There are dangers that you may not be aware of when you buy naltrexone online without a prescription.
Properly prescribed and taken as directed, naltrexone can play an important role in your recovery from alcohol or opioid use disorders. It can help to relieve alcohol cravings for those struggling to reduce or stop their drinking and reduce the sensation of euphoria if they do drink alcohol. For people in stable recovery from opioid use disorder, it can help to reduce cravings and lessen the chance of a slip. Since accessing healthcare can sometimes be difficult for Americans, it isn’t surprising that many try to bypass the red tape by purchasing naltrexone online without a prescription. “What could go wrong?” they ask. A lot could go wrong. The risks of taking this shortcut far outweigh the benefits.
Here are some of the dangers of buying naltrexone online without a prescription:
1. If you buy without a prescription, there is no quality control.
When you have a prescription and receive your naltrexone from an authorized doctor or pharmacy, you know that it has been through rigorous quality control. From the manufacturer to the pharmacist, the meds have been subjected to meticulous care and scrutiny. But when you purchase naltrexone online without a prescription, you have no such assurance. Some online sellers offer poor-quality, expired, or damaged medications. All of these issues can have a major impact on how they function … if they function at all. Others sell pharmaceuticals that have been corrupted or cut with something else, or that are entirely counterfeit. You could receive the wrong medication or no medication, and you have no way of knowing.
2. If you haven’t been prescribed naltrexone, you can’t be sure you’re taking it safely.
Naltrexone is not an over-the-counter medication. It needs to be administered under the care of a clinician who can determine the best dosage, assess your risks, and monitor your health. Naltrexone can have side effects, and it may have serious interactions with other medications that you’re taking. With the version that is injected once a month (Vivitrol), doing it yourself without guidance also adds the risks of IV drug use (like injecting in the wrong place, having contaminated sharps, or mismeasuring your dose). Not to mention that if you have any opioids in your system, naltrexone can send you right into precipitated withdrawal. With proper medical supervision, naltrexone can be safe and helpful. But taking it on your own without oversight is just too much of a risk.
3. Buying naltrexone online from another country may not save you the money you think it will.
It might seem logical that ordering naltrexone from an online, no-prescription pharmacy would be cheaper than buying it from an authorized source, but it often isn’t. The prices charged by these “discount” sellers in other countries can actually be higher than you would pay at a clinic. Not only are costs variable, but online sellers won’t work with your insurance, accept your Health Savings Account (HSA), or accept a prescription savings program like GoodRX or SingleCare. If you buy naltrexone online without a prescription, you will also likely have to pay (sometimes very expensive) shipping costs to have medication shipped from another country.
Note that there are legitimate online pharmacies in the U.S., like Cost Plus Drugs, that fill prescriptions. But you will need to see an authorized medical provider to get the prescription first.
4. If you buy naltrexone without a prescription, your doctor won’t know to take it into account.
When you purchase naltrexone illicitly, you might feel like you have to hide it from your healthcare team. It won’t be listed in your medical records, so doctors and pharmacists don’t know to check for interactions and contraindications. If you get in an accident, have a relapse and overdose, or have a different medical emergency, the paramedics’ treatment of you could be compromised. Knowing what medications you take is a crucial piece of information for your healthcare providers. Buying without a prescription makes it less likely that they will be able to treat you properly.
5. Purchasing naltrexone from another country might lead to your meds being caught up by Customs.
Even when everything goes as planned, shipments from international sellers are commonly delayed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections. These delays can stretch to more than 35 days. When you’re counting on a prescription refill, this kind of delay isn’t workable. But what if shipping doesn’t go as planned? CBP regularly seizes pharmaceuticals coming from other countries. If this happens, you won’t receive your medication at all!
6. When you buy naltrexone without a prescription, you won’t get a full treatment plan.
Naltrexone isn’t a quick fix that works all by itself. Like other pharmaceuticals used to treat substance use disorders, it has the best results when it’s part of a comprehensive treatment plan. At Workit Health, that plan includes the naltrexone prescription, telemedicine care with a qualified clinician, online recovery groups, and access to therapeutic courses. Taking the medication with no additional support isn’t enough for many people to reach their recovery goals.
Some common questions about naltrexone
- Is naltrexone a controlled substance? No. Naltrexone is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act, so any provider is authorized to prescribe this drug. It is not a controlled substance.
- Is naltrexone available over the counter? No, in the U.S., even low-dose naltrexone requires a prescription. It is illegal to obtain naltrexone without a prescription.
- What is naltrexone used for? Naltrexone is approved by the FDA to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. It is currently being studied for its potential to treat conditions including long COVID, inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis, and neuropathic pain, but those uses have not yet been approved by the FDA.