Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers - Pearl, IL.

Vivitrol is a med used to prevent drug or alcohol use 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 through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone injects 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 basically can't get drunk or high.

There are certain precautions that need to be taken before someone is administered Vivitrol. First off, a client who plans to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This is including individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking medications such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for a long time, abrupt cessation can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week in order to begin taking Vivitrol.

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

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