Vivitrol is a med mainly administered to help prevent drug use 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 medication Naltrexone, that one can get through injection once a month. It is not addictive, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would usually be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they basically cannot get high or drunk.
There are particular safety measures that should be be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. Firstly, someone who with the intent to start Vivitrol needs to have been off of opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes individuals who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been on Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These drugs must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Leon that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Speak with your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain and build the drug-free life you want.