Vivitrol is a med used to help prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is administered specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the drug Naltrexone, which one can get through injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically can't get high or drunk.
There are certain safety measures that should be be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, a person who intends to begin Vivitrol needs to have been off of opioids for a minimum of seven to ten days. This is including clients who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or a person who has been on Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least 7 days in order to start Vivitrol.
These medications must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Birdsboro that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build the sober life you want.
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