Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to prevent drug or alcohol dependency and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release type of the medication Naltrexone, that is available through injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by alcohol or opioids, so when someone drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get high or drunk.
There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, a person who with the intent to start Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for several years, quitting quickly can be very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Rockwood which also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk with your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build and maintain the drug-free life you want.
For All Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs In Rockwood, Click Here.