Addiction can affect millions of people every single day. It’s actually more common than you may realize, so you are never really alone in this journey.
Whether you, or someone close to you is struggling with addiction, it’s important that you reach out for help and guidance in order to reach recovery.
One of the many ways that people overcome alcohol addiction or opioid dependency is through Vivitrol shots. So, what exactly is Vivitrol, and what are the common side effects? Find out here with our simple and handy guide.
What Is Vivitrol?
Contents
Vivitrol is the brand name for medication containing naltrexone, which is an opioid blocker. Vivitrol is therefore a type of extended release injection that works for treating opioid dependence and alcohol addiction.
The main purpose of Vivitrol is to reduce cravings and urges to use opioids and alcohol, which can help those suffering with addiction reach recovery. This is because Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist that can block opioid receptors in the brain, which prevents a feeling of euphoria and a high, so that users can overcome their addiction.
Vivitrol is not a narcotic, as it is non addictive and simply blocks the opiates so that users are no longer dependent on drugs and alcohol.
When used in conjunction with support and counseling, those suffering from alcohol and opiate addiction can use Vivitrol to recover from their addiction.
What Are The Side Effects Of Vivitrol?
As Vivitrol is a powerful medication intended for anti-addiction, it can produce some serious physical responses and side effects in some users.
If you are interested in Vivitrol to treat addiction, then you should be aware of some of the main side effects of the medication. For instance, some minor side effects of Vivitrol are:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Increased thirst
- Pain or bruising around the site of injection
In clinical studies, only about 13% of people who received a dose of Vivitrol for alcohol dependence suffered from diarrhea, and about 25% of people who took the medication had headaches.
In other studies, around 33% of people who took an approved dose of Vivitrol for alcohol dependence suffered from nausea after, whereas only 5% of those who took it for opioid addiction had nausea afterwards.
What Are The Rare Side Effects Of Vivitrol?
The more rare side effects of Vivitrol shots include skin rashes, abdominal pain, fever, itchins, chest pain and shortness of breath.
If you experience any of these side effects, then you should seek help and treatment from a doctor or medical professional immediately. That being said, these side effects are very rare and uncommon.
Minor Side Effects Of Vivitrol Shot
For most people, Vivitrol is an effective and useful way to manage their alcohol or opiate addiction, especially when used in conjunction with counseling or therapy. However, there may be some minor side effects that can affect some users. For instance, these could be:
- Stomach Pains
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Muscle & joint pain
In addition to this, Vivitrol is administered by a healthcare provider or doctor via a series of injections or shots. For some people, it can be painful to have the shot, and they may have some pain, discomfort and bruising around the injection site.
This is a very common side effect, with around half of all users suffering from some pain, redness, swelling, or bruising where Vivitrol was injected. That being said, other shots and injections can sometimes cause pain and redness around the injection site, so this is quite normal.
Does The Vivitrol Shot Make You Sick?
Some users may suffer from sickness and diarrhea after having the Vivitrol shots, but this is not always the case or very common. However, it has been reported that some people suffer from minor cases of withdrawal symptoms when being treated with Vivitrol.
This often happens if there are small traces of opioids or opiates in the patient’s system, which can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms from opiates may include anxiety, confusion, blurred vision, severe vomiting and diarrhea, and hallucinations. If there are opiates in the system when Vivitrol is administered, then it can be incredibly dangerous and life threatening for the user.
Therefore, if there are any side effects such as withdrawal symptoms, then you will need to see a doctor immediately.
It is for this reason that doctors and healthcare professionals recommend that you do not ever have Vivitrol shots if you are not 100% clean and detoxed of all narcotics, opiates and drugs.
This is so there are no adverse side effects, and so you do not get sick after having the Vivitrol treatments.
For many people, the only issue that they have after having Vivitrol shots is slight pain around the injection site, and some slight bruising.
What To Do With Vivitrol Shot Injection Site Pain
There is also the risk of some people developing severe reactions to the Vivitrol treatment. Many people may experience some pain, slight swelling and redness at the injection site, which is rather common.
However, if there is severe pain, bruising and intense swelling, soreness and redness at the injection site, then it is worth contacting your healthcare provider for help and guidance. You could have a reaction to the medication, and you will need medical help immediately.
For more information on what to do if you are suffering from adverse side effects of Vivitrol, head over to the Vivitrol website here: https://www.vivitrol.com/important-safety-information for safety information and guidance.
Summary
To summarize, Vivitrol is an effective treatment for opioid and alcohol addiction or dependency. This medication is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of the drugs to help users recover from their addictions.
However, just like any medication, there are some common side effects to be aware of, such as nausea, headaches and diarrhea. If you, or someone you know suffers from any severe side effects after having Vivitrol treatments, then seek medical attention immediately.
