Only 6.7% of the group receiving 190 milligrams discontinued treatment due to adverse side effects. To sum up, Vivitrol can be used to help stop opioid cravings, but it won’t work 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House quickly enough in the case of an opioid overdose. Narcan can be used in the case of an opioid overdose, but it won’t help in the treatment of alcohol or opioid dependence.

Overcoming alcoholism isn’t easy, but with the help of Vivitrol and a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program, you don’t have to do it alone. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, our drug and alcohol rehab program proudly offers medication-assisted treatment including Vivitrol to patients suffering from alcohol addiction. When you choose PAX Memphis for your alcohol rehab provider, you will have access to unparalleled patient care, community support groups, and therapeutic interventions that will pave the way for long-term recovery. Naltrexone injection is used along with counseling and social support to help people who have stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol to avoid drinking again. Naltrexone injection is also used along with counseling and social support to help people who have stopped abusing opiate medications or street drugs to avoid abusing the medications or street drugs again.

NEED HELP PREPARING FOR TREATMENT?

However, they may be eligible for Vivitrol treatment after an opioid-free period of 7-14 days before Vivitrol treatment and remain opioid-free after treatment. Vivitrol is an injectable form of extended-release naltrexone administered intramuscularly into the buttocks by a healthcare provider once a month in a clinical setting. Vivitrol is a non-addictive and non-narcotic prescription medication with a low risk of misuse and dependence. Vivitrol is used as part of a comprehensive treatment program to help reduce the risk of relapse and maintain abstinence while in recovery.

These preparations are designed to enhance medication compliance, diminish adverse events, and increase efficacy by reducing fluctuating plasma naltrexone levels. A healthcare provider may test you for opioid dependence before Vivitrol treatment to mitigate the risk of sudden opioid withdrawal syndrome (SOWS). This test is conducted by administering a low-dose Vivitrol injection to determine if a person has any physical dependence on opioid-containing medications. Individuals will not be prescribed Vivitrol if they experience opioid withdrawal symptoms after the test.

How Vivitrol works

Practitioners, therefore, might use these long-acting depot preparations only if a “trial” of oral naltrexone has failed because of low compliance. Providers might also consider a “trial” of oral naltrexone to guarantee early detection of any adverse events (Johnson 2006). Optimizing the pharmacokinetic profile of naltrexone by developing a deep intramuscular injection that would release naltrexone over several weeks would, therefore, enhance its overall effectiveness. Consequently, plasma levels would remain relatively constant and low enough to reduce the incidence of adverse events yet high enough for the desired anti-drinking effects (Bartus et al 2003). Another depot formulation, Depotrex® (Biotek, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA), for which published data are limited, is also mentioned. Using opioids in the 7 to 14 days before you start receiving Vivitrol may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you get your injection.