What is Naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a medication used to treat both opioid and alcohol use disorder. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used as a medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT is the use of medications—often in combination with therapy—to treat addiction. Naltrexone works by binding to and blocking the opioid receptors in […]
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is a medication used to treat opioid and alcohol use disorder. It is sometimes used for medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which is the use of medications—often in combination with therapy—to treat addiction. Vivitrol is the brand name and injectible form of Naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids. It […]
A Conversation About Criminal Justice and Addiction With Dr. Wiley of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Can you tell me about your work with The National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA]? I’ve been at NIDA almost 10 years, and I’ve worked on justice issues pretty much the whole time. A few years ago, Congress made a big appropriation to the National Institutes of Health[1]—which included NIDA—to address the pain and opioid […]
All About Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications—typically in combination with therapy—for treating addiction. Medications like Vivitrol or Suboxone help curb cravings and stave off some of the more unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, so that a person can focus on recovery. For now, there are only approved medications for opioid and alcohol use disorder, but research […]
Recent Review Measures How Many People Receive Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was the first nationally representative survey to ask respondents who received treatment for alcohol addiction if medications were part of their care. A new review in JAMA Psychiatry used data from this survey to understand how many Americans receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol use […]
Study Finds Physician-Pharmacist Collaboration Effective in Treating Opioid Use Disorder
A study[1] published last month, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), found an effective way to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The approach prioritizes collaboration between physicians and pharmacists in administering and monitoring Buprenorphine, a medication used to treat OUD. Doctors and Pharmacists Worked Together Participants did an initial screening with a […]
National Institute on Drug Abuse Funds Study on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Meth
A study published last week—funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse—shows promise regarding the first-ever medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for meth addiction. Participants received either a placebo or a combination of Naltrexone (Vivitrol and Revia) and Bupropion (Wellbutrin). Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist already used to treat alcohol and opioid use disorder, can help prevent cravings. […]
Can Vivitrol Be Addictive?
Vivitrol is the brand name and injectable form of Naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids. It also binds to the endorphin receptors in the body, blocking the sedative and euphoric feelings people get from substances like alcohol and opioids. Because of these effects, Vivitrol is used to treat […]
New Addiction Medicine: Naltrexone Stomach Implant
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”New Addiction Medicine” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]The world of addiction medicine is always evolving, researchers and doctors are constantly trying to find a way to put the opioid epidemic to rest. Recently, a Sorrento Valley lab began developing a new drug that can be implanted in a patient’s stomach to help them fight opioid addiction. BioCorRx has […]
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Medication assisted treatment is a controversial form of addiction recovery treatment. Naysayers will claim you are replacing one drug with another, while doctors and other medical professionals claim it is the safest and one of the most effective ways to help patients struggling with addiction. So, what exactly is medication […]