About Vivitrol. A Treatment for Alcohol and Opioid Dependence

Making a commitment to treatment

Deciding to commit to treatment for alcohol or opioid dependence is not an easy choice, but realizing that it has to be done is the first step in the recovery process.

People who are dependent on alcohol or opioids are more likely to recover and less likely to relapse when they are treated with medicine and counseling together. Professional groups like the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association say that adding medicine to a counseling program for dependence can help increase your chances for recovery.

A treatment plan may include:

  • Visiting a healthcare provider once a month, or every 4 weeks, for an injection of VIVITROL: some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe reactions at the site of the injection
  • Attending a counseling program run by a social worker, psychotherapist, or addiction counselor
  • Receiving support from a loved one, friend, family member, or sponsor who can help you adjust to life without dependence on alcohol or opioid drugs

Treatment for alcohol and opioid dependence

VIVITROL is a prescription injectable medicine used:

  • To help prevent relapse to opioid dependence, after opioid detox
  • To treat alcohol dependence (alcoholism)

To be effective, VIVITROL must be used with recovery programs, such as counseling.

VIVITROL effectiveness and safety was shown in a clinical study that lasted six months.

If you take opioids or opioid-containing medication, such as prescription pain medications or street drugs, you must stop these for 7-10 days before starting VIVITROL.

Who should not take VIVITROL?

You should not take VIVITROL if you:

  • Are using or have a physical dependence on opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs
  • Have opioid withdrawal symptoms
  • Are allergic to VIVITROL or any of the ingredients in the liquid used to mix VIVITROL (diluent)
  • Have taken opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs during the 7-10 days before you start taking VIVITROL

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor especially if you take any medicines for pain, cough or colds, or diarrhea that have opioids in them. Be sure to read and understand the Medication Guide before starting treatment with VIVITROL. You should stop drinking before starting VIVITROL. VIVITROL may not work for everyone. VIVITROL has not been studied in children under the age of 18 years.

For more information on alcohol or opioid dependence, including treatment options, please talk with your doctor or healthcare provider. Find a treatment provider here to learn more

SEE MORE SAfety information below

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VIVITROL Value Program SM

You might be eligible for a $0 co-pay up to a maximum of $500 per month. Learn About Paying for VIVITROL

Support Services for VIVITROL

We can help set up your VIVITROL treatment. Learn About TouchpointsSM Support Services
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WHAT IS VIVITROL?

VIVITROL® (naltrexone for extended-release suspension) is a prescription injectable medicine used to treat alcohol dependence, and to prevent relapse to opioid dependence, after opioid detoxification. You should stop drinking before starting VIVITROL. To be effective, treatment with VIVITROL must be used along with other alcoholism or drug recovery programs such as counseling. VIVITROL may not work for everyone. VIVITROL has not been studied in children under the age of 18 years.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE VIVITROL?

Do not take VIVITROL if you are using or have physical dependence on opioid street drugs, such as heroin, or opioid-containing medicine, such as prescription pain medicine. You must not take opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs for 7-10 days before you start taking VIVITROL. You should not take VIVITROL if you have opioid withdrawal symptoms or are allergic to VIVITROL or any of the ingredients in the liquid used to mix VIVITROL (diluent). Click here to read the full medication guide to find out more about opioid withdrawal symptoms and to see a complete list of ingredients in VIVITROL and the diluent.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

SEVERE REACTIONS AT THE SITE OF INJECTION

Some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe reactions at the site of injection (injection site reactions), including tissue death (necrosis). Some of these injection site reactions have required surgery. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following things happen at your injection site: intense pain, the area feels hard, large area of swelling, lumps, blisters, an open wound or dark scab.

LIVER DAMAGE OR HEPATITIS

Naltrexone, the active ingredient in VIVITROL, can cause liver damage (including liver failure) or hepatitis, if you take more than the recommended dose. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems during treatment with VIVITROL: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your doctor may need to stop treating you with VIVITROL if you get signs or symptoms of a serious problem.

RISK OF OPIOID OVERDOSE

If you have used opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs in the past, you may be more sensitive to lower doses of opioids after VIVITROL treatment stops, when your next VIVITROL dose is due or if you miss a dose of VIVITROL. Using opioids in amounts you used before treatment with VIVITROL can lead to overdose and death. You may not feel the usual effects if you use or abuse heroin and other illegal (street) drugs while on VIVITROL. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as prescription pain pills, or heroin, to overcome effects of VIVITROL. This can lead to overdose including serious injury, coma, or death. You may not feel the usual effects of opioid-containing medicines including medicines for pain, cough and diarrhea while on VIVITROL. It is important that you tell your family and the people closest to you of this increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose. You or someone close to you should get emergency medical help right away if you: have trouble breathing; become very drowsy with slowed breathing; have slow, shallow breathing (little chest movement with breathing); feel faint, very dizzy, or have unusual symptoms.

SEVERE ALLERGIC PNEUMONIA

Some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe allergic pneumonia. Call your doctor right away if you experience shortness of breath or coughing that does not go away. You may need to go to the hospital for treatment with antibiotic and steroid medicines.

SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS

Serious allergic reactions can happen during or soon after an injection of VIVITROL. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: skin rash, swelling of your face, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing or wheezing, chest pain, feeling dizzy or faint.

OTHER POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

VIVITROL can cause other serious side effects, such as depressed mood that can sometimes lead to suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. You should tell your family members and the people closest to you if you are taking VIVITROL. Call your doctor right away if you experience signs of depression. Click here to find out more about some symptoms of depression.

Common side effects of VIVITROL include nausea, tiredness, headache, vomiting, decreased appetite, painful joints and muscle cramps. In addition, common side effects in people taking VIVITROL for opioid dependence also include cold symptoms, trouble sleeping, and toothache.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call
1-800-FDA-1088.

Click Here For Full Medication Guide


VIV-001059

The Provider Locator is compiled and published by Alkermes, Inc. as a reference source of demographic and professional information on individual licensed healthcare providers in the United States who have experience in the treatment of alcohol dependence and/or opioid dependence. The Provider Locator is searchable by zip code or by city and state. Healthcare providers' enrollment and participation in the Provider Locator is voluntary and free of charge and, along with the provider-specific information in the Provider Locator, is based solely on healthcare provider responses. The Provider Locator is provided by Alkermes for use by the medical and addiction treatment communities, potential patients and/or their families in order to find information on, and locate healthcare providers for the treatment of alcohol dependence or opioid dependence. Alkermes is not responsible for, and the Provider Locator is not intended as a tool for, verifying the credentials, expertise, abilities or quality of care of any healthcare provider included in the Provider Locator. Inclusion in the Provider Locator does not imply referral, recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Locator imply Alkermes' disapproval. We recommend that, before scheduling an appointment to see any healthcare provider, you research the credentials of the healthcare provider and satisfy yourself that the healthcare provider provides the quality of care desired. You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Locator or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever. The information from the Provider Locator is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. Alkermes disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, Alkermes does not warrant or represent that the Provider Locator or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any healthcare provider you contact through the Provider Locator. Alkermes shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information.