If you’re affected by opioid or alcohol addiction, medication typically forms part of your treatment plan. Several medications are available for both forms of addiction. Each option serves its own purpose in supporting your recovery. One commonly used option is Vivitrol. This is a brand-name version of the opioid blocker naltrexone. A Vivitrol treatment program will help you meet your key recovery goals when used appropriately. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect in this kind of program.
What is a Vivitrol Treatment Program?
When you take an opioid, that substance travels to your brain before producing its effects. It makes this journey via sites in your nervous system called opioid receptors. These same receptors are also partly responsible for the rewarding feelings of drinking alcohol.
Vivitrol belongs to a group of substances called opioid antagonists. These substances get their name because they block access to your nervous system’s opioid receptors. They do so by binding those sites so they can’t receive opioids or alcohol. The results of this blocking activity can include:
- Reduced cravings for opioids or alcohol
- Less incentive to drink or take opioids
- Greater ability to avoid a relapse
Vivitrol is an injectable medication. You receive it in a Vivitrol treatment program as part of your overall recovery plan. You may also see this same kind of program referred to as a
Vivitrol medication-assisted treatment program.
What to Expect in a Vivitrol Program: Initial Assessment
At the start of your Vivitrol program, you will undergo an assessment process. The goal of this process is to provide essential information such as:
- The seriousness of your opioid or alcohol addiction
- The specific substances in your system
- How much of these substances you typically use
- The amount of time you have been using them
Your doctor will use this information to help you create a suitable recovery plan. Be aware that you won’t receive Vivitrol at first if you still have alcohol or opioids in your system. Why not? Use of the medication in these circumstances could trigger immediate, severe withdrawal symptoms. Prior to starting Vivitrol treatment, you will receive other forms of help to detox from opioids or alcohol.
What to Expect in a Vivitrol Program: Vivitrol Treatment
You must receive your Vivitrol injections from a doctor or other medical professional. A dose of the medication stays in your system for 30 days. At the end of that time period, you repeat the supervised injection process.
The length of time required for Vivitrol treatment varies from person to person. Some people respond rapidly to treatment and only need help for a few months. Others continue monthly injections for up to a full year.
Other Aspects of a Vivitrol Medication-Assisted Treatment Program
Vivitrol is not the sole element of an effective recovery plan. You must also participate in some form of psychotherapy while receiving the medication. Therapy supports you in ways that medication cannot. For example, it helps you gain a better understanding of the nature of addiction. It also helps you spot thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that tend to sustain addiction. In addition, therapy shows you ways to create habits that help you stay opioid- or alcohol-free.
Seek Help From Women’s Recovery’s Vivitrol Treatment Program
Need more details on what to expect in a Vivitrol program? Talk to the specialists at Women’s Recovery. We’ll help you gain a fuller picture of what this kind of program entails. Women’s Recovery features comprehensive Vivitrol treatment for women with opioid or alcohol problems. In combination with appropriate therapy, this treatment helps you make the most of your recovery. Call us today at 833.754.0554, or contact us through our convenient online information form.
