The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Vivatrol is a once a month shot the alcoholic takes that greatly reduces or eliminates the craving for alcohol. This as well as participation in AA and out-patient therapy really seems to be doing the trick for my husband. At first I was skeptical, and I am not trying to be naive, but my husband has been 11 days sober and he swears that he doesn't have the slightest craving for alcohol.
I haven't seen anything on this board about this medication and I was wondering what your thoughts are on it.
What Is Vivitrol? A New And Powerful Weapon! The FDA approved a new drug called Vivitrol to help treat alcoholism during the spring of 2006.
What is VIVITROL? VIVITROL is indicated for the treatment of alcohol dependence in patients who are able to abstain from alcohol in an outpatient setting prior to treatment initiation. Patients should not be actively drinking at the time of initial VIVITROL administration. VIVITROL should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support.
VIVITROL is a long-acting form of naltrexone and has been shown to be generally well tolerated and effective for the treatment of alcohol dependence as part of a comprehensive management program.
Unlike other medications that need to be taken every day, VIVITROL is taken just once a month.
Many people find it extremely hard to take a medicine for alcoholism every single day. There can be several reasons for this. They might not remember to take it, they might not like taking it because of the side effects, or they just might not be ready to take medicine every day to help them manage their drinking.
How VIVITROL works VIVITROL works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. Although the mechanism responsible for reduction in alcohol consumption is not entirely understood, preclinical data suggest that occupation of the opioid receptors by VIVITROL may result in the blockade of the neurotransmitters in the brain believed to be involved with alcohol dependence. This blockade may result in the reduction in alcohol consumption observed in patients treated with VIVITROL.
VIVITROL is administered only once a month. The medicine in VIVITROL is encased in microscopic biodegradable shells called microspheres. Throughout the month, these shells slowly dissolve, releasing medicine every day.
It's the same drug they give to overdosed heroin addicts in an IV . . . but then they found it really helped alcoholics and pain pill addicts with cravings. When I worked in rehab, it was still only in a once a day pill form, but only taken once a month is a nice improvement. I remember a lot of people who said about what your husband is saying.
As was pointed out, Vivatrol is a long acting form of Naltrexone, which my husband took for about 7 months after sobering up. It helped with the physical craving, but the "in the head" stuff was still up to him.
Meds can't do the work for them, but I do think it can help them get a solid base in sobriety while they get comfortable working their programs and adjusting to the changes.
ShelBell: I completely agree. I know that he really has a lot of work to do, but just knowing that this is helping a little (even if placebo) makes me feel better. Thanks for your reply.
Thanks for posting this, I was just saying yesterday I wish there was a shot he could take to make him not want it any more. Pretty funny that today here it is. I'll tell my A about it and see if it might help him. I think a lot of his stuff is in the head though.
You are right about "in the head," but I think if they really want to quit drinking, this shot may help them "believe" they can do it. I know it sounds crazy, but it just might work. Especially if the alcoholic "believes" it works, you know? My husband is only 12 days sober, but I am trying to be hopeful. He has been to an AA meeting everyday since he left detox and he really seems to be taking it seriously. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The shot is really expensive, but my insurance company agreed to pay for it with help from an addiction therapist at the detox he was at. All we pay is the co-pay and the fact that it is taken once a month makes it soooo convenient rather than leaving it up to them to take the medication.
I could see this being helpful in the short term. I could also see the "it's magic" aspect being harmful, eventually. He needs to know that there is no short cut, no easy way, no way to get better without doing the necessary work on himself. A's are lazy, mostly (as are most people, really) and would rather take the short cut. It takes the responsiblity for getting better away from him and gives it to the drug. He's never gonna believe he can do it, until he does it - this will not build the necessary confidence in his own healthy choices, and his relationsiip to his higher power.
Most people are a lot stornger and better than they give themselves credit for being.
LIN0606: I totally understand your concerns. I also completely agree that As are lazy and usually trying to take shortcuts to recovery. However, I do believe that this shot can be a useful tool, for a short time, to give that added confidence while in treatment. In my experience, my husband got the shot after detox right before he began his outpatient treatment. He also has been to an AA meeting every night since he got out of detox. He finds AA extremely helpful and he really enjoys going. I feel that he is taking pride in taking care of himself. That is not something he has felt in a long time. I am still keeping my fingers crossed, but now that he is finally taking care of himself maybe I can start taking care of me.
Evey: While in detox, my husband's addiction therapist recommended an internist that specializes in addiction to administer the shots. This doctor was pretty far from our home, so my husband called around all the internists in the area that is in our plan to find a doctor that would give him the shot. Our internist didn't know anything about it either. The doctor he found just found out about the shot and my husband was his first patient to receive it. The doctor made sure that the pharmaceutical rep came to his office the day my husband went to make sure everything was done correctly. (the drug had to be mixed and at room temp). My husband said he felt completely comfortable that the doctor took great lengths to make sure he did it correctly. The doctor also said he was really impressed by the shot's studies. The original addiction therapist in detox told me that studies showed that this drug gives the alcoholic an added 40% to the rate of non-relapses in the alcoholic. That was all I had to hear. I just want to add that my husband didn't have any side-effects.
