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Vivitrol Addiction

Vivitrol is the brand name medication for naltrexone. Doctors often prescribe it for the treatment of opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders. Although there are other naltrexone formulations that are available as oral tablets, Vivitrol is available as an intramuscular solution that is administered once a month. Although it can also be administered orally, IM use produces more effective results.

About Vivitrol

As a prescription medication, Vivitrol is commonly used in the treatment of alcohol and opioid addiction. It is a brand name drug for the generic naltrexone medication. It is also long lasting and comes in the form of an extended release medication.

Although there are other forms of naltrexone that you can take orally on a daily basis, Vivitrol is more preferable. This is because you won't have to remember to take it every day.

Since it is an opioid antagonist, Vivitrol will bind to the opioid receptors of the brain. However, using it will not cause your brain to release dopamine. As a result, it is unlike other opioids in the sense that it cannot produce any intoxicating effects.

Instead, it will block the action of opioid receptors. To this end, if you relapse and start abusing opioids again while you are on Vivitrol, you will not experience the desired pleasurable effects that you are looking for. However, you may still suffer other adverse effects, including but not limited to respiratory depression.

Even so, you should not use this medication on its own. You should also not consider it as a single cure for a substance use disorder. Instead, it can be useful and helpful when you take it as part of a more comprehensive drug rehab program.

It will, for instance, eliminate any drug cravings that you may be suffering. Further, it can reduce or completely eliminate your risk of relapse because doing so will not lead to any pleasurable outcomes. As a result, it can allow you to continue focusing on long term recovery and counseling.

Before you can receive a prescription for Vivitrol, you first need to fully detox from all the opioids that you were abusing. This is because you may suffer intense withdrawal symptoms if you take this drug while there are opioids lodged in your system.

Similar to opioids, this medication can also block all the pleasurable effects that you derive from alcohol. Further, it can block your cravings for this substance if you are dependent on alcohol.

Although Vivitrol comes with many medical benefits, there are some potential risks that are associated with its use. For instance, you may suffer an opioid overdose as a result of taking it.

Since it blocks the effects that are derived from opioids - including heroin and pain relief medications - you may try to overcome these effects by taking opioids in high doses. This could lead to the development of an overdose situation that could turn out to be fatal.

Other Names for Vivitrol

Vivitrol is various known as naltrexone, Rev, and Revia. However, the fact that it does not cause addiction means that you may not be able to find it on the streets or on the black market.

Signs and Symptoms of Vivitrol Addiction

When you abuse Vivitrol, you may start suffering the following effects especially if you are taking it to manage your alcohol or opiate addiction:

  • Abdominal cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulties having an orgasm
  • Dizziness
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Hallucinations
  • Headache
  • Impotence
  • Increased thirst
  • Irritability
  • Joint aches
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle aches
  • Muscle cramps
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea
  • Nervousness
  • Restlessness
  • Sleep problems (or insomnia)
  • Tiredness
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

Short and Long-Term Effects of Vivitrol Abuse

Although there are few side effects of Vivitrol use and abuse, you may still suffer some. Examples of these short and long term side effects may include:

  • A dark scab
  • A hard lump on the area where the drug was injected
  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Allergic reactions
  • Anxiety
  • Blistering
  • Changes in appetite
  • Chills
  • Clay-colored stools
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Dark urine
  • Decreased appetite
  • Delayed ejaculation
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dizzy spells
  • Drowsiness
  • Exhaustion
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling like you may pass out
  • Hallucinations
  • Headache
  • Increased anxiety
  • Increased energy
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Itching
  • Jaundice (or yellowing of the eyes or skin)
  • Joint pain
  • Liver damage
  • Liver problems
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mild abdominal pain
  • Muscle cramps
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea
  • Nervousness
  • New (or worsening) cough
  • Pain
  • Restlessness
  • Severe dizziness
  • Severe pain
  • Shallow or weak breathing
  • Skin reactions
  • Sleep problems
  • Stuffy nose
  • Swelling
  • Thirst
  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Tired feeling
  • Tooth pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trying to hurt yourself
  • Upper stomach pain
  • Vomiting
  • Wheezing

You should talk to your addiction treatment specialist or healthcare provider about all the potential complications and side effects that might occur before you start using Vivitrol. This way, you will be able to clarify any concerns that you may have about this drug before you take it.

