Have you tried traditional treatment methods but have been unable to stay sober? Do you struggle with cravings on a regular basis? If so, looking into Vivitrol treatment in Delray might be a good option for you.
Medication-assisted treatment in South Florida has been on the rise in the last few years thanks to modern medicine finding a way to help curb opioid and alcohol cravings to make long term sobriety more achievable. Vivitrol is used as an integral part of modern addiction treatment programs and is not meant to replace any aspect of therapy or counseling. Instead, it is used in addition to traditional therapies as a useful resource in helping opioid and alcohol addicts maintain their sobriety.
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is an injection that is administered once a month to help prevent relapse in individuals who suffer from opioid addiction and alcoholism. The shot contains Naltrexone as the active ingredient. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist that works by preventing a user from feeling the effects of opioids if they are taken and can decrease an individual’s desire to take opiates. In addition to opioids, Vivitrol has also been proven to aid in alcohol addiction as it can decrease the desire to drink alcohol and can help people to stop drinking.[1] When used in addition to an individualized treatment plan, Vivitrol can help recovering addicts and alcoholics lessen their cravings and achieve sobriety.
Who shouldn’t get Vivitrol treatment?
Vivitrol should not be used if an individual is still in the early stages of alcohol or opioid withdrawal. If Vivitrol is administered less than two weeks after an opioid or alcohol was consumed, it may cause the individual to go into precipitated withdrawals. These withdrawals can be unpleasant, with symptoms such as:
- Stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle and joint pain
- Cold sweats
- Hallucinations
Patients who are allergic to Naltrexone should also avoid taking Vivitrol as they can experience severe reactions and side effects after getting the injection.[2]
Who can benefit from Vivitrol treatment?
What works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. When it comes to addiction recovery, everyone is different. Vivitrol has proven to have effective outcomes in preventing relapse, so people who are chronic relapsers may benefit from Vivitrol treatment. In addition, Vivitrol has also been shown to help prevent overdoses. When a person has some time sober then uses opioids, they are more likely to suffer from an overdose. Therefore, Vivitrol treatment can be a great option for people who have experienced previous overdoses or short spurts of clean time followed by a relapse. If you consider yourself to be a chronic relapser, Vivitrol treatment might be a great option to help you maintain your sobriety.
Some people suffer from cravings more frequently than others. Often times, these cravings can be so strong that it drives individual’s to drink or get high again. Without ways to effectively manage these cravings, one can be left defenseless against a relapse. If you suffer from intense desires to use when you get sober, you should speak to your doctor or addiction specialist about trying Vivitrol. Since Vivitrol can help manage cravings, this can help individuals overcome their desires until they complete treatment and are armed with relapse prevention tools.
Another quality that can qualify an individual for Vivitrol treatment is the length of time the person has been using. Those who have been drinking or using opioids for several years may face more difficulties in maintaining their sobriety than those who have been using for shorter periods of time. When opioids or alcohol are abused for an extended period of time, they can cause detrimental changes in the brain that cause an individual to use compulsively and habitually. Using Vivitrol in cases like these can help individuals by allowing them to manage their compulsions to use and break the cycle of addiction.
Successful Vivitrol treatment will depend on both additional treatment and physician-patient communication. Vivitrol is typically not meant for long-term use, meaning that the drug and the individual should be closely monitored to evaluate their progress and slowly wean individuals off of the drug. This progress can be assessed by a medical professional and behavioral therapist once the individual has completed their treatment plan.
Participating in addiction treatment and behavioral therapies will help individuals learn how to cope with their emotions in healthy ways, build meaningful relationships, and work through past trauma or any underlying mental illnesses. Combining Vivitrol and behavioral therapy can create a recipe for success on the road to recovery.
Is Vivitrol treatment in Delray right for you?
When questioning whether or not Vivitrol treatment is right for you, you should always speak to a treatment provider about your drug addiction and your treatment history. An addiction specialist can access your eligibility for Vivitrol treatment. Addiction recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process – it can be different for everybody. If you think that you could benefit from Vivitrol treatment in Del Ray, give our addiction specialists a call today.
