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5 Medical Methods to Relieve Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

March 20, 2018 by Mike Dam Leave a Comment

When the body is used to having opioids in its system, it becomes dependent. Suddenly cutting off the opioids will cause a strong reaction and cause those affected to jump back in. However, the short and long-term symptoms will persist. Getting rid of these opiate-induced symptoms requires a number of procedures to help.

Slowly tapering off the opiates will help much more than quitting cold turkey. This will also reduce the intensity of the withdrawal. There are a number of foods that can also be consumed to help mediate the symptoms as well.

However, the problem is based on the compulsive nature of the addiction. Most people may find self-regulated tapering to be nearly impossible. This self-medicated procedure will often lead to full relapse. It is best to find support from loved ones that can also help with the recovery period.

5 Methods to Relieve Withdrawal Symptoms

Over The Counter Help

Using the correct dosage of certain medications can help. There are numerous medications that can help with diarrhea, nausea, headaches, pains and sleeping troubles.

Below are the medications that can be bought from pharmacy stores to help with the common opiate-induced symptoms.

Loperamide (Imodium)

This medication is used to treat sudden diarrhea. How it works is by slowing down the bowel movements and removing water from the stool.

Meclizine (Antivert) & Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

These antihistamines are used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

Antihistamines (Benadryl)

Those suffering from constant itchiness and other forms of nausea can use this drug to fight those
symptoms.

Professional Help

If the opioid-induced symptoms persist, then it may be time to call a doctor. Opiate addiction doctors can help manage the symptoms with personalized recommendations and prescription to help. They can also do in-depth tests like blood work to scan the body for any other damages.

Certain medications like Methadone and Buprenorphine may be offered to treat the opiate withdrawals. Short term methadone use for opiate withdrawal is usually introduced to help with getting rid of the dependency. Buprenorphine, which acts similarly, is also used for opiate withdrawals. Both can be administered within the clinic or given to be taken at home.

Other options that are offered are counseling for individual or group therapy. Not only will a doctor help treat the addiction, but support from others goes a long way.

The duration of opiate withdrawals only lasts as long as the abuse happens. Obtaining a medical professional can help get rid of the opiate-induced symptoms much easier.

 


If you or a loved one are struggling to find a remedy for opiate-induced symptoms, it might be time to seek a medical professional. Reach out to us at Scottsdale Internal Medicine or McKellips Internal Medicine today and let our medical staff help personalize a solution for you.

Filed Under: Suboxone Tagged With: suboxone, symptoms, tips

The Common Opioid Short Term vs Long Term Effects

March 16, 2018 by Mike Dam Leave a Comment

Opioid abuse can have a serious impact on a user’s life. Even though most opioids are medically prescribed, there is a risk intended for overuse that leads to opioid dependence and addiction. These substances can affect almost every part of the body, potentially leading to permanent damages to the body. In addition to the common hazards of overusing opioids, sharing needles for heroin has its own short and long-term dangers. There is a multitude of consequences that can accompany long-term abuse, but there are just as many that are seen immediately. Below we explore the short and long-term effects of opioid abuse.

 

Short Term vs Long Term Effects

Short-Term Effects of Opioid Use

The short-term effects of opioid abuse can be felt quickly after use. However, the duration depends on the type of opioid and the amount taken. Noticeable short-term effects is a feeling of being “high”, along with pleasure and relaxation. Common short-term side effects are:

• Drowsiness
• Itchy skin
• Feelings of heaviness in the arms and legs
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Confusion
• Cottonmouth
• Decrease in respiratory rate
• Intestinal bloating

opioid use causes itchiness

Itchiness is a common short-term effect of opioid use.

 

Over time these short-term effects can start affecting the body systems. Although this is not common for those who are taking their prescribed amount, over extended use will affect:

• Gastrointestinal system
• Musculoskeletal system
• Cardiovascular system
• Endocrine system
• Central Nervous system
• Respiratory system
• Immune system

Long-Term Effects of Opioid Use

Long-term use of opioids may have adverse consequences. Some of the major side effects may cause frequent infections and possible liver problems. Frequent constipation, increased sensitivity to pain and possible infertility are also noticeable effects.

