What is Vivitrol & How Does it Work? What to Know
Opioid addiction takes the lives of thousands of people each year, with opioid deaths accounting for 75% of drug overdose deaths. When battling opioid addiction, seeing these numbers is incredibly frightening for you and your loved ones, and getting help before it’s too late is not just essential, but lifesaving.
The good news is that certain medications can not only prevent these overdose deaths but also treat opioid addiction in the long term. Opioid addiction is a chronic, treatable disease, and there is medication available to help, much like how there are medications for diabetes or heart disease.
One such medication is Vivitrol, which is proven to reduce overdoses and mortality, treat opioid addiction, and increase the chances of long-term recovery. But what is Vivitrol, and how, exactly, does it work in helping you stay sober?
Our experienced medical providers have been using Vivitrol to treat thousands of patients with opioid addiction since 2016, and they’ve seen thousands of successes using it in a comprehensive treatment plan. If you’re battling opioid addiction and looking for treatment options, Vivitrol may be something to consider when consulting with a medical provider.
But first, let’s explore how Vivitrol can help you stay safe and recover from the disease of addiction, so that you can better understand how it works when talking with your provider.
What is Vivitrol & Why is it Used?
First, Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist that blocks the pleasurable effects of opioids. It’s usually injected once every 30 days and is often recommended for long-term opioid and alcohol addiction treatment.
In short, Vivitrol works on the opiate receptors of the brain, stopping the opiate molecules from attaching. As a result, the opioids can’t produce feelings of pleasure or euphoria by preventing the release of dopamine, the feel-good chemical that causes the opioid “high” sensation.
When Do You Use Vivitrol?
It’s important to note that Vivitrol is best used after detoxing as a part of a continuation of the sobriety obtained from the detox. The medication is used for long-term, ongoing opioid addiction treatment, so your provider may recommend it after you’ve successfully detoxed from opioids. It’s often a great tool for those needing extended opioid treatment, preventing the risk of relapse and making it easier to undergo other components of treatment, like therapy.
5 Benefits of Vivitrol in Treatment
Using medication for addiction treatment has numerous benefits, and Vivitrol is no different. When asking “what is Vivitrol,” you need to know the benefits of the medication that can significantly help your recovery journey. Some benefits include:
- Convenience: Vivitrol is injected once every 30 days, meaning that you don’t have to take a daily pill or see a professional weekly. It’s impossible to divert, and it’s a great choice for people who can’t see their medical provider often.
- Non-Dependency Forming: One of the best parts of Vivitrol is that it doesn’t have withdrawal symptoms or require tapering off. Vivitrol is a partial opioid antagonist, so it doesn’t provide the same addictive “high” that opioids give. This makes dependency incredibly unlikely.
- Greatly Increases Treatment Retention: Using Vivitrol and other medications alongside therapy or counseling has proven to be one of the most effective pieces of a successful recovery plan. It helps your brain adjust to life without opioids, build habits, and focus on the strategies learned in therapy.
- Highly Reduces Relapse Risk: This is one of the most important benefits of Vivitrol. Because it’s injectable and used long-term, you’re significantly less likely to relapse.
- Prevents Opioid Overdose: Another of the most important benefits, Vivitrol and medication-assisted treatment significantly reduce overdoses from opioids by about 50%. It’s not only helpful in programming, but it’s a lifesaving tool, too.
If you’re at risk of relapse and need a longer, convenient treatment plan, your provider may prescribe Vivitrol. The benefits are vast, and it’s worth considering when starting treatment.
What Are the Side Effects of Vivitrol?
Using medication for addiction treatment has numerous benefits, and Vivitrol is no different. When asking “what is Vivitrol,” you need to know the benefits of the medication that can significantly help your recovery journey. Some benefits include:
- Convenience: Vivitrol is injected once every 30 days, meaning that you don’t have to take a daily pill or see a professional weekly. It’s impossible to divert, and it’s a great choice for people who can’t see their medical provider often.
- Non-Addictive: One of the best parts of Vivitrol—and a lot of medication-assisted treatment—is that the medications are non-addictive. Vivitrol is a partial opioid agonist, so it doesn’t provide the same addictive “high” that opioids give. This makes dependency incredibly unlikely.
- Greatly Increases Treatment Retention: Using Vivitrol and other medications alongside therapy or counseling has proven to be one of the most effective pieces of a successful recovery plan. It helps your brain adjust to life without opioids, build habits, and focus on the strategies learned in therapy.
- Highly Reduces Relapse Risk: This is one of the most important benefits of Vivitrol. Because it’s injectable and used long-term, you’re significantly less likely to relapse.
- Prevents Opioid Overdose: Another of the most important benefits, Vivitrol and medication-assisted treatment significantly reduce overdoses from opioids by about 50%. It’s not only helpful in programming, but it’s a lifesaving tool, too.
If you’re at risk of relapse and need a longer, convenient treatment plan, your provider may prescribe Vivitrol. The benefits are vast, and it’s worth considering when starting treatment.
Vivitrol is Not a Cure, But a Great Recovery Tool
As we’ve mentioned, Vivitrol is an incredibly useful and even lifesaving tool to help you overcome opioid addiction. Although it’s not meant to be a cure for the disease, it has significant benefits that can prevent a relapse, help you stay in treatment, and save you from opioid overdose. When used correctly and in tandem with a comprehensive plan including counseling, group therapy, and/or coaching, Vivitrol and medication-assisted treatment can increase your chances of recovery success.
Consult with a medical provider before starting Vivitrol, as it might not be the right plan for you. However, if recommended, it can help you find freedom of recovery from the disease of opioid addiction.
If you’re interested in Vivitrol and medication-assisted treatment, schedule a call with us for a consultation with a medical provider to see if it’s the right fit for you and get started on the road to recovery.
About Master Center
Master Center is a groundbreaking addiction treatment program headquartered in Glen Allen, Va. Based on a vision of comprehensive outpatient care, Master Center was launched in 2016 and now includes locations throughout the Commonwealth.
Master Center offers a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach rarely seen in the outpatient setting, staffed by experienced addiction physicians, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, and peer recovery coaches.
