Can you take Vivitrol (naltrexone) if you’re still drinking?
Vivitrol is an extended-release form of naltrexone used to treat alcohol use disorder. The key requirement is that you start it only after you have stopped drinking and your body has cleared alcohol—because naltrexone can’t prevent alcohol-related risks, and being intoxicated affects safety and effectiveness.
What happens if you keep drinking after starting Vivitrol?
Continuing to drink after starting Vivitrol is generally discouraged. Vivitrol is meant to help reduce heavy drinking and cravings, but it does not make it safe to keep drinking. Alcohol can still cause serious harm (accidents, liver injury, worsening impairment), and continuing alcohol use undermines treatment goals.
How long do you need to stop alcohol before starting Vivitrol?
The exact alcohol “washout” timing should follow the prescribing clinician’s instructions and the product labeling used by your treatment team. In practice, clinicians typically require you to be alcohol-free before the first injection to reduce safety concerns and to avoid complicating assessment of how you’re tolerating the treatment.
What to do if you’re trying to start but you’ve had alcohol recently
If you’ve had alcohol recently and are considering a first Vivitrol dose, you should not take it until you’ve been cleared by your prescriber or clinic. Many programs will use a recent abstinence period and may ask about your last drink before giving the injection.
Major safety issue to know: opioids are different from alcohol
Naltrexone blocks opioid effects and can cause problems if opioids are in your system. That’s separate from the alcohol question, but it’s important: if you take any opioids (including certain pain medicines or opioid-containing cough medicines), tell your clinician before starting Vivitrol.
When to get urgent help
If you or someone is intoxicated or has severe symptoms (confusion, repeated vomiting, trouble staying awake, seizures, slow or irregular breathing), seek emergency care. Treatment decisions about Vivitrol should not be made in an emergency.
If you tell me (1) how much you’ve had recently and (2) when your last drink was, I can help you understand what timing questions to ask your prescriber before your first injection.