Vivitrol is a drug mainly administered to prevent drug or alcohol dependency and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the medication Naltrexone, which one can get through a monthly injection. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.
There are certain precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, someone who plans to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This includes people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or a person who has been taking Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least 7 days in order to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used as part of a rehab program in Northfield that also offers individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk to your therapist or doctor in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
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