Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers - Washington, ME.

Vivitrol is a drug used to prevent drug 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 medication Naltrexone, that one can get via injection once a month. It isn't addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone is adminstered Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks alcohol or tries to get high on opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.

There are certain safety measures that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. First off, someone who intends to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least 7-10 days. This is including people who are involved in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds such as Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin abuser or a person who has been on Methadone for several years, abrupt cessation can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of seven days in order to start Vivitrol.

These drugs must be used in conjunction with a rehab program in Washington that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak with your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological aids can help you maintain and build the sober life you want.

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