# Vivitrol Shot in Dallas: How Monthly Injections Work

> Where to get a Vivitrol shot in Dallas, how long to be opioid-free first, how monthly injection visits work, Texas insurance and what to do after a missed dose.

URL: https://foundationmedicalgroup.org/vivitrol-shot-dallas/
Published: 2026-10-24
Updated: 2026-10-24

You can get a Vivitrol shot in Dallas at Foundation Medical Group’s North Dallas clinic, 8390 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite 500. A healthcare provider gives the injection in person, once a month. Before the first one, you’ll need to be off all opioids for at least 7 to 10 days. The patient guide in the label says 7 to 14 days, which is a little longer.
Below, we walk through the visit path: the first call, your evaluation, the opioid-free check, the first shot, monthly visits, insurance, and what to do if you miss a dose. Want the general guide to the medicine instead? See our Vivitrol shot guide.
Where Can I Get a Vivitrol Shot in Dallas? The FMG Texas clinic sits in North Dallas, on LBJ Freeway:
Address: 8390 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (469) 909-1312, toll-free (800) 983-1974 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Saturday by appointment. Closed Sunday. The clinic is led by medical director Justin Thompson, MD, with the Texas care team. Vivitrol is one of several services here, along with psychiatry, medication assisted treatment, Suboxone and brain mapping. You can read how the program works on our Vivitrol treatment page, and see the full clinic details on the Texas clinic page.
Every Vivitrol shot Dallas patients get at FMG is outpatient treatment. You come in, see your provider, get the injection and go home the same day. There’s no overnight stay. Many patients drive in from around the area, and some come from as far as Fort Worth. FMG doesn’t have a Fort Worth office, so every Vivitrol injection happens at the clinic on LBJ Freeway.
Openings change from week to week, so calling to ask about openings is the simplest way to find out when you can be seen.
What Is Vivitrol and Who Is It For? Vivitrol is extended-release naltrexone, a prescription injectable medicine made by Alkermes. The FDA label on DailyMed says it is used to prevent relapse to opioid dependence after opioid detoxification, as part of a program that includes psychosocial support. The label also lists alcohol dependence as an approved use. At our clinic, Vivitrol care is for people recovering from opioid use.
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in the brain. It isn’t an opioid itself. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists naltrexone with methadone and buprenorphine as FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder.
At FMG, Vivitrol is one of the medication assisted treatment options, next to Suboxone. Curious how the shot compares with oral naltrexone, or how it actually works? The Vivitrol shot guide we pointed to near the top covers that. For a side-by-side look at the two main options, see Vivitrol vs Suboxone.
How Do I Start Vivitrol Treatment at the Dallas Clinic? Starting Vivitrol treatment follows a set order. That’s on purpose: most of the steps are there to keep your first injection safe.
Call the clinic. Phone (469) 909-1312. Ask about openings and have your insurance card ready. Intake and evaluation. You meet a provider at the clinic for a psychiatric and substance use evaluation. Your provider asks about your health, the medicines you take and when you last used any opioid. Check that Vivitrol fits. Your provider confirms that Vivitrol is a good match for your goals and your health. If it isn’t, you’ll talk through other options. Confirm you are opioid-free. The label asks for at least 7 to 10 days with no opioids before the first shot. Its patient guide says 7 to 14 days. First injection. A healthcare provider gives the shot at the clinic. Monthly injection visits and follow-ups. You come back every 4 weeks for the next shot, and keep in touch with your provider between shots. Your Vivitrol visits, step by step Step Where it happens What it is for First call Phone Ask about openings, insurance and what to bring Intake and evaluation Clinic Health history, last opioid use, whether Vivitrol fits Opioid-free check Clinic Confirm it is safe to start the medicine First injection Clinic, in person only Start Vivitrol treatment Monthly injection every 4 weeks Clinic, in person only Keep the medicine at a steady level Follow-up visits Clinic; some may be by video Check how you feel and plan next steps We ask you to bring a list of every medicine you take, including any over-the-counter medicines. Be honest about when you last used opioids, including prescription pain medicines. The DailyMed label asks patients to tell healthcare providers about any recent opioid use. That one detail can protect you from a very hard start.
