Vivitrol Treatment in Tampa FL for Alcohol Abuse

Investigating Vivitrol Treatment in Tampa, FL for Alcohol Abuse

Going through withdrawal and facing down the cravings, are the hardest parts of quitting an alcohol habit. Withdrawal is adequately addressed through a well-designed detox program; dealing with the cravings, can be harder, however. If you fear to lose your hard-won sobriety every time you see someone pours themselves a drink, you may be ready for Vivitrol treatment in Tampa FL for alcohol abuse. Vivitrol, the brand name of the chemical naltrexone in injectable form, is a drug effectively applied to the treatment of alcohol cravings. The drug is critical to any long-term plan to escape alcoholism.

Using a Vivitrol prescription in your fight keeping relapse at bay

Use of alcohol in excess can stimulate the brain into becoming extremely sensitive to dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that are responsible for the creation of feelings of pleasure. This kind of abuse of the brain’s natural systems, however, is not without undesired effects — the brain begins to learn a very deep, emotionally charged habit, actually coming to believe in a deep and intuitive way, in the goodness of alcohol. This effect leads to a compulsive desire for alcohol consumption that continues long after one has quit.

How does Vivitrol work for alcohol? It works because it blocks responses to alcohol in regions of the brain responsible for the creation of pleasurable feelings. This means that when you use Vivitrol and consume alcohol, but feel none of the pleasure that you expect.

Vivitrol treatment in Tampa FL for alcohol abuse may be essential for recovery, even though Vivitrol isn’t a long-term solution for the cravings for alcohol. It is, however, an excellent solution when you need to get through detox and therapy without constantly having to worry about dealing with cravings. For help staying sober long-term, it’s important to sign up for relapse prevention therapy.

Comparing the pros of Vivitrol to the cons

As with any chemical-based approach to dealing with a health challenge, Vivitrol comes with both pros and cons.

How long does a Vivitrol shot last? It’s one of the first questions that anyone introduced to this drug asks. The answer is, it lasts a full month. The fact that it isn’t a daily pill makes compliance far easier, and abstinence far more achievable.

How effective is Vivitrol? Compared to other forms of naltrexone, Vivitrol tends to be consistent and effective. Levels of this drug in the blood remain stable throughout the month that the drug lasts, making for good long-term effect.

The downsides of this drug can be difficult for some. As with many drugs, there are side-effects. Liver damage is a possibility, and it doesn’t work in all forms of alcoholism. For instance, it tends to be poorly accepted when alcohol addiction comes with opiate addiction. Use of Vivitrol also requires good health, as well. Those with liver disorders and kidney disease tend to not be prescribed the drug.

Other side effects may involve allergic reactions — nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and painful joints. It isn’t uncommon for people to experience skin reactions.

One high-risk area of Vivitrol use concerns the body’s ability to handle opiates. Not only is it not a good idea to use naltrexone for alcohol addiction that involves the opiate use, such use can prove fatal. It happens because the use of Vivitrol can render opioid so ineffective,  users may take large doses in order to come by the feeling that they seek. An overdose becomes highly likely.

Finding the right rehab

WhiteSands Treatment offers quality Vivitrol treatment in Tampa FL for alcohol abuse. If you would like to speak to an expert about the possibility of applying Vivitrol to your treatment, all you need to do is to call WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.