Vivitrol is an injectable prescription medication that’s used to treat alcohol dependence and opioid addiction.
Taking a Vivitrol shot for alcohol abuse can help to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings, making recovery smoother. When used in tandem with alcohol treatment and drug therapy programs, Vivitrol for alcoholism can be highly effective. However, there are some things you should know about this medication before trying it.
How Does Vivitrol Work?
The growing rates of alcoholism and drug addiction have facilitated the need for effective drug treatment programs and approaches, such as Vivitrol for alcohol. Vivitrol is one of the three medications approved by the FDA for alcoholism treatment, the other two being Antabuse and Campral. For alcohol, Vivitrol works by blocking the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication, or the “buzz” that occurs when you drink. This helps people with alcoholism reduce their drinking behaviors enough to stay in a treatment program, avoid relapsing, and take their medications. Vivitrol side effects are minor, and physicians run clinical assessments to make sure this medication is right for their patients.
If you’re seeking Vivitrol treatment for yourself or a loved one, we can help. Banyan Treatment Centers offers Vivitrol treatment in several of our drug treatment centers. Vivitrol shots administered at our facility are done under the care of medical professionals and in a safe environment where the health of our patients is monitored.
Can You Drink On Vivitrol?
No, you cannot drink alcohol on Vivitrol. You have to stop drinking alcohol before taking Vivitrol, just like people with opioid addictions have to stop using opioids and detox for at least 7 to 14 days before they can begin treatment. As an opioid antagonist, Vivitrol blocks the opioid receptors or centers of pleasure in the brain. As a result, alcohol can’t get to them or produce the “buzz” or feeling of intoxication. This reduces the craving to drink associated with the euphoria or pleasure it usually provides.
No, you cannot drink alcohol on Vivitrol. You have to stop drinking alcohol before taking Vivitrol, just like people with opioid addictions have to stop using opioids and detox for at least 7 to 14 days before they can begin treatment. As an opioid antagonist, Vivitrol blocks the opioid receptors or centers of pleasure in the brain. As a result, alcohol can’t get to them or produce the “buzz” or feeling of intoxication. This reduces the craving to drink associated with the euphoria or pleasure it usually provides.
Additionally, Vivitrol is not a cure for alcoholism. This treatment should not replace inpatient drug treatment or an outpatient program. Vivitrol for alcohol is shown to be most effective when paired with other forms of substance abuse treatment. This is a supplement to your recovery, not the solution.
If you want to learn more about the Vivitrol treatment we offer at Banyan or any of our other addiction services, call us today at 888-280-4763.
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