Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is administered expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the drug Naltrexone, that one can get through a monthly injection. It isn't addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks 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 an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, an individual who intends to begin Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications like Buprenorphine or Methadone. 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 go through for a minimum of a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These medications must be used as part of an addiction treatment program in Fernley which also offers individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you maintain and build the drug and alcohol free life you want.
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