What happens if you take opiates on vivitrol

One dose lasts for about one month. Vivitrol is an effective aid in fighting opiate cravings for many people, but users are strongly cautioned against using drugs while on Vivitrol that their doctor is not aware of, especially opioids.

Taking Vivitrol with opiates in your system can be dangerous and life-threatening, so patients are only supposed to take an injection of this drug once detox is complete and their body is opioid-free. Taking opiates while on vivitrol can lead to overdose, coma, and death. The biggest danger of using opiates while on Vivitrol is the high risk of overdose. Overdoses from opiates are common, with an average of people in the United States dying for this reason each day in 2 , but Vivitrol can increase these risks even more.

Because Vivitrol is occupying the opiate receptors in the brain, it is also blocking the effects of these drugs. If someone starts using opiates on Vivitrol, they might try to take significantly high doses so that they can feel the effects, but this is dangerous.

In their quest to get high, the individual may take a toxic amount of opiates and start displaying signs of overdose. This could lead to loss of consciousness, coma, and even death.

You should avoid using the pain reliever tramadol while taking Vivitrol. Tramadol is an opioid, and Vivitrol blocks the effects of opioids.

This can make the opioid not work. Never try to overcome this by taking more tramadol. This may lead to serious injury including overdose or death. If you need pain management medication while taking Vivitrol, talk with your doctor. So taking an opioid drug with Vivitrol would cause the opioid to not work properly.

Never try to overcome this by taking a larger amount of opioids. That can cause serious injury or death. Keep in mind that the effects of Vivitrol decrease over the course of 1 month. So you may be more sensitive to opioid medications right before your next dose of Vivitrol, if you miss a dose, or if you stop treatment. Because of this, taking the same amount of opioids that you took before using Vivitrol may cause overdose or death. They may recommend non-opioid pain medications such as ibuprofen Advil or acetaminophen Tylenol.

There are no known interactions between Vivitrol and Xanax alprazolam. However, Xanax, much like alcohol and opioids, is an addicting medication. All of these are depressant medications, which slow down your brain activity and heart rate. This can lead to serious problems such as:. They may suggest a different medication for you. Adderall is a stimulant medication that works in a different way than Vivitrol.

Stimulant drugs excite your central nervous system , which includes your brain, and may help you focus or wake up. However, your body can become dependent on Adderall, just as it can be dependent on alcohol or opioid medications. Because Adderall is a stimulant medication, it increases your brain activity and heart rate.

Alcohol and opioids, on the other hand, are depressant medications, which slow down your brain activity and heart rate.

Taking Adderall with opioids or alcohol can cause serious effects such as heart attack, overdose, loss of consciousness, or death. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Vivitrol. No human or animal studies have been done on the effects of Vivitrol during pregnancy. However, the tablet form of the active drug in Vivitrol naltrexone has been studied in animals. Researchers found that pregnant animals that were given naltrexone tablets every day had an increased risk of miscarriage.

There was no increased risk of birth defects in these studies. Opioid use during pregnancy has been shown to cause early preterm birth, low birth weights, and even death of the baby. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause decreased growth of the baby, birth defects such as heart problems, slower development, or even death of the baby. They can review the pros and cons of the medication with you. The drug is present in breast milk, so a breastfeeding child may consume the medication.

They can advise you on the best way to feed your child. A controlled substance is typically a drug that you can become dependent on and misuse. However, the active drug in Vivitrol naltrexone is sometimes used along with another medication called bupropion for weight loss.

More testing needs to be done to determine if Vivitrol is a safe and effective medication for weight loss. Some people may have gained weight while taking Vivitrol. People who are dependent on opioids or alcohol may not eat properly or may vomit their food. However, naltrexone the active drug in Vivitrol can be used with another medication called bupropion for weight loss. Therefore, naltrexone may control other cravings for food as well. Weight gain is probably not a side effect of Vivitrol use because naltrexone is also used for weight loss.

They can review your diet and exercise habits. Vivitrol works to help stop opioid cravings and the feeling that you need opioids in your body.

The drug acts slowly but lasts for a long time in your body. Naloxone works for only a short period of time to reverse an overdose that already occurred. Naloxone acts very quickly within minutes to help reverse an overdose. If you have any questions about Vivitrol or naloxone, or how to treat an opioid overdose, talk with your doctor. As with all medications, the cost of Vivitrol can vary.

To find current prices for Vivitrol in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Vivitrol.

This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Vivitrol. If you need financial support to pay for Vivitrol, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. Alkermes PLC, the manufacturer of Vivitrol, offers a copay program that may help lower the cost of Vivitrol.

If you need help understanding your insurance coverage, you can fill out this form or call VIVITROL to speak with a customer support specialist. Once Vivitrol is injected, it lasts in your body for about 1 month. The drug needs to be injected into a muscle, as opposed to in a vein or under your skin subcutaneous. Incorrect injections can cause serious injury and may require you to go to a hospital.

You should have your Vivitrol injections one time each month, or about every 4 weeks. If you forget or miss a dose, schedule your appointment as soon as you remember. Vivitrol is approved to treat alcohol dependence and prevent opioid dependence after opioid detoxification. An opioid is a powerful type of drug often prescribed to treat pain. And opioid detoxification involves clearing the drug from your body.

Vivitrol should be used along with counseling, education, and support groups. When you stop using opioids or alcohol, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Sometimes you may have symptoms so severe that you need to go to a hospital. Taking opioid medications or drinking alcohol causes the release of dopamine a chemical in your brain. The release of dopamine makes you want to take the drug or drink alcohol again. Vivitrol is a type of medication called an opioid antagonist.

Antagonists are medications that block certain receptors proteins on the outside of cells that act like docking stations. Vivitrol works for both opioid and alcohol dependence by blocking these receptors in the brain for 1 month. This helps you have fewer cravings and helps prevent relapse going back to taking opioids or drinking alcohol again. Vivitrol can start working within 2 hours after your first injection. The drug works over the course of 4 weeks.

However, after the first 2 weeks, the level of medication in your body slowly decreases. Before taking Vivitrol, talk with your doctor about your health history.

Vivitrol may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. Ask your doctor what other treatments may a better choice for you.

After using Vivitrol, opioid medications may affect you more than they used to. Vivitrol is a medication used to treat alcoholism and prevent an opioid relapse following medical detox. Before an individual can receive a Vivitrol shot they must undergo a detox program of 7 to 14 days.

The individual must also completely stop drinking alcohol and taking opioids before receiving any form of Vivitrol treatment for the medication to take effect. While this is a non-addictive and non-narcotic medication, Vivitrol injections are only available in one dose, mg, and must be administered by a health care professional.

At Banyan Treatment Centers Chicago, our Vivitrol treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction is led by our licensed and experienced medical team to ensure patient health and safety. Opioids affect the brain by attaching themselves to opioid receptors in neurons. Once attached, they affect levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters like dopamine that act as messengers between neurons in the central nervous system.

Dopamine is naturally released by the brain when we do something we enjoy, like eating. Any excess of this chemical is also recycled. Opioids disrupt this process and cause a build-up of dopamine, which causes extreme feelings of euphoria and pleasure. As an opioid antagonist, Vivitrol works by attaching itself to opioid receptors to block the effects of opioids like heroin or prescription medications.

This is not to be confused with Naloxone, which strips the opioid from the opioid receptor to temporarily alleviate the symptoms of an overdose and give time for the individual to get medical attention. It slowly decreases and then eventually goes away over time. Some individuals may find the side effects go away with a day or two, while others may have lingering side effects.

Your doctor may be able to help you manage these effects. They may see symptoms similar to those of alcohol use, including poor coordination, decreased response time, slower rate of thinking and responding, and a decrease in the urge to drink. Side effects can include risk of opioid overdose, reactions at the injection site, sudden opioid withdrawal and liver damage or hepatitis.