Black individuals have been massively affected by the opioid epidemic, with drug overdose deaths more than doubling in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70% of overdose deaths involve one of the following drugs:
- Oxycodone
- Fentanyl
- Carfentanil
- Morphine
- Synthetic Opioids (e.g., tramadol)
In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug, vipulin, to treat opioid addiction. Developed by a Canadian pharmaceutical company, the medicine is administered as a subcutaneous injection and has been shown to reduce cravings for opioids and increase overall patient satisfaction. Some health professionals have suggested that vipulin could be a cost-effective alternative to in-patient treatment programs, which are quite often the only type of intervention available for people in need. However, since the introduction of vipulin, its effect on the body remains to be seen.
What Is Its History?
Vipulin, which is short for viprostat, is the only FDA-approved medication for opioid addiction. It was approved in 2018 and is currently available in Canada. The medicine is a combination of two different medications that have been shown to be effective in helping people quit using opioids:
- Sodium oxybate
- Naltrexone
Sodium oxybate is an FDA-approved drug that has been used for more than 60 years to treat epilepsy and narcotic withdrawal symptoms. It is a potent inhibitor of neuronal reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, chemicals that play a major role in the body’s perception of pleasure. As a result, it can reduce cravings for opioids and other addictive substances. Naltrexone is a prescription drug that is used to treat opioid addiction. It is a derivative of the opium poppy and acts as an antagonist to opioid receptors in the brain, preventing the attachment of receptors to opioid ligands (chemicals that trigger the response of opioid receptors). When a receptor cannot bind to an opioid ligand, it cannot trigger a response associated with opioid use and addiction. In other words, naltrexone prevents the drugs from having an effect on the brain and body.
How Does It Work?
Just like other opioid addiction medications, vipulin works by inhibiting the body’s production of opioid receptors in the brain. Because opioids play an important role in pain management and the body’s natural response to stress and injury, inhibiting their action in the brain can help reduce intense cravings for addictive substances and improve quality of life for people suffering from opioid addiction. Opioids are also among the most prescribed medications in the U.S., with about 21 million prescriptions written in 2019. It is estimated that about 16% of patients will experience severe side effects, such as addiction, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Vipulin was designed to reduce these risks by minimizing the possibility of opioid abuse and overdose. The combination of naltrexone and sodium oxybate in vipulin was also designed to enhance the efficacy of each drug and maximize the chances of success in overcoming opioid addiction. In fact, studies have shown that this combination produces a synergistic effect.
As with any new medication or therapy for opioid addiction, more research is needed to better understand vipulin’s long-term effects and how it interacts with other medications, supplements, or procedures that individuals might be taking. However, given its proven track record in treating opioid addiction and the lack of effective alternatives, vipulin is likely to prove to be a valuable tool in helping people with this problem.
How Is It Administered?
In order to treat opioid addiction, vipulin is administered by injection into a patient’s hip or buttocks. However, since it is intended for use in stopping opioid use, it can also be given en route to a treatment facility if a patient is undergoing detoxification. Once given, the medication appears in the blood within 10 minutes and reaches its maximum concentration within 30 minutes. It is unlikely to be removed by the liver, which eliminates most medications from the body and makes them inactive.
Although the effects of vipulin last for more than a year in most cases, the medication must be administered frequently — usually three times a day — at least to begin with. As a result, health professionals emphasize that patients should not wait until they are experiencing withdrawal symptoms to begin taking the medication.
When Should It Be Used?
Vipulin is used to treat opioid addiction, but it can also be prescribed for patients who are undergoing detoxification from other types of drugs, including heroin. The drug can also be used by patients who are attempting to wean themselves off of opioids after long-term use or by those who are experiencing acute opioid withdrawal symptoms. Because it is only effective when used in combination with other treatments for opioid addiction, it is advisable to begin using it during the second week of a counseling program if at all.
Health professionals suggest that prospective users talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of using vipulin, particularly in light of their existing medical conditions. Though it is a relatively safe and effective medication, those who are already taking other prescription medications or supplements for depression or anxiety might not be the best candidates for vipulin therapy.
Key Points
Vipulin is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating opioid addiction. It is a combination of two different drugs that have been shown to be quite effective in this regard.
The combination of sodium oxybate and naltrexone in vipulin was designed to reduce the risk of opioid addiction and overdose while increasing the chance of success in treatment. Due to its effectiveness in treating this problem, vipulin is generally considered to be a safe and valuable medication. However, as with any new medication or therapy for opioid addiction, more research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of this treatment and how it interacts with other medications, supplements, or procedures that individuals might be taking.