Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to help prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the drug Naltrexone, which is available through injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual takes Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.
There are particular safety measures that need to be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, a client who plans to begin Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This includes people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been on Methadone for several years, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of a week in order to begin taking Vivitrol.
These medications must be used in conjunction with a rehab program in Denver that also offers individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build and maintain the sober life you want.
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