Vivitrol

Medical treatment for alcohol withdrawal. 

What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is a medicated assisted treatment that treats the symptoms of alcohol dependence and withdrawal. Typically administered through injection after the patient has preferably abstained from drinking alcohol or using opioid pain medication, addiction professionals also use it to prevent opioid dependence after detox.

A Vivitrol shot primarily addresses reducing alcohol dependence by curbing the urge to drink and preventing relapse into opioid addiction after detoxifying. Vivitrol helps you avoid opioid use in the longer term and can curb withdrawal symptoms or possibly contribute to them if the patient does not use the treatment program correctly.

Vivitrol’s Role in the Battle Against Addiction

Repeated exposure to a substance or an endorphin-releasing behavior can develop into addiction and become a compulsive dependence and pursuit of that release of endorphins. Scientists treat addiction as a disease and study the effects of changes in the brain, biochemistry, and behavior.

Addiction and mental health treatment cases are prevalent in 23 million Americans today. However, addiction is considered a diagnosable disease, and professionals can treat it with evidence-based programs, often including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in conjunction with counseling and psychosocial addiction support.

It has been observed that, along with medications, additional addiction support at Opus Health provides long-term reprogramming that significantly aids the individual to take control over one’s life after addiction. 

How Can Vivitrol Help with Alcohol and Opioid Use?

Anybody diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and/or opioid use disorder and dependence may qualify to receive Vivitrol or its generic version Naltrexone as a treatment. An injection of Naltrexone also works to curb and eventually stop the euphoric and sedative effects of alcohol and opioid use on the central nervous system.

If receiving eligibility for the use of Vivitrol to curb alcoholism and opioid addiction, doctors suggest ceasing substance use and that a patient demonstrate restraint while working their treatment in an outpatient setting. Much like Sublocade injection treatment, Vivitrol is administered only by a medical health professional, and in-person appointments in a facility are required. 

Vivitrol’s Role in the Battle Against Addiction

Repeated exposure to a substance or an endorphin-releasing behavior can develop into addiction and turn into a compulsive dependence and pursuit of that release of endorphins. Scientists treat addiction as a disease and study the effects of changes in the brain, biochemistry, and behavior.

Addiction and mental health treatment cases are prevalent in 23 million Americans today. However, addiction is considered a diagnosable disease, and professionals can treat it with evidence-based programs, often including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in conjunction with counseling and psychosocial addiction support.

It has been observed that, along with medications, additional addiction support at Opus Health provides long-term reprogramming that significantly aids the individual to take control over one’s life after addiction.

Reach out and take the first step. Speak directly to a professional!

How Does Vivitrol Work?

Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist, which means it binds to your body’s opiate receptors without providing any of the usual effects of opioids. The blocking of these receptors suppresses pain relief, euphoric feelings, and the sedative effects of opiates.

After being injected into your muscles, Vivitrol (naltrexone) takes effect immediately, lasting for a month. Due to the fast-acting nature of Vivitrol, it is essential that your body be opioid-free for at least 7 to 14 days or have completed alcohol detox before receiving the shot. If you are not opioid/alcohol-free, taking the medication can result in a severe reaction that could require hospitalization.

Side Effects of Vivitrol

  • Increased risk of opioid overdose by accident; for example, if a patient attempts to use opioids after the blocking effect of the medication begins to wear off, there is a significant increase in the risk of overdose, particularly with street drugs and illicit doses.
  • Risk of infection at the injection site of the Vivitrol shot: as with all medication administered subcutaneously, detecting signs of severe pain, hardness of the area, swelling, lumps, blisters, and/or open wounds is important.
  • Severe and sudden withdrawal symptoms can occur upon use. Vivitrol reacts seriously with other drugs in the system, so opioid use must stop one to two weeks before the injection. Hospitalization may be necessary if this biochemical reaction has adverse outcomes.

  • Liver damage or hepatitis: The main active ingredient has been known to cause liver issues; close monitoring from your medical team can help prevent this.

Other potential side effects include:

And very seriously, changes in mood and behavior can lead to depression and/or suicidal thoughts.

Drinking Alcohol After the Vivitrol Shot

Healthcare professionals warn against drinking while on Naltrexone shot, as it can often increase and worsen the addiction to alcohol. Since Naltrexone, or Vivitrol, reduces cravings for alcohol or drugs, it may also raise that person’s tolerance and tendency to put more substance into their system. If drinking while taking Naltrexone/Vivitrol, the same signs of intoxication can be present, such as poor coordination, drowsiness, and poor judgment.

Where Can I Get a Vivitrol Shot?

The medical team at Opus Health can prescribe and administer the Vivitrol shot and monitor patients to protect them against any harmful reactions to the medication. Due to the potential for severe side effects, Vivitrol is only permitted to be administered by medical professionals.

Vivitrol is not meant to be used as a substitute for traditional treatment modalities for addiction. However, statistics show a higher success rate of preventing relapse long-term when mental health therapies are used in addition to the medicated assistance of Vivitrol, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mental health counseling, and group therapy. Opus Health offers medication, counseling, and education to help you learn the best coping strategies and the facts about the damage that alcohol abuse and opioid abuse can cause.

Vivitrol