Vivitrol is a drug mainly administered to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is administered specifically 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 via a monthly injection. 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 triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when someone drinks alcohol or takes opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.
There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, a person who plans to start Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or a person who has been on Methadone for several years, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least seven days in order to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with a treatment program in Berwick that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
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