Brain detox for successful addiction recovery

November 27, 2015

Brain detox for successful addiction recovery: The genesis of addiction treatment

The reason why brain detoxification is essential for mental health is because the brain is the coordinator successful of all bodily functions. It is therefore important that drug abuse be treated across all age groups.

In life if you want to be successful in anything you do, you must be in good health for it to come to pass. When the brain is ailing the whole body will be ailing too and that is why when dealing with the complications of alcohol and drug addiction, the health of the brain is very essential. That is why we want to focus our discussion on the possibilities of brain detox for successful addiction recovery. Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury says that detoxing from drugs or alcohol can be a grueling experience but all the same it must be done because it is actually the genesis of addiction treatment whose primary goal is breaking the cycle of addiction and saving the value of life. And because we are talking about life we must emphasize that the successful detox will mark the beginning of the recovery process and mental health plays a significant role in determining the outcome says doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Brain detox for successful addiction recovery: The dynamics that fuel complications related to addiction

Still on the role of mental health in successful detox, it is important to note that this will always come with certain challenges because addiction itself is not only a problem but also a serious mental health disease. It is important to note that the very dynamics that fuel the disease of obsession, compulsion, stress, depression and poor judgment just to list a few examples are laid bare during the detox process, this should therefore challenge the patient to withstand the discomforts of withdrawal as and when they come. That actually means that one of the key elements of success in early recovery is the individual attitude. Doctor Dalal Akoury in her over two decades in administering addiction treatment to people across the globe registers that having the wrong attitude can be a primary determinant in the outcome of a course of treatment. Patients are therefore encouraged to remain focus and to fight any signs of denial by all means so that together this problem can be defeated in tis entirely.

One very fundamental fact that we must stay focused on is that withdrawal is a process that can actually kill when not properly managed. This is a condition in which addicts can suffer severe damages and actually when in its most severe form, alcohol or any substance withdrawal can cause complications including but not limited to fever, extreme nausea, delirium, tremors and seizures. Long-term use of anesthetics, especially Benzodiazepines, requires medical intervention in order to successfully eliminate dependency which can effectively be done at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center up on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury anytime any day of your choice. It is however important to note that the after-effects of withdrawal can last up to six months. Similarly, withdrawal from heroin or other opiates can cause extreme discomfort, and in the case of Methadone, can cause death. Meanwhile, detox from stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine poses fewer medical risks but can cause severe psychological discomfort.

The mental health component that treatment professionals hope for is the willingness to be compliant to cooperate in the brain detox process and hopefully have a goal in mind of long-term recovery. If this component is operative, then treatment can address both addiction and the underlying mental health issues. These underlying issues lie at the heart of addiction problem and are the key to solving it on a continuance basis. When these are identified and successfully addressed, the addict is less likely to feel that he or she must self-medicate in order to feel relief from an intolerable condition and that explains why brain detoxification is very essential in the whole process.

Brain detox for successful addiction recovery: Understanding drugs as one of the dark side of addiction treatment

Several drugs are administered in the treatment of addiction but this too can sometimes pose certain challenges. Like for instance just as an indicator of the scope of the current opioid addiction crisis, we can consider the following:

A single drug, intended to treat addiction, accounted for over one and a half billion dollars in sales annually. Originally billed as a safe alternative to methadone, buprenorphine primarily sold as Suboxone has a mixed history of success and unintended consequences in the world of addiction treatment.

Like methadone, Buprenorphine is an opioid. Opioids are substances that are classified as drug that includes any chemical that resembles morphine or other opiates in its pharmacological effects. The implication of that is that it produces a high besides causing dependency. This also appears to obey the law of diminishing returns in that using more of it does not produce a stronger high and the plateau effect is what makes Suboxone an attractive substitute for addicts seeking to manage their addiction. The inherent dangers of overdose, side effects from adulterants, and exposure to a criminal element when acquiring illegal drugs are all mitigated by taking a prescribed substance designed specifically to offer “harm reduction.” Alternatively, Suboxone is used to shift addicts’ primary addictions, after which a monitored tapering is employed with the ultimate goal of abstinence-based recovery.

