Treating Alcohol Dependence

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Treating the disease

Various treatments are available to help people with alcohol dependence. Depending on the circumstances, treatment may involve an evaluation, an outpatient program or counseling, medical treatment and management, or a residential inpatient stay.3

Counseling is the main focus of alcohol dependence treatment. Depending on personal preference, available resources, and/or doctor referrals, counseling may take several forms:

Individual sessions
Group sessions
Family counseling

In addition, many people benefit through participation in mutual-support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. While counseling can be an effective form of treatment for many, medicine, when combined with counseling, offers patients the best chance of recovery.10

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) sponsors about 90% of the research on alcohol dependence in the United States. According to the NIAAA: "All approved drugs have been shown to be effective adjuncts to the treatment of alcohol dependence." Scientists supported by the NIAAA agree that medicine for the treatment of alcohol dependence works best in conjunction with counseling.10

A combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful.11

Prescription medications have been designed to complement counseling interventions. These medications may make it easier for individuals to progress and transition from stage to stage during recovery and may offer new hope, especially to those who have been discouraged about initiating change and who may be inexperienced with the use of medication for alcohol dependence.12

Previously, medications for alcohol dependence have been limited to oral medications (pills) taken sometimes up to 3 times a day.13

If you would like more information on alcohol dependence and treatment options, please talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Important Patient Safety Information

VIVITROL is a prescription injectable medicine used to treat alcohol dependence in adults 18 years and older. You should stop drinking before starting VIVITROL. To be effective, treatment must be used along with other alcoholism recovery programs such as counseling. Do not take VIVITROL if you are using and/or have a physical dependence on opioid-containing medicines, such as prescription pain pills, or opioid street drugs, such as heroin, or if you have opioid withdrawal symptoms. You must not take opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs for 7-10 days before you start taking VIVITROL.

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

The active ingredient in VIVITROL (naltrexone) has been associated with liver damage (including liver failure) or hepatitis when given in amounts greater than the recommended dose. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes or tiredness.

VIVITROL can cause other serious side effects such as depressed mood that sometimes can lead to suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. You should tell your family members if you are taking VIVITROL. Call your doctor right away if you experience signs of depression.

VIVITROL blocks the effects of opioid-containing medicines and opioid street drugs; you may not feel the effects of opioid-containing medicines and opioid street drugs while taking VIVITROL. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines or heroin, to overcome effects of VIVITROL. This can lead to overdose including serious injury, coma or death. If you have used opioidcontaining medicines or opioid street drugs in the past, you may be more sensitive to lower doses of opioids after VIVITROL treatment stops. This can lead to overdose.

Some people on VIVITROL treatment have had severe allergic pneumonia. Call your doctor immediately if you have shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. Common side effects of VIVITROL include; Nausea, tiredness, headache, dizziness, vomiting, decreased appetite, painful joints and muscle cramps.

Please see attached full Medication Guide.