Julia are you there?

[ywf27]

Can you please tell me more about naltrexone therapy. I'am coming off methadone after 8 years. I'am on day 22 and at risk of losing my job and my lively hood. Every night I suffer. There has been some improvement but everyday I wake up sick. I want sobriety soo bad but illness is breaking me down. Please tell me what to do. My husband can't keep taking care of me. My illness will break him too. He has been amazing but he has no experience, he cant understand. I'm scared. I'm really scared. I don't want to lose everything.

[ywf27]

Thank you. I know theres hope for me. I will certainly look in to it.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

It is extremely difficult to stay clean after being on opiates for a long time- especially Methadone. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself.  It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression.
I am a big believer in post withdrawal long term Naltrexone therapy. This is what we practice in our clinic. Our goal is initiation of long-term Naltrexone therapy, which will guard you from physical cravings and enable you to participate in viable talk therapy which can actually produce result without the constant pull of opiates. Because Naltrexone induces withdrawals if you are not completely clean and opiate free, we initiate that therapy under sedation, so that the bulk of the acute withdrawals happens while you are asleep.
However, if you happen to be clean of all opiate - including, of course, Suboxone, you can just get a shot of Vivitrol.  Vivitrol is - injectable Naltrexone that is slowly release into your system over a month period. It allows your brain to heal and slowly restructure itself back to its original pristine condition. It will also let your psyche to become used to being sober and clean as a "new normal".  Talk to your doctor about it. If your physician does not prescibe it, go on Vivitrol.com site to find a doctor who does in your area. It is usually completely covered by insurance.
I have written several blogs on this exact matter. You can reach them by clicking on my name and than following that to blogs.
It would be a very good decision for you to get on a long term Naltrexone therapy by getting a Vivitrol shot for at least six months if not longer. Good luck to you.