It’s being touted as a lifesaver by many of the addicts who have tried it, especially in its new injection form. Patients who are dependent upon opiates have a number of choices in effective medication to help them combat both withdrawal symptoms and cravings in recovery, and Vivitrol is one of those options. The brand name for naltrexone, this drug is available in a shot that lasts for a month, according to WBUR’s Common Health, which eliminates the risk that the addicted person will forget to take their medication – or choose not to when they feel tempted to relapse. This constant source of physiological support for abstinence has helped many stay clean and sober when they didn’t think they could.
Could it help your loved one beat heroin addiction?
Psychological Cravings, Physical Dependence
When an addicted person faces their dependence on heroin, they must address the issue of the emotional and mental reliance upon the drug as well as their physical need to continue taking it in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Neither is easy, and every little bit of help can ease the passage from active addiction to recovery.
Vivitrol, like methadone or buprenorphine, can give addicts an added boost. It is a non-addictive medication, unlike methadone and buprenorphine, that can diminish cravings – some say that the drug wipes out cravings completely – and block the ability to get high on an opiate drug. Because it is administered monthly through a shot, patients aren’t tasked with remembering to take the drug on their own or with coming into a clinic each day. This allows them to focus on the work of psychological growth in recovery.
Does It Work for Everyone?
Research into the long-term effects of the drug are still in the preliminary stages since it is relatively new, but some patients who have found success with nothing else have found success in recovery with Vivitrol.
There are limitations, of course. For example, doctors currently recommend that the drug be taken no longer than 13 months. For some patients, this is more than enough, and for others, it may not be long enough. Every patient is different, and like most therapeutic interventions in addiction treatment, it should be considered as an option on a case-by-case basis.
What Does Your Loved One Need to Beat Opiate Addiction?
The first step to discovering what your loved one needs in addiction treatment is a thorough evaluation. Contact us at Axis to get started today.