Continual use after experiencing these effects will lead to dependence and increased tolerance. Studies show that users will have a higher chance of opioid overdose when these two factors are present. On the same hand, continual use will result in oxygen deprivation, increasing the possibility of permanent brain damage.

Other research also shows that the opioid addiction may deteriorate the brain’s tissues that contain nerve fibers. As a result, users will have difficulty making decisions, experience a decline in some motor controls and cause abnormal reactions to stressful conditions.

brain damage from opioid use

Opioid use can lead to permanent brain damage

 

Symptoms of Extended Opioid Use

Understanding when and how someone is on opiates is the first step to helping them. However, the scary fact about extended opioid use is usually that clear signs won’t show up until it is too late. It is up to friends and family members to take the initial step to help their loved ones.

Below are the eight common signs to know how someone is on opiates.

Constricted Pupil Size

One of the best indicators of opiate abuse is the user’s pupil size. While there may be many reasons why someone may have dilated pupils, there only a few things that make them small.

Therefore small pupils are a significant indicator of opioid use.

When the body begins reacting to the opioids, the pupils will have a physiological response. Pupil constriction will occur when the circular muscle, which is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, contracts. This is why one of the first points doctors do is take a  look at their patient’s pupils.

Itchy Skin

Why do opiates cause itching? According to the chemical reactions in the body, opioids release histamine which can create an intense itch. Some new opiate users are particularly uncomfortable and worrisome with this side effect. They believe that it is an allergic reaction, however, that is not the case with most incidents.

Scientists may have found a specific receptor protein that triggers itching. These receptors respond to a signal that releases inflammatory factor like histamine. When this occurs, other cells are brought to the area of inflammation to get rid of the infection. This can cause allergies and present itself as itching.

Sleeping Troubles

Those that use opioids continuously may experience impaired sleep. However, with extensive use outside of the prescribed dosages will lead to worse sleep quality, sleep disturbances and longer time to fall asleep. Abusers were also more likely to possess rest apnea – this potentially serious disorder is definitely when breathing repeatedly stops and starts while asleep.

sleeping problems with opioid use.

Extended opioid use can lead to sleeping disorders like sleep apnea and extensive sweating.

 

Other symptoms that might arrive for sleeping difficulties with opiate make use of are:

• Restless limbs
• Racing mind
• Cold sweats
• Aches and pains
• Anxiety
• Constant toss and turning

Since intensive utilization of opioids can result in sleep issues, other problems might arise from insufficient it. Complications such as failure to revive physical well-being, decreased info processing, weakening of your body and harmful mood regulations.

Nausea

Feeling nauseous can be an extremely common side-effect of opioid use. Frequently seen as a short-term effect, it could last for the whole duration of opioid make use of. If the user is taking the opioids while a prescription medication or using it all illegally, queasy is unwanted.

When patients are recommended opioids in a clinical environment, there are choices to consume antagonists in reducing nausea. However, in the home make use of is a different tale. Those afflicted will end up running to the toilet more, searching more “green” and make an effort to rest more often. Although nausea is even more recognizable in a nutshell term use, users with dependencies could find themselves encountering nausea and vomiting.

Constipation

Opioid-induced constipation can be a common symptom of opioid use. Although constipation is not simply a side effect of opioids, it really is undoubtedly among the bigger culprits.

Indications of constipation from opioid make use of include stools that are hard and dry to pass. Additionally, there is the lack of attempting to visit the bathroom when needed. With short-term use, the symptom is minimal. Nevertheless, long-term abuse provides more serious problems as time passes.

The key reason why this occurs is that of the muscles located around the tiny intestines. The muscles are accountable for a movement that assists press stool through, called peristalsis. When opioids are introduced into the body, these squeezing motions decreases. This causes the muscles never to perform since it should and users are still left with feeling “constipated”.

Dramatic Behavioral Changes

If loved types display dramatic changes in their behavior then it might be because of opioid use. Usually, a short feeling may be the just clue, if they are medically recommended or not.

