Addiction rewires the brain so severely that many patients experience cravings long after they finish alcohol or opiate detox.
For some patients, naltrexone is a drug that can help curb cravings post-detox. Vivitrol is the common name for naltrexone, and this drug works by blocking the effect that opioids or alcohol have on the brain. 1 If you’re considering Vivitrol for drug addiction treatment, it’s important to learn more about this medication before beginning.
How Does Vivitrol Work to Prevent Cravings?
Vivitrol’s benefits include its reduction or entire prevention of cravings. It works by blocking the action of opioids in the brain and it also decreases the desire to drink.2 Its antagonistic qualities make it an effective medication for patients who have completed detoxification, but need additional support for reduced cravings.
Can I Take Vivitrol Before Detox?
Vivitrol is most effective at curbing cravings in patients who are already sober from their active addiction, it acts as a relapse prevention technique. No, you should not take Vivitrol before you detox from drugs and alcohol. Vivitrol treatments are most effective for people who are already sober from their opiate or alcohol addiction by battling cravings.
Vivitrol for Alcohol Cravings
For most patients, Vivitrol is effective at preventing cravings including alcohol cravings. Many recovered alcoholics will find themselves facing cravings for a drink, this is largely due to how alcohol hijacks the brain during an active addiction. Vivitrol for alcohol cravings helps to prevent the cravings from originating in the brain in the first place. The FDA approved Vivitrol as a treatment for alcohol cravings in 2006, and the medication has become a mainstay in relapse prevention. 3
Vivitrol for Opiates
Many patients also choose Vivitrol for addiction treatment as a means of preventing cravings. With regular Vivitrol injections in South Florida or nearby to the patient’s local community, drug cravings for opiates can be mitigated. Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can last for months or years after getting sober, and they come with cravings that can make it hard for a recovered opiate addict to stick to their sobriety. With Vivitrol for drug addiction, patients can combat symptoms of PAWS, particularly drug cravings.
Treatment Programs Offering Vivitrol
If you are interested in learning more about medications for addiction treatment or relapse prevention, we encourage you to speak with our team at Banyan Treatment Centers.
Call 888-280-4763 to learn more about the effectiveness of Vivitrol for addiction treatment and relapse prevention.
Sources:
- VeryWellMind – Vivitrol Treatment for Alcoholism and Addiction
- WebMD – Vivitrol Suspension
- FDA – Drug Approval Package
