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About Alcohol Dependence
What is VIVITROL


How VIVITROL works
Family history, genetics, and the risk for alcohol dependence
Other risk factors


What to expect from treatment



What is VIVITROL


How does VIVITROL work?


How may VIVITROL help me?


How safe is VIVITROL?


Important safety information
Other risk factors

A number of other risk factors for alcohol dependence include:

  • Age of first use: People who began drinking earlier tend to be at greater risk for developing a drinking problem8
  • Emotional problems: Emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders may increase risk for developing alcohol dependence or make recovery more difficult. Likewise, excessive stress and trauma may play a role in the development of alcohol dependence9
  • Gender: Men are almost twice as likely to become alcohol dependent, although the rate of alcohol dependence among women has been steadily increasing7
  • Culture, friends, and neighborhood: Getting in with the "wrong crowd" at school, work, or the neighborhood may also put a person at increased risk for developing alcohol dependence7

Please discuss your personal situation and medical history with your doctor or healthcare provider.

If you would like more information on alcohol dependence and treatment options, please talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.
 

Important Safety Information1

What is VIVITROL?

VIVITROL is an injectable medicine for the treatment of alcohol dependence in adults 18 years and older.

To benefit from VIVITROL, you need to stop drinking before starting the medicine.

To be effective, treatment with VIVITROL must be used along with other alcohol dependence recovery measures, such as counseling.

VIVITROL may not work for everyone.

VIVITROL has not been studied in children under the age of 18.

What important information should I know about VIVITROL?

  1. VIVITROL may be associated with liver damage or hepatitis.

    • Call your doctor if you develop stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, light-colored bowel movements, dark urine, or yellowing of your eyes

  2. VIVITROL blocks the effects of opioid-containing medicines.

    • You may not feel the same effects of opioid-containing medicines including medicines for pain, cough, and diarrhea
    • You may not feel the same effects if you use or abuse heroin and other illegal (street) opioids
    • Do not take large amounts of opioid medicines to overcome the VIVITROL block. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death

  3. VIVITROL has been associated with severe allergic pneumonia.

    • Call your doctor if you develop shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing

Who should not take VIVITROL?

Do not take VIVITROL if you:

What should I tell my doctor before starting VIVITROL?

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have liver problems
  • Use opioid-containing medicines
  • Use or abuse street (illegal) drugs
  • Have hemophilia or other bleeding problems
  • Have kidney problems
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if VIVITROL can harm your unborn baby
  • Are breastfeeding. It is not known if VIVITROL passes into your milk, and if it can harm your baby

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take any opioid-containing medicines for pain, cough, or diarrhea. (See What important information should I know about VIVITROL? )

Carry written information to alert medical personnel that you are taking VIVITROL so that they can treat you properly in an emergency.

How do I take VIVITROL?

VIVITROL is given as an intramuscular injection in your buttocks. It is injected by your doctor or healthcare provider about once a month. Because VIVITROL is an injection, once it is given, you cannot remove it from the body.

If you miss your appointment for a VIVITROL injection, schedule another appointment as soon as possible.

Whenever you need medical treatment, be sure to tell the treating doctor or nurse that you are receiving VIVITROL injections.

What should I avoid while taking VIVITROL?

VIVITROL may make you feel dizzy. Do not drive a car, work with machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you and your doctor know how VIVITROL affects you. (See What are the possible side effects of VIVITROL?)

What are the possible side effects of VIVITROL?

VIVITROL may cause side effects including:

  • A reaction at the injection site. The reaction could be pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, bruising, and/or itching. Sometimes reactions at the injection site can quickly worsen and skin and other tissue can be permanently damaged and require surgery. If you have an injection site reaction, tell your doctor or healthcare provider
  • Nausea

Other common side effects of VIVITROL are:

  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Decreased appetite
  • Painful joints
  • Muscle cramps

Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the side effects of VIVITROL. For more information, ask your doctor or healthcare provider.

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