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Vivitrol Patient Tips

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 28, 2025.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Vivitrol s a brand name for naltrexone injection that is used to treat alcohol dependence or for preventing the relapse to opioid dependence following opioid (narcotic) detoxification, alongside social therapy and psychotherapy. It is administered by intramuscular injection by a health professional once every four weeks. People taking Vivitrol need to have completely stopped drinking or not taken opioids seven to 10 days before starting Vivitrol. Nausea, headaches, depression, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and sleepiness are the most common side effects reported. Generally, Vivitrol is well-tolerated in people who are genuinely opioid-free.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with Vivitrol may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Vivitrol. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with Vivitrol include:

Avoid drinking alcohol or taking illegal or recreational drugs while taking Vivitrol.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Vivitrol. You should refer to the prescribing information for Vivitrol for a complete list of interactions.

Related/similar drugs

Frequently asked questions

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Vivitrol only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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