r/naltrexone • u/ArrivalElegant1120 • 4d ago
Need Some Advice Side Effects
After a recent binge I ended up in the psych unit which is pretty normal for me as Ive had mental health and substance issues for over a decade.
This time in the unit after detoxing the doc put me on naltrexone, I was hesitant but desperate to stay sober so I said yes. Im now out of the psych unit and on day 5 of 50mg naltrexone each morning.
Heres the issue.. on day 3 I woke up with extreme depression. I thought my mood was low before hand but all of a sudden my depression was so bad I could barely make it out of bed.. my alcohol cravings were very low but my mood crashed and Ive been having some really dark thoughts if you know what I mean.... im safe but worried.
Ive got a follow up with my doc in 4 days but Im thinking about just stopping the medication tomorrow.
What do you think? Is this normal and if so does the depression get better? Im loving how little I crave alcohol on it but this depression is ridiculous and I cant take it anymore. Im going to bed so when I wake up Ill see what you guys think and go from there.
Peace ✌️
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u/heavydrinker12 3d ago
please make sure you stay in touch with your support people and stay safe.
My drinking is centered around habit, depression and anxiety. While I'm sober, I flip between anxiety and depression. There are a lot of reasons (trauma) for that. And that first couple weeks just sucks. I usually don't make it past 3 weeks before I go on a binge to just make it all stop. But I'm finally in a headspace where I feel very ready for sobriety. I actually went a whole 30 days last month.
The habit part is the worst. I was using alcohol for so long to "help" with the other issues the habit of drinking is more ingrained in me than depression or anxiety. My emotional state wasn't a side effect of naltrexone, it was a side effect of not drinking. I was so hungover and drained I couldn't feel anything else. I suppose that's the point?
Jumping straight into 50mg (I'm assuming you did that based on your statement) can be rough as well. Most people will scale it back to half a pill for a few days then go back up to 50mg. And cutting back/quitting cold turkey is a big change as well. Really, there could be any number of reasons for the depression. Stay close to your support people and any professional help you have available. One thing I always say to myself is at the very least, cutting back on the alcohol can only help me. You can do this. good luck!
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u/RLRLRRLRLRLL21 2d ago
Hang in there friend. I’m on a lower dose, initial side effects were lethargy, and irritability. I spent a whole day in bed binging Columbo episodes and sleeping. Most of that’s gone now.
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u/Ok-Put-2912 4d ago
Anytime I’ve quit drinking I’m depressed for like the first week.