Detox off Drugs

Archive for January, 2010

Although most patients use medications as directed, abuse of and addiction to prescription drugs are public health problems for many Americans. Patients, pharmacists, and health care providers all play a role in preventing and detectingprescription drug abuse.

When treating pain, health care providers have long wrestled with a dilemma:

How to adequately relieve a patient’s suffering while avoiding the potential for that patient to become addicted to pain medication?

Many doctors underprescribe painkillers because they overestimate the potential for patients to become addicted to medications such as morphine and codeine. Although these drugs carry a heightened risk of addiction, research has shown that providers’ concerns that patients will become addicted to pain medication are largely unfounded. This fear of prescribing opioid pain medications is known as “opiophobia.”

Most patients who are prescribed opioids for pain, even those undergoing long-term therapy, do not become addicted. The few patients who do develop rapid and marked tolerance for and addiction to opioids usually have a history of psychological problems or prior substance abuse. In fact, studies have shown that abuse potential of opioid medications is generally low in healthy, nondrug-abusing volunteers. One study found that only 4 out of about 12,000 patients who were given opioids for acute pain became addicted. In a study of 38 chronic pain patients, most of whom received opioids for 4 to 7 years, only 2 became addicted, and both had a history of drug abuse.

The issues of underprescription of opioids and the suffering of millions of patients who don’t receive adequate pain relief has led to the development of guidelines for pain treatment. This may help bring an end to underprescribing, but alternative forms of pain control are still needed. NIDA-funded scientists continue to search for new ways to control pain and to develop new pain medications that are effective but don’t have the potential for addiction.

Assessing Prescription Drug Abuse: Four Simple Questions

By Carol & Richard Eucstice

Oxycodone is a narcotic pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain. It comes in many brand names such as OxyContin and Roxicodone. When oxycodone is combined with acetaminophen its brand names include Percocet, Roxicet and Endocet. When it is combined with aspirin its brand names include Percodan, Roxiprin and Endodan. When it is combined with ibuprofen its brand names include Combunox. Oxycodone is a schedule II drug and it poses a high risk for addiction, especially when abused. It’s pain-relieving effects and side effects are similar to morphine.

What Causes an Oxycodone Addiction? The main cause of an oxycodone addiction is abuse. When a person who is prescribed this drug takes more than prescribed or a person who is not prescribed this drug takes it, they put themselves at risk for addiction. In some cases, a person who takes this drug as prescribed for a prolonged period of time may become addicted to oxycodone. Peer pressure and mental illness can also increase a person’s chance of becoming addicted to oxycodone because it may make them more vulnerable to abusing this drug. Having a family history of drug abuse, specifically oxycodone abuse, can make a person more vulnerable to addiction. Patients who experience chronic pain may be more vulnerable to oxycodone addiction because they may take more than prescribed in an effort to try and decrease their pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Oxycodone Addiction- When a person becomes addicted to oxycodone they may present with certain abnormal behaviors. This drug often causes a euphoric effect so those who are addicted may seem abnormally happy and carefree often. They may also take more risks and seem to not care about consequences. They may also present drug-seeking behavior when they need more oxycodone. When an oxycodone addict does not have the drug they will most likely experience withdrawal symptoms. Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can include diarrhea, rapid breathing, abdominal cramps, crying, loss of appetite, runny nose, muscle aches, hyperactivity, cold and hot flashes, agitation, tremors, dilated pupils, fever and increased heart rate.

Dangers and complications of oxycodone addiction- Oxycodone can be a dangerous drug when abused. Abuse leads to addiction, which can cause a variety of complications including death. If a person takes too much of the drug they may fall into a coma, suffer heart failure, respiratory failure, kidney failure or if taking a form of oxycodone that is combined with acetaminophen, liver failure or liver toxicity.

Coping with and overcoming an oxycodone addiction- most people suffering from an oxycodone addiction will not be able to stop by themselves. They will need help from their friends and families. If a person is prescribed oxycodone and has become addicted to it, they need to talk to the doctor who prescribed them the medication. Their doctor can then help wean them off the oxycodone and switch them to a medication they will not become addicted to. If the person was not prescribed oxycodone or if they are heavily addicted they will most likely need to go to rehab. Some people will benefit from outpatient rehab, but most may need inpatient rehab so that they can be monitored and treated 24 hours a day. Many addicts will relapse a time or two so it is important that they continue to get help even after they complete a rehab program. After-rehab programs, such as narcotics anonymous, can help addicts remain clean as well as help anyone who relapses quickly recover from their relapse.

by Lisa Simmons

Methamphetamine–also known as speed, meth, or crystal–boosts chemical receptors, such as dopamine, and inhibits the destruction of other chemicals, such as acetylcholamine, in the brain. The result is an addicting euphoria. Sleep deprivation and nutritional deficiencies occur and over time, good feelings turn into abnormal thoughts, users focus on irrelevant objects or tasks, and drug tolerance develops so that increasing amounts are needed to gain the desired effects. When the addict runs out of their drug supply, lethargy, irritability, and flu-like symptoms are experienced. Cravings for the drug become very strong. Physical detox takes five to seven days. Normalization of brain chemistry may take weeks or months after drug use stops. Methamphetamine-induced psychosis, in which the user has delusional thoughts and may even hear voices, is exactly like some schizophrenic conditions except it is exaggerated and more intense. Drug-induced psychosis goes away when drug use is stopped; usually a great improvement can be seen within a few weeks. Treatment offers the best solution for methamphetamine addicts and their families. Afterward, addicts can take responsibility for avoiding the behaviors that lead to active addiction and for taking actions that will keep them clean, such as attending meetings, working steps of recovery, and helping others. A social support system of friends in recovery is very important. Places of worship, family members, and co-workers may be very supportive, but they cannot substitute for the fellowship of other recovering addicts who understand the unique conditions an addict must face. Those who want to help a meth addict should understand that relapse is part of addictive disease, as are denial and compulsions. It does no good to nag or check up on the addict. A relapse can occur without warning, and the person who wants to help would be wise to incorporate the concept of One Day at a Time, otherwise they will become too ill and stressed out to think clearly when relapse does happen. Addicts often learn from relapses to respect the seriousness of the disease and how to avoid future slips. In any case, help comes in the form of natural consequences (job loss, finding oneself out on the street) that compel the addict to get back into recovery.

By http://www.clearbrookinc.com