Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs - Berkeley, CA.

Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered to prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended release version of the medication Naltrexone, that is available through a monthly injection. It is not addictive, 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 or takes opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.

There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. Firstly, a client who with the intent to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including clients who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or a person who has been on Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week if they want to start Vivitrol.

These medications must be used in conjunction with a rehab program in Berkeley which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological tools can help you build the sober life you want.

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