Vivitrol is a med used to help prevent drug or alcohol use and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended-release type of the medication Naltrexone, that is available via injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when someone takes a drink of alcohol 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. First off, an individual who plans to begin Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This includes individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds like Methadone or Buprenorphine. 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 a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These medications must be used as part of a treatment program in Cranberry that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk with your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
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