Vivitrol is a drug used to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is administered specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the medication Naltrexone, which is available through injection once a month. It isn't addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone takes Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks or takes opioids they essentially can't get high or drunk.
There are particular precautions that need to be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, a client who with the intent to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or someone who has been taking Methadone for several years, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of 7 days in order to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used as part of an addiction treatment program in Sanford which also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the sober life you want.
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