Vivitrol

What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol contains one active ingredient, naltrexone, a medication that supports your recovery from opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Naltrexone blocks the brain’s opioid receptors, preventing opioids from having an impact and blocking the high (euphoria) caused by alcohol. 

Your Clarity Medical Group provider administers Vivitrol through a once-monthly injection placed deep in the gluteal muscles (your buttocks).

When might I receive Vivitrol?

Your provider may prescribe Vivitrol under the following guidelines:

You have stopped drinking alcohol

You can’t take Vivitrol while you’re still drinking. Your Clarity Medical Group provider may prescribe the medicine after you detox from alcohol and have been able to stay away from drinking.

You have completed opioid detox

Vivitrol prevents a relapse after finishing your opioid detox. Your Clarity Medical Group provider can prescribe Vivitrol after you leave in-patient rehab or complete an at-home detox and you’ve been free of opioids for at least a week.

What signs indicate I might need Vivitrol?

Alcohol and opioid use disorders have similar warning signs, including: 

• Being unable to cut down or stop (even though you try)
• Devoting too much time to getting or recovering from being drunk or high
• Failing to meet your responsibilities at school, work, and home
• Continuing to use despite having physical, social, or emotional side effects
• Using alcohol or opioids when it’s dangerous (like when driving)
• Experiencing memory blackouts
• Needing to take progressively larger doses to get the same effect
• Having uncontrollable cravings
• Having withdrawal symptoms if you stop

When you habitually use opioids and/or alcohol, they change your brain’s biochemistry, making it dependent on having the substance to function.

What should I know about Vivitrol’s side effects?

If Vivitrol causes side effects, they’re usually mild and go away quickly. You may experience any of Vivitrol’s most common side effects, including:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Muscle aches
• Injection site pain and tenderness

Vivitrol may increase your risk of an accidental opioid overdose. Here’s why:

After you detox and begin Vivitrol treatment, your tolerance for opioids decreases. As you reach the end of the month and get close to needing another injection, Vivitrol’s effectiveness diminishes. Your lower tolerance, combined with less Vivitrol protection, means you could overdose on a small amount of opioids.

The Clarity Medical Group team can provide support to help keep you safe.

Call Clarity Medical Group or use online booking today if you need help with alcohol or opioid use disorders.