Vivitrol is a drug used to help prevent drug or alcohol use and relapse, and is administered expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release version of the medication Naltrexone, that one can get through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone takes Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get high or drunk.
There are certain precautions that should be be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, someone who with the intent to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for a minimum of seven to ten 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 a person who has been taking Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of 7 days if they want to start Vivitrol.
These drugs must be used as part of a treatment program in Moosic that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Speak to your therapist or doctor in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you build and maintain the drug-free life you want.
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