Vivitrol for Alcohol Addiction

What Is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is the brand name for extended-release naltrexone, an FDA-approved injectable medication used to treat alcohol use disorder. Unlike daily oral medications, Vivitrol is administered as a single intramuscular injection once per month at your provider's office. This eliminates the need for daily pill compliance and provides a steady, consistent level of medication throughout the treatment period.

At Restoration Recovery, Vivitrol is prescribed specifically for patients with alcohol use disorder as part of a comprehensive outpatient treatment plan. The injection is given by a licensed provider during a brief clinic visit, and each dose provides approximately four weeks of continuous medication coverage.

How Vivitrol Works for Alcohol Use Disorder

Naltrexone, the active ingredient in Vivitrol, is an opioid receptor antagonist. While this may sound counterintuitive for alcohol treatment, the science behind it is well established. When a person drinks alcohol, the brain releases endorphins that bind to opioid receptors, producing feelings of pleasure and reward. Over time, this reinforcement cycle drives compulsive drinking behavior.

Vivitrol works by blocking the opioid receptors involved in this alcohol reward pathway. With these receptors blocked, drinking no longer produces the same pleasurable reinforcement. Patients on Vivitrol frequently report that their cravings diminish significantly and that alcohol simply becomes less appealing. This pharmacological support creates a window of clarity that allows patients to focus on the behavioral and emotional work of recovery.

Who Is a Candidate for Vivitrol?

Vivitrol may be appropriate for patients who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are seeking medication support for their recovery
• Patients who are ready to pause drinking around the start of treatment and continue with counseling support
• Individuals who prefer a once-monthly injection over daily oral medication
• Patients who have difficulty with daily medication adherence
• People looking for a non-addictive medication with no abuse potential

Your provider at Restoration Recovery will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine whether Vivitrol is the right fit for your situation. Not every patient with alcohol use disorder requires medication, and not every patient who does will be best served by Vivitrol. The goal is always an individualized treatment plan that reflects your clinical needs and personal goals.

How Treatment Works at Restoration Recovery

Vivitrol treatment at Restoration Recovery follows the same four-step first-visit flow used for all of our patients, typically lasting 60 to 120 minutes:

1. Intake. You’ll complete paperwork and a clinical intake. For alcohol use disorder, this includes a DSM-5 assessment covering AUD criteria and severity, plus a review of your drinking history, current health, and any relevant lab work.
2. Counseling. You’ll meet with a counselor to discuss your drinking history, prior treatment, and personal recovery goals.
3. Doctor evaluation. A medical provider reviews your intake and counselor notes, determines whether Vivitrol is clinically appropriate for your situation, and explains what to expect before, during, and after the injection.
4. Injection. If clinically appropriate and you’re ready to pause drinking around the start of treatment, your Vivitrol injection can be administered the same day — it takes only a few minutes during a standard office visit. Your care team will work with you on timing that fits your situation.

After your first visit, ongoing Vivitrol care at Restoration Recovery includes:

• Monthly injection. Vivitrol is administered once a month in the clinic by a licensed provider.
• Ongoing counseling. Medication alone is not a complete treatment plan. Vivitrol is paired with individual counseling, peer support, and structured follow-up to address the behavioral, emotional, and situational factors that contribute to alcohol use disorder.
• Regular monitoring. Your provider will check in with you at each monthly visit to assess progress, manage any side effects, and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Benefits of Vivitrol for Alcohol Addiction

Vivitrol offers several distinct advantages for patients managing alcohol use disorder:

• Reduces alcohol cravings. By blocking the reward signals associated with drinking, Vivitrol helps patients experience fewer and less intense cravings over time.
• Non-addictive. Vivitrol has no abuse potential and does not produce dependence. It can be discontinued at any time without withdrawal effects.
• Once-monthly convenience. A single injection each month replaces the need for daily medication, which improves adherence and reduces the daily mental burden of treatment.
• Clinically administered. Because the injection is given in the office, there are no pills to manage, misplace, or forget at home.
• Supports long-term recovery. When combined with counseling and structured support, Vivitrol helps patients sustain the behavioral changes that lead to lasting sobriety.

What the Research Shows on Vivitrol

Vivitrol is one of the most rigorously studied medications for alcohol use disorder. The pivotal Garbutt trial earned it FDA approval for alcohol dependence in 2006, the larger COMBINE study confirmed the mechanism across 1,383 patients, and more recent real-world data from the Department of Veterans Affairs tracked how patients actually do once they start treatment. The story the research tells is consistent: Vivitrol reduces heavy drinking, keeps patients out of the hospital, and works as a platform for longer-term recovery.

What to Expect Before Starting

Before your first Vivitrol injection, your provider will ask you to pause drinking so the medication can be started safely. Your care team will work with you on a plan that fits your situation and will discuss what to expect at each step.