Doctor Akoury is registering that although Suboxone, both as a maintenance drug and as an intermediary to abstinence, has had many successes it has its own dark side. The drug is often diverted from legitimate channels, and the profit motive has created a growing niche market. Clinics of dubious respectability dole out the drug with minimum restrictions, and people who don’t require or even like the drug personally buy it at the clinics and sell at a premium. There is enough of a euphoric high that there is a demand for Suboxone as a recreational drug, and now the safety of its use is being called into question. Those are just but a few dark sides of the drugs we often use and therefore we must all be on the look out to ensure that when looking at the role of mental health in successful detox, we do not slip into the dark side of the drugs we use. We all ore one another the duty of care by ensuring that drugs are only used for their intended purpose. You may want to get more clarifications from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Brain detox for successful addiction recovery: The genesis of addiction treatment

Buprenorphine and opioids

October 2, 2014

Buprenorphine as Opioid Receptor Antagonist

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from thebaine. It is a pain killer and has gained a great deal of notoriety for its ability to interrupt severe opiate addiction, including heroin and methadone addictions. It got approved in 2002 by the FDA for use as an opiate addiction treatment. Dependence on pain drugs is common but very dangerous and that is why buprenorphine is of importance in fighting opioid independence.

Today, buprenorphine is being used in office based treatment of opioid dependent patients. Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist. Several clinical studies indicate buprenorphine is effective in managing opioid addiction and dependence. In all of the clinical tests Buprenorphine was found to be more effective than placebo for managing opioid addiction. However, it may not be superior to methadone incase high doses are needed. It is comparable to lower doses of methadone, however. When using buprenorphine, there are critical phases that must be followed. These phases include; include induction, stabilization, and maintenance. Experts advise that Buprenorphine therapy should be initiated at the onset of withdrawal symptoms and adjusted to address withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Advantages of buprenorphine include low abuse potential and high availability for office use. Disadvantages include high cost and possible lack of effectiveness in patients who require high methadone doses. Most family physicians are required to complete eight hours of training before they can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction. Let’s get all the detailed facts here.

It is estimated that 898,000 adults in the United States are opioid dependent. Treating opioid dependence as a chronic disorder improves outcomes and opioid maintenance is the most effective way to decrease illicit use in patients who are addicted to opioids. Without opioid maintenance, it will be easy for any user of opiates for pain to be an addict of the same therefore various strategies must be put in place to exercise opioid maintenance for the safety of the patients. Over the past years Methadone has been the treatment of choice in the United States; however, methadone maintenance programs typically have stringent entrance criteria, long waiting lists, and primarily are located in urban areas. It has been verified that only 14 percent of patients who are addicted to opioids are treated in traditional methadone clinics. Research from the 1970s demonstrated that the analgesic buprenorphine (Subutex), a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, may effectively treat patients with heroin addiction.

In the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 physicians are authorized to provide office-based treatment for opioid addiction. Through this act physicians are allowed to prescribe Schedule III, IV, or V “narcotic” medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with narcotic-use disorders. In 2002, buprenorphine and combination buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) was approved by the FDA to manage opioid dependence .It is therefore a legally usable drug that is available in health centers and clinics.

How to use

As stated earlier the Management of opioid addiction with buprenorphine can be divided into three phases: induction, stabilization, and maintenance. The induction phase includes the initial transition from illicit opioid use to buprenorphine and typically lasts three to seven days. Patient education is important during this phase and should emphasize the risk of precipitating withdrawal if buprenorphine is initiated too soon after opioid use. Generally, buprenorphine should be initiated 12 to 24 hours after short-acting opioid use and 24 to 48 hours after long-acting opioid use. It is preferable for most patients to use combination of buprenorphine/naloxone tablets. It is however advised that pregnant women who are to use buprenorphine and some patients using long-acting opioids such as methadone should use the buprenorphine-only formulation. For those who are on long- acting opioid use, the methadone dose should be less than 30 mg and the patient should switch to the combination tablet after several days.

