Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs - Shady Side, MD.

Vivitrol is a med used to prevent drug or alcohol use 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 medication Naltrexone, that is available via injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone takes Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they essentially cannot get high or drunk.

There are particular precautions that should be be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, an individual who plans 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 being given medications like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or someone who has been taking Methadone for several years, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of seven days in order to begin taking Vivitrol.

These medications must be used as part of a treatment program in Shady Side that also offers individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Speak to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you maintain the sober life you want.

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