Tips for side effects?
My husband started naltrexone last night around 7:30 p.m. at 25 mg and had some pretty rough side effects. He took it with a full, healthy meal (chicken breast, sweet potatoes, and green beans) and about half a can of Guinness.
Within about 30 minutes, he became very drowsy and wanted to lie down. After an hour, he said he felt extremely spacey and described it as almost feeling like an opioid high. That feeling also made him pretty anxious because he felt like he wasn’t fully in control of his brain/body.
Around 9:30 p.m., the nausea kicked in. He took Zofran, but unfortunately it didn’t seem to help, and he started vomiting around 10 p.m. Afterward, he fell asleep and woke up feeling much clearer. This morning, he’s thankfully feeling back to normal.
I’m really proud of him because despite how unpleasant the first night was, he woke up this morning still determined to continue trying the medication.
For those who had significant side effects when first starting, what helped you get through the first few days? Did they improve pretty quickly as your body adjusted? We’re considering dropping down to 12.5 mg and titrating up more slowly to see if that makes it more tolerable.
Any tips or experiences are very welcome. I’m also really grateful to have this group as a resource while we figure this out.