When the patient has shown opioid withdrawal symptoms, the initial doses should be administered under physician observation (4/1 mg buprenorphine/naloxone or 2 mg buprenorphine if the patient is dependent on a long-acting opioid). It is important for the physician to monitor the patient for precipitated withdrawal and excessive side effects like sedation). If the patient continues to exhibit signs of opioid withdrawal after two hours, another 4/1 mg dose of buprenorphine/naloxone should be administered. Patients who are dependent on long-acting opioids should receive 2 mg buprenorphine every one to two hours. The maximum recommended first-day dosage of buprenorphine is 8 to 12 mg. If the patient continues to show signs of withdrawal, the physician may administer adjunctive nonopioid and symptomatic treatments to help the situation.

Difference between methadone and morphine

There are some differences between methadone and morphine. Some of the differences lie in their costs and uses. Here are some of the differences.

Methadone is much cheaper as compared to morphine. For this reason many physicians favor methadone. Methadone also lasts longer than morphine- it lasts ten times longer than morphine. Methadone also lasts longer than morphine in the body. It takes 24 hours while morphine takes only 2-3 hours only in the body. However methadone should not be used for slight pain despite its availability and cheaper cost.

Another difference is that methadone is excreted through urine while morphine is excreted through the liver and bile ducts before its exit in the urine.

Buprenorphine These drugs are also used in different situations. Methadone is mostly used after unsuccessful use of morphine or when the patient has a history of drug abuse. If tis patient is morphine it may lead to relapse hence methadone is considered safer than morphine. Morphine is addictive while methadone is not addictive.

Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to finding the best solutions to chronic illnesses and that is why Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is always in the forefront advocating for integrative medicine since it is only through integrative medicine that a person can be healed wholly. Do not hesitate to call on her for help in managing any sort of chronic pain as well as other diseases.

Buprenorphine as Opioid Receptor Antagonist

Buprenorphine

July 30, 2014

Buprenorphine – Addiction treatment

Buprenorphine drug may not be the best for addiction treatment and it has to be prescribed by a doctor and not across the counter

The prevalence of drug abuse in our streets is in the rise and unless something is done fast to contain the increase then the dangers are likely to be fatal. Besides rehab centers we can also use certain medications like buprenorphine which is helpful in keeping off drugs like heroin from the streets by reducing the bad withdrawal symptoms when one ceases to use drugs. This medicine closely related to heroin and often administered as treatment replacement. It is the choice drug for many even though some people choose to progressively limit their dose and eventually come off it. Normally this drug last longer in the body system and therefore its prescription is a once daily dose. To regulate its use users may be required to be taking buprenorphine in the presence of a supervisor normally the pharmacist dispensing the drug to the user. This close supervision is to ensure that only the right dose is taken and with time the user can be allowed to be taking it all by themselves after ascertaining regular dose maintenance.

Buprenorphine – Side Effects

Just in like all other medications buprenorphine drug treatment equally has side effects for instance when you start using buprenorphine you may not get it out of your system with ease irrespective of what option you went for be it inpatient or outpatient in a rehab program.

As with all medications, Buprenorphine (Suboxone) drug treatment also has some disadvantages. It is still a medication and if you prefer to break free from any kind of addiction immediately, then Buprenorphine may not be the way to go. Also, you may not be completely Buprenorphine-free by the time you leave drug treatment, even if you opt for an inpatient drug rehab program.

