Vivitrol is a drug used to help prevent drug dependency and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the drug Naltrexone, which is available through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when someone drinks or takes opioids they essentially cannot get high or drunk.
There are certain precautions that need to be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, an individual who intends to start Vivitrol needs to have been off of opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This includes clients who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with a rehab program in Columbia which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
For All Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers In Columbia, Click Here.