For the past few years, opioid usage has spread like a wildfire, causes thousands of deaths across the U.S. Deaths attributed to opioid use have continued to increase. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 115 Americans die from an opioid overdose each day. This is five times higher than the numbers recorded in 1999.
To help battle this ever-growing crisis, Naltrexone (Vivitrol) has been used as a way to help those who are addicted to opioids. When combined with heroin addiction treatment, Vivitrol can be a lifesaver. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is an injection that is given by a doctor on a monthly basis. It’s meant to be used with counseling and a treatment plan as a way to help addicts avoid relapsing. The drug, naltrexone, uses a non-addictive opiate antagonist and has proven to be useful in treating opioid as well as alcohol addiction.
Vivitrol works by blocking opioids from affecting the brain. In essence, the drug eliminates the possibility of euphoria, which takes away the reward of getting high. This makes Vivitrol an effective choice in preventing relapse in those who have undergone opioid detox.
Benefits of Vivitrol
While there are all sorts of other medications that can be used in conjunction with substance abuse treatment, Vivitrol offers notable benefits, including:
- Extremely convenient (no forgetting to take a drug each day)
- Makes opiate drugs less desirable
- Non-addictive
- Keeps blood levels more stable when compared to oral naltrexone
If you’re ready to put an end to your addiction, look for local addiction treatment centers that offer Vivitrol treatment. The drug makes the path to recovery much easier.
What You Need to Know Before Taking Vivitrol
While you may be eager to try Vivitrol to help you along your recovery journey, there are some things you’ll want to know.
Vivitrol can only be taken after you’ve been clean from opioid usage for at least seven days. Since the first week of sobriety is often the hardest, especially when dealing with cravings, discuss interim treatment that can be used before you can safely be given Vivitrol.
The drug may also be dangerous for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. There are also several side effects of taking Vivitrol to be aware of, including dizziness, joint pain, headaches, vomiting, loss of appetite, and depressed mood.
As with many other treatments, it’s possible to overdose while taking Vivitrol. Since users don’t experience the euphoria that occurs when getting high, they may take opiate drugs in higher amounts to feel the effects.
Start Your Path to Recovery
Are you interested in learning more about your addiction, including available treatment methods like Vivitrol? If so, our staff at BlueCrest Recovery Center is here to help. We will help you each step of the way toward getting on the path of sobriety. Our addiction treatment follows a holistic approach to heal the body, mind, and soul.
Don’t become a statistic of the opioid epidemic. Call our office today at 888.292.9652 to start your personal journey.
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