Posted by Joe on April 15, 2000, at 20:55:22
In reply to Re: Naltrexone Augmentation, posted by Anna P. on April 15, 2000, at 13:18:21
I am no longer taking Naltrexone, and at the time
I was on no other medication. It was not known at the time that I was BIPOLAR, so I wasn't on any
medication.The effect I felt seem to be far worse than anyone
else I have heard from, and I was three months
clean from heroin, and all other drugs. I only
started on the programme as a "guarantee" to my
family (which were very supportive) that I will
not relapse.After being administered the intravenous Naltrexone, with no other medication "To Put Me
asleep" (which is the common procedure when undergoing initial treatment), nor was it needed
to give me any benzo's either, which is also
the common proceedure for anybody with even a
slight level of opiat in their blood. After being
given the injection, and using the eye-dropper
under my toung, the only side-effect was a slight
tingling in my toes. I was then given a bottle of
tablets, and the eye-dropper full off Naltrexone.
I went home and followered the doctors directions.When I woke the next morning everything seemed a
little blury, and I felt I little anxious.
That night I had trouble sleeping.
The next day my vision had got progressively worse, and I felt "strange", and didn't sleep that night. Around lunch time the next day I made an appointment with the doctor, but was un-able to see him till the next day. When I saw the doctor the next morning, I explained the sympoms to him, and he asured me that the side-effects would pass, and to stick it out. He prescribed me some benzo's and said the effects will pass in the next couple of days, cause it usually takes a week.For the next few days thing got worse, my vision
was very blurey, and the best way to explain how
I felt was like I was on Acid and Amphetamine.I made an appointment and asked my mother to take
me as I was in no shape to get there on my own.
I sat with the doctor, next to my mother, and told
him how I felt, and the symtoms I was suffering. He then turned to my mother and said,
"Your son doesn't want to take the medication
because he doesn't want to give up the herion, and he can't use herion when taking it".
I was shocked. Especially after I did a urine
test at the clinic before I started on the medication, which showed to me be 100% opiat free.
I then tried to tell him this fact, that I was
three months clean when I started the programme,
and are taking no drugs, but he cut me off, and
started telling my mother that nobody can help me if I won't help my-self. I started to say that
I would like to have another urine test done, but
he cut me off again. I then walked out of his room. My mother remained with him for a period of time, then arrived at the car, only to tell me that she thought he was correct, and he would know being a doctor, and if I won't help my-self, nobody can. I was furious. I was then dropped off at home and told to pull my head in and have some guts.Through fear of banishment from my family, which
was now starting to happen, I continued to take
the Naltrexone, with no relief from the side-effects, and a growing addiction to benzo's.After approx. two weeks of being hand-fed the
medication I refused to keep taking it. The side-effects had not improved at all, and having "stuck it out" for over two weeks, after being told the side-effects, if any, passes after about five days.By the next day, the relationship with my family
was at breaking point, being told I have wasted $3000- worth of Natrexone because I wanted to be a drug addict. They now wanted nothing to do with me.I was told by the doctor at our first meeting that it was an experimental drug, which is illegal to import, but there is a loop hole in the law which allows him to get it through customs. I asked what will happen if they decide to not allow sale of the Naltrexone, which he replied, "Well I just spent $10,000- on all that (which he then pointed to the corner at a pile of little boxes) and I don't want to get stuck with it!".
I stopped taking the Naltrexone, due to the horrible side-effects and risk to my health, and havn't had anymore for nearly twelve months.
Before the first dose of Naltrexone I had 19/20
vision, tested by an optometrist, now I must
wear glasses cause my vision is permanently blured. It also took me seven months to beat the benzo's, which I had become addicted to after being prescribed them to combat the side-effects of the Naltrexone, and am only now starting to be welcomed in by my family. My fionse and I also broke up during this period.To top it off, my mother was told that she would be refunded for the Naltrexone tablets she bought,
and to return them to the clinic, which she did.
After a few months of not receiving any money, I made an appointment with him. I asked him what he intends to do with regards to the money owed, and his reply was, "I don't do that stuff anymore, it's over with, gone and forgotten".
I asked about the money again, and he said, "Didn,t you hear me?".I guess being a pensioner with little money I have to just forget about it, and hope nobody else is injured because of a money hungry doctor.
Any advice on this situation would be most appreciated.
I am, and have been free from using herion for approx. twelve months now, and maybee I should be happy that the Naltrexone did,nt kill me, only permanently ruined my eyesight.
* Take it day by day, and think of only tomorrow, not yesterday.
Joe.
poster:Joe
thread:12394
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000411/msgs/30171.html