If you’re exploring medication options for alcohol or opioid use disorder, and wondering “how long does Vivitrol injection last,” and what you can expect once treatment begins, you’re in the right place.
Understanding the timing helps you feel more prepared, especially if you’re transitioning from detox, stepping down from a higher level of care, or simply planning the next steps in your recovery. Vivitrol’s extended-release formula is designed to provide steady support, but understanding how it works can make the process feel less overwhelming and more manageable.
At Victory Recovery Partners, we provide compassionate, judgment-free Vivitrol treatment across five convenient Long Island locations. Our medical and behavioral health teams work together to support you at every stage of recovery so that you can focus on healing, stability, and long-term well-being.
In this guide, we’ll break down what Vivitrol is, how it works, how long its effects typically last, what influences its duration, and how this medication fits into a stable, month-by-month recovery plan.
What Is Vivitrol and How Does It Work?
Vivitrol is a once-monthly, extended-release form of naltrexone, a medication that helps reduce cravings and block the pleasurable effects of alcohol and opioids. After an injection into a large muscle, such as the glute, it forms a tiny depot under the skin. This depot slowly releases naltrexone into your bloodstream over about 30 days, providing steady support without daily dosing.
Naltrexone works by attaching to the same receptors in the brain that alcohol or opioids bind to, but without activating them. This means:
- Alcohol or opioids can’t create the same “reward” effect, which lowers the urge to return to use.
- Cravings tend to decrease, making early recovery feel more manageable.
- There’s no “high” from the medication, because Vivitrol isn’t an opioid and has no addictive properties.
For people transitioning out of detox or stepping down from a higher level of care, this steady blockade can provide an extra layer of protection against relapse, especially during the vulnerable first weeks of sobriety. Because Vivitrol lasts an entire month, it reduces the daily decision-making that some people struggle with when taking oral medication.
How Long Does Vivitrol Last and How Does It Impact Recovery
Vivitrol usually lasts between 25 and 50 days in the body and depends on how quickly the body eliminates it. It has a half-life of five to ten days and takes around five days to leave the body completely. But on average, Vivitrol lasts about 30 days.
Knowing that it lasts about 30 days can make it easier to build a recovery routine that feels predictable and supportive. For many people, the month-long medication window becomes a stabilizing force during early sobriety, when cravings, emotional swings, and familiar triggers can feel the strongest. Instead of managing symptoms day by day, you receive steady support that protects your progress and frees up space to focus on the parts of life that matter most.
Benefits of Vivitrol for recovery
- Consistent support between appointments reduces day-to-day anxiety about staying on track.
- Fewer decisions, eliminating the stress of remembering daily medication.
- Decreased cravings, especially during high-risk moments.
- Blocked euphoric effects, lowering the likelihood of return-to-use becoming a spiral.
- More emotional bandwidth to focus on therapy, relationships, and rebuilding structure.
- Stronger protection during early recovery, when vulnerability and triggers are highest.
With ongoing guidance from Victory Recovery Partners, your monthly injection becomes one piece of a larger, steady recovery plan, helping you move forward with clarity, confidence, and meaningful momentum.
Victory Recovery Partners: Comprehensive Support for Your Recovery
Understanding how long Vivitrol injection lasts is just one part of planning your recovery. The other part is knowing you have a care team that shows up for you, listens to you, and acts quickly when you’re ready for help. Victory Recovery Partners offers a whole network of medical, behavioral, and wellness services designed to support patients through every stage of recovery—not just during monthly injections.
Across our Long Island locations, patients have access to:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), including Vivitrol, Suboxone, and methadone.
- Comprehensive medical assessments and on-site lab testing.
- Individual and group counseling for substance use and mental health.
- Psychiatric services and medication management for co-occurring conditions.
- Wellness services for everyday medical needs, such as flu care, minor injuries, antibiotics, and referrals.
- Specialized addiction-focused groups that offer structure and community.
- Rapid access to care, with many patients seen within 24 hours.
- A “no one left behind” approach, ensuring people turned away elsewhere can receive treatment here.
- Clean, welcoming, and stigma-free facilities designed to help you feel comfortable when taking the first step.
What makes Victory unique is the combination of compassion and speed—you’re not waiting weeks for help, and you’re not judged for your past. Instead, you’re met by a team that treats addiction as a medical condition and recovery as a path you deserve to walk with dignity and support.
Start Vivitrol Treatment in Long Island
Understanding how long Vivitrol injection lasts can make the treatment process feel more predictable, but knowing you have a team that supports you through every step makes the most significant difference.
At Victory Recovery Partners, you’ll find compassionate providers, quick access to care, and a full range of services to help you stay steady in your recovery, whether you’re just beginning Vivitrol or looking for a more structured plan moving forward.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. If you’re ready to explore Vivitrol or want guidance about what comes next, our team is here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
FAQs About How Long Vivitrol Lasts
How long does Vivitrol injection last in the body?
A single Vivitrol injection typically lasts 25-50 days. The injection’s half-life is 5 to 10 days, and it takes about five half-lives to completely leave the body. This means that for a quicker elimination, it is 25 days, and a slower elimination is 50 days.
The medication releases slowly and consistently over the month, providing steady support without the daily peaks and valleys that can come with oral medications. While 30 days is the standard duration, some people feel coverage a little longer or slightly shorter depending on their metabolism, overall health, and how long they’ve been receiving monthly injections.
Does everyone feel the effects for exactly 30 days?
Not always. Most people experience close to a whole month of coverage, but slight variations are normal. If you notice cravings returning earlier than expected, or if you feel like your coverage lasts longer, your provider can help you adjust your schedule, support services, or treatment plan so you feel steady between injections.
How long will it take for Vivitrol to start working after the injection?
Vivitrol begins working shortly after the injection is administered, as naltrexone enters your system and binds to opioid receptors. Many people feel the initial effects, such as reduced cravings, within the first day or two. However, the full therapeutic benefit becomes more noticeable as the extended-release mechanism continues providing consistent levels of medication throughout the month.
What if I relapse toward the end of the 30-day cycle?
Vivitrol helps block the euphoric effects of opioids and alcohol, but it doesn’t prevent all risks. If you return to use near the end of the cycle, reach out to your provider right away. You won’t be judged—Victory Recovery Partners takes a “no one left behind” approach and is committed to helping you get back on track with compassion and safety.
Does Vivitrol affect urine or blood tests?
Vivitrol itself is not typically detected on standard urine or blood drug screens. However, because it blocks opioid receptors, it may affect how your body responds to opioid medications. Always tell healthcare providers you’re taking Vivitrol so they can offer safe treatment options if you need medical care for pain or emergencies.