Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs - Winter Harbor, ME.

Vivitrol is a medication used to prevent drug or alcohol abuse and relapse, and is administered specifically for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the med Naltrexone, which is available through injection once a month. It is not habit forming, and is what is called an antagonist. When an individual injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would usually be activated by alcohol or opioids, so when someone drinks or tries to get high on opioids they essentially cannot get drunk or high.

There are particular safety measures that should be be taken before someone begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, an individual who plans to start Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for at least seven to ten days. This includes clients who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly is brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to go through for a minimum of a week in order to begin taking Vivitrol.

These medications must be used in conjunction with a treatment program in Winter Harbor which also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk with your therapist or doctor in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain and build the drug and alcohol free life you want.

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