We are currently located in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. Vivitrol-induced depression can sometimes become severe, leading to suicidal behavior and thoughts. As a result, if you’re feeling depressed, hopeless, helpless, or have suicidal or self-harming thoughts, you must seek medical attention immediately.

shot for alcoholism

Therefore, this medication helps decrease heavy drinking habits till individuals achieve sobriety. Naltrexone injection is used along with counseling and social support to help people who have stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol to avoid drinking again. Naltrexone injection is also used along with counseling and social support to help people who have stopped abusing opiate medications or street drugs to avoid abusing the medications or street drugs again. Naltrexone injection should not be used to treat people who are still drinking alcohol, people who are still using opiates or street drugs, or people who have used opiates within the past 10 days.

Alcohol use disorder

“Patients should be warned of the risk of hepatic injury and advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of acute hepatitis,” the companies said. The companies said they will market the drug in 380 mg IM doses and expect the product to be available by June. It is important to get each dose of this medication as scheduled. If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away for a new dosing schedule.

If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Located in Newport Beach, California, Sierra by the Sea provides premier residential treatment, sober house offering rehab program and services for drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health concerns. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

How Does Vivitrol Work?

This medication stops the “high” feeling you may get from opioids. Naloxone works for only a short period of time to reverse an overdose that already occurred. Naloxone acts very quickly (within minutes) to help reverse an overdose.

Does Vivitrol change your mood?

Depression. Some people may have depression that could lead to suicidal thoughts or behavior during Vivitrol treatment. In clinical trials, depression was common with Vivitrol, but suicidal thoughts or behavior were rare.

Researchers agree that while there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating alcohol disorders, naltrexone and other approved medications are vastly underused. The final aspect of our comprehensive Vivitrol treatment program in Memphis is peer support. Alcoholism is a progressive and chronic disease that requires long-term treatment and support. While counseling may be unrealistic in the long term, recovery support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help provide individuals with community and guidance throughout their recovery. Always consult with your healthcare professional before beginning any treatment to determine the best course of action. While the DEA has no oversight on the use of Vivitrol and naltrexone, it is still regulated by the FDA, like most medications.

Dosage for alcohol dependence

About 60% of people who took Vivitrol stayed in treatment for 24 weeks. In comparison, about 28% of people who took naltrexone tablets stayed in the study treatment for 24 weeks. However, naltrexone is a tablet that must be taken every day to be effective.

  • As a result, Antabuse is only prescribed to people who have completed their detox.
  • Studies also indicate that people who are given Vivitrol injection get variable blood levels and those who get higher blood levels experience fewer cravings.
  • The final aspect of our comprehensive Vivitrol treatment program in Memphis is peer support.
  • But there is currently a generic form of Suboxone called buprenorphine/naloxone.

Vivitrol is most effective in individuals who are strongly motivated to stop drinking. A person is only considered eligible for a Vivitrol shot if they meet all of the criteria and conditions. Among the three medications approved by the FDA to treat AUD, Antabuse is the only medication that causes a high sensitivity to ethanol in alcohol.

However, VIVITROL® can help patients achieve and maintain their recovery. One study found that people who use VIVITROL® in addition to counseling to treat opioid addiction have 90% opioid-free weeks, compared to 35% who took a placebo. Additionally, people who used VIVITROL® in addition to rehab and continued therapy were 17 times less likely to relapse than those who did not use VIVITROL®. Recovery Centers of America provides medication assisted treatment (MAT) that includes VIVITROL® for patients who are hoping to achieve sobriety from opioid addiction, including addiction to alcohol and opioids.

  • Vivitrol works by setting up a blockade of endorphin and opioid receptors in the brain to reduce the euphoric effect of alcohol and opioids.
  • Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
  • Each person’s unique requirements and conditions determine if Vivitrol is the best treatment for their alcohol use disorder.

There are no longer limits on the number of patients with OUD that a practitioner may treat with buprenorphine. Separate tracking of patients treated with buprenorphine or prescriptions written is no longer required. As of December 2022, the MAT Act has eliminated the DATA-Waiver (X-Waiver) program.