Vivitrol is a med used to prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the drug Naltrexone, that is available through a monthly injection. It is not addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when someone drinks or takes opioids they essentially can't get drunk or high.
There are particular safety measures that need to be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, a person who plans to start Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking meds like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Auburn that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you live the drug-free life you want.
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