Vivitrol is a drug mainly administered to help prevent drug use and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the drug Naltrexone, that one can get via a monthly injection. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone takes Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol 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, an individual who with the intent to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including clients who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or someone who has been taking Methadone for several years, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least 7 days in order to begin taking Vivitrol.
These meds must be used as part of a rehab program in Plymouth that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.
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