Vivitrol Treatment

Vivitrol® treatment smooths the path to sobriety through long-acting injections. At Pacific View Recovery, caring addiction medicine specialist Sandeep Mann, MD, provides complete substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the Stockton, California, office and through telemedicine visits. To learn more about how Vivitrol treatment can help you, contact the office or click the online booking feature now.

What is Vivitrol® treatment?

Vivitrol is a medication that prevents the euphoric state (the “high”) that drugs and alcohol usually produce. In blocking these effects, Vivitrol helps you stay sober. It also reduces drug and alcohol cravings. 

Is Vivitrol treatment right for me?

You might need Vivitrol treatment in two different situations, including: 

Alcohol use disorder (AUD)

AUD means you can’t control your alcohol intake, and it’s affecting your life in increasingly severe ways. When you’re ready to start recovery, the first step is to detox in a safe and closely monitored atmosphere. 

Dr. Mann is there to help you through that process. Then, you can start Vivitrol treatment. Dr. Mann administers Vivitrol injections once a month in the Pacific View Recovery office. 

Vivitrol prevents the euphoria of alcohol. But it’s important to note that it doesn’t stop the other physical effects. So if you choose to drink while taking Vivitrol, you won’t feel high but will notice the blurry vision, dizziness, instability, and other physical effects.

Opioid use disorder (OUD)

OUD means you’re dependent on heroin, hydrocodone, fentanyl, oxycodone, or another drug in the opioid family and you can’t control your use. For OUD, Vivitrol treatment has the same effects as it does for AUD: It keeps you from feeling high and lowers your cravings. 

Just as with AUD, you can only take Vivitrol for OUD after you’ve detoxed safely. You should not take opioids while on Vivitrol; you can overdose if you try to overcome the medication’s blocking effects. 

Does Vivitrol stop withdrawal side effects?

Vivitrol doesn’t stop withdrawal side effects like stomach pain, shaking, nausea, and vomiting. It’s not designed for the early part of recovery (the detox phase). Vivitrol is geared toward  helping addicts stay sober in the long run. 

However, other medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs do reduce withdrawal symptoms. 

For example, Suboxone® and Sublocade® (two different versions of a drug for OUD) can ease your withdrawal in the early days. The drugs also reduce cravings and help prevent a return to drug use. 

There are benefits and possible drawbacks to each MAT option. Dr. Mann recommends the right drug for you, and he can adapt your treatment as your needs change. Alongside your medication, you have therapy and other customized care to aid your recovery. 

Call Pacific View Recovery or set up your visit online now.