Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Vivitrol Vs Suboxone

Suboxone is an effective treatment option in the early stages of recovery as it helps manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, curb cravings, and prevent relapse. Vivitrol is administered once you have passed the withdrawal stage. For some patients, Vivitrol is used as a step-down formula from suboxone. It is very effective in preventing relapse as it blocks the opioid receptors. Therefore, the Vivitrol vs Suboxone effectiveness for OUD depends on your treatment needs and the severity of your addiction.

However, Statistics show that medication-assisted treatment, when used in combination with addiction therapies, increases the sobriety rate to about 45-50% for the first year.

Opioid addiction is a chronic illness. With effective rehab care, it is possible to break the addiction cycle. Reach out to ChoicePoint today to receive holistic addiction treatment.

CALL NOW FOR FREE SCREENING

Vivitrol Vs Suboxone: Which Is Right For You?

It’s important to understand the mechanism of action of Vivitrol vs Suboxone to know which of them can help you in managing opioid addiction. Suboxone helps treat opioid use disorder in:

• Managing withdrawal symptoms of opioids
• Reducing drug cravings
• Preventing a relapse

Whereas, Vivitrol is effective in:

• Preventing relapse

Read on to learn what makes Suboxone and Vivitrol unique in treating substance abuse.

Suboxone Chemical Makeup

Suboxone consists of buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid antagonist, and naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist. Buprenorphine tricks the brain into believing that it is receiving an opioid, and naloxone blocks the opioid receptors so that your brain does not produce euphoria. Together, they make suboxone an effective option in opioid addiction treatment.

You can start taking suboxone within 2-3 days of quitting opioids.

Vivitrol Chemical MakeUp

Vivitrol is purely an opioid antagonist. It binds to at least three opioid receptors, which makes it a great candidate for blocking the intoxicating effects of prescription drug abuse and illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, and Marijuana. Interestingly, Vivitrol is not only effective for opioid use disorder but also helps in preventing relapse from alcohol addiction. 

It is important to quit opioids 10-14 days before you start your medication-assisted treatment with Vivitrol. 

Administration Route of Vivitrol And Suboxone

Knowing the administration route of medicine is important when comparing vivitrol vs suboxone. Suboxone comes in sublingual films. It is placed under the tongue or cheeks and takes only 24 hours to dissolve. That’s why suboxone is prescribed for everyday use against opioid treatment. 

Vivitrol is available in injections. This injection slowly delivers naltrexone over one month. That’s why one vivitrol shot per month is enough to have its effects on opioid and alcohol use disorder. 

Is Vivitrol the same as Suboxone?

Vivitrol Vs Suboxone: Which Is More Effective In Treating Opioid Use Disorder

Vivitrol vs suboxone is an interesting debate since both are FDA-approved medications and widely used under medication-assisted programs for opioid use disorder. Besides differing in their chemical makeup and mode of action, they also vary in:

• Their effects on opioid addiction
• Their benefits in overcoming opioid addiction
• Their potential side effects

Benefits Of Suboxone

Some of  the important features that make suboxone an effective option for you are:

• It is self-meditating. You can obtain suboxone from a nearby pharmacy and take it yourself.
• Suboxone does not precipitate the opioid withdrawal symptoms,  so you can start taking it within 2-3 days of quitting opioids. 
• As Buprenorphine eases the drug cravings, you don’t think about getting your opioid dose. Instead, Suboxone allows you to focus on learning recovery skills and coping strategies. 

Benefits Of Vivitrol

Since Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist, it cannot create physical dependence, which makes it favorable to be used in criminal circles as well. Some other benefits of Vivitrol are:

• There is no risk of Vivitrol abuse as healthcare professionals always administer it.
• It’s a low-maintenance treatment option, as Vivitrol is given once a month.
• It does not require special training for administration so that a nearby healthcare provider can inject Vivitrol.

For same-day MAT prescriptions, call us at 844.445.2565 and get yourself connected with Online MAT doctors.

Same-day Prescriptions

What Are The Side Effects Of Vivitrol and Suboxone?

While Vivitrol and Suboxone are effective in managing opioid use disorder, like every medicine, they do come with warnings. It’s important to know the risks associated with them so that you can avoid any serious consequences.

Warning Signs Of Suboxone

Before you start taking suboxone, you should know that Suboxone does have certain side effects. It’s important to know them so that you can avoid any emergency. Some of these are:

• Buprenorphine in suboxone is a powerful opioid. It produces the same euphoric effects that opioids like heroin do. So, there is a potential risk of suboxone misuse.
• Since suboxone is administered daily, tapering suboxone without medical supervision can result in severe withdrawal effects.
• Suboxone use can result in nausea and vomiting.

Warning Signs Of Vivitrol

Although Vivitrol has almost zero chance of misuse, taking certain precautions is important. Some Vivitrol side effects are:

• Vivitrol comes with the risk of overdose among patients with liver damage.
• The Vivitrol can also result in pain and numbness at the site of injection.
• In rare cases, Vivitrol can lead to tooth decay.
• Vivitrol can precipitate the withdrawal symptoms if used during the detox process.

That’s why it’s essential to strictly follow the prescription and stay in touch with your addiction professional to avoid any emergency. 

Are You Addicted To Opioids?

Take this free self-assessment to know if you have an opioid addiction so that you can take the necessary steps afterward. 

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Accessing Vivitrol and Suboxone For Opioid Use Disorder

ChoicePoint, a co-occurring addiction treatment center in Fairlawn, NJ, is also offering online prescriptions for suboxone and vivitrol to save you from the hassle of visiting an inpatient facility. You can call us at 844.445.2565 for same-day prescription service. Our clinical staff will connect you to the relevant addiction professionals. After assessing your addiction severity, we will determine the suitable medication-assisted treatment for you. Once the evaluation is complete, they’ll email you an online prescription.

Information Hub Related To Vivitrol vs Suboxone

Keep browsing to find answers to some important questions about suboxone and vivitrol.

Is Suboxone The Same As Vivitrol?

No, suboxone and vivitrol are different medicines. Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance. Vivitrol is not a controlled substance. However, both of them are used for opioid use disorder treatment. Suboxone is used during and after the detox process.  Vivitrol is used only after the detox process. 

Can You Take Vivitrol And Suboxone Together?

Suboxone and Vivitrol should not be taken together because they bind with the same opioid receptor but have opposing effects. Vivitrol can block suboxone, nullifying its effects on opioid addiction. It can also precipitate opioid withdrawal, making recovery difficult.

Is Vivitrol Stronger Than Naltrexone?

Naltrexone and Vivitrol are the same. They are used to treat substance use disorder. The injectable form of naltrexone is called vivitrol. So, Vivitrol is not stronger than naltrexone but has the same potency as naltrexone’s.

Is Vivitrol An Opioid Antagonist?

Yes, Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist. It binds to the opioid receptors present in the brain to block opioids from creating any euphoria.

Is Suboxone Safer Than Vivitrol?

Suboxone has addiction potential, and it’s a controlled substance. However, both Vivitrol and suboxone are safe for the treatment of opioid addiction. It is essential to follow your prescription to avoid any side effects. 

How Long Shall I Wait After Suboxone To Start My Vivitrol Course?

Vivitrol can block the effects of suboxone. So, it’s important to wait for at least 7 days and a maximum of 14 days to allow your body to metabolize all residues of suboxone. You should work with your doctor to find the exact duration.

Resources

The Lancet. 2023. Misclassification of overdose events in the X: BOT

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00113-7/fulltext?rss=yes

United States Drug Enforcement Administration.2024. Drug Scheduling

https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling