Buvidal Vs Vivitrol
If you’re wondering what other medical options are available to help you overcome a heroin habit besides Naltrexone, this information may be useful. Here, we’ll compare Buvidal and Vivitrol injections. Both treatments share the same goal — to help you stop using heroin safely and effectively. Buvidal vs Vivitrol — here’s how they compare:
In summary Buvidal vs Vivitrol
| Buvidal helps manage withdrawals and cravings by acting on opioid receptors (similar to methadone or Subutex, but longer-lasting) | Vivitrol is not addictive, but can only be started after detox. |
| Buvidal can make you physically dependent and needs regular injections. | Vivitrol helps prevent relapse after detox by blocking opioid effects altogether. |
Both medicines are given as injections by healthcare professionals.
The right choice depends on where you are in your recovery — Buvidal may be suitable during early stabilisation, while Vivitrol may be a better fit once detox is complete and you’re ready to maintain abstinence.
What is Buvidal?
Buvidal is a medicine used to treat dependence on opioids such as heroin or morphine. It contains buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist. That means it acts in a similar way to opioids, but produces a much weaker effect. Thanks to that, it helps to control cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms in a safe, controlled way.
Unlike Subutex (the original tablet form of buprenorphine, taken under the tongue), Buvidal comes as an injection. Depending on your treatment plan, it can be given once a week or once a month.
Buvidal can only be prescribed by a doctor and administered by a healthcare professional. You cannot take it home or inject it yourself.
Usually, your first dose is given when you are clearly in withdrawal. For example: If you’ve been using short-acting opioids such as heroin or morphine, your first Buvidal injection is given at least 6 hours after your last dose. If you’ve been using longer-acting opioids such as methadone, your methadone dose should first be reduced to below 30 mg per day, and Buvidal is started at least 24 hours after your last methadone dose. If you’ve never used
before, your doctor may start you on a small 4 mg buprenorphine tablet to make sure you tolerate the medication safely before moving to injections.Once stable, your doctor can adjust your dose or switch you between weekly and monthly injections depending on your progress.
Although Buvidal is effective and convenient, it’s important to understand that it can cause physical dependence, similar to buprenorphine tablets. You will need to continue your injections regularly to avoid withdrawal symptoms if you stop.
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol works in a completely different way. It contains naltrexone, a non-narcotic opioid blocker. It doesn’t act like an opioid — instead, it blocks the effects of opioids if you try to use them. Vivitrol is given as a once-monthly injection by a healthcare professional. It can be prescribed for two main reasons:To prevent relapse after opioid detoxification. To treat alcohol dependence once drinking has stopped. You must be fully detoxed from opioids before starting Vivitrol, otherwise it will cause sudden withdrawal. Vivitrol is not addictive and has been prescribed for opioid dependence in the UK and US since around 2010. When combined with counselling and recovery support, Vivitrol helps reduce cravings and lowers the risk of relapse.
Because it’s not an opioid and doesn’t create dependence, it can be a good long-term option for those who have already completed detox. However, it’s important to remember that you cannot use opioids while on Vivitrol — trying to “override” its blocking effect by taking large amounts of opioids can be extremely dangerous and may lead to overdose, coma, or death.
Hope this Buvidal vs Vivitrol info-sheet helps.