Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers - Gwynn Oak, MD.

Vivitrol is a medication used to prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the medication Naltrexone, that one can get via injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically can't get high or drunk.

There are particular precautions that should be be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, an individual who intends to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including individuals who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given medications such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or someone who has been on Methadone for several years, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.

These medications must be used as part of an addiction treatment program in Gwynn Oak which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain and build the sober life you want.

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