Common side effects of Vivitrol may include nausea, headache, fatigue, or soreness at the injection site. Most side effects are mild and temporary. Your provider will review the full safety profile with you during your evaluation and will monitor for any concerns at each follow-up visit.

It is important to understand that Vivitrol is one component of a broader treatment approach. The medication is most effective when combined with regular counseling, peer support, and a commitment to recovery-oriented lifestyle changes. Your treatment team at Restoration Recovery will help you build a plan that addresses all of these elements together.

Why Patients Choose Restoration Recovery for Vivitrol

The research is clear that Vivitrol works — but the clinic you choose to receive it at shapes whether it actually sticks. Here is what patients find at Restoration Recovery:

• Four physical clinics across Tennessee and Georgia. Chattanooga, Cleveland, Soddy-Daisy, and Ringgold. Vivitrol is administered in-clinic, so your monthly injection is also a built-in check-in with a provider who knows you.
• Licensed providers and a CARF-accredited program. CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is the gold standard in addiction-treatment accreditation — a level of clinical scrutiny most outpatient clinics do not pursue.
• One of Chattanooga’s longest-running outpatient clinics. Some of our patients have been with us for more than five years. Continuity matters in recovery.
• 4.5 stars across more than 40 verified Google reviews. Real patients, real experiences.
• Integrated counseling and behavioral health in-house. Medication without counseling is only part of a treatment plan. We provide both under one roof so nothing falls between the cracks.
• A second alcohol-medication option when you need it. Alongside Vivitrol, we also prescribe Acamprosate for patients who are already abstinent, who prefer a daily oral medication to a monthly injection, or who have liver-health considerations that make naltrexone a poor fit.
• Most major insurance plans accepted. TennCare, Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial carriers.
• Confidential by federal law. Your treatment is protected under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.

Insurance and Payment

Restoration Recovery accepts most major insurance plans for Vivitrol treatment, including TennCare, Medicaid, and a wide range of commercial insurance plans. Our patient services team can verify your coverage before your first visit and explain any out-of-pocket costs so there are no surprises. If you have questions about insurance or payment options, visit our insurance page or call us directly.

Four Convenient Locations

Vivitrol injections are available at all four of our outpatient clinic locations:

• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Cleveland, Tennessee
• Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
• Ringgold, Georgia

Each location is staffed by licensed providers experienced in alcohol use disorder treatment and medication-assisted care. Same-week appointments are frequently available.

Vivitrol vs. Other Medications

Vivitrol is one of two FDA-approved medications we prescribe for alcohol use disorder at Restoration Recovery. The other is Acamprosate, a daily oral medication that supports maintenance of abstinence. The two medications work through different mechanisms and fit different patients:

• Vivitrol (extended-release naltrexone) — a monthly injection that blocks the reward signaling associated with drinking. Strongest evidence for reducing heavy drinking days. Hepatically cleared, so liver health is a consideration. Not for patients currently using opioids.
• Acamprosate (Campral) — a daily oral tablet (two 333 mg tablets, three times daily) that supports continuous abstinence by normalizing glutamate/GABA balance after alcohol cessation. Renally cleared, which makes it safer in liver disease. Requires the patient to already be abstinent at treatment initiation.

For opioid use disorder, we prescribe different medications — Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), Sublocade, and Brixadi — all designed for that condition. Your provider will recommend the medication that best fits your diagnosis, medical history, and recovery goals.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol use disorder, we encourage you to reach out. Recovery is possible, and the right combination of medical support and clinical care can make a meaningful difference. Contact Restoration Recovery today to schedule an evaluation or to learn more about how Vivitrol can support your path to sobriety.

For a full list of conditions we treat and treatment approaches we offer, visit our services page.

References

The statistics and clinical findings on this page come from peer-reviewed medical research and authoritative public-health sources. Patients, family members, and providers are welcome to verify any claim against the original source.

1. Garbutt JC, Kranzler HR, O’Malley SS, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of long-acting injectable naltrexone for alcohol dependence: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005;293(13):1617–1625.
2. Anton RF, O’Malley SS, Ciraulo DA, et al. Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence: the COMBINE study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295(17):2003–2017.
3. Grebla R, Liu J, O’Sullivan AK, et al. Treatment Journey and Healthcare Resource Use Among Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder Who Initiated Extended-Release Naltrexone: An Analysis of Veterans Affairs Data. Substance Use. 2024;18:29768357241280713.
4. Reus VI, Fochtmann LJ, Bukstein O, et al. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2018;175(1):86–90.
5. Leighty AE, Ansara ED. Treatment outcomes of long-acting injectable naltrexone versus oral naltrexone in alcohol use disorder in veterans. Mental Health Clinician. 2019;9(6):392–396.
6. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs / Department of Defense (VA/DoD). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Substance Use Disorders.
7. VIVITROL (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension). Prescribing Information. Alkermes, Inc. Accessed via DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine.