Vivitrol - Miracle Drug or Easy Way Out?

Vivitrol isn’t a new drug, but it’s slowly receiving more and more interest. In 2006, Vivitrol was approved by the FDA to treat alcoholism. In 2010, the FDA expanded its approval for Vivitrol to be used to treat opioid addiction. For some people who are addicted to opiates, Vivitrol is nothing short of a miracle. Vivitrol is extended-release naltrexone, and it’s given as an injection once per month. It may not be a cure for addiction, but it could be the next best thing.

How Vivitrol Works

There are medications out there used to treat opioid addiction, but they are fundamentally different from Vivitrol. Methadone and buprenorphine (i.e. Suboxone), for example, are drugs called agonists. Agonists mimic the effects of opiate use in the brain. Vivitrol, on the other hand, uses naltrexone, which is an antagonist, and it actually blocks the effects of opiate use so that opiates (or alcohol) do not have the same pleasing effect. Before, naltrexone was used in pill form and required people to take it every day. Vivitrol is vastly different, in that only one injection is needed each month. Injections need to be given exactly four weeks apart. If there is a delay in between, there is the increased risk of cravings and relapse.

Vivitrol for Opioid Addiction

If someone wants to take Vivitrol for their opioid addiction, they cannot have any opiates for at least 7-10 days before their first injection. Because of this, it’s clear that Vivitrol isn’t the answer for breaking an addiction to opiates. Before an opioid-dependent person can take Vivitrol, they must detox from opiates, which is a difficult process. Strong withdrawal symptoms and cravings make it difficult to quit opiates without help and determination. Once a person begins Vivitrol injections, they are expected to use Vivitrol for about 6-12 months, but sometimes longer. The most important thing, however, is that people who are using Vivitrol also use other types of treatment to sustain their recovery, such as counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a 12-step program. People who use Vivitrol in conjunction with other treatment have a much higher success rate.

Is It a Miracle Drug?

In a double-blind study by the FDA, 36 percent of people who used Vivitrol stayed clean, as compared to 23 percent in the placebo group. Another study in Russia of 250 heroin addicts showed that 70 percent of those who used Vivitrol for at least six months stayed clean. Vivitrol has succeeded in helping many addicts quit using opiates when other attempts failed. One of the biggest advancements of Vivitrol is that people need to get an injection only once per month. Other types of addiction medicine requires a person to remember to take their medication on a daily basis, and everyday they are faced with the decision of whether or not to continue taking it. Vivitrol helps to solve some of those issues. The biggest downside to Vivitrol, however, is the cost. Many insurance companies do not provide full or any coverage for Vivitrol, and injections can cost $1,000-$1,500 each. The high cost is the main reason why Vivitrol is not being more frequently used in rehabs and treatment centers. The company that produces Vivitrol is called Alkermes, and it does offer a program that gives reimbursement to the user each month up to $500, which can make it easier for some to afford.

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