Like any other treatment for chemical dependence, Vivitrol is used as a part of a larger recovery program which includes individual and often group therapy. Unlike its predecessors, Vivitrol is not a narcotic and is non-addictive. Other treatments for opiate addiction involve taking a replacement chemical that partially or completely mimics the effects of opiates such as heroin or prescription painkillers. These chemicals are almost always addictive and, in turn, produce dependence.
Vivitrol has encouraging statistics on its side. Studies performed by the manufacturer compared patients getting Vivitrol against those receiving a placebo. In addition, data collected showed that opioid-dependent individuals were 17 times less likely to relapse into physical opioid dependence than people not receiving medical assistance.
People taking Vivitrol stayed in treatment an average of days, which was 72 days longer than those receiving a placebo. For people dependent on alcohol, Vivitrol offers a more comprehensive form of aversion therapy. For a long time, doctors prescribed daily medications designed to take the desired euphoric effects away and even make a patient feel sick when consuming alcohol.
While these treatments are sometimes successful, they only work if the patient takes the medication every day. Many people who struggle with addiction experience difficulty with self-control and can sabotage their sobriety by simply skipping their daily dose.
Vivitrol is taken once a month, giving people a much smaller window of opportunity to make a decision to compromise their sobriety. Vivitrol is also administered by a healthcare provider, which may give those who are seeking treatment the structure they need. The popularity of Vivitrol has been growing in the US since it was approved in This has made it a favorite in the correctional system for use with inmates suffering from drug addiction.
In fact, many drug courts throughout the US have decided to refer inmates to programs which administer only Vivitrol. One of the best parts of Vivitrol treatment is the mental freedom it gives to patients.
Many people who have taken Vivitrol tell of how much easier it is to refuse opioid drugs when they know they cannot get high. Patients can focus more heavily on counseling without the burden of resisting opiates. One of the downsides of Vivitrol is the amount of time an individual must wait to administer the first dose. You must be completely detoxed from opioids for weeks before taking Vivitrol. This includes any opiate pain medication and street drugs such as heroin.
In emergencies, such as those requiring surgery, the effects of Vivitrol may need to be reversed before pain medication is administered. One of the fears that keep people from trying Vivitrol is that they will experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
Symptoms of SOWS include anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, shaking, increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even seizures.
In spite of the numerous testimonials people who have had success with Vivitrol have shared online, the stories of a few who have experienced this phenomenon seem to get the most attention. Blocking the opioid receptor is a very small part of recovery. Vivitrol is not recommended for people who are not ready to stop using drugs.
Some people attempt to convince addicted loved ones to get Vivitrol treatment. This can be dangerous for those who do not understand what Vivitrol is. Individuals attempting to do so are at high risk of overdose, stroke, or death. In addition, those who have received Vivitrol treatments are warned that using opiates after treatment, even in amounts they were previously comfortable with, can be fatal.
Vivitrol is more expensive than methadone or Suboxone. It also must also be administered by a healthcare professional, which means that patients may incur additional costs for the visit. While this has been a real deterrent to some individuals, there are coupons and voucher programs that can dramatically reduce the price. Vivitrol offers individuals a treatment that is non-addictive and lasts up to 30 days. Drug addiction and alcoholism are not a choice, they are in fact diseases.
Let Right Path Treatment Centers treat you with compassion. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Vivitrol. Before taking Vivitrol, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You should avoid using the pain reliever tramadol while taking Vivitrol. Tramadol is an opioid, and Vivitrol blocks the effects of opioids. This can make the opioid not work.
Never try to overcome this by taking more tramadol. This may lead to serious injury including overdose or death. If you need pain management medication while taking Vivitrol, talk with your doctor.
So taking an opioid drug with Vivitrol would cause the opioid to not work properly. Never try to overcome this by taking a larger amount of opioids.
That can cause serious injury or death. Keep in mind that the effects of Vivitrol decrease over the course of 1 month. So you may be more sensitive to opioid medications right before your next dose of Vivitrol, if you miss a dose, or if you stop treatment. Because of this, taking the same amount of opioids that you took before using Vivitrol may cause overdose or death. They may recommend non-opioid pain medications such as ibuprofen Advil or acetaminophen Tylenol.
There are no known interactions between Vivitrol and Xanax alprazolam. However, Xanax, much like alcohol and opioids, is an addicting medication. All of these are depressant medications, which slow down your brain activity and heart rate. This can lead to serious problems such as:. They may suggest a different medication for you.
Adderall is a stimulant medication that works in a different way than Vivitrol. Stimulant drugs excite your central nervous system , which includes your brain, and may help you focus or wake up. However, your body can become dependent on Adderall, just as it can be dependent on alcohol or opioid medications. Because Adderall is a stimulant medication, it increases your brain activity and heart rate. Alcohol and opioids, on the other hand, are depressant medications, which slow down your brain activity and heart rate.
Taking Adderall with opioids or alcohol can cause serious effects such as heart attack, overdose, loss of consciousness, or death. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Vivitrol. No human or animal studies have been done on the effects of Vivitrol during pregnancy. However, the tablet form of the active drug in Vivitrol naltrexone has been studied in animals.
