Does Vivitrol Get You High?

Vivitrol (naltrexone) is a non-addictive opioid antagonist medication that is not capable of getting a person high, or producing euphoria, when taken by itself.

Vivitrol is a drug that binds to and blocks opioid receptors in the brain. What this can do is prevent euphoria, also known as a drug “high,” even when an opioid drug is taken.

Vivitrol is FDA-approved as a medication to treat alcohol and opioid use disorder, which affects more than two million adults in the United States.

Learn more about taking Vivitrol for addiction treatment

What Vivitrol Does For People With Addiction

Vivitrol belongs to a class of medications known as opioid antagonists, which can prevent the addictive effects of opioid drugs such as extreme happiness and relaxation.

This makes it different from other opioid addiction medications like methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone), both of which can cause mild to moderate euphoric effects.

What Vivitrol can do is help prevent alcohol and opioid cravings, block the euphoric effects of these substances, and promote continued sobriety in addiction recovery.

How Does Vivitrol Make You Feel?

Vivitrol can help reduce the desire to drink alcohol or use opioids like heroin. People who get a Vivitrol shot may experience nausea, headache, dizziness, and other short-term side effects.

Can Taking Opiates While On Vivitrol Get You High?

The short answer is no. Opioid drugs, such as heroin or fentanyl, should not be taken after receiving a Vivitrol shot, for a couple of reasons.

First, Vivitrol can mask the effects of opioids by blocking euphoria and sedation. If someone is trying to get high, they may take very high doses of opioids to reverse Vivitrol’s blockade effects.

Doing this is very dangerous. Mixing Vivitrol with opioids carries a high risk for fatal opioid overdose, particularly if a person has recently undergone opioid detox.

Furthermore, getting Vivitrol after recent use of an opioid drug can also trigger precipitated opioid withdrawal—a severe form of opioid withdrawal that may require hospitalization.

Learn More About Vivitrol Treatment For Addiction Today

Vivitrol is a long-acting medication that is used to help people in recovery from alcohol or opioid addiction maintain their sobriety.

For more information about Vivitrol, or how to find treatment options for yourself or a loved one, call our helpline to connect with a specialist today.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff