Where to Get the Vivitrol Shot
You get the Vivitrol shot from a doctor, addiction program, or some pharmacies. Because naltrexone isn't a controlled substance, any licensed prescriber can order it. A clinician injects it monthly. Insurance and assistance usually cover the cost.
Battling addiction & ready for help?
Where and How to Get the Vivitrol Shot
Here is the plain answer most people are looking for. You get the Vivitrol shot from a doctor or clinic—a primary care office, an addiction treatment program, or in some places a pharmacy or health department. A clinician gives it as a once-a-month injection; it is not something you pick up and do yourself.
The part that surprises people is how few hoops there are. Vivitrol is not a controlled substance, so any licensed prescriber can order it. You do not need a special license, a federal waiver, or a daily-visit clinic to start. That is a real difference from methadone, and it makes Vivitrol one of the easier paths to begin.
If you are reading this for someone you love, hold onto the simple version. The shot is widely available and a regular doctor can give it. Vivitrol is the long-acting form of naltrexone, and one monthly injection blocks the opioid high and helps prevent relapse[1]. The barrier is rarely the medicine—it is knowing where to go.
- Any licensed prescriber can order Vivitrol—primary care, an addiction program, or some pharmacies and health departments—because naltrexone is not a controlled substance[2].
- A clinician gives the shot as a once-a-month intramuscular injection. You cannot give it to yourself; it has to be injected into muscle by a professional.
- You must be fully off opioids first—about 7 to 10 days—or the shot can trigger sudden, severe withdrawal.
The rest of this guide walks through where to go, how the injection works, what you need before the first shot, and what it costs—ending where it should, with how to actually get started.
Where to Get the Vivitrol Shot
- Primary care office—your own doctor or nurse practitioner can administer it.
- Addiction treatment program—often paired with counseling and follow-up.
- Some pharmacies and county health departments—a quick injection visit.
- A clinician injects it once a month; it is not self-administered.
The short answer is a healthcare provider who can give an injection. Because Vivitrol does not need a special clinic, the list of places that offer it is longer than most people expect:
- A doctor’s office. Primary care doctors, internists, and nurse practitioners can prescribe and administer Vivitrol right in the office. This is often the simplest route if you already have a doctor.
- Addiction treatment programs. Outpatient addiction clinics, intensive outpatient programs, and rehab facilities give Vivitrol as part of medication-assisted treatment, usually alongside counseling.
- Some pharmacies and health departments. A growing number of pharmacies and county health departments administer the injection, sometimes after your prescriber sends the order over.
However you get it, the shot itself works the same way. A clinician draws up the medication and injects it into a muscle once a month. You do not handle the syringe, and you do not dose daily—one visit covers you for about four weeks. Most appointments are short: you come in, get the injection, and go.
The medicine is the same whether you start it for opioids or alcohol. If your goal is cutting back or stopping drinking, the path is identical—see how Vivitrol works for drinking, and for the daily-pill version of the same medication, here is how naltrexone works.
Want help finding a place near you? Find a provider who offers Vivitrol →
Is Vivitrol a Controlled Substance
No. Vivitrol is not a controlled substance. Its active ingredient, naltrexone, is not scheduled by the DEA, because it has no potential for misuse—it does not produce a high, cause dependence, or carry a risk of overdose the way opioids do. It simply blocks opioid receptors so opioids cannot work.
That single fact is why Vivitrol is so reachable. Any licensed prescriber can order it—no special federal permission, no addiction-specialty credential, no licensed dispensing clinic required[2]. This is the opposite of methadone, which can only be dispensed at federally regulated opioid treatment programs you visit in person.
What that means for you is simple. You are not limited to a specialty clinic. Your family doctor, a nurse practitioner, an addiction provider, or in many areas a pharmacist or health department can get you started. The medication that does the work is the same naltrexone in the daily pill—Vivitrol just delivers it as one long-acting monthly shot. To compare it with the other medication options, see how medications for opioid addiction work.
How the Vivitrol Injection Is Given
Vivitrol is given as an intramuscular gluteal injection—meaning it goes into the muscle of your buttock, not into a vein and not under the skin. A nurse or clinician handles it, because it has to be placed deep in the muscle with a longer needle, alternating sides each month.
Here is what a typical visit looks like:
- Your provider mixes the dose and draws it up right before the injection; Vivitrol comes as a powder the clinician combines with liquid.
- The shot goes into the upper-outer part of the buttock muscle, switching sides from one month to the next.
- The whole thing takes a few minutes. You can usually walk out and go about your day.
Because the medicine is built to release slowly, one injection lasts about a month—that steady, around-the-clock blockade is the whole point. You trade a daily decision for a single monthly appointment, which for many people is far easier to stick with than remembering a pill every day.
A little injection-site soreness, tenderness, or a small lump is common and usually fades within days. Moving around and a warm compress help. Tell your provider if the spot becomes very painful, swollen, hard, or doesn’t improve, since serious site reactions are uncommon but worth catching early. Do not try to give yourself this shot—it is not designed for self-injection, and a dose placed wrong (into fat instead of muscle) may not work and can irritate the tissue.
What You Need Before Starting Vivitrol
There is one rule that matters more than any other, and it is the reason the first shot needs a little planning. You have to be fully off opioids before your first injection—usually about 7 to 10 days. If any opioids are still in your system, Vivitrol can knock them off your receptors all at once and set off sudden, severe withdrawal.
That window is the single most important step, so it is worth getting right with your provider:
- Short-acting opioids like heroin or oxycodone generally need about 7 days clear.
- Longer-acting opioids like methadone may need 10 to 14 days.
- Your prescriber may give you a small naltrexone “challenge” or a urine check before the shot, just to confirm you are ready and it is safe to proceed.
This is not a reason to be afraid of the medication—it is a reason to be honest with your provider about the last time you used. You do not have to white-knuckle that opioid-free week alone. A detox program or a provider can manage the gap safely and comfortably so you reach the shot without misery. If getting through those days is the worry, that is exactly what treatment is built to handle.
What Vivitrol Costs and How to Pay
The sticker price for Vivitrol is high—the monthly injection has a list price often around $1,000 to $1,800 per dose—but that number is almost never what people actually pay. Treat these as approximate ranges, not promises; what you owe depends on your coverage.
Here is the part that matters. Medicaid and most insurance plans cover Vivitrol for opioid and alcohol use disorder, so with coverage you typically pay a copay rather than the full price—and that copay is often modest. Many state Medicaid programs cover the injection, and most commercial plans and Medicare do too.
On top of insurance, there is help built specifically to close the gap:
- Manufacturer copay assistance. The maker of Vivitrol runs a copay savings program that can lower out-of-pocket costs for people with commercial insurance, sometimes substantially.
- Patient-assistance programs. Foundations and the manufacturer offer help for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
- Public and grant-funded clinics. Community health centers and many addiction programs receive funding that makes the medication free or low-cost, and they handle the billing for you.
So while the list price looks daunting, cost is one of the more fixable parts of starting Vivitrol[1]. The best move is to ask up front: tell the clinic that cost is a concern, and ask what your plan covers and which assistance programs you qualify for. They field this question constantly.
Getting Started Today
You do not have to figure the whole system out at once. The path to your first Vivitrol shot is shorter than the worry around it, and most people can get moving this week.
Here is a realistic first-steps order:
- Pick a place to start. Your own primary care doctor, a local addiction treatment program, or a clinic that offers the injection—any licensed prescriber can order it.
- Plan the opioid-free window. Be honest with your provider about your last use; they will set the timing (about 7 to 10 days) and can manage it safely so you reach the shot without misery.
- Sort out coverage. Check whether you have Medicaid, commercial insurance, or Medicare, and ask about manufacturer copay assistance—say out loud that cost is a concern.
