your horses please, let me explain.

When someone gets addicted to an opiate, it starts to replace all your natural feel good endorphins. SWIM's brain chemistry was so screwed up that he couldn't even enjoy sex without opiates. SWIM was THAT bad. Please realize that your own feel good endorphins are much more potent than opiates. Opiates, when used recreationally, destroy you untill there is NOTHING left. The love for opiates blinded SWIM to the point where he nearly threw everything good in his life away. Please, take it from someone who was once in your shoes: You are sick. You are very sick, and I was once very sick. Your sense of reason, much like mine once was, is just as impaired as a blind man is to his sight. It SEEMS that life is not worth living without opaites, but you are being tricked by them.

I can make you this promise that if you take the Vivitrol consistently for 3 months, you will realize that life is so much better without them. I can't even express in writing how important it is for you to find this out for yourself. Is it possible that you can be depressed for a week after? Yes, that is very likely, and you should ask your doctor for some xanax to make it through that short period. BUT, IT WILL PASS!!! and you will be a better person for it!

[chillinwill]

Originally Posted by Lippmannk1

Is it possible that you can be depressed for a week after? Yes, that is very likely, and you should ask your doctor for some xanax to make it through that short period. BUT, IT WILL PASS!!! and you will be a better person for it!

I dunno about the idea of asking a doctor to prescribe alprazolam (Xanax) for depression issues. To me, the alprazolam should only be used for the first week or two in the opiate withdrawal and then be done with it. This is NOT something that should be prescribed for depression issues.

[Lippmannk1]

Originally Posted by chillinwill

I dunno about the idea of asking a doctor to prescribe alprazolam (Xanax) for depression issues. To me, the alprazolam should only be used for the first week or two in the opiate withdrawal and then be done with it. This is NOT something that should be prescribed for depression issues.

I agree, and this decision should be left up to the doctor, who knows the individual. It is my opinion that people who have been using for years (like SWIM) and take this shot should be PREPARED with medicine to help them cope for the first week or so, because it might be hard. The individual should only take it on a need-it-now basis, not constantly. SWIM is only saying that it might be a wise thing to have on hand incase one becomes extremely anxious. It is possible, but not probable. Even if it does happen, it will pass and it will pass quickly. The possible week or two of depression that might occur is NOTHING compared to the years of happiness that will follow from being released of the opiate addiction.

[chillinwill]

^^Exactly. I just got the impression from your previous post (and maybe I was reading it wrong) that you were saying its a good thing for a doctor to prescribe the alprazolam for depression. The alprazolam should be used for the anxiety.

[Lippmannk1]

/bump so more people can see this if they want.

[ex-junkie]

does the american government subsidise vivitrol and naltrexone for alcoholics?

[m.swinehart81]

I dont believe the United States government subsidizes those medications for any addict. Alot of it is different from state to state though. Like methadone... Some states have clinics that charge you on a sliding scale that is based on income, but there are other states that charge a flat weekly rate no matter what. As far as vivitrol and naltrexone goes though there arent any "clinics" that deal with that kind of thing and it would all have to come from a doctor with a private practice.

I may be wrong about this though, there may be some obscure clinic somewhere that does deal with those medications. I personally have never heard or seen of one though...

[missparkles]

The most disturbing aspect of this medication was mentioned in the first post. If swiy gets sick no pain relief is going to work.
Swim suffers with Renal Colic (kidney stones) and swim was on Subutex a few years ago and the pain was overwhelming. But swim couldn't be given any opiates.
Swim would never take anything that stopped her getting pain relief, never.
It was a nightmare.
Getting clean and staying clean is about personal responsibility for swim. She has to want it enough to do it. Using a substance to stay clean doesn't work for swim, but if it helps others, then it's good.
Swim would like to see this meds reduced in cost to help anyone who needs it. Luckily here in the UK meds are affordable.
To say that drug use is a big problem for society and, then make the drugs that might help someone who is addicted too expensive, is so hypocritical.

[Lippmannk1]

Originally Posted by missparkles

The most disturbing aspect of this medication was mentioned in the first post. If swiy gets sick no pain relief is going to work.
Swim suffers with Renal Colic (kidney stones) and swim was on Subutex a few years ago and the pain was overwhelming. But swim couldn't be given any opiates.
Swim would never take anything that stopped her getting pain relief, never.
It was a nightmare.
Getting clean and staying clean is about personal responsibility for swim. She has to want it enough to do it. Using a substance to stay clean doesn't work for swim, but if it helps others, then it's good.
Swim would like to see this meds reduced in cost to help anyone who needs it. Luckily here in the UK meds are affordable.
To say that drug use is a big problem for society and, then make the drugs that might help someone who is addicted too expensive, is so hypocritical.

