If you’re dealing with an opioid addiction or dependency, it’s important to understand that there are treatment programs out there to help you through it. The most successful programs often approach opioid dependency from a variety of different angles, and one method of treating an opioid dependence is through the use of Vivitrol. Here is a brief guide to Vivitrol, what it does, and how it works:
- Vivitrol, also known as naltrexone, helps treat an opioid addiction by functioning as a “blocker.” It functions by blocking out the euphoric effects of opioids, including pain pills and heroin.
- Vivitrol on its own can’t really function as an effective addiction treatment plan; instead, it should be used alongside other treatment programs in order to produce the most effective results. It comes in the form of an injection, which must be administered by a professional (usually at drug treatment centers), and the effects of Vivitrol last for about 30 days after the injection.
- There are major caveats with Vivitrol: First, the individual must be clean for seven to 10 days before using Vivitrol (some drug rehab centers request that individuals stay sober for two full weeks). If Vivitrol is consumed when an individual is still using opioid or if a relapse occurs, the risk of overdose increases substantially. (As it is, drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.)
- The second problem with Vivitrol is that it does not actually mitigate the withdrawal effects or cravings that accompany opioid dependence; it merely blocks the effects of an opioid if consumed. As one might expect, this can make it very difficult to avoid using an opioid.
Vivitrol may not serve as a perfect solution for drug addiction on its own, but when used with other methods of drug addiction treatments, it can be a very valuable tool to stay sober. As many former addicts know, staying sober can be just as difficult as getting clean after being addicted to an opioid. Luckily, with help from the right treatment center, you won’t have to go through it alone.