The more prevalent types of changes are:

• Not looking after their personal hygiene and appearance
• Lashing out at family; mood swings; increased irritability
• Creating a habit of stealing
• Trouble at the job, school, home, and additional personal relationships
• Insufficient respect, care, interest and responsiveness to others
• Less look after their living surroundings
• Consistent trips to fresh different physician’s offices

Recognizing these early signals in behavioral changes might help battle the habit sooner.

stressful relationship due to opioid use

Opioid use can cause relationship strains.

 

However, occasionally these symptoms could be overlooked for various factors. Similarly, the symptoms could be minimal and just appear like minor problems that many people generally proceed through. On the other hand, the abusers might just conceal their changed behaviors.

It is the work of the friend, relative or spouse to identify these adjustments. The first rung on the ladder would be to confront those affected. If this fails, consulting with a physician for treatment will be the next greatest move for help.


Here are a few resources that you can check out to learn more about opioids, including how to prevent opioid overdose, overcome opioid addiction and the duration of withdrawal during treatment.

 

Filed Under: Suboxone Tagged With: opioids, painkillers, symptoms

What are the Common Types of Opioids?

March 1, 2018 by Mike Dam Leave a Comment

Opioids, which include prescription painkillers and heroin, can produce opiate-induced symptoms that last from a few hours to a few weeks. Opioids change the way the brain responds to discomfort. This produces a sense to be “high” that disrupts the prize and pleasure areas in the mind. However, overuse of the opioids can result in unnecessary symptoms.

Although some symptoms aren’t life-threatening, they may be hard to control. Taking more than the proposed amount recommended can result in opioid dependence. If not really taken look after, this can develop a craving in your body that is difficult to fight.

Common types of opioids

After hearing that heroin can be an opiate, a common issue that lots of asking are “how many other drugs are opioids?” Opioids that are legal are morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. They are sold under brands such as for example OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Tylox, Alprazolam (Xanax)and Demerol. As time passes with comprehensive use, your body can form a dependency for this. This always leads to some type of opiate-induced symptom.

However, heroin, a Type 1 Narcotic, is totally against the law and banned in every 50 states. Below is a short introduction to the various types of opioids typically abused that can result in scary effects from addiction.

Morphine

Morphine can be used by doctors to take care of patients with average to serious pain. Much like other opioids, this recommended narcotic functions in the mind to change the way the body feels and responds to pain.

Morphine is available seeing that a tablet or liquid. Dosages receive to patients predicated on medical expertise. Failure to adhere to the right dosages will outcomes in unwanted effects. More often than not, overconsumption may result in addiction. Common brands are Arymo ER, Kadian and MorphaBond ER.

Methadone

Like morphine, methadone can be classified as an opioid and narcotic. The difference is based on what it can be used for. People that have a dependence on heroin and various other narcotic drugs receive methadone for detoxification. It decreases withdrawal symptoms by performing like the narcotics. Nevertheless, it will not produce the linked emotions of “being high.”

Common methadone brands are Dolophine, Methadose, and Diskets. This medication is offered by certified pharmacies.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is medication recommended by certified doctors to take care of opioid addiction. Buprenorphine may also be dispensed for collect used, by prescription. How these medication
functions are by it’s “partial opioid agonist” real estate. This allows for:

• Much less euphoria and physical dependence
• Lower likelihood of misuse
• Mild withdrawal effects

At the correct use, buprenorphine will suppress symptoms of opioid withdrawals and help decrease cravings. This medicine is hottest to take care of opioid addiction.


Related: The Patient’s Guide: Counseling for Prescription Drug Abuse


Oxycodone and Hydrocodone

People that have cancer-related pain receive either oxycodone or hydrocodone for treatment. Studies have proven no vast dissimilarities within their pain-relieving properties.

Patients who all take oxycodone do etc an around-the-clock basis until their doctors tell them to stop. Basically, oxycodone shouldn’t be taken as-needed.

Hydrocodone can be used to treat serious pain. They are recommended to greatly help with chronic conditions, accidents or surgeries. Although both of these medications are equivalent, hydrocodone appears much more likely to trigger dependency. It really is misused a lot more than any various opioids in the United States.

