Vivitrol is a med used to prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the medication Naltrexone, that is available through injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would usually be triggered by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get high or drunk.
There are certain precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, a client who with the intent to begin Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This includes people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation is very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of seven days in order to begin taking Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Sharon that also offers individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk to your therapist or doctor in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you build the drug-free life you want.
For All Alcohol and Drug Treatment Facilities In Sharon, Click Here.