Tag Archives: Opioid

Using Naltrexone To Treat Addiction Relapse

September 19, 2014

Using Naltrexone To Decrease Alcohol Relapse

Annually, around 1.5 million people in the USA seek treatment for alcohol and its related problems. In 1994, naltrexone became approved for the treatment of alcoholism by the U.S. FDA. Naltrexone works by blocking opioid receptors found in the brain as well as stemming the endorphin-mediated reinforcing effects of drinking alcohol. There is great  evidence to suggest and prove  that naltrexone has power to significantly reduce alcohol relapses to heavy drinking, the frequency of drinking, quantity of alcohol consumed  by  those who do drink, and also alcohol craving. Naltrexone is vitally beneficial in helping those patients who cannot abstain so as to reduce their drinking patterns, breaking the vicious self-destructive cycle of alcoholics which causes one to drink one drink which leads to the other together with allowing more quality time for psychosocial therapy to be productive. Naltrexone has demonstrated efficiency in a various alcohol-treatment settings using adjunctive psychosocial therapies that provide patients with motivation to stay in treatment, overcome relapses, and also take medications. Individualized and flexible naltrexone dosing can be of great benefit. Longer-term naltrexone therapy exceeding more than three months may be most effective, and naltrexone might be used on an as-needed, “targeted,” basis indefinitely. Alcohol is a very complex substance that affects several chemical systems in the brain.  It is presumed that, when an alcoholic drinks, the brain’s opioid system releases endorphins that trigger the reinforcement that is responsible for enticing one to drink more. Unlike other drugs that were earlier used to treat alcoholism, naltrexone is not addictive in nature and composition and does not in any way react aversively with alcohol.

Natraxene

·        Monthly naltrexone injection to control alcoholism

A monthly dose of Naltrexone, under different trade names, is already in use to treat alcoholism. The monthly dose is   a more convenient approach than current daily oral doses. Using naltrexone combined with counseling could help reduce heavy drinking in people suffering from alcoholism. Because of problems with adhering to daily oral doses of naltrexone, the effectiveness found in treating alcohol dependence with a once-a-month injection of naltrexone improves long-term treatment results. According to a previous study in 2005, naltrexone showed efficiency for treatment of alcohol dependence. However, adherence to daily oral doses can be hectic, and therefore, utilization of oral naltrexone have been limited.

·         Naltrexone should be used with caution in patients with liver disease

For a person suffering from hepatitis or liver failure, naltrexone should not be prescribed.it is recommended that liver function tests such as ALT, AST, gamma glutamyltransferase and bilirubin must be conducted before naltrexone treatment begins and at intervals after the treatment begins. In healthy patients without liver disease, intervals of 1, 3, and 6 month scan be ideal for the tests, then yearly thereafter. Liver function tests should be performed more frequently especially if baseline liver function test results are high, a history of hepatic disease is confirmed, or if a potential hepatotoxic medication is prescribed and if the patient is taking doses higher than 50 mg/day. Naltrexone should be used cautiously in patients whose serum aminotransferase results are greater than five times the upper limit of normal. 

  • Cannot be used for people using opioid for pain management

A careful drug use history and urine toxicological screening should also be done so as to confirm abstinence from opioids, including prescribed pain medications, as well as a lack of opioid dependence before initiating treatment. Comprehensive urine tests should be carried out to measure methadone and other opioids. However, urine testing can be subject to error because typical urine screening tests may not cover all opioids and samples can be tampered with to affect the results.

It is important to note that Administration of naltrexone should not be initiated until the patient has been opioid-free for between 7 to 10 days and that the naloxone challenge test for opioid withdrawal is negative. If no abstinence signs are observed following a preliminary dose of naltrexone 25mg, the rest of the daily dose is administered. Maintenance treatment regimen with naltrexone can be flexible where patients may receive naltrexone 50mg on weekdays and 100mg on Saturday or 100mg every other day, or 150mg every third day. Naltrexone is not suitable for use in patients with acute hepatitis or liver failure and should not be used in patients receiving opioid analgesics. The major active effect of naltrexone is on opioid drugs, which is one class of drugs used primarily to treat pain but is also found in some prescription cough preparations. This is because Naltrexone will block the effect of normal doses of this type of drug. There are many non-narcotic pain relievers that can be used effectively while you are undergoing treatment with naltrexone. Anyway, naltrexone is likely to have little impact on other medications patients commonly used in patients such as non-opioid analgesics (e.g., aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen) and antibiotics, and allergy medications.one should inform a physician of whatever medication he or she is currently taking so that possible interactions can be examined. Since naltrexone is metabolized by the liver, treatments that affect liver function may influence the dose of naltrexone.

