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In previous blogs I wrongly described Naltrexone as an ‘opiate blocker’ but in fact it is an ‘opioid receptor antagonist’ which is very different, (again, I’m not a doctor or expert but have done some research on the net).
I had a couple of comments along the lines that you won’t go into withdrawal if you take Naltrexone and use heroin (or even codeine for that matter) but this is not the case. Blockers and antagonists act very differently. Opioid blockers block the effects of heroin, and opioid receptor antagonists cause adverse reactions to heroin.
Both doctors in my pre-assessment warned me very strongly that I will go into immediate withdrawal if I use while on the Naltrexone program. I also have a friend who was four months into the Naltrexone programme and smoked heroin. He smoked only four lines on foil and went straight into what he described as full on cold turkey.
Thanks for your comments, it’s allowed me to correct/educate myself – the main lesson being don’t use heroin if you are taking Naltrexone unless you enjoy cold turkey!
Thanks again for all your comments. This is a really useful forum for debate and education for me.
Matt
And I’m learning a lot from your blogs too, Matt.
I’m beginning to sound like a corporate shill for Naltrexone!! i promise i don’t work for their marketing department! its just that works for me :)
John,
No offense taken. I’m going on what i’ve read on many internet sites and by the personal real life experience of a long time (15) year heroin addict. i’m not a chemist or a doctor but dont debunk me for trying.
Not wanting to sound harsh but maybe you could try it for yourself and let us know who’s right and who’s wrong.
John,
From your profile i see that you are a practitioner (maybe a doctor or a chemist, i don’t know?) but obviously knowledgeable in this field.
Please bear in mind I’m a ex-user with no education in this field and am finding my own feet, doing my own research. My blogs have been based on what “ 2 substance misuse Doctors” tell me and the “real life” experience of a honest friend.
However, I’m getting mixed messages. I’ve just found a leaflet which kind of qualifies what you say.
I Quote
“Naltrexone is prescribed in the UK under the trade name NALOREX. You can take it if you want to be completely free of heroin and other opiates. It works in the brain.”
“Before you take the first dose of naltrexone you must have been completely heroin – and methadone – free for seven to ten days. This is because if there are opiates in your system, the naltrexone will very quickly remove them from the receptors and send you into instant withdrawal”
“Naltrexone can make coping with difficult times and hi-risk situations easier because you know that if you take heroin, it won’t have any effect.”
Un Quote.
Between my friend and his genuine adverse reaction, two doctors, this leaflet and your note I’m getting mixed messages! it’s kind of burst my security bubble a bit but i still wont take heroin again even if the only effect it will have on me is nothing.
Perhaps as a knowledgeable practitioner you could do a more accurate blog on the effects of Naltrexone on the brain that would help us all.
Matt.
John,
I have another leaflet from my local council calling it a ‘antagonist’ in BOLD lettering…. it doesn’t matter to my recovery as the near 4 month bridge since i last used has put heroin right to the back of my mind thanks to Natrexone and my determination not to use.
I want to help others do the same and will continue to blog. if i make mistakes i’ll hold my hands up…. there’s obviously a wealth of misinformation out there. (not just coming from me)
blocker or antagonist, it is a brilliant drug! and i would recommend it to anyone. my doctors also told me it would not stop the cravings but it stopped my cravings dead in their tracks. there’s another expert misinformation for you.
nearly 4 months clean and no looking back for me now. i hope to start a career in the substance misuse field some how! i doubt a degree in engineering and a criminal record for possession will help but i’ll try!!
Matt
P.S.
I’m sorry that my misinformation has caused your “dislike”. its not as if i’ve said something wildly inaccurate that going to cause someone to die or fall off the wagon. your efforts to appease me are not really appreciated or needed.
i notice you’ve not written one blog. Perhaps you could join the community and pass on your expert knowledge.
Best wishes
Matt
“Quote”
“What does the fact that the new leaflet says “antagonist” in bold letter change. Antagonist still just means blocker. It doesn’t cause an aversive reaction if you use on top of it.”
“Un Quote”
Try telling that to people who have tried it!
Blocker / Antagonist?? “antagonist still just means blocker” you’ve just contradicted yourself, based on your previous posts………… and i didnt’ say ‘you’ said or didn’t say Naltrexone reduced cravings in some people. i’m telling you from real life personal experience, that’s all. pls don’t put words in my mouth.
I’ve already said I’ll hold my hands up if I’m wrong. not a problem.
I doubt very much that you care whether i succeed in my career progression / recovery based on your criticizing / nit-picking, rather than constructive interaction. (by that i mean posting informative information, not looking to shoot people down).
if you’re that passionate about the correct information being distributed, get off your backside and write something.
Yes i doubt you want to appease me or show any sympathy towards anyone trying their best to help others based on your scant profile and lack of blogs.
You assume my feelings towards you are hostile. at this moment you are correct. i suggest you stick to your yank forums and leave me alone………… start you’re own blog!! armchair psychologist egotistical twat (sir):)
Please DO NOT write to me anymore. i don’t want to deal with you in any way shape or form again.
I would like to apologise to John Galt for the offensive language used in my last post. John has since been banned from wired-in and his comments removed which is why the above mono log is missing all his comments and responses to me. some of which i was offended by, the last of mine was offensive to him. Apologies again.
The fact is, we got into a heated debate over whether Naltrexone is an antagonist or blocker……. I expect John G will re-invent himself and create a new profile. if you do John, please contact me and lets talk through it again more civilly.
I can’t comment on the other reason you were banned – ‘intruding on numerous threads’ as i didn’t read them but based on our debate i presume they may also have been heated or offensive (?)
Regards,
Matt
Now as far as i understand if your clean when you take naltrexone it can have side effects, same with most medication or you won’t have side effects, same with most medication, i took naltrexone and it was a good safeguard in the early days of my recovery for all my drug issues for if i couldn’t use smack i couldn’t smoke me crack because i couldn’t come down fast enough benzos wouldn’t work fast enough and would ruin me next pipe weed lost it’s appeal years ago barbituates are unavailable and i’ve no viens left to inject them, get my meaning taking smack out of the mix ruined the equation so using on naltrexone was a no brainer handy in my early recovery, it gave me some thinking time as to what i really wanted it avoided my instant gratification and impulsive side, all that said i was told the smack just wouldn’t work for three days it wouldn’t make me withdraw because the gear wouldn’t get in, mind you i never tried it i’ve heard enough horror stories about people taking naltrexone to do their rip quick style thats got to hurt.
an antagonist is a blocker as in it occupies the opioid receptors in the brain and displaces all opiates. This means if you are dependent on heroin you will go into withdrawal, if you are not dependent (any more) it will simply stop the heroin having any effect. There seems to be a lot of misinformation going on here, but this is the truth – if someone has said if you use on top (having previously been heroin free) you will go into withdrawal, they are misinformed – whatever their profession. This is different from antabuse that has an adverse reaction with alcohol and makes you ill if you drink (in the same way as the common ink cap coprinus comatus)
It sounds like Jim is right. it still doesn’t explain my friends instant rattle by smoking 4 lines after being heroin free and on Natrexone for 4 months.
Maybe it was a atypical reaction as John G put it.
The main problem for me was the intense cravings every time i gave up. The fact that Natrexone stopped them in their tracks was the biggest positive impact Natrexone had on me; knowing it will block the effects if i was to use now is an added bonus.
I’ve tried to stop smoking cigs many times and i think the intensity of the cravings with cigs and heroin are as just as bad as each other. It would be good if someone invented a drug that blocked the effects of nicotine! – Cigtrexone or something! i’d be first in the que for any trials.