- Book the injection. Once you are cleared, the shot itself is a quick monthly visit.
When you are ready to connect with a provider who can give the shot and actually start, find treatment that fits your life →.
Getting Help
If opioids or alcohol have taken more than you ever meant to give, here is the part to carry with you. This is treatable, the medicine works, and getting the shot is more straightforward than the fear around it. Vivitrol is widely available, a regular doctor can give it, insurance and assistance programs usually cover the cost, and one injection a month keeps the protection going.
The opioid-free week you may be dreading is something a provider can walk you through, and the steady ground on the other side is better than the worry holding you in place. To understand the medicine itself, see how Vivitrol works or how naltrexone works, and when you’re ready, browse nearby treatment centers.
If you or someone you love is in danger right now or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. If someone is overdosing—slow or stopped breathing, blue lips, won’t wake up—call 911 and give naloxone (Narcan) now. For free, confidential help finding treatment, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), and whenever you’re ready, find treatment today →.
The next step doesn’t have to be a big one. You can find treatment now and get matched with someone who can help you find the right care and take the next step. Reaching out today is a real step forward — and one you can make right now.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a special clinic to get the Vivitrol shot?
No. Because Vivitrol (naltrexone) is not a controlled substance, any licensed prescriber can order it, so you are not limited to a special clinic. A primary care doctor, a nurse practitioner, an addiction provider, and in many areas a pharmacy or health department can give the injection. That is a real difference from methadone, which can only be dispensed at federally regulated opioid treatment programs you visit in person[2].
Can you get Vivitrol at a pharmacy?
In many places, yes. A growing number of pharmacies administer the Vivitrol injection, sometimes after your prescriber sends the order over, and some pharmacies stock the medication for a clinic to give. County health departments and community health centers often offer it too. The shot still has to be injected into muscle by a healthcare professional, so it is given at the pharmacy or clinic rather than handed to you to take home.
How much does the Vivitrol shot cost?
The list price is high—often around $1,000 to $1,800 per monthly dose—but that is rarely what people actually pay. With insurance you typically owe a copay instead of the full price, and manufacturer copay assistance, patient-assistance programs, and grant-funded clinics can lower it further, sometimes to little or nothing. These are approximate ranges, not quotes; the best move is to tell the clinic cost is a concern and ask what your plan covers[1].
Does insurance cover Vivitrol?
Usually. Most state Medicaid programs cover Vivitrol for opioid and alcohol use disorder, and most commercial plans and Medicare cover it too, so most people pay a copay rather than the full sticker price. If your plan requires it, your prescriber can often help with a quick prior authorization. If you are uninsured, applying for Medicaid or asking about the manufacturer’s patient-assistance program is often the fastest way to get the shot affordably.
Can you give yourself the Vivitrol shot?
No. Vivitrol is an intramuscular gluteal injection that must be given by a healthcare professional—it goes deep into the buttock muscle with a longer needle, and it is not designed for self-injection. A dose placed wrong, into fat instead of muscle, may not work and can irritate the tissue. A nurse or clinician mixes the dose and injects it once a month, alternating sides, in a visit that takes only a few minutes.
What do you need to do before your first Vivitrol shot?
You have to be fully off opioids first—usually about 7 to 10 days, and longer for methadone—or the shot can trigger sudden, severe withdrawal. Be honest with your provider about the last time you used, since they set the timing and may do a quick urine check or a small naltrexone challenge to confirm you are ready. You do not have to get through that opioid-free window alone; a detox program or provider can manage it safely and comfortably.
Get Treatment Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, getting help is just a phone call away, or consider trying therapy online with BetterHelp.
Exclusive offer: 20% Off BetterHelp*Following links to the BetterHelp website may earn us a commission that helps us manage and maintain AddictionHelp.com. *Get 20% off your first month of BetterHelp. Offer valid for new BetterHelp users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.
- Fact-Checked
- Editor
