Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to help prevent drug dependency 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 drug Naltrexone, which one can get via injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone takes Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would normally be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks or takes opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.
There are particular precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, an individual who intends to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for a minimum of seven to ten days. This includes people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of a week in order to begin taking Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in South Salem that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build the drug-free life you want.
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