Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers - Van Lear, KY.

Vivitrol is a medication used to help prevent drug or alcohol 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 drug Naltrexone, which is available through a monthly injection. It isn't addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual is adminstered Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when someone takes a drink of alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they essentially can't get high or drunk.

There are certain precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, a client who intends to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for a minimum of seven to ten days. This includes people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are taking meds like Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or someone who has been on Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation can be very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for at least seven days if they want to start Vivitrol.

These medications must be used as part of a treatment program in Van Lear that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak with your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological aids can help you maintain the drug-free life you want.

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