Vivitrol is a med mainly administered to help prevent drug abuse and relapse, and is administered expressly for alcohol and opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription medications. Vivitrol is an extended release type of the drug Naltrexone, that one can get through injection once a month. It isn't habit forming, and is what is known as an antagonist. When an individual takes Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally be triggered by alcohol or opioids, so when someone drinks alcohol or takes opioids they basically cannot get drunk or high.
There are particular precautions that should be be taken before an individual is administered Vivitrol. Firstly, a person who intends to begin Vivitrol needs to have abstained from opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This includes individuals who are participating in opioid maintenance therapy and are being given meds such as Methadone or Buprenorphine. For a heroin addict or someone who has been on Methadone for a long time, quitting quickly is very difficult, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for a minimum of a week if they want to start Vivitrol.
These drugs must be used as part of a treatment program in Mayo that also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Talk to your therapist or Dr. in regards to how pharmacological aids can help you maintain and build the drug-free life you want.