Some may consider these disadvantages while others consider them well worth the advantage of avoiding opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Initial studies on long-term use of Buprenorphine suggest that there are anti-depressant effects of the drug as well.
The dosing schedule is also relatively easy to maintain as most don’t even have to take it every day.
Additionally, you can’t abuse Suboxone, get high off of it or overdose on it like you can with some other opiate addiction maintenance or detox drugs, like methadone.

Much as this may offer treatment for addiction, it is in itself addictive and should not be encouraged. Its shortcomings far much out ways the advantages as illustrated in the paragraphs below.

Buprenorphine – Before using buprenorphine

Certain medications are so reactive to people and especially to those with certain health conditions. Buprenorphine is such medicine that needs to be used with extra care being taken therefore before this medication is administered, your doctor must be aware of the following to help them make a decision whether to allow or not.

Do you or have you ever had liver or kidney problems.
Do you or have you ever had prostate problems or any difficulties passing urine.
Do you have any breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Have you ever been told that you have low blood pressure
Do you have any problems with your thyroid or adrenal glands
Are you epileptic?
Do you have any problem with your bile duct
Are you pregnant or breast-feeding
If you have been constipated for more than a week or have an inflammatory bowel problem.
Do you have a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis?
Have you in the recent past had a severe head injury
Have you ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine
Are currently taking any street drugs or medicines including any medicines you are taking which are available across the counter without a prescription like herbal and complementary medicines.

Buprenorphine – Achieving the best from your treatment

Occasionally when using buprenorphine you may experience some discomfort during the first 3 days, this is a normal reaction and you must not attempt taking heroin on top, and again do not take more than what the doctor instructed.
Periodically keep regular consultations with your doctor or clinic for proper review of how you’re progressing. During these meetings you are likely to be requested to give specimen of urine from time to time for the evaluation exercise.
You cannot get Buprenorphine without a doctor’s prescription and you will not be able to ask for any changes to be made to your supply because your pharmacist can only dispense the prescription exactly as per the instructions of your doctor.
There are several different brands and strengths of buprenorphine tablets, so each time you collect a supply, check to make sure it contains what you are expecting.
You are more likely to succeed in staying off heroin if you have support and counseling in addition to taking buprenorphine. Local drug community teams, self-help groups and other agencies may be of help.
You must refrain from any street drugs or drinking too much alcohol while using buprenorphine because other street drugs such as benzodiazepines (benzos) and alcohol can affect buprenorphine and increase the chance of unwanted effects.
You should tell the DVLA that you are taking buprenorphine if you are a driver. You are likely to be banned from driving at first, although you may be allowed to drive again later, subject to an annual medical review. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume driving.
When there is need to stopping using buprenorphine discuss this with your doctor before stopping. It is important that buprenorphine should be taken regularly to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms occurring. When you are ready to consider becoming drug-free, your doctor will be able to help you decide on the best way to do this in order to keep withdrawal effects to minimum and manageable levels.
If you are planning any visit abroad, you should carry a letter with you from your doctor to explain that you have been prescribed buprenorphine. This is because buprenorphine is classed as a ‘controlled drug’ and is subject to certain restrictions.
If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with buprenorphine. Many other medicines have similar side-effects to buprenorphine and taking them together will increase the risk of unwanted effects.
If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking buprenorphine.

Finally you have had all the attached effects and conditions while using this drug, you may wonder why use such medicine with so much conditions and believe me you are right therefore for good healthy and user friendly alternatives talk to Dr. Dalal Akoury, Founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. She is a medical doctor with over two decades of addiction treatment and together with her team of experts she is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to all patients across the globe as well to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Your condition will be safe at this facility and you will be among many individuals and qualified professional joining this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment.

Buprenorphine – Addiction treatment

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction

March 15, 2014

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Is it the best

If you are suffering from addiction seek treatment but remember Buprenorphine may not be a better option.

Buprenorphine is used to help you keep off street drugs such as heroin. It can prevent or reduce the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you stop using such drugs. It is a medicine that is similar to heroin and works as a replacement treatment. Many people choose to stay on buprenorphine long-term, although some people gradually reduce their dose and come off it.

