Vivitrol is a drug used to prevent drug or alcohol dependency and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release version of the med Naltrexone, that is available through injection once a month. It isn't 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 someone drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically can't get high or drunk.
There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, someone who with the intent to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This is including people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given medications such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or a person who has been taking Methadone for several years, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of a week if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.
These drugs must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Cope which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological tools can help you live the drug-free life you want.
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