Vivitrol injection side effects

Nausea is the most common side effect outside the injection site. It usually starts after the first injection and improves within a few days.

Headache, dizziness, decreased appetite, and tiredness are also common early on. Tiredness that keeps getting worse instead of fading is worth a call, especially with stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowing skin, because those can signal liver problems.

Muscle cramps, joint pain, and joint stiffness are mild side effects that show up for some people after a shot. Light stretching and short walks help more than rest does.

Does Vivitrol affect sleep? It can. Some people sleep more in the first week, others report trouble falling asleep, and both usually settle by the second injection.

In the 24-week trial that supported FDA approval for alcohol dependence, depressed mood was reported by 10% of people receiving Vivitrol, compared with 5% of people receiving placebo. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were uncommon but occurred more often with Vivitrol than with placebo (1% vs. 0%).

Tell your healthcare provider about low mood, irritability, or loss of interest, especially in the first weeks. Depression is treatable, and family members should know which changes to watch for.

Most people notice injection site pain, tenderness, bruising, redness, or mild swelling first. These reactions usually peak in the first day or two and ease over the following week. A small, firm lump can linger longer.

A smaller number of people notice toothache, cold-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, or anxiety. Vivitrol has not been studied in people with moderate or severe kidney impairment, so include any kidney problems in your health history.

The package insert lists many rare side effects. Ask your prescriber which ones actually apply to you rather than reading the list alone.

Small frequent meals and steady hydration handle most nausea. A quiet room and water handle most headaches, and a consistent sleep schedule supports your energy while your body adjusts.

Keep a short daily note of when a symptom starts, how strong it is, and whether it improves. That log helps your healthcare provider distinguish ordinary mild side effects from anything that needs a closer look.

Mild symptoms that are bothersome rather than dangerous still deserve a mention. Your healthcare provider can suggest medication or timing changes for nausea and headaches instead of leaving you to endure them.

You must be opioid free before your first injection. The FDA label recommends at least 7 to 10 days, and people switching from buprenorphine or methadone may stay vulnerable to withdrawal for up to two weeks. Heroin, fentanyl, and any prescription or cough medicine containing an opioid all count.

Injecting too soon pushes any remaining opioid off the receptors at once. That triggers precipitated withdrawal, which can be severe enough to require hospital care.

This is why opioid addiction history is reviewed carefully before a first dose, and why the first injection usually follows medical detox. Once the injection is given, the medication cannot be removed from the body.

Vivitrol can cause liver injury, and cases of hepatitis and clinically significant liver problems have been reported. In the opioid dependence trial, liver enzyme increases were more common with Vivitrol than with placebo (13% vs. 6% for ALT). Call a doctor right away for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, or severe upper stomach pain.

People with existing liver disease need closer monitoring, because impaired liver function changes how the drug is handled. Heavy drinking also damages the liver on its own, one of the risks and effects of alcohol a prescriber weighs before treatment. Liver function tests are usually repeated during Vivitrol treatment.

A severe allergic reaction is life-threatening. Signs include sudden trouble breathing, wheezing, chest pain, severe hives, and swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.

Some allergic reactions present as eosinophilic pneumonia, with cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath developing over days. Serious allergic reactions of either kind mean emergency medical care, not a wait-and-see approach.

Severe injection site reactions are rare but can progress to tissue necrosis requiring surgical repair. Blistering, open wounds, spreading redness, warmth suggesting infection, discharge, or intense pain all mean call a doctor now.

Rotating sides with each monthly shot lowers the risk. People receiving Vivitrol injections long term should watch for scarring, and any injection site change that worsens after week one deserves medical attention.

Depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors are uncommon but serious side effects. If they appear during Vivitrol treatment, tell a healthcare professional on your care team the same day.

Mood symptoms respond to treatment, and adjusting the plan is far safer than stopping Vivitrol on your own. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.

Week one usually brings the most side effects. Nausea typically starts after the injection and improves within a few days, and injection site soreness eases over the first week. Weeks two through four are usually quieter, even though the medication stays active for the full month.

Side effects that appear suddenly, get worse, or show up weeks after a shot deserve a call to your provider instead of waiting for the next appointment.

Monthly use over many months is generally well tolerated with medical supervision. The main long-term concerns are liver injury and injection site damage. Liver problems linked to naltrexone usually improve after the medication is stopped, which is why liver function is checked periodically.

The other long-term risk comes after treatment ends. Without the blockade, opioid tolerance is lower than before, so a return to opioid use after a missed or final dose carries a higher risk of fatal overdose. Keeping naloxone on hand is a sensible precaution for anyone with a history of opioid use.

Both forms use the same medication. The injection removes the need to remember a daily dose, which many people find steadying during the high-risk early weeks.

The tradeoff is permanence. A pill can be stopped today, while an injection stays in your system for about a month, so a healthcare professional reviews your medical history carefully first.

If side effects are hard to tolerate, other options for alcohol use disorder include disulfiram and acamprosate, along with off-label medications such as gabapentin and baclofen.

Bring your recent opioid and alcohol use, any liver problems, bleeding disorders, pregnancy status, and a full list of other medications, including over-the-counter products. Drug interactions are easiest to prevent before the first shot.

A complete health and medication history can help a healthcare professional identify potential interactions, contraindications, and other risks before treatment begins.

Injectable naltrexone works best combined with counseling, for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder alike. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reaches the same conclusion in its treatment guidance.

Vivitrol may be combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, group and individual therapy, and family therapy when clinically appropriate. Medication eases cravings, while therapy builds coping skills and addresses triggers, relationships, and behavior change.

The right level of care depends on withdrawal risk, medical stability, substance use patterns, mental health needs, and day-to-day functioning. Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana in Greenwood offers outpatient care that can continue alongside monthly injections, including the following programs.

• Partial hospitalization program (PHP). Several hours of treatment most days of the week, without overnight stays.
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP). Structured treatment a few days a week, with time left for work, school, or family.
• Virtual IOP. The same level of support by secure video for people who cannot travel to Greenwood regularly.
• Outpatient rehab. Lower-intensity therapy and medication support as you stabilize.

When anxiety, depression, or trauma is also present, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both conditions in the same plan.

Call a healthcare provider the same day for yellowing skin or eyes, intense abdominal pain, trouble breathing, chest pain, or a worsening injection site. For severe breathing trouble, swelling of the face or throat, or signs of overdose, call 911.

Also reach out when side effects stop being mild. If they disrupt your daily life, your provider can adjust supportive care instead of leaving you to push through.