Vivitrol Addiction Treatment Programs

What Is Vivitrol?

At Banyan Treatment Centers, we offer Vivitrol for addiction treatment patients who want to fight off drug or alcohol cravings. Also known by the brand name naltrexone, Vivitrol is an FDA-approved prescription injection used to block the effects of opioids like heroin, morphine, and oxycodone, including the euphoria that occurs when these drugs are abused.

Vivitrol is also used to help reduce cravings for alcohol, opioids, and prescription drugs in patients who have completed a detox program but are still struggling with drug or alcohol cravings. These cravings can last for weeks, months, or even years after a person has become sober. Medications like Vivitrol are commonly used to combat these cravings and assist patients in their recovery and sobriety. When combined with a comprehensive addiction care plan, Vivitrol treatment is highly effective.

For the best results, Vivitrol should be regulated, monitored, and used alongside professional drug or alcohol addiction treatment. If you’re recovering from addiction or have been sober, you don’t have to battle cravings on your own. If you are interested in Banyan’s Vivitrol treatment, reach out to us to learn more about prescribing requirements, benefits, and possible side effects.

Although Vivitrol helps block cravings, it doesn’t address other components of relapse, such as social constraints or environmental influences. This medication is part of our rehab programs for certain clients who require additional support for cravings. A full program—like our nationwide PHP or IOP—is necessary to help a person fully recover from their addiction. Vivitrol is only one step in the recovery process.

Is Vivitrol the Same as Suboxone?

Vivitrol and Suboxone are both medications used in the treatment of opioid use disorder, but they have different active ingredients and mechanisms of action.

• Vivitrol:
  • Active Ingredient: Naltrexone
  • Mechanism of Action: Vivitrol is an extended-release injectable form of naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist. It blocks the effects of opioids by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings, and preventing the euphoric effects of opioids.
  • Dosage Form: Vivitrol is administered as a once-monthly injection.
  • Function: It is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to support individuals in maintaining abstinence from opioids.
• Suboxone:
  • Active Ingredients: Buprenorphine and Naloxone
  • Mechanism of Action: Suboxone is a combination medication containing buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Buprenorphine activates the opioid receptors to a lesser extent than full opioids, helping to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Naloxone is included to discourage misuse; if Suboxone is injected, the naloxone component can precipitate withdrawal symptoms.
  • Dosage Form: Suboxone is typically available as a sublingual (under the tongue) film or tablet.
  • Function: Suboxone is used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help individuals reduce or eliminate their dependence on opioids. It can be used for both detoxification and maintenance therapy.

While both medications are used in the treatment of opioid use disorder, the choice between Vivitrol and Suboxone depends on various factors, including individual patient characteristics, preferences, and treatment goals. Each medication has its advantages and considerations, and the decision is often made in consultation with a healthcare provider as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Vivitrol Prescribing Requirements

To receive a Vivitrol injection, patients must be completely sober and cannot have an active addiction. Vivitrol might not be for everyone. Patients can take Vivitrol for alcohol abuse or opioid cravings.

Clients must undergo a complete medically supervised detox to take Vivitrol and benefit from its effects. If the individual is actively using opioids, taking painkillers, or drinking alcohol while taking Vivitrol, they can experience harmful side effects and increase their risk of overdose.

After completing medical detox, some patients can take Vivitrol as part of their opiate addiction treatment or alongside other programs. While it’s an effective way to prevent relapse, treat cravings, and treat addiction, patients will need to undergo additional therapies during their Vivitrol treatment.

Vivitrol Side Effects

Rarely do patients experience severe side effects while on Vivitrol, making it a non-addictive and predominantly safe drug to use in opioid or alcohol addiction treatment. However, it’s important never to take Vivitrol while using opioids. If you take Vivitrol with opiates in your system, you may experience a sudden opioid withdrawal. Therefore, you must undergo detox for 7 to 14 days before starting Vivitrol and avoid using opioids, including street drugs, prescription painkillers, cough and cold medications, and diarrhea medications.

Another critical aspect we monitor during our Vivitrol treatment is the risk of overdose. People who relapse after taking Vivitrol are at an increased risk of overdosing. When a person who is addicted to opioids goes through a period of abstinence or sobriety, their body’s tolerance to the drug is greatly reduced or even diminished. Many individuals mistakenly believe they can take the same dose they once did during active addiction when they relapse, significantly increasing their chances of overdosing. This is why we closely monitor patients receiving Vivitrol shots at our facility.

Some of the more commonly reported vivitrol shot side effects include:

• Headaches or dizziness
• Lethargy
• Weight loss from decreased appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety
• Toothaches
• Problems sleeping / restlessness
• Muscle pain, weakness, or cramps
• Diarrhea

Although uncomfortable, these Vivitrol side effects are typically not a major cause for concern, but there are more severe side effects that are possible. Some people may have a negative reaction at the injection site that will need further medical attention. Vivitrol could also lead to liver damage or hepatitis in the most severe cases. Other people may notice that they start to feel depressed.

Integrating Vivitrol Injections with Holistic Addiction Therapy

While the Vivitrol injection addresses the physical side effects of drug and alcohol abuse, many other factors are still at play. Behavioral patterns, lifestyle, environmental influences, and underlying mental illness are also common contributing factors to substance abuse. Neglecting these additional issues increases the patient’s risk of relapsing when they leave our facility. However, when used alongside our other forms of drug treatment, Vivitrol is often successful.

Patients receiving Vivitrol or naltrexone treatment at our rehab may also benefit from addiction recovery programs like:

• 12 Step Program
• Alumni Program
• Biofeedback
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Pet Therapy
• SMART Recovery Program
• & More

How to Get Vivitrol at Banyan

Vivitrol must be prescribed by a doctor or medical professional. Not everyone will meet the Vivitrol prescribing requirements, so it’s important to discuss the possibility of receiving this treatment with a doctor or qualified medical professional.

Our drug and alcohol rehab center offers Vivitrol treatment for patients who may benefit from this method to control and prevent their drug or alcohol cravings. Every patient will be assessed to decide whether they can gain from this treatment and identify the best form of treatment for them.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and cravings, contact Banyan Treatment Centers to learn more about our options for rehab, detox, and relapse prevention. Call us today to get started (855) 908-0663.

 Not all programs are available at all locations. Please contact the location for availability.