Vivitrol For Alcohol
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Key findings show that in America, 95,000 people die as a result of alcohol use, while 7% of drinking adults have an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol can be found anywhere, and people of all ages consume it, whether they are allowed or not. While a beer or a glass of wine is not necessarily harmful, alcohol addiction can be destructive, both for the body and for the user’s personal life.
Alcohol addiction can be treated in special facilities, where people will receive medication and therapy to make sure their problem is dealt with accordingly. One of the medications often used for substance abuse is Vivitrol. This injectable medication is prescribed by healthcare professionals in certain cases.
Vivitrol is effective and can have a certain effect on people who are addicted to alcohol, but not everyone knows how it works. Not to mention that the medication is not right for everyone.
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is a medication that gets injected into the body of someone suffering from opioid or alcohol addictions. It is very effective as it can block the opioid medication effects, such as euphoric feelings or pain relief. Very often, Vivitrol is part of a longer treatment program used to treat opioid or alcohol addiction.
Vivitrol, or naltrexone, is prescribed by healthcare professionals as it can help prevent relapse in people. Even better, it reduces people’s cravings and makes them less likely to want to drink alcohol.
It was approved officially by the Food and Drug Administration back in 2010, and it is an opioid receptor antagonist. The medication is meant to be used once a month, and patients have to go to the doctor’s office to receive it every 4 weeks.
How Does Vivitrol Work?
For alcohol use, Vivitrol can work by decreasing the alcohol cravings in withdrawal and blocking the effects of the substance in the brain. So, it will not fully stop someone from enjoying some drinks but will just lower the intensity of the effects during medication. With the heavier drinking habits decreasing, patients can get sober more easily.
The way your brain responds to alcohol is changed when using Vivitrol. It can stop endorphins induced by alcohol from attaching to receptors. This is possible as long as the individual makes sure to get all the shots and doesn’t miss any dose.
Vivitrol takes some time to start working – therefore, it will not immediately reduce alcohol cravings. Usually, it has to be taken in combination with other treatments used for alcohol use disorders. They can maintain abstinence in the long term but also lower the relapse risk.
Vivitrol Administration
The medication is clinically prepared and administered once a month by a doctor. Generally, a special needle comes with the Vivitrol, so it is only given to patients using that particular syringe.
The doses injected by healthcare providers contain 380-mg of Vivitrol. The substance is administered by injecting a muscle in the buttocks, although between consecutive injections some doctors will switch to the thighs too. This decreases the risk of any reactions at the injection site such as scarring.
Vivitrol packages contain a prepackaged syringe, a pair of 2-inch 20G administration needles that have a clear protective cap, a diluent for the Vivitrol microspheres, and a vial for the microspheres. Apart from these, it also comes with two one-and-a-half-inch 20G administration needles that also have a clear protective cap and a 1-inch 20G preparation needle.
Taking Vivitrol WIth Alcohol
People don’t really experience any side effects when using Vivitrol during alcohol consumption. Of course, the medication will have certain effects such as making the person being less tempted to use alcohol, reducing cravings, and showing fewer intoxication signs.
It’s important to keep in mind that using Vivitrol during alcohol consumption will not make someone feel ill or become less intoxicated based on how much alcohol they consumed. Also, it will not be able to treat any chronic alcohol misuse long-term effects, like kidney or liver damage, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular damage. Not to mention that it will not reduce the short-term negative effects of alcohol consumption.
Vivitrol is only part of a longer alcohol use disorder treatment and will increase the chances of reaching sobriety.
Vivitrol Risks
Vivitrol can lead to some side effects, just like any other medication. The FDA declared that the following side effects could appear after getting Vivitrol shots:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Painful joints
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps
Although rarer, there are also some serious side effects of Vivitrol use, such as:
- Liver damage
- Allergic reactions like rashes, hives, and swelling of the face
- Pneumonia
- Depression
- Injection site reactions that could require surgical intervention in some situations
- Suicidal thoughts, behavior, and even suicide
Are You Ready To Talk?
Things To Tell Your Healthcare Provider
Before receiving Vivitrol treatment, you should tell your healthcare provider a few things regarding your current condition and medical history. The things that healthcare providers should know are:
- If you are pregnant or wish to become pregnant soon. Right now, it is not known whether Vivitrol can have bad effects on unborn babies.
- If you are dealing with illegal substance use, liver issues, kidney issues, hemophilia or other bleeding issues, or any other medical condition.
- If you are currently breastfeeding. Although it is not known for sure if Vivitrol can pass into your milk and affect the baby, naltrexone can pass into breast milk.
- If you are currently taking any medicine.
How Real Deal Can Help
Real Deal is where you can ditch your alcohol addiction and take your life back. Alcohol addiction affects a lot of people and quitting is easier said than done once an alcohol use disorder has developed.
With Real Deal, you can go through detox but you can also stay in a sober living home until you are ready to go back into the world again. You will live in a peaceful environment, stay sober and even form new connections.
Are you dealing with an alcohol issue? Vivitrol may help you, but you must be examined by a professional. Reach out to us if your alcohol use is getting out of hand.