Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs - Olmsted, IL.

Vivitrol is a medication used to help prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is used expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain killers. Vivitrol is an extended-release version of the medication Naltrexone, which is available via injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When someone is adminstered 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 basically cannot get drunk or high.

There are certain safety measures that need to be taken before someone begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, a person who with the intent to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given medications such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of 7 days if they want to start Vivitrol.

These meds must be used in conjunction with a treatment program in Olmsted that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain and build the sober life you want.

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