Once-A-Month Naltrexone Injection for Substance Use Disorders

If you believe that you have an alcohol or opioid use disorder or want to cut back on your use, talk to your doctor about your treatment options. Your doctor will perform an evaluation of your health and needs to determine if a monthly naltrexone injection is right for you. Because the injection medication bypasses the first-pass metabolism by the liver, the injectable form may reduce the risk of liver toxicity. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns of the potential for liver toxicity if naltrexone is taken at levels higher than the recommended dose. Monthly naltrexone injections should not be used by people who have acute hepatitis or liver failure. You should not receive monthly naltrexone injections or take other naltrexone-containing medications if you are actively using opioids.

Healthcare providers’ enrollment and participation in the Provider Locator is voluntary and free of charge and, along with the provider-specific information in the Provider Locator, is based solely on healthcare provider responses. Alkermes is not responsible for, and the Provider Locator is not intended as a tool for, verifying the credentials, expertise, abilities or quality of care of any healthcare provider included in the Provider Locator. Inclusion in the Provider Locator does not imply referral, recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Locator imply Alkermes’ disapproval. We recommend that, before scheduling an appointment to see any healthcare provider, you research the credentials of the healthcare provider and satisfy yourself that the healthcare provider provides the quality of care desired. 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.

How is alcohol use disorder treated?

As a standalone drug, Vivitrol is not meant to be used in lieu of cognitive therapy, mental health counseling, and evidence-based substance abuse treatment modalities. Instead, it should work alongside these other forms of treatment. There are significant risks from VIVITROL treatment, including risk of opioid overdose, severe reaction at sober house the injection site, sudden opioid withdrawal, liver damage, or hepatitis. Not much research has been done to show the safety of taking Vivitrol while pregnant. But the harm of substance abuse and opioid use while pregnant is well-known. You and your healthcare provider can weigh the benefits and risks before receiving Vivitrol injections.

• Naltrexone injection will not prevent you from becoming impaired when you drink alcohol.
• Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid dependence, was developed in 1963 and patented in 1967.
• Alcohol dependence can start after the continual use of alcohol, usually in large quantities.
• An injection of Vivitrex® 5 weeks after the first injection led to suppression of morphine analgesia for another 4 weeks (Bartus et al 2003).
• If you are an abuser of alcohol, you are increasing your chances for certain diseases and ailments, such as cancer and stroke.
• Exogenous opioids include the commonly prescribed pain relievers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin.

If you have any questions about Vivitrol or naloxone, or how to treat an opioid overdose, talk with your doctor. It’s important to note that untreated opioid or alcohol dependence during pregnancy can also cause harm. Opioid use during pregnancy has been shown to cause early (preterm) birth, low birth weights, and even pregnancy loss.

Where Can I Get a Vivitrol Shot?

Vivitrol, as a medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD), takes time as it doesn’t instantly reduce cravings for alcohol. Therefore, it’s critical not to miss any Vivitrol shots to gain the full benefits of this medication. Missing a scheduled injection can dramatically impair the effectiveness of the next dose. Individuals should not take opiates while on VIVITROL®, as this can be dangerous and result in overdose. Because VIVITROL® blocks the effects of drugs, a person may take higher doses to feel the effects. The danger in this is that they can still overdose even when they don’t feel the effects.