It’s not known if it’s safe to breastfeed while taking Vivitrol. The drug is present in breast milk, so a breastfeeding child may consume the medication. However, it’s not known what effects Vivitrol may have on breast milk or on a breastfed child. But there is currently a generic form of Suboxone called buprenorphine/naloxone. Other long-term side effects may occur from using Vivitrol, but more long-term studies are needed. If you have questions about any long-term side effects of taking Vivitrol, including liver problems, talk with your doctor.
For more information on the possible side effects of Vivitrol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. The majority of injection site reactions are moderate and resolve on their own. However, certain negative reactions, such as tissue death, may necessitate surgery. Unlike disulfiram (Antabuse), which makes you ill when you drink, Vivitrol alters how your brain responds to the alcohol in your system.
- Vivitrol is an extended-release suspension that is injected into your gluteal muscle.
- Vivitrol is a brand name for a drug that contains naltrexone.
- Check out this detailed breakdown of Vivitrol and naltrexone.
- Vivitrol is used to reduce cravings in alcohol and drug dependence, as it blocks the feeling of pleasure that you get when you use drugs or drink alcohol.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications to treat alcohol dependence, including disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone.
When you stop using opioids, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Vivitrol is safe and effective for both short and long-term usage, which is beneficial since people can use it for as little or as long as they need depending on their treatment goals. While some people will continue to take Vivitrol injections for a long time, others may only need it for a few months. However, most medical professionals recommend that Vivitrol be administered for at least one year for a better outcome.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcohol use disorder. Vivitrol is an injectable form of extended-release naltrexone administered intramuscularly into the buttocks by a healthcare provider once a month in a clinical setting. Vivitrol is a non-addictive and non-narcotic prescription medication with a low risk of misuse and dependence.
Related support groups
Vivitrol is used as part of a comprehensive treatment program to help reduce the risk of relapse and maintain abstinence while in recovery. The Provider Locator is searchable by ZIP code or by city and state. Inclusion in the Provider Locator does not imply referral, recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Locator imply Alkermes’ disapproval. The information from the Provider Locator is provided on an “AS-IS” basis. Alkermes disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, Alkermes does not warrant or represent that the Provider Locator or any part thereof is accurate or complete.
Receiving Vivitrol
It also suppresses the amount of alcohol you feel like drinking by changing how your hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal gland work together. Vivitrol blocks the intoxication and euphoria or ‘high’ that alcohol and opioids cause. However, the active drug in Vivitrol (naltrexone) is sometimes used along with another medication called bupropion for weight loss. This combined drug (naltrexone/bupropion) is called Contrave, which helps decrease cravings for food and reduces hunger. Keep in mind that the effects of Vivitrol decrease over the course of 1 month. So you may be more sensitive to opioid medications right before your next dose of Vivitrol, if you miss a dose, or if you stop treatment.
CLINICAL EVIDENCE
Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how VIVITROL affects you. The entire carton that contains Vivitrol should be stored in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Vivitrol can be stored at room temperature for up to 7 days before use. However, the medication should never be stored at temperatures higher than 77°F (25°C).
Because naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, it can render opiate analgesics ineffective, which may be of practical clinical importance, especially in an emergency setting. You must be opioid-free before receiving Vivitrol unless your healthcare provider decides that you don’t need to go through detox first. Instead, your doctor may decide to give your injection in a medical facility that can treat you for sudden opioid withdrawal. Acamprosate and naltrexone are two different medications that are used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
There are no known interactions between Vivitrol and Xanax (alprazolam). Vivitrol doesn’t work on the same part of your brain that Xanax affects. https://sober-house.org/ So the effects of Xanax won’t be changed by using Vivitrol. These side effects differ based on the condition the drugs are used to treat.
Once abstinence is maintained for a month or so, the need for antihypertensive medication can be reevaluated. There are significant risks from VIVITROL treatment, including risk of opioid overdose, severe reactions at the injection site, sudden opioid withdrawal, liver damage or hepatitis. Vivitrol is a type of medication called an opioid antagonist. Antagonists are medications that block certain receptors (proteins on the outside of cells that act like docking stations). Vivitrol blocks molecules from attaching to opioid receptors so dopamine can’t be released.
In comparison, 2% of people who took a placebo also had headaches. Sometimes the first sign of a liver problem is a higher level of liver enzymes (a how to flush alcohol out of your system type of protein). In clinical studies, these levels were often increased for only a short period of time, and they didn’t cause any side effects.
Dopamine creates pleasant feelings and sends signals that make your body want to take opioids again. Blocking dopamine release helps you have fewer cravings, which can help keep you from being dependent on opioids. If you have opioid dependence, your doctor may suggest treatment with Vivitrol. It’s used to prevent dependence after detoxing from opioids. Vivitrol can cause decreased appetite in some people, which may lead to weight loss.
ADVERSE EFFECTS
This may lead to serious injury including overdose or death. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Vivitrol, with naltrexone, or with both drugs (when taken individually) when used to treat alcohol or opioid dependence. In the study, 28% of people in the Vivitrol group dropped out before opioid detoxification. This was compared to only 6% of people in the Suboxone group. Opioid detoxification involves clearing the drug from your body.