naltrexone

A point to note is that naltrexone neither reduces the effects of alcohol that impair coordination nor judgment. Also Naltrexone’s effects on blocking opioids occurs shortly after the first dose is administered. Furthermore, findings confirm that the effects of naltrexone in helping patients remain abstinent and avoid relapse to alcohol use also occur early. However, Naltrexone should not be used with expectant women, people with liver or kidney damage or with patients who cannot practice abstinence for at least 5 days prior to commencing treatment. Also, people who are dependent on opioids such as heroin or morphine must cease their drug use at least 7 days prior to starting naltrexone.

Other than side effects, which are usually for a short period as well as mild, patients normally report that they are unaware of feelings of being on this medication. Naltrexone usually has no psychological effects and patients do not feel funny. It is also not addictive. While it reduces alcohol craving, it does not interfere with the experience of other types of pleasure.

Using Naltrexone To Decrease Alcohol Relapse

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The US Drugs Control Strategy

August 16, 2014

The Us Drugs Control Strategy May Favor Physicians

The 2014 US drugs control policy came as an advancement of the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy, which emphasized for an approach based on scientific research on addiction, evidence-based prevention programs, increased access to treatment, a historic emphasis on recovery, and criminal justice reform. This policy seeks to reduce the increasing rates drug addictions triggered deaths which have been on a rise.

This policy is actually an incentive and a sure new income stream for Physician who are professionals in drug addiction recovery. Physicians need to take advantage of this law to learn about the natural treatment of addiction and implement it in their offices for realization of great psychological and financial rewards.

The US National Drug Control Strategy 2014 is a continuation of the approach of the Obama administration’s earlier strategies with an emphasis on early intervention, treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, effective law enforcement, and international cooperation. While the overall framework, goals, and the agency responsibilities set out in Obama’s first Strategy remain in effect, the 2014 Strategy seeks to address issues such as declining perceptions of harm and increases of use of cannabis among young people, problem opioid use disorders and new synthetic drugs. The strategy has goals to be attained by 2015 including a decrease in the 30-day prevalence of drug use among 12- to 17-year-olds by 15 percent and a reduction of drug-induced deaths by 15 percent.

Why should physicians take advantage of this policy?

The physicians should actually take advantage of this policy to research on the natural treatments for addiction. The process of researching on new ways through which a given disease can be treated is obviously an expensive adventure. Many physicians may not afford to conduct sufficient research due to the limitations in resources required in the process of conducting the research.

The intervention of the US government has not only given the physicians a go ahead to conduct these researches but also allocated resources to sponsor any physician who seeks to contribute to the achievements of the drugs control strategy‘s objectives. Some of the treatments when discovered need to be piloted on. The right to administer a medication on a human being to determine its effectiveness requires authorization. With the US government’s drugs control strategy, it is very unlikely that such rights will not be granted, and thus the physicians’ experimentation process receives a boost.

What does the drug control strategy entail?

The drugs policy strategy has its key issues outlined. These are the key issues that must be addressed for the realization of the strategy’s objectives. The following are these key issues outlined by the strategy:-

  • Strengthening the Efforts to Prevent Drug Use in the Communities

The strategy here, looks at addiction as controllable if prevented in the first place. It focuses on the community and the role which each of the persons in the community can play in controlling the drug substance use and hence controlling addiction. It seeks to strengthen the community’s norms against drugs abuse. It also views the personal educational achievements as one of the causations of drugs abuse. It therefore emphasizes on the need to ensure self-sufficiency in the community.

  • Seek Early Intervention Opportunities in Health Care

The strategy emphasizes on the needs to diagnose the disorder drug usage and control it before it causes disorders to the patient. This makes the health care costs lower than treating the disorders when left to occur. This can be helpful to the physicians if they device a natural treatment which can diagnose and control the early symptoms of the drugs’ disorders.

  • Integration of substance use disorder treatment into health care

The US government also strategized to Integrate Treatment for Substance Use Disorders into Health Care and to Expand Support for Recovery. Since the process of recovery from drug addiction is a long process, this strategy seeks to make it possible for the patients to be able to get support from health care professional. It also discourages the use of opioids in the treatment of pain, since it is known to be addictive. If the physicians can exploit this opportunity by researching on the natural effective natural treatment, they can get the backup of the government as offering the appropriate medication and hence realization of great financial rewards.

 

  • Break the Cycle of Drug Use, Crime, Delinquency, and Incarceration

Drug addiction may lead to the abuser being charged before a court of law especially if the addiction is from an illegal drug. Even after the sentence, the person is likely to repeat the punishable behaviors and form a crime cycle. To end this cycle, breaking of the drug cycle is importanr. This strategy proposes that during the sentence, the addict should be put under recovery scheme which should continue even after the sentence.

If you need help with addiction or know of a friend suffering from this addiction, call in live or email us and we will help you get trusted treatment and advice. We are true professionals with proven track records and are very reliable in treatment.

The Us Drugs Control Strategy May Favor Physicians

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PAIN AND ADDICTION: COMMON THREADS

July 22, 2014

Pain is a complex disease whose treatment needs to be keenly addressed. There are variety of medication options which treat pain and from which the patient can choose from. When the pain being experienced by the patient results to be chronic, this becomes a concern which is common with chronic pain patients

Is there any relation between pain and addiction?

pain and addictionWe can actually argue that there is a relationship between pain and addiction. Where does this relationship originate? The relationship of addiction and pain result from the choice that the chronic pain patient chooses when trying to treat this pain. While some methods are proven to cure pain without leaving behind addiction to the patient, some of the medications for pain (Especially prescription drugs like opioids) are known to cause addiction especially when abused. The addiction of such drugs results from their ability to cure pain. These drugs are administered to the patient and initially they tend to treat pain. Over time the body tends to be resistant to these drugs and hence they must be taken with higher frequency and sometimes in higher quantity. If such a drug continues to be taken, it eventually reaches a point when the patient cannot do without it, since the pain temporarily stops when the drug is taken and returns after a short while. This forces the person to be a regular taker of the drug, not necessarily willing but forced by pain experienced. This is the point at which we consider the person to be an addict of the pain killing drug.

Addiction and pain related terminologies

There are terminologies which are related to pain and addiction which results from pain medication. These terms are described below:-

  • Dependence – this refers the situation which results when the patient is exposed to a given medication for an extended period of time. If the medication for example was indented to treat pain, at this stage the person will be living by the medication, which means the pain will only stop when the person takes the medication. This patient is considered to be dependent on the medication and without which the patient will suffer pains. This condition may look like addiction but actually it isn’t.
  • Tolerance – this is yet another term related to pain and addiction. This condition develops over time, and necessitates having to use more of the medication to receive the same effect. This condition is reached when the patient’s body has gotten used to the pain killing medication and the small medication which used to kill the pain no longer has that ability over the body to treat the pain and thus the dose has to be increased to achieve the desired effect (treatment). This condition also should not be seen as addiction because actually it isn’t.
  • Withdrawal – this refers to the symptoms that occur if the medication is suddenly stopped. This is because the cell receptors throughout the body that are used to medication are without it. This is normally the case when the patient is taking significant amounts of opioids and suddenly stops taking them. These symptoms may be severe and even make the patient feel sicker than before. This sometimes may make the patient want to keep on taking them since it is better when taking them than when withdrawn. Some of these symptoms may come in the form of:- tremor, diarrhea, sweating, nausea, vomiting, gastric upset, stress, depression etc. This condition if not given a close look may seem to look like addiction to a given substance, but in the actual sense it isn’t. Withdrawal is though closely related to addiction and sometimes it may be very difficult to differentiate between them. This makes the withdrawal effects to be termed as addiction in most cases.
  • Addiction – this is a situation of psychological need to have a drug or behavior. Some of the common addiction types are the addiction from drugs, internet, eating, shopping, gambling etc. this is the biggest of all the others we have mentioned above (Tolerance, withdrawal and dependence). When a person is addicted by a pain killing drug like opioids, the patient may develop dependence and tolerance to the drug and incase he/she tries to stop taking the drug suddenly, there may be withdrawal which you must go through. This is a both psychological and emotional effect of not having the pain killing drug, which in this case is very difficult for the addict to stop.

pain and addiction

it is very advisable that, if you feel you are being addicted to the pain killing drug that you have been using in the past, be honest to your doctor and speak with your doctor about it. This will ensure that the doctor evaluates your condition in time and consequently help you out by changing the medication while it is not too late.

What causes opioid addiction?

Opioids are prescription medication which is used to treat pain. Sometimes the patient may not use the medication as directed by the physician. This is one of the leading causes of addiction since opioids aree highly addictive. When it becomes an habit for the patient to use opioids, this definitely results into addiction.

Is there any relation between pain and addiction?

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Opioid Epidemic: Veterans Remain At High Risk

July 17, 2014

Stay Away From Opioids, They Are Addictive!

OpioidsOpioid addiction is an ugly state, as we have always written about in this blog. Over the years, we have heard of celebrities who have succumbed to opioid addictions and we wonder, where is the problem? Addiction is a gradual process, and so are its effects in the body. Let’s discuss this topic in this post.

What are opioids?

These are drugs that are known to be relievers of pain. They work by lowering the number of pain signals your body sends to your brain and also changing how your brain responds to these pains. There drugs normally they are safe, but when they are misused they are very addictive.

What is Opioid addiction?

This refers to the pleasurable desire created in your body by the misuse of opioids which makes you want to use them every time.

Which are the examples of these opioid drugs?

The opioid drugs include:- opium, fentanyl, codeine, heroine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone, tramadol paregoric just to mention a few.

What is opioid drug tolerance?

Tolerance to drug refers to when your body over time gets used to the effects of the drug. When this happens, you may have to take a higher drug to attain the effect you used to attain before. When you use opioids for a long time, especially when abused, a time will be reached when your body gets used to the drug and it cannot have any reasonable effect to your body. If this becomes the case, if you want to use opioids to cure pains, it won’t be possible.

What about opioid dependence?

This refers to a point reached when the person has used a drug for a long time, such that his/her body works changes because they have taken drugs. Withdrawal effects are a common thing in this case, and the victim cannot stop taking the drug. The withdrawal effects prevent the person from stopping taking the drugs and therefore in everyday life, the person will need to take these drugs for survival.

How to spot addiction?

  • Craving for drug is a common way of knowing that you are addicted to a drug. In this case, you will feel like you cannot control your urge for the drug. The opioid addicted person will every minute want to take the drug not as a matter of choice but forced by the body urges.
  • If you find that you keep using the drug every without doctor’s prescription, even if the drugs are causing harmful effect on you, you may be addicted. This taking of drugs in most cases will not be a personal choice but you just find yourself taking them.
  • An increased tolerance for the drug is normally an indicator that the drug has gotten used to your body and consequently resulting to addiction. For instance, if the opioid addict has some pain and takes the drug that used to previously help in similar situation, It may not have any significant impact. This will require usage of a more powerful drug than the one the person used to previously take.
  • If you find that you are spending excess in terms of time and money on drugs, this could be an indicator of addiction. Since the addicted person will not be able to do without the drugs, it is common that the person will be a regular visitor to the drug dealers to purchase the drug every now and then. This will translate to the person spending too much money and time to acquire the drugs.
  • Addiction to opioids is also known to cause excess weight gain or weight loss. If you find that you are gaining weight or losing weight abruptly and you healthy status is good, then the reason could be that you have been addicted in opioids.
  • Another indicator of addiction in opioid that we cannot overlook is the act of turning to crime to pay for more opiates. This is a common case in places where people are not economically developed. This person will need money to purchase the drugs but since the money is not there, the person may end up in criminal activities while sourcing money for the purchases of the drugs. This will commonly result in pretty crime activities.

How is opioid addiction treated?

The treatment of opioid addiction is never an easy task, since opioid addiction is a complex disease which has physical, mental, social and emotional factors associated. For any successful treatment therefore, all these factors must be addressed. This treatment may be administered as outpatient program but in some cases in patient is the only option. This is normally the cases when it has caused mental problems to the addict.

opioids

The following are some of the key treatment methods:-

  • Detoxification – this is often the first attempt at treatment. This involves supervised withdrawal from the drugs. This is normally supported with medication to help the patient withstand the withdrawal effects.
  • Medication – here the addicts are sometimes introduced to milder opioids, whose quantities are drastically reduced during the medication period. This is normally helpful in helping the addict slowly withdraw from the drug usage.
  • Treatment facilities – this is a method of treatment in which the patient may be referred to a self-help group which helps the person in the recovery time.
  • Therapies – these are therapies which may be prescribed to the patient. This could be an activity like exercise. This will help the patient emotionally by not thinking about the drug every time.

So now we have seen all the consequences and solutions of opioid addiction. Are you ready to recovery from this addiction? All you need is to call or visit AWAREmed and you will be helped out by highly experienced professionals.

Stay Away From Opioids, They Are Addictive!

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Understanding Drug Addiction

July 14, 2014

Drug addiction treatment

Drug addiction is normally a very complex illness which is sometimes accompanied by intense craving which may be uncontrollable to the addict even when there is a direct danger posed by the substance.

Drug Addiction

The key principles to effective drug treatment

There are principles which have been proven to work effectively in ensuring that the patient regains normal life. These principles are:-

  • The first principle is to realize that addiction is by itself a complex which alters the normal functioning of brain but it is curable.
  • Secondly, it is important to understand there is never single treatment which is appropriate to everyone, and hence treatment of each individual should be examined and given independent treatment.
  • Counseling is very important, especially when treating individual or group from drug addiction.
  • Each individual’s treatment should be regularly assessed to know the patient’s progress and correct adjustments to the treatment made. This ensures suitability of medication to every patient.
  • Scientifically it has been proven that many drug addicts also have other mental disorders. Thus, the appropriate treatment should seek to address not only the addiction but also the mental problems.
  • Another important principal in drug treatment is that, the treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be effective. The patient doesn’t have to be left to make decisions on whether, when and how he/she should be treated. Since in many occasions drug addiction comes with mental disorders, it is vital not to leave decision making in the hands of the patient.
  • The patient’s drug taking during treatment should be monitored, since lapses do occur especially when the patient cannot withstand the craving of the drugs during withdrawal.
  • Another principle is that, treatment should be readily available and in the reach of the patient when need be. The patient will be faced with challenges such as craving and necessity of medication adjustments. Therefore, it is very important that medication can be accessed when need be.
  • Also another important principle is that, any effective drug treatment should address multiple individual’s needs and not just addiction. The medication should not only revolve around treatment of addiction itself, without looking to address the needs of the individual.
  • Treatment period- remaining in treatment for adequately appropriate time is vital. The patient should be maintained under medication until it is ascertained that he/she has fully recovered. Stoppage of medication before the patient fully recovers may result to resistance to future medication after relapse and obviously the craving symptoms may follow the patient leading the patient back to the consumption of the addicting substance.
  • Importantly also, the treatment should assess the patient’s presence of other diseases like arthritis, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C and other infectious diseases. This will help in putting the patient under good conditions which will prevent the risk of contracting or even spreading an infectious disease.

Drug Addiction

Proven effective treatment approaches

For effective treatment, combination of both medication and therapy has worked well before. The process of treatment regularly begins with detoxification which aims at reducing or eliminating the effect of drug substance in the body. It is then followed by treatment and lapse prevention. The treatment process should be well monitored to ease the withdrawal symptoms and prevent lapse.

In any drug recovery program, medication is very important. It will help in different aspects of treatment process.

Medication importance on withdrawal – withdrawal under normal circumstances is accompanied by variety of symptoms which seek to return the patient to the consumption of addictive substance. These symptoms especially craving in some circumstances it may seem to be out of patient’s capacity to resist, especially when it is a drug related addiction. Medication in this case becomes important as it will try to suppress the withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. It is important to note that however, medically assisted detoxification in itself it is not a treatment but just the first step in the treatment process. The patient must complete the treatment process otherwise he/she will be similar to those never treated.

Medication vitality in Treatment – treatment is an important aspect in drug addiction recovery. It can be used to re-establish normal brain functioning and to prevent relapse and to minimize cravings. This agent of drug recovery requires intensive examination of the patient, to establish the type of addictive drug substance the patent is addicted of, and hence streamline appropriate treatment procedure. It has been found out that, many of the drug addicts consume more than one drug and hence their addiction may sometimes not be as a result of just one drug. Treatment of this kind of addiction must seek to address each of these addictions based on the underlying cause. Treatment of these individual drugs addiction will look at the class of the substance, whether it is an Opioid, tobacco or alcohol etc. this will form a good foundation for treatment to be built on. For more details, call or visit AWAREmed and get a professional advice.

Drug addiction treatment

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