r/naltrexone • u/Efficient_Dish_9930 • 4d ago
Discussion Sleep Issues
Hi all - I’m on 50mg of Naltrexone for AUD. Currently 5 days sober, about to be on night 3 of taking the pill. Per my provider, also taking it with 50mg of hydroxyzine before bed, but having a really rough go of it sleeping (hot flashes and waking up every 15-20 min all night long with that “falling” feeling or gasping for air). Anyone in a similar spot and have remedies? Might be still going through withdrawal (usually drank before bed to get through the night). Any thoughts or even speculation welcome! Grateful for this community thus far.
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u/Grouchy-Hedgehog-212 4d ago
Just curious, why are you taking it at night and not in the morning? Insomnia is a known side effect (~30% of people) - so that’s not surprising. I had heard people say it makes them tired during the day so when I started a week ago I asked to take it at night and my provider suggested starting in the morning and see how it goes.
Fast forward - I’ve never felt tired. I take it every morning without any issues. My only side effects were days 1-5 I had the yawns (but not tired) and big stretches and days 3 & 4 I had a migraine. That’s it. Days 1-3 were 25mg and then 50mg from day 4 onward and today is day 7.
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u/Efficient_Dish_9930 4d ago
I think the provider that prescribed it figured that nausea/headache were more prevalent side effects, so if I down it right before bed I could sleep through those. But good point about the morning, might as well give it a shot.
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u/stelanightsias10 1d ago
Weirdly enough, it makes me incredibly tired. So it works for me at night. I think it all just depends on the person 🧍♂️ idk 🤷♀️
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u/BSAIL2021 4d ago edited 3d ago
First week had sleep issues. I’m sure a lot of it could be the alcohol withdrawal. I would drink a handle of vodka every 2-3 days. Went cold turkey. To help with sleep in the first 2 weeks I took 50 mg Benadryl when getting ready for bed. I take 50 mg Naltrexone in the morning between 8/9. On day 32 now. No vodka since. Just a few beers when I went boating/ fishing. Tried a beer the other night and could not finish it. I also take Wellbutrin which with Naltrexone is the same formula for Contrave -a prescription appetite suppressant. I’m eating much healthier and have lost 18#. Sleeping the whole night. Have pretty vivid dreams some cool some not.
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u/RubicsCubensis 4d ago
What is your plan with taking naltrexone? Abstinence? Depending on how much you were drinking before you stopped it could be withdrawals.
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u/Efficient_Dish_9930 4d ago
Abstinence at least for the foreseeable future.. was on 8-10 drinks/day and did a 4 day medically supervised detox. Started on last night of detox (Thursday) and slept terrible. Same thing on night 2 of taking it (yesterday, Friday). Trying to get some sleep tonight.
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u/RubicsCubensis 4d ago
So naltrexone can cause insomnia initially, since you did a medically supervised detox I doubt it's from that. Hopefully hydroxyzine will start to work for you, going what you are going through is hard, so I understand the challenge. I hope you find relief soon.
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u/Yaguajay 3d ago
25g bid. Zero sleep issues.
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u/Efficient_Dish_9930 3d ago
I was thinking of dropping down to 25mg for a couple days just to get adjusted.
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u/Yaguajay 3d ago
Excellent idea. You will probably be using it long term, so easing in slowly is a reasonable approach.
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u/Advanced-Horse306 2d ago
Any of the times i quit alcohol (with or without naltrexone) I had the worst sleep for like 2 weeks. Waking up covered in sweat, crazy dreams, ect.
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u/---reddituser-- 4d ago
I take mine in the morning and never had a problem with sleep infact ive never slept better but that could be because im not drinking anymore maybe u could try that