Vivitrol is a med mainly administered to help 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, which one can get through injection once a month. It isn't addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get high or drunk.
There are particular safety measures that need to be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, a client who plans to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for a minimum of seven to ten days. This includes people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking meds like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or a person who has been taking Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week in order to begin taking Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with a rehab program in Riverside that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
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