How Long Do You Need to Be Off Opioids Before a Vivitrol Injection? The Vivitrol prescribing information recommends an opioid-free period of at least 7 to 10 days before the first injection. The patient Medication Guide in the same DailyMed label tells patients to stop all opioids, including buprenorphine or methadone, for at least 7 to 14 days before starting. So which one applies to you? Your provider tells you. The reason is precipitated withdrawal. If opioids are still in your body when naltrexone arrives, it can push you into sudden withdrawal that may be severe enough to need hospital care.
Honestly, this waiting period is the hard part for a lot of people. In the X:BOT clinical study, fewer people started extended-release naltrexone than buprenorphine-naloxone, 72% vs 94%. The study authors pointed to this start as the main hurdle. Among people who did get their first dose, relapse over 24 weeks was similar for both medicines. So the start matters a lot, and planning for it helps.
FMG doesn’t offer detox. If you’re coming from rehab, a hospital stay or a residential detox program, bring the dates and any discharge papers to your first visit. If you still need opioid detoxification, the care team can talk through options and where to look. FindTreatment.gov is SAMHSA’s provider locator for state-licensed treatment centers and treatment programs, and you can search it by location.
If stopping all opioids first isn’t workable for you right now, the clinic also offers Suboxone. You can learn more from our Suboxone doctor in Dallas page.
How Often Do You Get a Vivitrol Injection? The label dose is 380 mg as a deep injection into the buttock muscle, every 4 weeks or once a month. Each new shot goes into the other side, alternating buttocks. The label also says the Vivitrol injection must be prepared and given only by a healthcare provider. There’s no version you take at home.
In practice, each Vivitrol shot Dallas patients get is a monthly injection at a short, in-person visit to the clinic. A few habits make it easier:
Book your next monthly injection before you leave the clinic. Put the date in your phone with a reminder a few days ahead. If weekdays are hard, ask about Saturday visits, which are by appointment. MedlinePlus describes the same rhythm: naltrexone injection given by a healthcare provider once every 4 weeks. Keeping that schedule is a big part of recovery, because the medicine works best when the level stays steady.
But the date also matters for safety. The label warns that people are more at risk near the end of a dosing interval, near the end of the month after a shot. We cover that in the section on missed shots below.
What Does the Research Say About Vivitrol for Relapse Prevention? Several large trials have tested extended-release naltrexone for relapse prevention after people stop using opioids.
In a 2011 placebo-controlled trial in Russia with 250 patients, the median share of weeks of confirmed abstinence was 90.0% with extended-release naltrexone vs 35.0% with placebo. People on the medicine also stayed in the study longer: median retention was over 168 days, compared with 96 days on placebo.
A 2016 trial in the United States enrolled adults involved in the criminal justice system who had a history of opioid dependence: 153 were assigned to extended-release naltrexone and 155 to usual treatment. Over 24 weeks, relapse was 43% with extended-release naltrexone vs 64% with usual treatment. The authors also noted that the benefit faded after treatment stopped. That finding is one reason steady monthly shots matter.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes opioid use disorder as a chronic, treatable condition with effective, FDA-approved medications, including naltrexone.
These are averages from clinical study groups. Results vary from person to person, and FMG doesn’t publish a success rate. What the research does support is simpler: Vivitrol can help with relapse prevention when people get through the start and keep up with the monthly injection.
How Does Counseling Fit With Vivitrol Medication? Vivitrol medication isn’t meant to work alone. The label says treatment should be part of a full management program that includes psychosocial support. SAMHSA says the same thing in plain terms: naltrexone is one part of a treatment plan that includes counseling and other behavioral health therapies.
At the clinic, FMG provides psychiatry and medication assisted treatment. Counseling and support groups are a key part of recovery, and the care team can help you find counseling or a support program that fits your week. FindTreatment.gov also lists substance use disorder treatment options near you.
Think of lasting recovery as three parts working together:
Medication: the monthly Vivitrol shot. Support: counseling, a support group or an outpatient treatment program. Regular visits: check-ins with your provider so the plan keeps up with your life. Many people in recovery also live with depression or anxiety. If that is true for you, a psychiatric visit can look at both. See our psychiatrist in Dallas page. And if you want the wider picture of addiction treatment at the clinic, just ask when you call.
Can I Do Vivitrol Visits by Telehealth in Texas? Some visits, yes. The shot itself, no.
