Vivitrol Treatment - How Does It Work?
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Recovery from addiction can be challenging for many people in the early stages when they are still adjusting to their newly found freedom from alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, without the proper interventions, many people also relapse. While relapse is part of the recovery journey, there are FDA-approved medications that can make these early days much easier to manage and further reduce the risk of relapse. For those who want help with alcohol and opioids, learning how Vivitrol does work could be beneficial for your recovery.
What Is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is an injectable form of naltrexone, which is an FDA-approved medication used as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The drug helps people recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) manage cravings. It also blocks receptors in the brain to prevent the euphoric effects experienced when using alcohol and opioids.
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HOW DOES VIVITROL WORK?
When someone is addicted to alcohol or opioids, they have built up a tolerance to the substance. As such, they need higher amounts to achieve the desired effects. When they start detox and rehab treatment, their body experiences withdrawal symptoms as it begins to heal. These withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant and often include intense cravings.
Vivitrol works by blocking the euphoric and pleasurable effects experienced when using alcohol or opioids. As a result, should a person relapse, they will not experience the desired effects. So, Vivitrol works to reduce the risks of relapse and help reduce cravings.
VIVITROL MONTHLY INJECTIONS
Vivitrol is administered as a monthly injection, which is ideal for people who are in outpatient rehab treatment. Since they may not attend daily sessions, they can gain the benefits of MAT without having to visit the treatment center daily for a dose of naltrexone.
Vivitrol also has a long-lasting extended-release formulation that ensures continuous blocking of the brain’s receptors that work for an entire month.
SIDE EFFECTS OF VIVITROL
As with other MAT medications, there are potential side effects one could experience when taking Vivitrol, including:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Swelling and soreness at the injection site
- Lack of energy
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Restlessness
It is normal to experience some minor side effects when first starting Vivitrol, such as headaches. Side effects are usually temporary and often dissipate within 24 hours or less. However, not everyone will experience any side effects. Those who do should inform their healthcare provider who has prescribed the injections of any side effects they experience.
OUR PROGRAMS THAT UTILIZE VIVITROL
At Music City Detox, we offer Vivitrol as part of MAT for several of our detox programs, including:
VIVITROL FOR ALCOHOL USE DISORDER
When Vivitrol is used for AUD, it drastically reduces and prevents the euphoric and pleasurable feelings experienced when drinking. Since no pleasurable effects are experienced, it works as a deterrent and reduces the person’s cravings to drink.
However, if alcohol is consumed, the person can still experience certain effects, like slowed reaction times, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
VIVITROL FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER
Vivitrol for OUD is used later after a person has been fully detoxed from opioids. There is a seven to fourteen-day period one must wait before starting Vivitrol to ensure the medication’s effectiveness. This is to ensure that opioids are no longer in your system before beginning Vivitrol.
In the interim, other opioid agonist medications, like methadone and buprenorphine, can be used when first starting detox treatment.
Once Vivitrol injections start, the drug blocks the opioid receptors in the brain from experiencing the effects of opioids and reduces cravings. Should someone relapse, they will not experience the euphoric effects. Even taking higher doses of opioids will not cause any desired effects. However, increasing dosages does increase the risk of accidental overdose.
IS VIVITROL EFFECTIVE?
Research has shown that Vivitrol can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive alcohol or opioid addiction treatment program. For example, in one study, 36% of people on Vivitrol and receiving counseling services were able to maintain abstinence up through week 24 of their recovery. This was compared to only 23% of people receiving just counseling services for OUD.
A long-term study published in Drugs showed that 64% of people on Vivitrol for OUD were still drug-free at 12 months compared to only 39% of people in recovery for OUD who did not get Vivitrol.
For AUD, those on Vivitrol were 25% more likely not to relapse and not drink heavily if they did relapse. In another study from Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, 86% of people on Vivitrol were consuming less alcohol when they relapsed compared to their initial relapses.
HOW MUCH DOES VIVITROL COST?
The average cost of Vivitrol is around $1,500 per injection. However, the price people actually pay varies based on their type of health insurance coverage. Some people pay only a small co-pay, while others may have no costs whatsoever.
Vivitrol also offers a Co-pay Savings Program to help offset the mediation costs. 91% of people enrolled in the program had no out-of-pocket costs for Vivitrol
GET HELP FOR AUD AND OUD IN NASHVILLE TODAY
Are you struggling with alcohol or opioid addiction and have reached the point where you want to regain control over your life? Get the help you need for AUD and OUD in a caring, safe, and supportive environment at Music City Detox in Nashville. We provide comprehensive detox treatment programs personalized to your needs, which can include using Vivitrol.
Contact us today for further information to schedule an initial consultation.
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