Vivitrol Used in Treatment - Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities - Lorton, VA.

Vivitrol is a medication used to prevent drug dependency 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 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 injects Vivitrol, it blocks the receptors that would normally 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 certain precautions that should be be taken before someone begins treatment with Vivitrol. Firstly, an individual who with the intent to start Vivitrol must have been off of opioids for a minimum of 7-10 days. This is including individuals 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, abrupt cessation can be brutal, but withdrawal is something they will have to endure for at least a week in order to start Vivitrol.

These medications must be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment program in Lorton which also includes medical supervision, individual therapy, and group therapy. Speak with your therapist or doctor about how pharmacological tools can help you maintain and build the drug-free life you want.

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