Vivitrol is an injection into a muscle that a healthcare provider gives in person. It can’t be given by video. Every Vivitrol injection, including the first one, happens at the clinic on LBJ Freeway.
FMG offers telehealth visits across Texas. That means some follow-up visits with your provider may be by video, which can save a drive on a busy week. Your intake and evaluation for Vivitrol take place at the clinic, and so does the opioid-free check before your first shot. Ask the clinic on your first call which of your later visits can be by video.
What Happens if You Use Opioids or Miss a Vivitrol Shot? If you read only one section on this page, make it this one.
Vivitrol blocks the effects of opioids for a time. Trying to get past that block by taking large amounts of opioids, including opioid street drugs, can cause serious injury, coma or a fatal overdose. The label is direct about this. It’s hard to read, and it’s meant to be.
And the risk doesn’t stop there. After treatment, your tolerance to opioids is lower than it was before. The DailyMed label warns that people can overdose at the end of a dosing interval, after missing a dose, or after stopping Vivitrol. A dose of opioids or street drugs you used before can be enough to cause an overdose. At the first injection and at each one after, providers talk with patients and caregivers about overdose reversal medicines such as naloxone. Keep naloxone where the people close to you can find it.
If you miss or are late for a shot:
Call the clinic to reschedule as soon as you can. Don’t use opioids to test whether the shot still works. Tell your provider about any opioid use since your last shot. Your provider decides what is safe before the next injection. Watch for severe reactions too. The label says injection site reactions can be very severe in some cases. SAMHSA lists serious allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, trouble breathing or chest pain. If you notice any of these, get medical help right away. The full list of side effects? That’s in the Vivitrol shot guide from earlier.
Does Insurance Cover a Vivitrol Shot in Dallas? Coverage for each Vivitrol shot Dallas patients get depends on the plan, so the first step is a quick call. These are the plans FMG names for Texas. For each one, call to confirm coverage:
Medicare: call to confirm coverage. Texas Medicaid: call to confirm coverage. Aetna: call to confirm coverage. Cigna: call to confirm coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield: call to confirm coverage. UnitedHealthcare: call to confirm coverage. Humana: call to confirm coverage. TRICARE: call to confirm coverage. Molina Healthcare of Texas: call to confirm coverage. Wellpoint (Texas Medicaid): call to confirm coverage. Superior HealthPlan: call to confirm coverage. A plan name on this list doesn’t mean your treatment or medication is covered. Benefits differ between plans, even under the same insurer. Call (469) 909-1312 with your insurance card in hand before your first visit, and the clinic can usually tell you what to expect.
Booking a Vivitrol Shot With FMG Ready to start Vivitrol treatment? Call (469) 909-1312 or toll-free (800) 983-1974. The clinic is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and Saturday by appointment. Call to ask about openings, and have your insurance card and a list of your medicines ready.
Want to read up before you call? The Vivitrol treatment page and the Texas clinic page (both linked further up) are a good place to start.
If you’re not ready to stop opioids yet, that’s okay. A Vivitrol shot isn’t the only path. Suboxone is another medication option at the same clinic, and the Suboxone doctor in Dallas page we mentioned earlier explains how it works.
Key Takeaways You can get a Vivitrol shot in Dallas at FMG’s clinic, 8390 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite 500. The label asks for at least 7 to 10 days opioid-free before the first shot, and its patient guide says 7 to 14 days. FMG doesn’t offer detox, but the care team can talk through options and where to look. The dose is one 380 mg injection every 4 weeks, always given in person by a healthcare provider. Overdose risk rises after a missed or late shot. Keep naloxone nearby and call the clinic to reschedule. FMG names several Texas plans, including Texas Medicaid. For each, call to confirm coverage. Sources DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), VIVITROL (naltrexone) kit, prescribing information SAMHSA, What is Naltrexone? Side Effects, Uses, Dose and Risk MedlinePlus, Naltrexone Injection Krupitsky E, et al. The Lancet, 2011, Injectable extended-release naltrexone for opioid dependence: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre randomised trial Lee JD, et al. The Lancet, 2018, Comparative effectiveness of extended-release naltrexone versus buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid relapse prevention (X:BOT) Lee JD, et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 2016, Extended-Release Naltrexone to Prevent Opioid Relapse in Criminal Justice Offenders National Institute on Drug Abuse, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov