Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers - Harcourt, IA.

Vivitrol is a drug mainly administered to prevent drug or alcohol dependency and relapse, and is used specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the medication Naltrexone, that one can get through a monthly injection. It is not habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone injects Vivitrol, it blocks 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 someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, an individual who plans to begin Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This is including people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least seven days if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.

These medications must be used as part of a treatment program in Harcourt that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological tools can help you build and maintain the sober life you want.

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