How to Buy Naltrexone Online in 4 Easy Steps

Quick Answer

You can buy naltrexone online—but only with a prescription, which you can now get through telehealth. After that, a licensed online pharmacy can fill and ship it. Buying naltrexone without a prescription is illegal and risky, since unregulated sellers may ship counterfeit or contaminated pills. Here's how to do it safely, what it costs, and the one timing rule you can't skip.

Can You Buy Naltrexone Online?

Yes, you can buy naltrexone online if you have a legitimate prescription. You can usually obtain online naltrexone through retailers and online pharmacies.

Buying naltrexone through a legitimate retailer that requires a prescription helps users avoid counterfeit medication as well as poor-quality medication.[1] While the FDA works to protect Americans from low-quality medication from illegitimate retailers, it is still important to practice vigilance.

How to Buy Naltrexone Online

1. Obtain a Prescription

First, obtain a legitimate naltrexone prescription from a doctor.

If you’re looking for the convenience of an online purchase, you may want to consider making an online appointment with a medical professional. With a solid internet connection and access to a webcam and smartphone, several services exist that allow people to see doctors for many health issues without leaving their homes. This is typically called “telehealth” or virtual care.

Alternatively, you can see a doctor in person and get your prescription that way. In either case, talk to a medical professional – either a primary care physician or a physician who specializes in treating substance use disorder. They will be the most knowledgeable about your needs and whether naltrexone is the best option for you.

When talking to your doctor, inform them you would like to get your prescription filled online. If you have already found an online pharmacy that works for you, your healthcare provider can call in the prescription. You also can mail or fax a prescription yourself if your doctor gives it to you.

2. Find a Reputable Online Pharmacy

Once you have a prescription, you can use one of the many online pharmacies that can ship your medication to you.

Make sure to research any online retailer that sells medication before using them. One helpful tool is the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s site safety checker, which can confirm if a particular site is safe or not recommended.[2]

Never trust companies that make unrealistic claims about drugs that you can’t confirm on other reputable medical sites. Also, avoid sites that offer prescription (or illegal drugs) for sale without requiring any kind of prescription from a doctor. 

3. Create an Account & Provide the Necessary Information

Because they provide prescription drugs, creating an account with an online pharmacy can be somewhat more rigorous than with other online retailers.

You may need to provide your information, valid credit card information, and appropriate insurance details. You will also need to upload your prescription for naltrexone or have your doctor send it directly. 

4. Order Your Medication & Wait

At this point, all you need to do is order your medication and wait for it to come in the mail. Some companies may offer a way to expedite the shipping process for an additional fee. 

What Naltrexone Costs Online (Oral vs. Vivitrol)

Cost is one of the biggest factors for people buying naltrexone, and the two forms differ sharply. Oral naltrexone is available as an inexpensive generic, often just a few dollars per month with insurance and modest even without it. Vivitrol, the once-monthly injectable, can run well over a thousand dollars per dose at list price—and because it's administered by a healthcare provider, it isn't something you 'buy and ship' like the pills; you obtain it through a clinic or specialty pharmacy, frequently with insurance or a manufacturer copay program covering much of the cost. Checking your coverage before ordering helps you pick the form that fits your budget.

Is Naltrexone a Prescription Drug?

Yes, Naltrexone is an FDA-approved prescription medication for the treatment of OUD and AUD. Low-dose naltrexone is also occasionally prescribed for the off-label treatment of chronic pain. 

It is NOT a narcotic or a controlled substance, unlike other treatments for opioid use disorder (methadone and Suboxone). However, it still requires a prescription from a medical professional.

Can You Get Naltrexone Over the Counter?

No, you cannot buy safe and effective naltrexone over the counter. It’s a prescription medication, which means you need to obtain a prescription from your physician. You can do this online or in-office—whichever is most convenient for you. 

Risks of Buying Naltrexone Without a Prescription

Many online sites exist where individuals can purchase medications that normally require a prescription illegally. Naltrexone is no exception.

However, if a retailer claims to be able to send you Naltrexone online without a prescription, it is likely a fraudulent site or retailer.

Naltrexone is a prescription medication, and while it is technically possible to purchase illegally without a prescription, there are serious risks to doing so – both legally and physically. 

If you buy illicit naltrexone over the counter, you experience many risks, including:

• The naltrexone is not regulated and may be weak, expired, or contain other dangerous medications
   
• If you purchase from another country, your meds may get stuck in customs
   
• Buying naltrexone without a prescription means you won’t have a treatment plan
   
• If you take naltrexone without a prescription, your doctor won’t consider it and its interactions when prescribing medications—which can have dangerous consequences

Naltrexone can also have a number of side effects, including:[3]

• Liver damage
   
• Allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening
   
• Severe issues at the site of injection (in the case of the injectable form of Naltrexone), including these:
   
• Pain
   
• Necrosis (tissue death)
   
• Swelling
   
• Scabbing

The risk of experiencing side effects increases if you buy OTC naltrexone or buy it illicitly online because you likely won’t be taking the right dose without a doctor’s recommendation

For these reasons, one should not purchase it illegally online without a prescription, but instead seek an evaluation and prescription from a medical doctor. This way, a physician can review your health history and assess any risks or monitoring that you might need while taking the medication [3]

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I need to be off opioids before starting naltrexone?

You generally need to be opioid-free for about 7 to 10 days before starting naltrexone, and SAMHSA notes a window of 7 to 14 days, with a longer wait after methadone. Starting too soon can trigger precipitated withdrawal, because naltrexone blocks opioid receptors.

Can you buy the Vivitrol shot online?

You can buy oral naltrexone online if you have a legitimate prescription, through licensed retailers and online pharmacies. The Vivitrol shot is different: the extended-release injection is given by a healthcare provider, about once a month, so it isn't something you order and have shipped like the pills. You get it through a clinic or specialty pharmacy.

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