Vivitrol Treatment

One of the first and most well-known medications used in treating addiction was methadone, for treating people with an opioid addiction. Methadone has saved countless lives but is itself somewhat addictive, so researchers have sought to find alternatives. In recent years, other drugs that are less problematic have been formulated. One of them, Vivitrol, is highly effective in treating addiction to opioids as well as alcohol. These two substance use disorders (SUDs) are, so far, the only ones for which the FDA has approved the use of Vivitrol. Roaring Brook Recovery offers Vivitrol treatment at our rehab center.

Our Vivitrol clinic in Lexington, KY offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in either an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP), both of which provide high levels of care while allowing participants to live at home. If you’re interested in addiction treatment in Lexington, KY, call 855.590.9944.

How Does MAT with Vivitrol Treatment Work?

Medication-assisted treatment was developed more than fifty years ago and has evolved over the years into one of the most effective and sought-after protocols for certain addictions—namely opioids and alcohol. In MAT, medications recalibrate your brain chemistry, while psychotherapy supports recovery by addressing underlying issues.

If you have an SUD, the changes in your brain mean that you are no longer producing neuro-transmitters, the natural chemicals responsible for feelings of pleasure, balance, and satisfaction. The drug floods your brain with those chemicals until you quickly become dependent on the drug, as your own system is offline. Using a MAT medication such as Vivitrol, your brain heals and can regain its original capabilities as you wean off opioids or alcohol and learn to cope with cravings and avoid triggers.

The therapeutic component of MAT is critical to your recovery. During treatment at our Vivitrol clinic in Lexington, KY, you learn coping mechanisms, life skills, and practices that enable healthy interpersonal relationships. A number of evidence-based therapies can be used in a medication-assisted treatment program, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Rational emotive behavior therapy, or neurofeedback.

How Does Vivitrol Work?

A Vivitrol doctor in Lexington, KY, at Roaring Brook Recovery, will use the drug as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist, which means it gets in the way of the signals being sent to the brain by an opioid agonist such as heroin or Oxy. Vivitrol not only blocks the drug—and this includes alcohol—from having its intended effect, it also tamps down your cravings and much of the discomfort of withdrawal during detox.

The parts of the brain, called receptors, that interact with naturally occurring neurotransmitters are no longer being flooded and interfered with by drugs and can return to normal functioning.

Medication-Assisted Treatment with Vivitrol

Vivitrol is one of the medications recommended at Roaring Brook Recovery because of its numerous benefits. An extended-release drug, it is administered most commonly as a monthly injection. The first dose must not be given until drug or alcohol use has ended. Vivitrol can be used safely over the long term to curb cravings and impede relapse.

Some of the benefits of Vivitrol treatment in Lexington, KY include:

• No danger of abusing or becoming addicted to Vivitrol
• Few, if any, side effects
• No need for daily doses as it is given every 30 days
• Reduced cravings due to Vivitrol’s ability to trick the brain into mistaking it for something else

In general, medication-assisted treatment, for example with Vivitrol, improves recovery outcomes. The combination of evidence-based psychotherapy with drug treatment is highly effective.