Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers - Lancaster, MA.

Vivitrol is a medication mainly administered 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, that one can get through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual takes Vivitrol, it cuts off the receptors that would normally be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when someone drinks alcohol or takes opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.

There are certain precautions that need to be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. Firstly, an individual who plans to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including individuals who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin abuser or someone who has been on Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation can be very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of a week in order to start Vivitrol.

These drugs must be used in conjunction with a treatment program in Lancaster that also offers medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak with your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological aids can help you build and maintain the drug-free life you want.

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