Researchers found that pregnant animals that were given naltrexone tablets every day had an increased risk of miscarriage. There was no increased risk of birth defects in these studies. Opioid use during pregnancy has been shown to cause early preterm birth, low birth weights, and even death of the baby. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause decreased growth of the baby, birth defects such as heart problems, slower development, or even death of the baby.
They can review the pros and cons of the medication with you. The drug is present in breast milk, so a breastfeeding child may consume the medication. They can advise you on the best way to feed your child. A controlled substance is typically a drug that you can become dependent on and misuse.
However, the active drug in Vivitrol naltrexone is sometimes used along with another medication called bupropion for weight loss. More testing needs to be done to determine if Vivitrol is a safe and effective medication for weight loss. Some people may have gained weight while taking Vivitrol.
People who are dependent on opioids or alcohol may not eat properly or may vomit their food. However, naltrexone the active drug in Vivitrol can be used with another medication called bupropion for weight loss. Therefore, naltrexone may control other cravings for food as well. Weight gain is probably not a side effect of Vivitrol use because naltrexone is also used for weight loss.
They can review your diet and exercise habits. Vivitrol works to help stop opioid cravings and the feeling that you need opioids in your body. The drug acts slowly but lasts for a long time in your body. Naloxone works for only a short period of time to reverse an overdose that already occurred.
Naloxone acts very quickly within minutes to help reverse an overdose. If you have any questions about Vivitrol or naloxone, or how to treat an opioid overdose, talk with your doctor. As with all medications, the cost of Vivitrol can vary.
To find current prices for Vivitrol in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Vivitrol. This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Vivitrol.
If you need financial support to pay for Vivitrol, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. Alkermes PLC, the manufacturer of Vivitrol, offers a copay program that may help lower the cost of Vivitrol. If you need help understanding your insurance coverage, you can fill out this form or call VIVITROL to speak with a customer support specialist. Once Vivitrol is injected, it lasts in your body for about 1 month. The drug needs to be injected into a muscle, as opposed to in a vein or under your skin subcutaneous.
Incorrect injections can cause serious injury and may require you to go to a hospital. You should have your Vivitrol injections one time each month, or about every 4 weeks. If you forget or miss a dose, schedule your appointment as soon as you remember. Vivitrol is approved to treat alcohol dependence and prevent opioid dependence after opioid detoxification.
An opioid is a powerful type of drug often prescribed to treat pain. And opioid detoxification involves clearing the drug from your body. Vivitrol should be used along with counseling, education, and support groups.
When you stop using opioids or alcohol, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Sometimes you may have symptoms so severe that you need to go to a hospital. Taking opioid medications or drinking alcohol causes the release of dopamine a chemical in your brain.
The release of dopamine makes you want to take the drug or drink alcohol again. Vivitrol is a type of medication called an opioid antagonist. Antagonists are medications that block certain receptors proteins on the outside of cells that act like docking stations.
Vivitrol works for both opioid and alcohol dependence by blocking these receptors in the brain for 1 month. This helps you have fewer cravings and helps prevent relapse going back to taking opioids or drinking alcohol again. Vivitrol can start working within 2 hours after your first injection. Vivitrol is known as medication-assisted treatment. Vivitrol all by itself is not an effective or permanent solution for opioid use disorders. Addiction is a disease of the mind and emotions that stem from multiple influencers.
People who become addicted to Fentanyl usually have a family history of addiction, experienced abuse, violence, or neglect in their early childhood environment, or were exposed to drug use early in life or it was condoned in their home environment. The treatment methods available for addiction to drugs like Fentanyl or heroin rely on advanced opioid use disorder therapeutic methods proven to help addicts get and remain clean for good.
Without treatment, people who are prescribed Vivitrol have a minimal chance of remaining opioid free long term. Addiction is a powerful disease that requires therapy and support to be managed. There is no cure for addiction but there are millions of people who have overcome an addiction to heroin, Fentanyl, prescription pain killers, and other substances because they received professional addiction treatment; and continue to get support to help them stay clean and sober.
The answer as to whether a person can get high on Fentanyl while on Vivitrol is generally no, but it is possible. The possibility of using enough Fentanyl to override the opioid blocking effects of Vivitrol in the brain will require a lethal dose. What is most alarming is that once a person is prescribed and injected with Vivitrol, they have already detoxed all of the opioids from their system. This means that they have Zero Tolerance to opioids, which can very easily kill them if they use Fentanyl.
Even worse is that people who are attempting to get high on Vivitrol with Fentanyl usually already understand they will have to use more than usual to feel high. Because of these serious and life-threatening dangers of using opiates on Vivitrol, it is best to talk with your doctor to determine if this drug is the right treatment for you. While Vivitrol can help reduce drug cravings, it is not as effective in preventing relapse in the long run by itself.
Our drug rehab center in Massachusetts use Vivitrol as well as programming that is designed to help patients combat the many secondary issues related to addiction and prepare for life outside of treatment. If you or someone you care about is addicted to opioids, you are not alone. Many people are struggling with the same issue, but there is hope. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, call us now! Join us on Social Media. The Dangers of Using Opiates on Vivitrol.
Prescription drugs of any kind can come with side effects or bad reactions, but some may be more dangerous than others. At Banyan Massachusetts, we want you or your loved one to find lasting sobriety and be able to live a drug-free life.
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