Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs - St. Vincent, MN.

Vivitrol is a med mainly administered to help prevent drug dependency and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the drug Naltrexone, that one can get via injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would normally be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they essentially can't get high or drunk.

There are particular safety measures that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, a client who plans to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes clients who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been on Methadone for several years, quitting quickly can be very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week in order to start Vivitrol.

These meds must be used as part of a treatment program in St. Vincent that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Speak to your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain and build the drug-free life you want.

For All Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs In St. Vincent, Click Here.