In June 2022, Vista started asking patients who either left treatment on an anti-craving medication or reported having taken it since they left treatment and were no longer doing so why they stopped taking the medication. Vista’s one, six and twelve month post-treatment outcomes surveys gave individuals the following choices and also allowed them to write in reasons why they stopped taking their medication:
The results among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are very interesting:
More than half reported stopping using Vivitrol either because they didn’t think they needed it (27%) or it was too much of a hassle to get it (26%). Eighteen percent (18%) complained that it was too expensive, often because their insurance stopped covering it, and 14% said they didn’t like how the Vivitrol made them feel:
People who stopped taking Naltrexone didn’t report as much trouble getting or affording the medication. More than half (51%) stopped because they didn’t think they needed it any more and another 16% didn’t like the way it made them feel. Seven percent (7%) stopped taking naltrexone because they were switching to a different medication, typically Vivitrol. Six percent (6%) admitted that they stopped taking Naltrexone because they wanted to use again:
It's interesting that almost no one reported stopping taking Vivitrol or naltrexone because someone made them feel bad about using it. The stigma often given as a reason for stopping taking opioid maintenance medications like Suboxone and Methadone doesn’t seem to apply to naltrexone-based medications.
