What is the Vivitrol Shot, and How Does It Work?

Vivitrol is a once-monthly injection given to help overcome a substance use disorder such as alcohol addiction or opioid addiction. Mental health treatment such as counseling and other behavioral health interventions should be provided to patients on Vivitrol for a holistic or a “whole person” approach. Please continue reading to learn more about Vivitrol treatment for substance abuse. We will talk about how this medication works, its side effects, and whether this pharmacological addiction treatment is effective.

What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is the brand name of a prescription medication called naltrexone. It is an extended-release form of naltrexone and is available as an intramuscular injection. Vivitrol is given once a month as a gluteal injection into the buttock by a healthcare professional.

Oral naltrexone in pill form is available for alcohol use disorder. This pill needs to be taken daily. In contrast, Vivitrol (the extended-release intramuscular injection) only needs to be administered once a month. The Vivitrol shot is approved for both alcohol and opioid dependence.

Before prescribing Vivitrol injections, a healthcare provider will conduct a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) and naloxone challenge test which assess the patient’s physical dependence on opiate substance. This is to ensure that the benefits of Vivitrol outweigh the risks.

The drug naltrexone is approved for use in individuals 18 years of age and older. It is one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes behavioral therapies and counseling.

Is Vivitrol considered a narcotic?

The active ingredient in Vivitrol, naltrexone, is not a narcotic or opioid. This medication is not addictive and is not associated with a risk of abuse or diversion. Vivitrol does not cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it.

How does Vivitrol work in the body?

Opioids are central nervous system depressants. Naltrexone, the active ingredient in Vivitrol shots, is an opioid antagonist. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain and blocks the sedative and euphoric effects of opioids. In addition to opioid receptors, Vivitrol blocks endorphin receptors and prevents the effects and feelings caused by alcohol.

By binding to opioids and endorphin receptors in the brain and body, naltrexone prevents the feelings associated with alcohol, opioid street drugs, and prescription pain medicines. Therefore, addiction treatment with Vivitrol reduces cravings for these substances. Therefore, Vivitrol is effective in treating alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.

How does Vivitrol therapy make you feel?

Starting Vivitrol reduces the cravings to drink alcohol or use opioid drugs. Once you stop consuming alcohol, naltrexone will help you maintain your sobriety. For opioid use disorder, naltrexone works by binding to opioid receptors and reduces cravings. This helps you overcome an alcohol or opioid use disorder by reducing cravings and preventing relapse.

What does Vivitrol treatment involve?

Your healthcare professional will discuss the treatment in detail. Here is some brief information about the use of Vivitrol shots for opioid or alcohol dependence.

Vivitrol Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders

Before taking Vivitrol, you need to undergo opioid detoxification to reduce the risk of sudden opioid withdrawal. Therefore, you must wait at least 7-14 days from your last opioid use before starting Vivitrol for opioid dependence treatments. (7 days for short-acting opioids and 14 days for long-acting opioids).

It’s important that you give your healthcare provider a complete list of your other medications before starting Vivitrol. Also, you should avoid taking any other opioids, illicit drugs, alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers while on extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol shots).

You should know that if you discontinue Vivitrol or relapse after a period of abstinence on Vivitrol, you can have a reduced tolerance to opioids. In such a situation, taking the same or even lower doses of opioids than you used in the past can cause serious, even life-threatening complications such as overdose and death.

Vivitrol for Alcohol Addiction

Before taking Vivitrol treatment for an alcohol use disorder, you should not be physically dependent on alcohol. In other words, you need to go through the alcohol detox process before you begin Vivitrol injections. This is to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

A Vivitrol shot every month can help to block the effects of alcohol and reduce alcohol cravings. This can lead to a decrease in the amount of alcohol you consume. Once you stop drinking, a monthly Vivitrol shot can help you maintain sobriety. Doctors usually recommend using Vivitrol for 3-4 months for alcohol use disorder. It is recommended that you continue to follow-up with your healthcare provider after you stop taking naltrexone.

Who should not take Vivitrol shots for opioid or alcohol dependence?

Taking Vivitrol is not recommended for the following individuals:

Anyone who is younger than 18 years old.
People who are currently using opioids or other illegal drugs, have continuing alcohol consumption, or have a physical dependence on these substances and are currently experiencing alcohol or opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Those with liver problems, kidney problems, bleeding problems, and certain other medical conditions.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
People taking opioid-containing medicines, such as cough and cold remedies, pain relievers, and diarrhea medicines.
Those with an allergy to naltrexone or any of the active or inactive ingredients in a Vivitrol shot.

What are the side effects of Vivitrol?

Side effects of Vivitrol include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, decreased appetite, muscle cramps, joint pain, trouble sleeping, and feeling cold.

More serious side effects include severe injection site reactions, serious allergic reactions, acute hepatitis (liver damage), pneumonia, and depression.

Can Vivitrol shots cause opioid withdrawal symptoms and overdose?

If you start Vivitrol shots without undergoing opioid detoxification, it can lead to withdrawal effects.

Also, addiction treatment with Vivitrol is associated with a risk of opioid overdose. Naltrexone treatment blocks the effects of opioids in the body. If a person on this treatment program takes very high doses of opioids, they can experience an overdose, leading to coma and even death.

In addition, people taking Vivitrol become more sensitive to opioids. This means, in between naltrexone administration, the use of opioids at the same or even smaller doses than before can lead to an accidental overdose.

Does Vivitrol work instantly?

Naltrexone starts working right away after it is injected. That’s why it’s important to stop alcohol and opioid drug abuse. You should not have any opioids or alcohol in your system when you start taking Vivitrol.

Vivitrol injection is the extended-release (long-acting) form of naltrexone. The medicine is formulated to contain small spheres that are gradually released over a period of 4 weeks.

What is the success rate of the Vivitrol shot?

Vivitrol is an extended-release injectable naltrexone that is given once a month. This is the newest formulation of naltrexone for alcohol abuse and opioid use disorder. Early evidence indicates that Vivitrol is 90% effective. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that is Vivitrol approved by the FDA in 2010 showed:

Vivitrol significantly increases abstinence from opioids.
90% of people taking Vivitrol were abstinent compared to 35% taking placebo.
Treatment retention is higher with Vivitrol (58%) compared to placebo (42%).
Vivitrol reduces drug cravings and can prevent relapse.
Improvement on Vivitrol was sustained up to 76 weeks.

Vivitrol is an FDA-approved medication that can play an important role in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. It is an effective medicine for treating alcohol and opioid abuse. Vivitrol can be an ideal option for patients with opioid and alcohol addiction because you only have to take it once a month. Vivitrol is not an opioid; therefore, there is no risk of abuse or diversion. However, the cost for one dose of Vivitrol is about $1,500 which may be challenging for many patients.

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