Vivitrol (extended-release naltrexone) is a monthly intramuscular injection used for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Unlike agonists, Vivitrol blocks the opioid receptors entirely — no abuse potential and no overdose risk from the medication itself.
Kentucky Medicaid plans typically cover Vivitrol for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Pharmacy benefit administration varies by plan, but the benefit is generally available.
Vivitrol requires patients to be opioid-free for 7–14 days before the first injection. Receiving Vivitrol with opioids still in the system precipitates immediate, severe withdrawal. Medical detox supports a safe transition through this window.
Vivitrol is administered as a 380 mg intramuscular injection. The dose suppresses opioid effects and reduces craving for approximately 30 days. The first injection is administered in a clinical setting after a clinician confirms the opioid-free window.
Subsequent injections are administered monthly, paired with ongoing therapy and clinical check-ins. Duration is individualized. Many patients remain on Vivitrol for a year or more; some continue indefinitely. The decision is clinical, not arbitrary.
| Suboxone | Methadone | Vivitrol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Partial agonist | Full agonist | Antagonist |
| Setting | Office-based | OTP only | Office-based |
| Frequency | Daily oral | Daily on-site | Monthly injection |
| Pre-treatment opioid-free | ~12–24 hrs | None required | 7–14 days |
| Overdose risk profile | Low (ceiling effect) | Moderate | None |
| Abuse potential | Low | Moderate | None |
Kentucky Medicaid plans typically cover Vivitrol for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Pharmacy benefit administration varies by plan; admissions verifies your specific plan as part of the first call.
Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist — it blocks opioid receptors. Receiving Vivitrol with opioids still in the system displaces the opioid from its receptors and triggers immediate, severe withdrawal. The 7–14 day window allows the body to clear opioids before the receptors are blocked.
Yes. Vivitrol is FDA-approved for both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. The same mechanism — opioid receptor blockade — reduces both opioid cravings and alcohol's rewarding effects.
Opioids will not produce their usual effects because the receptors are blocked. Attempting to override the blockade with high-dose opioids is dangerous and carries serious overdose risk, particularly as the Vivitrol dose wears off and tolerance is gone.
24/7 admissions. Insurance verification in minutes. Most KY Medicaid plans accepted. No judgment, no pressure, no obligation.