Vivitrol is a drug used to prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release version of the medication Naltrexone, that is available through injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when someone drinks or takes opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.
There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before someone begins treatment with Vivitrol. Firstly, a person who intends to start Vivitrol needs to have been off of opioids for a minimum of seven to ten days. This is including individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking meds like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict 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 at least a week in order to start Vivitrol.
These drugs must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Saxton that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you build the drug-free life you want.
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