Vivitrol is a medication used to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the drug Naltrexone, that one can get through injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks or takes opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.
There are certain safety measures that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, someone who with the intent to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least seven to ten days. This is including individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking drugs like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or a person who has been taking Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week in order to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Oley that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological aids can help you build and maintain the sober life you want.
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