What Happens If I Drink Alcohol While On Vivitrol?

Drinking alcohol while on Vivitrol is strongly discouraged and can lead to dangerous consequences. Vivitrol is designed to block the effects of alcohol and opioids in the brain, which means it prevents the pleasurable feelings people typically get from drinking. However, this doesn’t stop someone from consuming alcohol, and attempting to drink while taking Vivitrol can result in serious health risks and complications.

Many people on Vivitrol wonder what would actually happen if they decided to drink despite their treatment. Understanding the risks and potential outcomes is important for anyone considering Vivitrol or currently taking it.

Find out more about the benefits of taking Vivitrol

Why People Might Drink While On Vivitrol

Despite knowing the risks, some people still attempt to drink alcohol while taking Vivitrol for various reasons. Understanding these motivations can help patients and their support systems recognize warning signs and address underlying issues before they lead to relapse. Common reasons include testing whether the medication is actually working, responding to social pressure in situations where others are drinking, or facing unresolved emotional issues that previously drove their alcohol use.

Others may drink on Vivitrol because they underestimate how serious their alcohol use disorder is or believe they can control their drinking now that they’re in treatment. Some people experience difficult emotions or life stressors and turn to old coping mechanisms without thinking about the medication. Cravings can also persist even while on Vivitrol, especially in early recovery, leading some individuals to give in despite being on the medication.

How Vivitrol Is Used To Treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Taking naltrexone has been correlated with a decrease in alcohol consumption in individuals in treatment for alcoholism, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Alcohol causes the release of natural endorphins, which activates opioid receptors in a Vivitrol-free brain. Constant activation of opioid receptors is thought to play a role in euphoria and addiction development.

Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors in the brain, which prevents them from fully activating. Opioid receptors are activated by drugs containing opioids (heroin, morphine) or natural endorphins. While the interaction between naltrexone and decrease in alcohol consumption is not clearly understood, Vivitrol has been found to be a supportive addition to an alcohol abuse treatment program.

Taking Vivitrol And Drinking Alcohol

A person can still become impaired from alcohol while on Vivitrol. Vivitrol does not make a person sick if they drink alcohol, nor does it make the physical effects of alcohol go away.

Some of the effects of drinking alcohol while on Vivitrol include:

• impaired reasoning
• slowed thinking
• poor judgment
• uncoordinated
• decrease in response time

However, because the person no longer experiences the euphoria associated with the link between alcohol intake, endorphin release, and opioid receptor activation, a person may also feel less of an urge to drink.

Does Vivitrol Cure AUD?

There is no evidence to support that Vivitrol injections can cure alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Vivitrol has been shown to reduce the number of days a person engages in heavy drinking (more than eight drinks per week for women, more than 15 for men). Vivitrol can help reduce the urge to drink but should be used as part of a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program that includes counseling.

Vivitrol should not be used as a replacement for addiction treatment services, and should not be considered a solution for problems associated with alcohol abuse (work or family problems, health deterioration).

Vivitrol And Substance Abuse Treatment

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff