​​​Call 1.855.970.2547, 24/7 to speak to a treatment specialist for free. Get help finding the best treatment options available for yourself or a loved one. Rehab centers, detox centers, inpatient, outpatient programs, therapy, counseling, sober living housing and more. A 5 minute phone call is all it takes to get you the help you need. Get help now. Call: 1.855.970.2547

The drug manufacturer takes the poly-lactate powder and mixes it with Naltrexone powder to produce a new fine powder of small micro spheres which are small enough to make its way through a syringe while slowly breaking down and releasing Naltexone over a 30 day period of time. ​

The end results of this high tech formula is a once-a-month shot that releases naltrexone into the body (brain) reliably over a 30 day span. The recommended dosage for Vivitrol is 380mg delivered intramuscularly (in the buttocks) once a month. After the initial injection, the naltrexone plasma concentration peaks initially within 2 hours after injection, followed by a second peak approximately 2 to 3 days later. After that, the naltrexone remains fully active, continuing to block the opioid receptors in the brain for 30 days while allowing those same receptors to begin to heal/regulate themselves over time.

Vivitrol (not to be confused with Naltrexone implants which is a small implant that is surgically implanted under the skin); vivitrol is designed to be administered by intramuscular injection every 4 weeks or once a month and can be administered by a family doctor in a private setting. (An experienced Vivitrol doctor, a doctor who has already administered Vivitrol successfully, is highly recommended).

Furthermore, Vivitrol (Naltexone) is not an opioid drug like suboxone, subutex or methadone. Instead, Vivitrol is a powerful opioid blocker, and that’s it. That’s all it does, is block the pleasurable effects of heroin and all opiate drugs so that you wont bother trying to use them, while allowing the opioid receptors in the brain to quickly begin to regulate themselves and return back to normal.

Vivitrol is not a mind altering drug in any way. Therefore, it is not a replacement drug like suboxone or methadone. It is an opiate drug blocker which blocks such drugs as heroin, Oxycontin, Percocet, and other opiate drugs. Moreover, since Vivitrol is a non-opioid drug, it is not addictive at all, and a person can stop taking the vivitrol shot at any time and feel great when they do so. So this is a drug / medicine which can be stopped at any time with no side effects or withdrawals at all and of course when the patient is ready to stop taking Vivitrol and remain clean from heroin and all opiate drugs without it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must be clean from heroin or any opiate drug for 7 to 14 days before taking that first Vivitrol shot. And you must be clean from suboxone or methadone for 10 to 14 days before taking that first Vivitrol shot. In other words, the Vivitrol shot must be administered 7,10 to 14 days after your last use of heroin, opiates, suboxone or methadone, otherwise, you can go into serious withdrawals. All opiates must be cleared out of the opioid receptors in the brain completely before taking that first Vivitrol injection.
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Vivitrol requires you to make a once-a-month choice. Whereas taking suboxone, subutex or methadone requires a daily choice and a daily battle within the mind. But once you take that once-a-month vivitrol shot then that’s it – you’re good for the whole month.

There’s no need to battle the thoughts of using in your mind, because again, you know very well that you can’t get high no matter what, so why bother trying? And this new adopted mentality by many Vivitrol patients is what makes Vivitrol an effective tool to battle heroin and opiate addiction. This also gives you time to get counseling and support group therapy while working your recovery plan as well.
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And again, Vivitrol is a non-opioid drug and is therefore non-addictive and has no mood or mind-altering effects as well. You may go through mood swings initially, but it’s not the drug that causes it. Instead, it’s the complete absence of opiates in the brain. But you will feel better as the days go by. And if you wish to stop using Vivitrol then you can do so at any time without having to wean off of the drug or suffer withdrawal symptoms such as what you would go through when coming off of suboxone, subutex or methadone. You can simply stop taking the Vivitrol injection at any time and begin to feel better right away.

Research and statistics show that Vivitrol works very well, and is much better than other types of opioid treatment plans such as suboxone and methadone maintenance. Vivitrol is very effective at preventing relapse and reducing cravings for heroin and opiate drugs. And according to the Food and Drug Administration trials, addicts who were treated with Vivitrol and received some type of counseling and support were more likely to stay in treatment and refrain from using opiate drugs.

If there was ever a drug which significantly reduced the risk of relapse then this is it. And the longer that you’re able to stay clean from heroin and all opiate drugs then the better your chances will be of staying clean for good.

As mentioned above, you have to wait 7 to 14 days after your last use of heroin before taking your first Vivitrol shot, otherwise, you can go into full withdrawal if there are any opiates left in the brain. And this waiting period can become a mind battle and an inconvenience for some. But if you can hold on and hang in there for those 7 to 10 to 14 days, then you can go to the doctors’ office and get your Vivitrol shot and be relieved after that first shot. And after that, the battle is over, at least for the rest of the month. Then you can continue to get the shot every month until you feel you're ready to do without it.
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​Vivitrol can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,100 per shot. However, many state funded detox centers are now offering the Vivitrol shot for free, (paid for by the state). And there are many programs across the country that are offering the Vivitrol shot for free as well.

For more information on state funded detox centers and Vivitrol programs please call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357, the government, national, treatment referral helpline and ask them to help you find a state funded detox center and/or a state funded Vivitrol program in your state. With or without insurance they will help you find the help you need. SAMHSA is a free 24/7 service. Call 1-800-662-4357

However, as is in the case with most pharmaceutical drugs, the Vivitrol shot comes with a cost and some negative side effects as well. But when it comes to costs, Vivitrol can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,100 per shot. And since it’s so expensive, it becomes an out of reach solution for most people who don’t have health insurance or simply cannot afford it, or cannot justify the cost of the shot even if they can afford it. Some major health insurance companies will pay half, most or all of the costs.

Other insurance companies may cover a good portion of the cost leaving you with a low co-pay. So unfortunately, this is a drug accessible to those who have health insurance or the funds to cover the costs, or a friend or relative who has plenty of money to spare and is willing to help you with the costs of the Vivitrol shot. And/or you can always apply for Medicaid or Medicare which pays for most or some of the shot as well.
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​Vivitrol/Naltrexone can come with some negative side effects as well, such as vomiting, insomnia, headache, fatigue, painful joints, muscle cramps, decreased appetite and dizziness. However, it doesn’t mean that everyone who gets the vivitrol injection will go through all of these side effects. Some people may feel the initial pain from the shot, along with some swelling in the injection area for a few days. But after that, they’re fine. Some people may only feel temporary nausea as well. You can find more information on possible side effects for Vivitrol on the Vivitrol website: www.vivitrol.com 

Vivitrol and the heroin blocking effects of the vivitrol shot are irreversible. Therefore, before getting the shot, you have to be absolutely sure that this is what you want to do. You have to be 100% sure that you’re done, done, done with heroin for good - otherwise, the fact the you can’t get high no matter what you do can cause some people to go through serious depression which can even lead to thoughts of suicide as well, simply because they can’t get high and they want to do so badly. 

Some users claim that it’s the vivitrol itself that causes depression and thoughts of suicide, but that's not true. The reality is that with or without the vivitrol shot, the user will still go through what is known as PAWS, Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome which includes symptoms such as guilt, anger, anxiety, depression, etc.. However, there are things that you can do to help recover from PAWS and feel better much faster. (More on this subject below) Furthermore, according to the vivitrol website, vivitrol does not block the opioid receptors in the brain from natural feel good chemicals.

From the Vivitrol website: “The active ingredient in VIVITROL (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) - naltrexone - works as a “blocker.” It attaches to certain opioid receptors in your brain and blocks the pleasurable feelings associated with taking opioids. Even though VIVITROL may block the intense high from opioids, it does not prevent good feelings that come from other naturally pleasurable activities. After you get a dose of VIVITROL, its blocking effect slowly decreases and completely goes away over time.”

NOTE: It’s important to remember that once Vivitrol is injected, it cannot be removed from the body. So if you happen to get into a harmful accident, then normal procedures for administering pain medication would become ineffective. Pain medication would have to be administered in a special manner by the doctors.
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Since the Vivitrol shot is irreversible, and can come with possible negative side effects as well, this drug should not be forced upon your child or loved one. In other words, you should not force your loved one to get the vivitrol shot if they’re not 100% certain that they want to get the shot themselves.

If he or she gets the shot against their will, and only to please you, then it can lead to severe depression and possible suicide as well. You can however try to convince them to get the shot, if of course, that’s what they want to do. But it’s up to them to make that final decision to accept the shot or not. But once they realize that Vivitrol can very well put an end to their addiction once and for all, then they just might comply and give it a shot.

It’s important to remember that taking the Vivitrol shot alone is not enough. The recovering addict will need some type of counseling, therapy, and/or support group meetings etc.. They have to have a step-by-step recovery plan in place and must be working that plan throughout their recovery. Otherwise, once those 30 days are over and the Vivitrol shot has worn off then they may turn back to heroin.

Furthermore, there's a good chance that the addict may relapse once or twice just as well, even after they’ve received the Vivitrol shot. After that first Vivitrol shot, many addicts want to get high so badly that they try to do so in spite of knowing that vivitrol blocks the effects of heroin, but to no avail as well. They want to believe that they can still feel something from the heroin so they try and make an attempt to get high. They try, but they can’t get high, which becomes greatly discouraging for them, (but very encouraging for the loved ones.) And once they see that they can’t get high no matter what they do then they give up trying and keep moving forward in their recovery. This is why Vivitrol is so effective.
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First, as mentioned above, you need to make sure that this is what you want, or are at least willing to give it a try. Because once you get the shot, then that's it, there's no turning back.

Payment: Then, contact your health insurance provider (if you have health insurance) to see if they cover the costs of the Vivitrol shot, and if so, how much of the costs will be covered. Some insurance companies may pay most of the cost while others may pay all of the costs as well. You can also find information on a Co-pay Savings Program on the Vivitrol website: www.vivitrol.com/Savings

Cash payments: If you or a loved one has the cash to pay for the Vivitrol shot then you can pay for it in cash. The doctor may give you a discount price for cash payments as well.

​Detox: After securing a vivitrol doctor, and having a payment plan in place, then it’s time to detox yourself from heroin and/or other opiate drugs. And there are a few ways to do this as well. You can A, quit heroin cold turkey with the help of OTC meds such as Imodium, Tagamet, ZzzQuil, Valerian Root capsules, etc…​ Or, you can get on a 3 to 4 day suboxone or subutex taper plan. Or, you can go to a medical detox center for 5 to 10 days and then head straight to the Vivitrol doctors office after detox. Also, many detox centers are now offering the Vivitrol shot as well.
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To find a free (paid for by state) to low cost detox center, contact your national drug addiction referral helpline and ask them for help in finding a detox center near you. 

U.S: Call SAMHSA, the National Substance Abuse Administration office at 1-800-662-4357 and ask them to recommend a free (state-funded) or low cost, detox center near you.

Canada: If you’re living in Canada, click here for a list of drug treatment services for your province in Canada.

United Kingdom: If you’re living in the UK, click here for a list of drug treatment services for your region or nation in the UK.

Ireland: If you’re living in Ireland, click here for a list of drug treatment services for your county or province in Ireland.

India: If you’re living in India, click here for a list of drug treatment de-addiction centres and services for your city in India.

Australia: If you’re living in Australia, click here for a list of drug treatment services for your state or territory in Australia.

New Zealand: If you’re living in New Zealand, click here for a list of drug treatment services for your town in New Zealand.

Most countries offer free (paid for by the state) to low cost, detox programs for their residents. And you may qualify for free, (government funded) financial assistance. If you have health insurance, then check with your health insurance provider for recommended detox centers. Call the center, get details, costs and procedures and then go get detoxed.

Wait 7 to 10 days: Main thing to remember is that you have to be clean from heroin and all opiate drugs for 7 to 10 to 14 days (depending on the drug, 7 to 10 days for heroin), before receiving that first vivitrol shot. If you get the shot too soon while still having heroin/opiates in your system then you can go into precipitated withdrawals almost immediately after the shot.

Go in for the shot: Once you’ve been clean for 7 to 10 days from heroin then it’s time to go in for your first Vivitrol shot. The doctor will most likely give you Naltrexone daily pills first to see if you have any negative reactions from the Naltrexone. If no negative reactions occur, the doctor will then proceed to give you the vivitrol shot. The doctor will inject the vivitrol shot into your buttocks, and then that’s it. You’re done. After leaving the doctors’ office, you may feel some possible side effects such as feeling groggy, having a small bump on your behind from the shot, maybe feeling some nausea as well. But it will go away within a few days or less. And that’s only for the first shot. 

Every shot after that is easy. And again, not everyone has negative side effects as well. But after your first shot then that’s it - you can’t use heroin or any other opiate drugs for 30 days. If you try to use heroin or any opiate drug, then you won’t get high. And if you try to get high by taking higher doses of heroin then you can actually overdose and die, without getting high. So trying to get high after the vivitrol shot becomes a waste of time and money and a grave danger as well.

Length of treatment: How long you stay on the Vivitrol shot is entirely up to you. You can stay on it for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 7 months or a year. Most doctors will recommend that you stay on the Vivitrol shot for a year while participating in some type of outpatient treatment program such as counseling, therapy, support group meetings etc... The more help you get then the more likely you are to remain in treatment and complete a full and successful recovery.

Main thing… You have to make sure and be 100% certain that you’re not going to use heroin or any opiate drug ever again before coming off of the Vivitrol shot for good.

For pregnant women: At this time, there are no adequate and well-controlled test and studies of either Naltrexone or Vivitrol in pregnant women. At this time, it is not known if Vivitrol can or will not harm your unborn baby. It is not known if Vivitrol passes into your milk, and if it can or can not harm your baby. If you are pregnant, then please consult your doctor first before getting the Vivitrol shot.
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​​Furthermore, your opioid receptors are going to become much more sensitive as well. So the best thing to do for the first few weeks and the months to come as well, is to do everything you can to help your body create those feel good chemicals in order to help you recover much faster and feel normal once again.

Talk to someone: Whenever you’re feeling down, sad and depressed then reach out to someone and talk to them. Tell them how you’re feeling. Tell them what you’re going through. Just by opening up to someone you can trust can help bring almost instant relief to feelings of sadness and depression.

From the Vivitrol website: “Vivitrol must be used with other alcohol or drug recovery programs such as counseling.” Therefore, if at all possible, try to get some kind of counseling so that you can become accountable to someone and have someone to talk to as well. A good counselor can help you work out your problems, give you direction and help guide you on your road to recovery.

Attending support group meetings such as NA and AA can also become a part of your recovery plan and a great source for help and support. NA meetings may not be for everyone, but they have helped a lot of people quit drugs and stay clean for good. You may be able to meet some real friends there as well. The more help and support that you are able to get, then the more likely you are to succeed. And eventually, you may be able to help others in their recovery as well. And one of the best ways to remain clean is by helping others get clean and stay clean and have a successful recovery.

Get active: In order to begin to feel better much faster, then you have to become active. You can start going for long walks, jogs or runs as jogging and running can help to produce endorphins, those feel good chemicals in the brain which also helps to relieve stress, anxiety and desperation almost immediately. You can take walks in the park, go hiking, mountain climbing, bike riding and more. If you want to feel better much faster then start getting active and take on some form of exercise-like activity.

Get healthy: If you want to feel better much faster, then you need to do everything you can to rebuild your health. Start taking vitamins, multivitamins and supplements such as L-Tyrosine, Niacin (a form of vitamin B which helps with depression), vitamin B6, vitamin C, wide-spectrum mineral supplements containing Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium. Start taking herbal brain supplements as well. By taking extra vitamins and herbal supplements you can begin to feel much better and much faster as well.

Start eating healthy, eating small healthy meals and drinking plenty of water. And the best kinds of foods to eat are foods that grow in the sunlight which helps us to obtain that energy from the sun into our bodies. By taking on a healthy lifestyle, you will begin to feel much better and much faster as well. And a healthy lifestyle will help you to counteract drug addiction.

Talking to someone, getting some form of counseling, attending support group meetings, becoming active, eating healthy meals, drinking plenty of water and taking extra vitamins and herbal supplements should all become part of your recovery plan in order to help you succeed and stay clean for good.

To speak to a Vivitrol consultant and learn more about Vivitrol please visit the Vivitrol website: www.Vivitrol.com 
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Vivitrol works! Vivitrol helps greatly. It can help you to stop using heroin and remain clean for good. And if you’ve tried everything else to get clean and stay clean but have failed to do so, then you may want to consider getting the Vivitrol shot. You can stay on it for as long as you wish or as long as you feel that you need to be on it. And since Vivitrol is a non-addictive drug then you can come off of it at any time without any withdrawals or negative side effects.

So if you have health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or the funds available to pay for the shot, and this is something that you're sure you want to do, then do it - Get the Vivitrol shot! Find a Vivitrol doctor, get detoxed, and then get the shot! And from there it’s just a matter of time and recovery. Vivitrol has helped many people stay clean, and it can help you too. Good luck. And may the good force be with you.
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​After years of doing wrong, one of the most important lessons I ever learned in my life was to be honest with everyone, and in everything I do. Why? Number 1, being honest is always the right thing to do. 2, when you're an honest person, your friends will trust you, your family will trust you, and being honest, completely honest will have a positive effect upon the lives of everyone you come into contact with and have a relationship with as well. Even a little white lie can ruin a relationship and it can take years to win someone’s trust back. Never cheat someone or take advantage of anyone in any way, shape or form. Never steal no matter what – even if you’re starving and have no food to eat. If you’ve done someone wrong then humble yourself, come clean, ask for forgiveness and make it right as best as you can. Be honest, loyal and faithful to everyone who comes your way. Be the kind of friend that you want to have. Be honest with everyone and in everything you do, and in doing so, you will have a much better life. Just one of the many lessons I learned in my life, the hard way, and one of the most life changing experiences as well. Have a great day people!

​Sincerely,
Jorge (George) Fernandez 
Over 20 Years Clean from Heroin 
About Jorge (George) Fernandez
Contact Jorge (George) Fernandez
P.S. Feel free to add me on Facebook

​Call 1.855.970.2547, 24/7 to speak to a treatment specialist for free. Get help finding the best treatment options available for yourself or a loved one. Rehab centers, detox centers, inpatient, outpatient programs, therapy, counseling, sober living housing and more. A 5 minute phone call is all it takes to get you the help you need. Get help now. Call: 1.855.970.2547

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