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

Vivitrol is a drug used to prevent drug 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 med Naltrexone, which is available via a monthly injection. It is not addictive, and is what is called an antagonist. When someone injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be activated by opioids or alcohol, so when an individual drinks or takes opioids they basically can't get high or drunk.

There are particular precautions that should be be taken before an individual begins treatment with Vivitrol. First off, a person who intends to begin Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for at least seven to ten days. This is including people who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given drugs like Buprenorphine or Methadone. For a heroin addict or a person who has been on Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week if they want to begin taking Vivitrol.

These meds must be used as part of an addiction treatment program in Winterport that also includes individual therapy, group therapy and medical supervision. Talk to your doctor or therapist about how pharmacological tools can help you build and maintain the sober life you want.

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