Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers - St. Donatus, IA.

Vivitrol is a drug used to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is administered specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended-release type of the med Naltrexone, which one can get through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone is adminstered Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically can't get high or drunk.

There are particular precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, an individual who intends to begin Vivitrol must have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation can be very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week in order to start Vivitrol.

These drugs must be used in conjunction with a treatment program in St. Donatus which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk with your therapist or Dr. about how pharmacological aids can help you maintain and build the sober life you want.

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