As long as there are no severe health risks to the patient, and the person is not actively using opioids, they can use Vivitrol for as long as is necessary.
Vivitrol (naltrexone) is a prescription medication treatment option for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD).
Naltrexone is not an opioid, therefore it does not carry the same concern for addiction or abuse that some other medication-assisted treatment (MAT) medications carry.
Learn more about the benefits of taking Vivitrol for addiction treatment
Factors That Can Affect How Long You Can Take Vivitrol
While health care providers can continue to administer Vivitrol as long as it seems to be effective, there are some circumstances that could result in stopping Vivitrol.
Some factors that may affect how long you can be on Vivitrol include:
- severe injection site reaction/infection
- hives
- anaphylaxis
- angioedema (swelling of mucous membranes)
- hepatotoxicity (injury or damage to the liver due to exposure to drugs)
- eosinophilic pneumonia (eosinophilic white blood cell accumulation in alveoli spaces in the lungs)
- resumed opioid abuse
- depression
- suicidal ideation
Finding Treatment For AUD And OUD
Vivitrol is a MAT option offered through substance abuse treatment programs that specifically treat AUD and OUD.
Vivitrol must be administered by a health care professional and is not available through a pharmacy.
To learn more about these and other addiction treatment services, please reach out to our helpline today. Our trained staff can assist in finding the answers and programs you are seeking.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- Food and Drug Administration — Vivitrol (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) Label
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/021897s015lbl.pdf - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) — Medications Development Program
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/medications-development-program - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — 2016 Clinical Advances in Non-agonist Therapies
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/medication_assisted/advances-non-agonist-therapies.pdf
