Are you scared of needles and injections?
If you’re considering undergoing Vivitrol treatment for alcohol use disorder or opioid addiction, you might not be too excited about the monthly injections required when taking Vivitrol.
The question of whether there’s a pill version of Vivitrol available is slightly complicated.
While Vivitrol doesn’t offer a pill version of their injection, you can find the main active ingredient, naltrexone, in oral tablet form.
But what’s the difference? Today, we’ll discuss:
- What the Vivitrol shot is and how it works
- The pill version of Vivitrol
- The main differences between the Vivitrol shot and the naltrexone pill.
Let’s get started.
How Is Vivitrol Typically Administered?
Vivitrol is administered as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional, usually into the buttocks.
As the medication is slow-release, the injections are given once a month. Each dose typically takes four weeks to fully disperse throughout the body.
You need to have a prescription to use Vivitrol. This is to ensure that you’re using the medication that’s right for you alongside other forms of treatment.
Is There A Vivitrol Pill?
Vivitrol is the name-brand version of the drug naltrexone. As of writing, Vivitrol only provides the medication in the form of an extended-release injection.
However, the main active ingredient of Vivitrol, naltrexone, is available in oral tablet form. The main difference is that it’s not under the Vivitrol brand.
On paper, both naltrexone and Vivitrol work the same by blocking opioid receptors in the brain.
The other difference is that the pill works in different ways than the injection. As the tablets aren’t extended-release, users have to take them once daily to achieve the same effect.
Like Vivitrol, naltrexone pills must be prescribed by a doctor. They’re typically prescribed to be used for around three months, but this might change depending on your situation.
The dose you take also depends on what you’re taking it for. For example, if you’re taking it for opioid use disorder, you’ll have to take a lower dose of naltrexone before starting the treatment, to make sure you’re not opioid dependent.
Vivitrol vs Naltrexone
The main difference between the Vivitrol injection and the naltrexone pill is the way they’re administered. While Vivitrol only comes in the form of an extended-release injection, the naltrexone pill has to be taken daily to be effective.
The other noticeable difference is that Vivitrol is a name-brand drug. This means that it’s more expensive than the pill form, and has no generic brand alternative.
So, when you’re looking to start this treatment, your options are limited to either the Vivitrol shot or naltrexone tablets.
Both Vivitrol and the naltrexone pills work in the same way. They’re designed to provide relief from the effects of opioid drugs by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. On paper, they’re the same; it’s just the form that stands out between the two.
Choosing between the Vivitrol shot and the naltrexone pill all comes down to personal preference and is mostly left to the discretion of your healthcare provider.
If you’re worried about having an allergic reaction, you might find that taking the pill is a good option to start with, as you can quickly stop taking it if you have an adverse reaction.
However, there are quite a few distinct advantages of choosing the Vivitrol shot over the tablets.
As the Vivitrol shot is extended-release, it keeps up a consistent dose in your body. This helps make a seamless treatment process and avoids dropping the levels low enough to warrant cravings for opioids again.
The Vivitrol shot also has less of a chance of giving you serious side effects.
While some mild side effects like chest pain, muscle cramps, and injection site reactions can occur when taking the shot, most adverse effects are more likely to come from taking the pill.
Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about missing a dose with the shot.
The naltrexone pill has to be taken once a day to be effective, and missing doses can mess with the treatment schedule.
However, having set monthly appointments for injections creates a smooth recovery period and ensures you won’t miss taking a pill.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering a Vivitrol treatment program, it’s important to know what options are available to you.
While Vivitrol only comes in the form of an extended-release injection, you might find that generic oral tablet forms of the drug are better suited to your needs.
Both of these drugs work the same on paper, it’s just the way you take them that’s different.
Make sure you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of both before making a decision and remember to speak to your healthcare provider about any concerns you have.
Sources:
- https://www.symetriarecovery.com/blog/what-is-vivitrol-shot/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00003495-198835030-00002
- https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-144395/vivitrol-intramuscular/details
- https://www.drugs.com/vivitrol.html
- https://www.drugs.com/naltrexone.html
- https://www.brighamandwomensfaulkner.org/programs-and-services/addiction-recovery-program/naltrexone-vivitrol#:~:text=Naltrexone%20is%20available%20in%20two,your%20buttocks%20once%20a%20month.
