how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

[mi124]

i live in upstate NY and i cant seem to find out where to get it.

thanks

[mi124]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

well i seem to have found a doctor nearby who does vivitrol injections.

but he says it costs like 500?? my insurance company is not very good.

are there any insurance companys in NY that might cover it?

thanks

[paula]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

I really dont know much about this treatment, apart from it being primarily used in narcotic addiction, and should be used along side counselling, sounds very expensive, hope it works.

[joethelion]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

I heard the same thing about the cost. I think it`s because it`s not generic yet. Are the daily naltrexone pills not an option ?

[nancy]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

patient support

Vivitrol.com VIVITROL Resources

Check with the company to see if you can get a discount or help with insurance.
You could also try the pill version of it which is naltrexone, if you trust yourself to take it regularly. Also check out the Sinclair Method which advises naltrexone as needed.

[paula]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

The pills work very well, but also block such things as codeine, which some people need to take for pain relief.

[joethelion]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

Paula, I didn`t know vivitrol and naltrexone pills block different things. What else is different ? Does vivitrol not block endorphin from activities like sex, cuddling etc ?

[paula]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

Nal only blocks painkillers containing morphine derivatives, you have to carry a card saying your taking it, in case you have an accident and need strong pain relief. You can still take other meds and pills that work on a different part of the brain, it doesn't affect other activites like sex etc. If you google it you will get all the info you need. I used to work with drug addicts and this medication was used very sucessfully, and then it was found that it worked in the same way for alcoholism. I could not take it as I suffer with arthiritis and occasionally need to take codeine.

[YouKayBee]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

Naltrexone block opiod receptors, taken before you drink it stops you from feeling the effects of the endorphin release which happens when you drink (that's the buzz you feel). Endorphins are like opiods and you feel the when they hit the opiod receptors. Over time you get used to not having the buzz from alcohol and your cravings and desire for alcohol reduces.

That's it in basic terms.

Not sure what happens if you have Naltrexone in your system constantly or how the injection works. My experience is only with the tablets. Naltrexone will also stop you feeling endorphins released by other pleasureable activities too, but I didn't find it that bad and because you only take Nal when you drink, once you start having AF days you start to have times when you can feel endorphins released by other things, and are in fact more sensitive at this point - which can actually enhance the effect of these activities. This is called receptor upregulation, and can actually make you then want to do these other things more - this can be a positive with things like exercise.

If Vivitrol is some sort of long term Naltrexone dose I'd advise against it, as I think Naltrexone can leave your mood a bit flat for obvious reasons. I could however be wrong because I am not familiar with that method of treatment.

You might like to look at the Sinclair Method for more info, just pop the term into the google search engine for lots of link to good info.

[mi124]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

If Vivitrol is some sort of long term Naltrexone dose I'd advise against it, as I think Naltrexone can leave your mood a bit flat for obvious reasons. I could however be wrong because I am not familiar with that method of treatment.
vivitrol is naltrexone that is injected into the gluteal muscles and stays there for a month. so it would be like having naltrexone in your system for a month. each month you have to get another injection. the only side effect i have heard of is it makes your butt sore for the first few days.

i understand you can still enjoy coffee which would be good for me because coffee is my second favorite "drug" high.

Check with the company to see if you can get a discount or help with insurance.

thanks nancy great idea, especially since my insurance company wont help with the cost.

Are the daily naltrexone pills not an option ?

i guess i may have to try that instead. can you tell me if i take naltrexone in the morning will it work all day? or do you have to take it right before you drink?

i think the sinclair method would not work with me because my drinking isnt attached to any specific social activity, i just stay alone in my apartment and drink. when i want to drink and feel high i would not want to take the pill.

but if its like you take it in the morning and you cant get a drink high all day that might work for me.

[joethelion]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

mi124;1350290 wrote:

i guess i may have to try that instead. can you tell me if i take naltrexone in the morning will it work all day? or do you have to take it right before you drink?

i think the sinclair method would not work with me because my drinking isnt attached to any specific social activity, i just stay alone in my apartment and drink. when i want to drink and feel high i would not want to take the pill.

but if its like you take it in the morning and you cant get a drink high all day that might work for me.

Sorry, but I don`t think that works like that. As every drug, it has a half life, and starts to lose its effect after several hours. It would still help, I guess, but not as much. Vivitrol would be a better solution for you then maybe.

[COSGringo]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

I hear great things about the shot if you can afford it. According to my doc it's heads up above taking the pills (which did not work for me). Expensive is the problem.

[StuckinLA]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

The shot is out there because TSM isn't an accepted form of treatment. Nal is an approved drug because it is believed to have anti-craving properties on its own, without drinking. I think some people find that's the case.

No clue what the life of nal is. But maybe try taking it around lunch? Like when you're still thinking 'I really shouldn't be drinking.' Or maybe you're already craving a drink by then?

My only other thought is this: TSM seems to say that you take the pill 1 hour before drinking. But doesn't say anything about if you're going for a 12 hour epic night you need to take another pill 1/2 way through. So maybe it does stay in your system for a while?

[YouKayBee]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

StuckinLA;1350749 wrote: The shot is out there because TSM isn't an accepted form of treatment. Nal is an approved drug because it is believed to have anti-craving properties on its own, without drinking. I think some people find that's the case.

No clue what the life of nal is. But maybe try taking it around lunch? Like when you're still thinking 'I really shouldn't be drinking.' Or maybe you're already craving a drink by then?

My only other thought is this: TSM seems to say that you take the pill 1 hour before drinking. But doesn't say anything about if you're going for a 12 hour epic night you need to take another pill 1/2 way through. So maybe it does stay in your system for a while?

Naltrexone can stay in the body for 24 hours, but it's at it's most effective 1-4 hours after intial dosing. I've not had a long continuous session on it, but I have drank at night, then gone out the following lunchtime/afternoon. What I did was take another 50mg 1 hour before I expected to drink again the following day. Sometimes I've also 'topped up' with half a dose (25mg) if I've drank at lunch time and am going to drink later in the day. I'd probably advise trying 25mg after 6 or 7 hours if drinking right through.

[YouKayBee]

how/where can i get the vivitrol shot?

Oh and at first I used to take it mid morning, just in case I drank early and couldn't wait. Although some say this isn't strict TSM, it still worked for me and got me on the road to recovery. These days I can wait the hour.