Vivitrol is a type of intramuscular (IM) injection medication used to help treat severe opioid abuse and addiction disorders. Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist, meaning that the medication works by preventing opioid molecules from attaching themselves to opioid receptors, which results in the “high” that a person would typically experience when taking a high dose of a prescription painkiller or an illicit opioid narcotics like heroin. While Vivitrol injections can be extremely beneficial when it comes to the treatment of severe opioid abuse disorders, there are several important facts to consider. These facts include the following:
- Men and women who take Vivitrol injections are still at risk of an opioid overdose.
- Vivitrol is never a standalone solution for opioid abuse.
- Some people might experience a severe allergic reaction at the injection site.
- Symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal can still occur and should be overseen in a medical detox facility.
If you or your loved one is a good candidate for Vivitrol, you might be wondering how often Vivitrol injections are done. Where do you go to receive the injections, and is it possible to use opioid narcotics while you are taking the medication? Below we have answered these frequently asked questions along with several others. 
Vivitrol Injections – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often are Vivitrol injections administered? A: In the majority of cases, Vivitrol shots are delivered once every 4 weeks, or once every month. The injection contains 380 mg of the drug and is always injected by a trained professional. Q: How do I know that Vivitrol is the right approach for me or my loved one? A: In most cases, this medication is both safe and effective. It has been approved by the FDA and before any treatment center administers this medication, a client will be screened thoroughly to make sure that it is a good fit. if you or your loved one has been suffering at the hands of a severe and life-threatening opioid abuse disorder this is generally a very good option. Q: How long does a person need to be on Vivitrol before they are cured of opioid addiction? A: First of all – NO medication is a cure for opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that can be treated but never cured. It is important to thoroughly understand this before receiving any type of medication-assisted treatment. Secondly, it is important to understand that Vivitrol does not serve as a standalone treatment option, and to be effective it must be combined with intensive therapy delivered in an inpatient treatment setting. the length of time that any individual is on this medication depends heavily on their specific needs and the severity of the substance of use disorder. Q: Is Vivitrol expensive? A: In most cases, major regional or national health insurance providers cover the cost of any treatments that are administered in an addiction treatment setting. To learn more about the specifics or for a free and no-obligation health insurance check, please feel free to reach out to us today.
Evoke Wellness and Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Recovery
At Evoke Wellness, we offer medication-assisted treatment whenever we deem doing so appropriate. However, even in the case of opioid addiction, we generally exhaust all other options before resorting to medications like Vivitrol or Suboxone. We believe that while certain medications can be extremely beneficial for the treatment of opioid abuse disorders that are either moderate or severe, most mild or moderate opioid abuse disorders can be effectively treated with a combination of intensive therapeutic intervention and long-term clinical care. Our main priority is ensuring that our clients don’t view these medications as a crutch, and know-how to stay sober once their prescription runs out or is no longer available. For this reason, we place an extremely strong emphasis on relapse prevention training, 12 step program involvement, and a wide range of other methods that can be utilized to stay sober long-term without medication. If you would like to learn more about our comprehensive approach to opioid addiction recovery, or if you would like to learn more about Vivitrol injections and how frequently they are administered, please feel free to reach out to us at any point in time. We are standing by around the clock to answer any related questions that you might have or to appease any concerns.