Vivitrol Overdose

It is possible to overdose on Vivitrol if you take too much of it. When this happens, you may suffer the following side effects of this type of drug overdose:

  • Abdominal cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Cramps
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Insomnia
  • Involuntary itch
  • Liver damage
  • Malaise
  • Muscle pain
  • Muscle tremors
  • Paranoia
  • Perspiration
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Runny nose
  • Vomiting

Although it is theoretically possible to overdose on Vivitrol, this condition is highly unlikely. However, there is a risk that you may take large doses of alcohol or opioids while you are on Vivitrol while trying to overcome the drug's blocking effects. This could lead to a drug overdose.

Before you start using this medication, you first need to go through detox to overcome your opioid or alcohol use disorder. As a result, this could cause your tolerance for these substances to be lowered.

If you start abusing them and relapse, you could increase your risk of suffering a drug overdose that could potentially turn out to be fatal. Unfortunately, this drug only blocks the effects of these substances and cannot reverse such an overdose.

In case you suffer a drug overdose involving Vivitrol use, you need to get in touch with 911 or your local poisons control center as soon as possible. This is because this overdose situation could turn out to be fatal.

Vivitrol Withdrawal Symptoms

While using Vivitrol, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include but are not limited to:

  • Anxiety
  • Cold or hot flashes
  • Fever
  • Goosebumps
  • Muscle aches
  • Muscle twitches
  • Restlessness
  • Runny nose
  • Shakiness
  • Sleeplessness
  • Stomach cramps
  • Sweating
  • Teary eyes
  • Yawning

If you have been using Vivitrol, you should always have a card on your person to show that you are on this medication. This would be useful in case you are in a medical emergency.

The Best Options for Vivitrol Addiction Treatment

If you have been abusing Vivitrol, you may develop a substance use disorder. After that, some of the signs and symptoms of addiction will become apparent. For instance, you may become preoccupied with looking for and abusing this drug. Further, it may cause you to lose your interest in the activities and hobbies that you once used to enjoy.

Before you stop using this drug, you need to meet with your doctor. This is because if you abruptly quit it, you may experience enhanced withdrawal symptoms. In this situation, you would need medically managed detox services to help you overcome them.

There are different types of drug rehab programs that can help you stop abusing Vivitrol. They are often classified into inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs, and they both have their own unique benefits.

It is recommended that you choose the right rehab center. You can do this by consulting with your doctor or an addiction treatment professional. They will inform you about all the recovery options that are available to you. Further, they can provide you with advice that will allow you to make the right decision on the rehab center that would be the right option.

Often, this will depend on such factors as:

  • Any previous recovery attempts you may have made in the past
  • The duration of your Vivitrol use and abuse
  • The existence of another addiction involving other intoxicating substances
  • The existence of other co-occurring mental health and medical disorders like depression and anxiety
  • The severity and extent of your naltrexone addiction

In the long term, it is recommended that you seek help for your Vivitrol abuse and addiction before it is too late. This is because ongoing abuse of this substance could lead to potentially dangerous or even fatal outcomes.

CITATIONS

http://atforum.com/documents/Naltrexone.pdf

https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/mortality-related-naltrexone-treatment-opioid-dependence-comparative-analysis

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-naltrexone_injection/article_em.htm

https://www.fda.gov/files/drugs/published/Vivitrol-Medication-Guide.pdf

https://www.ncadd.org/index.php/blogs/in-the-news/can-vivitrol-help-people-leaving-jail-stay-off-opioids

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3160743/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3411517/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3846318/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27401883

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29560596

https://www.propublica.org/article/vivitrol-addiction-drug-side-effect-more-overdoses

https://www.rxlist.com/vivitrol-drug.htm

https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/treatment/naltrexone

https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/29/vivitrol-methadone-opioids/

https://www.vivitrol.com/important-safety-information

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-144395/vivitrol-intramuscular/details

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-7399/naltrexone-oral/details

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