Heroin

Unlike the other opioids, heroin is an extremely addictive, unlawful drug. Heroin is created out of poppy plants – which can be used to also produce morphine. The opium within the poppy pods are accustomed to making morphine, then additional refined to create heroin.

Many heroin is smoked, snorted or injected into the body. This creates extra risks for the user who all faces the hazards of Helps or other attacks. The issue with heroin is certainly that it does
not necessarily stem from using heroin originally. Oftentimes, users are recommended painkillers to help with discomfort, like post-surgery for instance. Upon extended make use of, moving to heroin isn’t only cheaper but a far more effective option.

Heroin abusers often utilize it to flee their life, duties and unnecessary emotions. However, they don’t look into the results it can have in them. This helps it be almost impossible to get rid of those damaged if indeed they do not wish the help. The opiate-induced symptoms are a lot more severe with heroin make use of, making an individual take more to ease the effects.

What to do if there is an addiction?

Like all addictions, extended use can result in a chemical change in the body that produces a dependence on the drug. The normal method of treatment is by using Suboxone to fight the withdrawal symptoms slowly. To learn more about this treatment, please visit Suboxone Treatment to learn more. Or, you can schedule an appointment with me and I will create a specialized treatment program just for you.

Filed Under: Suboxone Tagged With: opioids, symptoms, tips

7 Most Common Habits to Avoid that Causes Lower Back Pain

October 14, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Lower back pain could very well often times come about from day-to-day harmful habits that may well stress and strain your body past its limits. Down below, we will examine seven known scenarios that could lead to or worsen back pain. We’ll also go over ways to protect against these problems from taking effect!

Not Being Active

General exercise, and more especially, routine core strengthening assists to support your core muscle groups and make improvements to your posture. Stronger abdominals and proper posture make it possible to maintain your back! Several daily exercises which can help to build up muscle in your abdominals include Pilates, practical weightlifting, and additional trunk (core) strengthening activities. We also highly recommend cardiovascular aerobics, such as bicycling, swimming, and walking together with many different exercises that boost flexibleness.

Damaging Posture

Unhealthy posture can add stress and strain to your back, and accordingly, your spinal column. If not treated for, poor posture often leads to stresses and strains that add up eventually to actually transform the anatomical aspects of your back. These adjustments are oftentimes for the worse. Solutions to prevent unhealthy posture is very simple. It is instructed to take a seat with your hips fairly higher than your knees. You shouldn’t lift up large physical objects improperly – make an effort to bend your legs and utilize the power of your hip and legs, rather than utilizing your back to lift up. As considered before, improving your abdominals also aids to betters your healthy posture.

Over-Weight

Having a healthy and balanced weight that is in balance is one additional protection for back discomforts. Staying overweight, most importantly in the mid-section, will adjust your center of gravity frontward, in turn puts more overload on your spinal muscles. Further, excessive weight can truly weaken the spinal discs, leading a lot of pain-related difficulties. Being active and enjoying a well-balanced diet plan can help you maintain your weight in balance.

Cigarette Usages

Nicotine is proven to prohibit the flow of blood to the discs that are found in your vertebrae. These discs aide to pillow your backbone. As an individual grows older, and as the back contracts severe or continual trauma, and with other aggravating factors including smoking, the vertebral discs start to get weaker. This deterioration can lead to squeezing of the nerve fibres that line around the spinal canal, as a result leading to painfulness. Smoking also lessens absorption of calcium. This puts a stop to new bone development, leaving those that smoke with a much higher problem of an osteoporotic fracture.

Insufficient Levels of Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium and vitamin D are significant for bone development. If you are not taking in a sufficient amount in your food consumption, it could soften your vertebrae and amplify threats of lower back pain.

Being Inactive (Seated Too Much)

Restricting exercises as an approach for pain management when you are enduring back problems can be truly counterproductive. Exercise and activity boosts blood flow to the painful areas, which cuts down irritation and lessens muscle stiffness. If you are trying to stop back pain, make an effort to exercise routinely to help prevent back pain.

If you are searching to discover even more about the best ways to protect against the causes of lower back pain, or are in need of specific pain treatment, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ben Evans as soon as you can.

Filed Under: Chronic Pain Tagged With: back pain, symptoms, treatment

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