Where can i buy vivitrol?

Where can you buy Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is only sold through certified specialty pharmacies and requires a prescription. You cannot pick it up at a regular retail pharmacy or buy it online directly.

How do patients arrange the injection?

Doctors offices and clinics order Vivitrol through specialty distributors such as Accredo, CVS Specialty, or Walgreens Specialty. The medication arrives at the provider’s office for the monthly injection.

Why does Vivitrol require a certified pharmacy?

Vivitrol is a restricted distribution drug because it is an extended-release naltrexone injection. Certified pharmacies must follow REMS program rules that ensure proper patient education and safety monitoring.

What is the cost without insurance?

The list price for one monthly injection of Vivitrol is about $1,700 before discounts. Patients without insurance can use copay assistance programs from the manufacturer or find state-funded programs that help cover the price.

When does Vivitrol’s patent expire?

Vivitrol’s primary patent protection ended in 2010. However, regulatory exclusivity and other protections have kept generic versions off the market until now. No generic Vivitrol has been launched yet.

Why are companies challenging this patent?

Some manufacturers have filed paragraph IV challenges seeking to launch a generic before any remaining exclusivity runs out. Those challenges are still pending resolution.

Can biosimilars enter before patent expiry?

Vivitrol is a small-molecule drug rather than a biological product, therefore biosimilars are not applicable. Generic versions may enter once all patents and exclusivities are cleared.

What alternatives exist if Vivitrol is unavailable?

Oral naltrexone tablets are widely available at any pharmacy and cost far less than Vivitrol. Other options include buprenorphine products and methadone programs for opioid use disorder.