Among the many drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence, the drug "Vivitrol" has established itself as a reliable and effective tool. We will talk about what this medication is, what are its pharmacological properties, indications and contraindications for use, in this article. We also discuss the form of release and other characteristics.
Medicine "Vivitrol": release form and storage conditions
The main active ingredient in the composition of this medication is naltrexone, the drug itself is a white or light brown powder, which is completely and quite easily dissolved in a liquid. The form of release of the drug is a powder for the preparation of a suspension for intramuscular injection, packaging - 5 ml glass bottles that contain 480 mg of the drug. Also in the package there is a special solvent and a set of needles. The shelf life of the drug is 3 years. It is recommended to store it in a cool (2 to 8 ° C) place, do not freeze. It is also possible to keep the drug at room temperature (up to 25 degrees), but not more than 7 days.
Pharmacological properties of the drug “Vivitrol” and indications for use
The pharmacological effect of the drug is due to the blocking of opiate receptors, so it is used to treat severe forms of alcoholism and mental disorders against the background of dependence on drugs containing opium. Keep in mind that only a doctor can prescribe this remedy. Moreover, it should be used exclusively against the background of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. Remember that Vivitrol and alcohol are completely incompatible. As a rule, the drug is used in combination therapy. Self-medication with this medication is prohibited, which is why it is difficult to buy it - the medicine is dispensed strictly according to a doctor’s prescription.
Contraindications to the use of the drug “Vivitrol” and side effects
Please note that this tool is not used to treat patients with the following diseases (unfortunately, the list of contraindications for use is quite wide):
- hypersensitivity to any components of the drug itself and its solvent;
- addiction or simply the use of narcotic painkillers;
- acute opioid dependence, including in a situation where the patient has “breaking” - a pronounced withdrawal syndrome of opium and any other drugs based on it;
- renal failure;
- with caution use the drug "Vivitrol" in case of impaired liver function.
Side effects of Vivitrol are as follows: a patient may experience itching, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and severe thirst. In addition, headache, dizziness, anxiety, fainting, and other asthenic manifestations were noted. In addition, laryngitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis can be observed on the part of the respiratory organs, and pain in the joints, in different parts of the back, cramps, and also tingling and muscle pain can be observed on the part of the bonfire system.
How exactly is Vivitrol used to treat alcohol dependence?
Reviews of patients about injections of this drug can not be called positive. So, almost everyone notes that the injections are quite painful, in their place severe redness often occurs. Side effects described above are also quite common. What else do people say about Vivitrol? We will review the patient reviews in more detail below. Now let's talk in detail about the method of using the tool.
Typically, the patient is prescribed 1 injection once every 30 days, a single dose of the drug - 380 mg intramuscularly. Please note that intravenous administration of this medicine is prohibited. Also, injections are not given at home, they should be done by a doctor in a hospital. Immediately before use, the drug is taken out of the refrigerator, allowed to warm at room temperature, and then diluted with solution from the package. The suspension is injected deeply intramuscularly, slowly.
What do patients say about the drug?
Vivitrol, the reviews of which are presented below, has already helped many people get rid of alcohol addiction. Here are reviewed positive reviews about this medicine:
- ease of use: per month, the patient needs only one injection;
- effectiveness: the drug “Vivitrol” contains a sufficiently large dose of blockers (substances that prevent the use of alcohol), so the percentage of cure is quite high.
So, if you are looking for a good drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence, you may well consider the medicine “Vivitrol”. Reviews about him, however, are mixed. Present and sharply negative. They will be discussed below.
With a minus sign: why Vivitrol is not suitable for the treatment of all patients
Here are the negative comments left by those who were treated (or just about to use this medicine, but changed their minds):
- Firstly, the drug is expensive. The price of one injection is about 32 thousand rubles. Agree, not every family can afford such an expensive means;
- the medication has a large number of contraindications and side effects, which manifest themselves quite often. Many people with alcohol addiction have liver problems. And liver failure is just a contraindication for using the drug.
- On some, the medicine “Vivitrol” does not work at all. Reviews on the forums tell that alcoholics both drank and continue to drink, even after injections, without fear that drinking alcohol with this drug can lead to the most unpredictable consequences, not excluding the fatal outcome.
- Suspension injections, as we have already mentioned, are quite painful.
Therefore, consult with your doctor before using the drug. And in any case, do not self-medicate - do not inject the drug yourself and do not administer it to a relative or friend who decided to receive treatment outside the walls of a medical institution. It may end badly.
How do doctors characterize the drug?
Meds point out that Vivitrol is a modern drug that gradually reduces cravings for alcohol. But at the same time, many doctors say that treatment with this medication alone may not really bring results. They recommend that the patient undergo a course of psychotherapy or visit a psychologist in order to understand the causes of addiction and get rid of alcoholism once and for all. Unfortunately, the Vivitrol remedy, although it has positive reviews, including from doctors, treats only the body, but not the soul. But many friends of the “green serpent” are people with psychological problems. If you get rid of them, there is a chance that a person will end alcohol. Therefore, when you come to the doctor for a consultation (yourself or with your relative), be sure to ask what other measures you can take to ensure that the disease recedes and never comes back.
Conclusions and Conclusion
We have examined in detail what Vivitrol is. Reviews from patients and doctors, characteristics and properties are also given in the article. We hope this information will help you in choosing a drug
for alcohol dependence. It should also be mentioned that the expensive medicine “Vivitrol” has more affordable analogues. These are the drugs Antaxon, Naltrexone, Narcanti and Revia. Therefore, if you want to get rid of addiction, but you cannot afford Vivitrol, ask your doctor what kind of generic he can recommend in your situation. After all, they act no worse. If you compare them with the drug "Vivitrol", the reviews, price and other parameters of the analogues largely coincide with the characteristics of the original drug. And do not delay the treatment of alcoholism “for later”. “Then” can be very late.