Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers - Norman, IN.

Vivitrol is a medication used to help prevent drug or alcohol 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 drug Naltrexone, which one can get via a monthly injection. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be triggered by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.

There are certain precautions that need to be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, a person who intends to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This includes people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking drugs such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been taking Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least a week if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.

These meds must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Norman that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk to your doctor or therapist in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you build the drug-free life you want.

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