The effects of buprenorphine last longer than heroin so it is usually prescribed as a once-daily dose. To begin with, you will usually be asked to take it under the supervision of the pharmacist who dispenses the buprenorphine to you. This means there can be no doubt about how much buprenorphine you take at each dose. This supervision may be relaxed after a few months of your taking a regular maintenance dose.

Buprenorphine is also available combined with another medicine called naloxone (the tablet brand name is Suboxone). Naloxone blocks the action of buprenorphine and the effect of the combination is that, if you are tempted to crush the tablet and try to inject it, you will start to get withdrawal effects.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Can buprenorphine cause problems?

Some may consider these disadvantages while others consider them well worth the advantage of avoiding opiate withdrawal symptoms. Also, some initial studies on long-term use of Buprenorphine suggest that there are anti-depressant effects of the drug as well. The dosing schedule is also relatively easy to maintain as most don’t even have to take it every day. Additionally, you can’t abuse Suboxone, get high off of it or overdose on it like you can with some other opiate addiction maintenance or detox drugs, like methadone. Much as this may offer treatment for addiction, it is in itself addiction and should not be encouraged. Its demerits far much out ways the merits just have a look at the conditions lined below before and during its usage.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Before taking buprenorphine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking buprenorphine it is important that your doctor knows:

If you have liver or kidney problems.
If you have prostate problems or any difficulties passing urine.
If you have any breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
If you have been told you have low blood pressure.
If you have any problems with your thyroid or adrenal glands.
If you have epilepsy.
If you have a problem with your bile duct.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
If you have been constipated for more than a week or have an inflammatory bowel problem.
If you have a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.
If you have recently had a severe head injury.
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
If you are taking any other street drugs or medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Getting the most from your treatment

Some people feel uncomfortable during the first 2 to 3 days of taking buprenorphine. Do not be tempted to take heroin on top, and do not take more than the dose your doctor has prescribed for you.
It is important that you keep your regular appointments with your doctor or clinic so your progress can be reviewed. You will be asked to give a urine sample from time to time.
Buprenorphine cannot be supplied to you without a prescription. You will not be able to ask for any changes to be made to your supply, as your pharmacist can only dispense the prescription exactly as your doctor has directed.
There are several different brands and strengths of buprenorphine tablets, so each time you collect a supply, check to make sure it contains what you are expecting.
You are more likely to succeed in staying off heroin if you have support and counseling in addition to taking buprenorphine. Local drug community teams, self-help groups and other agencies may be of help. It is much harder to ‘do it alone’, so go for counseling and help if it is available in your area.
You should not take any street drugs or drink too much alcohol while you are on buprenorphine. This is because other street drugs such as benzodiazepines (benzos) and alcohol can affect buprenorphine and increase the chance of unwanted effects.
You should tell the DVLA that you are taking buprenorphine if you are a driver. You are likely to be banned from driving at first, although you may be allowed to drive again later, subject to an annual medical review. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume driving.
Do not stop taking buprenorphine without discussing this with your doctor or drug-team worker first. It is important that buprenorphine should be taken regularly to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms occurring. When you are ready to consider becoming drug-free, your doctor or drug-team worker will be able to help you decide on the best way to do this in order to keep withdrawal effects to a minimum.
If you are planning any trip abroad, you should carry a letter with you from your doctor to explain that you have been prescribed buprenorphine. This is because buprenorphine is classed as a ‘controlled drug’ and is subject to certain restrictions.
If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with buprenorphine. Many other medicines have similar side-effects to buprenorphine and taking them together will increase the risk of unwanted effects.
If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking buprenorphine.

So many side effects and so many conditions attached making buprenorphine not to be right for addiction treatment not now and certainly not ever.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Is it the best

Tag Archives: Buprenorphine