Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers - Birchdale, MN.

Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to prevent drug dependency 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 medication Naltrexone, which one can get through injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they essentially can't get high or drunk.

There are particular precautions that should be be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, someone who plans to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least 7-10 days. This includes individuals who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of seven days in order to begin taking Vivitrol.

These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Birchdale that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build and maintain the sober life you want.

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