What happens if you take opiates while on Vivitrol?
What happens if you take opiates while on Vivitrol?
What happens when you take opiates while on Vivitrol is that you risk having overdose symptoms, organ and brain damage, coma or death.
Opiates should not be taken while on Vivitrol injection.
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol injection contains the active ingredient of Naltrexone which is used to treat alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.
How does Vivitrol work?
- It works by blocking the receptor that the opiate usually binds to, so that if you use an opiate it will have a limited effect.
- Or more simply you could think of the opiate as a key that goes into a keyhole which releases chemicals that give you the high that you are after. When you are given Vivitrol it acts like chewing gum being put into the keyhole, so it stops the opiate from working.
How does taking opiates with Vivitrol cause overdose?
By taking opiates with Vivitrol there are three ways this combination causes overdose:
- If you take opiates while on Vivitrol you may not get the high effect from the opiate that you want. If you try to get high by taking a bigger dose of opiate, it may break the Vivitrol blockage causing a flood of opiates binding to receptors, which means you have a much bigger chance of overdose and death.
- Another time you have a higher risk of opiate overdose is when you have been clean from opiate use for a while. Once you are not using opiates anymore you become a lot more sensitive to smaller doses, and for this reason if you use opiates again you may overdose on a dose that you would have been fine with before treatment. This is especially true to patients who have missed a dose of Vivitrol or have discontinued their treatment.
- It is also really important to understand how the amount of Vivitrol in your body changes over the course of the month. When you first get the Vivitrol injection your blood levels initially are highest for the first 2 to 3 days, then after 2 weeks the blood levels slowly decrease. This means at the end of your 4 weeks before your next dose, you have less blockage of the receptors, so your body will be more sensitive to opiates. These changing levels of Vivitrol mean that if you use opiates over different times during the month, it can have unpredictable effects, which is risky. Towards the end of the 4 weeks you are at a greater risk of overdose as any opiate you use will have a bigger effect. It also means that a dose of opiate you used in the first week of Vivitrol treatment that didn’t harm you, might be enough to overdose at the end of the 4 weeks before your next shot, this is especially true if the next dose is late or you have discontinued treatment.
Related questions
- What is low dose naltrexone (LDN)?
- What happens if you drink alcohol while taking naltrexone?
- What to avoid when taking naltrexone?
Bottom line:
- You should NOT take opiates while on Vivitrol injection.
- By taking opiates with Vivitrol you risk overdose, coma and death.
References
Read next
Should I take naltrexone in the morning or at night?
The manufacturer does not specify if you should take naltrexone tablets in the morning or at night. Take naltrexone exactly as your doctor orders it. Many patients take their medication in the morning to help affirm their continued treatment success for either opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder. Taking naltrexone tablets after a meal (for example: breakfast) may help to lessen any stomach side effects such as nausea or pain. Continue reading
Does naltrexone cause weight gain?
Weight gain is not a common side effect with oral naltrexone treatment. When used in combination with bupropion, naltrexone is approved to help promote weight loss. Naltrexone is known to frequently cause stomach side effects like nausea and vomiting, stomach pain or cramping, and loss of appetite which could contribute to weight loss. Weight gain and increased appetite have been reported as a possible side effect, but is not common. Continue reading
Acamprosate vs naltrexone: How do they compare?
Acamprosate and naltrexone are two different medications that are used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. They work in different ways to help people who are dependent on alcohol to abstain from drinking it. Naltrexone is also used for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Acamprosate was thought to be slightly more effective at helping people with alcohol use disorder remain off alcohol, while naltrexone was thought to be slightly more effective at helping reduce heavy drinking and cravings, according to the results of a meta-analysis which used data from 64 trials.
Results from two small studies, however, indicate that naltrexone is more effective than acamprosate in a number of areas. Continue reading
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Related medical questions
- How long does naltrexone take to work?
- How does naltrexone make you feel?
- What is the mechanism of action for naltrexone?
- Does naltrexone make you sleepy?
- Is naltrexone a controlled substance?
- How and where is the Vivitrol injection given?
- Can you drink alcohol on Vivitrol or will you get sick?
- What's the difference between naltrexone and naloxone?
- How long does Vivitrol last in your system?
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- Is Vivitrol the same as Suboxone?
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