You need to realize there are tranquilizers and other medicines out there besides pain medicine. Sure, they are the first line of defence, but there are plenty of pills and shots out there that will take care of the pain just as well or nearly as well as an opiate.

IMO, it is the lesser of two evils to get a shot and save your life from ODing, then breaking your leg and having to go on tranquilizers and numbing agents.

[missparkles]

Originally Posted by Lippmannk1

You need to realize there are tranquilizers and other medicines out there besides pain medicine. Sure, they are the first line of defence, but there are plenty of pills and shots out there that will take care of the pain just as well or nearly as well as an opiate.

IMO, it is the lesser of two evils to get a shot and save your life from ODing, then breaking your leg and having to go on tranquilizers and numbing agents.

Having been in this situation swim has to disagree.
Being in pain and not being able to have pain meds is a nightmare. And as tranquilizers were swims gateway drug they would be just as much of a risk, than a single shot of an opiate.
Swim just thinks this isn't the miracle cure it's being hailed as. If it were every addict would be clean. There are so many variables to factor into the equation, it's not that clear cut.
But again this is just swims opinion.

missparkles added 1 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...

Swim knows very little about this, but does it stop someone over dosing or does it just stop the drugs from taking effect?
Thanks.

[chillinwill]

Originally Posted by missparkles

Having been in this situation swim has to disagree.
Being in pain and not being able to have pain meds is a nightmare. And as tranquilizers were swims gateway drug they would be just as much of a risk, than a single shot of an opiate.
Swim just thinks this isn't the miracle cure it's being hailed as. If it were every addict would be clean. There are so many variables to factor into the equation, it's not that clear cut.
But again this is just swims opinion.

missparkles added 1 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...

Swim knows very little about this, but does it stop someone over dosing or does it just stop the drugs from taking effect?
Thanks.

It stops the drugs from taking effect (for the most part). If one tries to overcome the opiate blockade by doing say 10x the amount they normally do, they might be able to feel a little something but nowwhere near the high it would be without the shot. Red Rock's tolerance was at 1.1g a day and he did 2.2g in 2 shots back to back and he felt the heroin rush coming on for about 20 seconds or so and then it just totally disappeared. It left him tasting the heroin in his mouth but not feeling any high whatsover. So basically the shot prevents the opiates from taking effect. There are numerous warnings all over the product information about doing this exact thing and trying to overcome the opiate blockade. It states that this can cause death so the Vivitrol shot is not a full proof way to stop someone from overdosing nor is this it's intended purpose.

The Vivitrol shot might work for one person, but not another. That's why so many factors play into addiction and recovery. If one has chronic pain problems, then the Vivitrol shot does nothing to help with the pain. It just prevents one from feeling the effect of an opiate and reduces cravings. The Vivitrol shot is not a miracle drug, but for Red Rock, it has worked better than any other option he has tried which includes methadone, buprenorphine, attempting to maintain heroin dose, tapering slowly off heroin, switching to less powerful opiates, etc.

[Lippmannk1]

Originally Posted by missparkles

Having been in this situation swim has to disagree.
Being in pain and not being able to have pain meds is a nightmare. And as tranquilizers were swims gateway drug they would be just as much of a risk, than a single shot of an opiate.
Swim just thinks this isn't the miracle cure it's being hailed as. If it were every addict would be clean. There are so many variables to factor into the equation, it's not that clear cut.
But again this is just swims opinion.

missparkles added 1 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...

Swim knows very little about this, but does it stop someone over dosing or does it just stop the drugs from taking effect?
Thanks.

"If it were a miracle drug every addict would be clean."

Vivitrol is so new that hardly anyone has heard of it. SWIM was one of the first test cases.

Also, please read the ENTIRE thread before you post. I don't think you did, because you are asking questions and saying things that don't jive with the information put forth in the OP. Everything you ever needed to know is in that post.

[zulu1690]

when swim was taking naltrexone for a week and then stopped it took about 3 days after the last one for the H to work again.also swim was using gear for a couple of weeks then like a muppet took a naltrexone and was face down on swims bed unable to move for about 21 hours.swim had done the detox 5in fact swims done 2 detox 5.so there's a much longer time difference compared to how quick naltrexone comes out the system.but after swims nightmare 21 hours with the naltrexone swim will never go near a blocker.works for some though.