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5 Medical Methods to Relieve Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

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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.

4 Common Coping with Back Pain Tips to Avoid

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Coping with back pain comes in many degrees of discomfort and inconvenience. Some individuals may understand completely the severity of their case and go and seek out acute or chronic pain management. However, most that do not have extreme back pain may fall into counterproductive habits when working with it. If the incorrect behavior to cope continues, there is a higher risk of prolonging the pain or even rendering it worse. Take a look at these 4 most common, but wrong routines that many do thinking it may help alleviate their back pain.

1. Sleep as Much as Possible 

One of the more common methods of coping with back pain is to get as much sleep as possible. Although it is understood that during sleep the body repairs itself, too frequent of naps can make the condition worse. By napping every couple hours, the body fails to get back on track for a clear day/night sleep cycle. Deep sleep will energize and fix (repair) any discomforts. Allowing the body to achieve this may take time, but the benefit will be substantially better than frequent naps throughout the day.

Avoid taking naps throughout the day to keep your body on track of the daily routines.

2. Skip Out on Exercise 

It is not expected to do anything rigorous when reducing risks of back pain, but cutting off exercise completely will make the journey much harder. Even exercising for shorts amount of time will help maintain strength, flexibility, and greatly boosts mood. Light exercises such as walking and stretching is a great start. However, if these results in agony or extreme exhaustion, it would be best to seek out medical advice. Many of those coping with back pain find comfort in warm counseling pools, where not knowing how to swim is completely OK.

3. Not Asking for Help/Assistance 

Those which may have a lot on their plate usually find it extremely difficult coping with back pain and tending to their work and home responsibilities. Learning to accept help from others is extremely important during these times. Have a few simple tasks in mind that can be delegated will take loads off, and give those coping some free time and memories to rest. Many many people would be more than happy to pick up groceries, mow the grass, or help look after their friends or family members coping with back pain. Ask them!

4. Failure to Schedule an Appointment for Check-Up

One of the biggest factors holding back individuals with filling their prescriptions is lack of planning to schedule an appointment with their doctor before they are too booked up. With new laws requiring a new prescription whenever a bottle is filled, ensuring that a date is set a week before the bottle is up is extremely important. Procrastination and laziness do not help here, and there are no excuses as “But I am in pain.” Be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor about filling up on your prescription to avoid future back pain.

There are no guidebooks to properly cope with back pain, but rather it involves understanding what may or may well not happen and being aware to make certain that the back pain does not become chronic. However, if the pain does persist for an extended period of time, it is best to see a doctor. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Ben Evans today and have his team and staff have a look at your pain situation.

What are Hot Flashes in Men and Can They be Treated?

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Hot flashes in men appear mostly due to hormonal fluctuation. In fact, men are known to have at least a 2% drop in the testosterone levels each year after they reach 30 – so, it’s something normal. But sometimes the sizzling flashes in males can appear from a sudden drop in testosterone depending on the scenario and what causes it. This is very normal and typically will not require drastic actions such as testosterone replacement therapy.

 

Potential Causes of Hot Flashes

Usually identifying hot flashes in men can be quite hard. However, such things like skin reddening, intense sweating and a sensation of warmth may appear out of nowhere. These symptoms are hard to identify and could be passed as only a common cold, allergic reaction..etc. This makes it very hard to figure out what causes the problem and how it can be dealt with. Referring back to the previous point, if after four weeks of androgen deprivation treatment hot flashes are still occurring, then it is time to speak with a doctor.

These can appear after a prostate tumor treatment named androgen deprivation. This remedy is targeted on restricting testosterone production which sometimes may result in low testosterone. Although not normal, this is all completely possible.

Changes to your daily routine can also cause hot flashes, so try to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Eating right with testosterone boosting foods can help a lot with eliminating hot flashes too!

These hot flashes can also stem from side effects from additional medications. Check with your doctor or pharmacist on these side effects and if they may contribute to the problem. If so, it is best to seek medical attention for an alternative to your current prescription.


How Can Hot Flashes be Treated?

The best thing that you can do is to stay away from the most common triggers. Things like alcohol, coffee, spicy foods, warm space temperatures, tight or actually heavier clothing, smoking can all contribute to this problem. Some people try to take antidepressants to get rid of the pain. Although this may help in the immediate sense, over a period of time these types of drugs will do the body more harm. It is important to avoid and try to get rid of hot flashes, but failure to understand how to appropriately treat it will result in more future problems.

There are some natural methods that can help with low testosterone levels, which can directly remove some effects of hot flashes in men. Like stated earlier, there are foods and exercise that help boost testosterone.

However, if the situation persists, it’s important to talk with your doctor before you opt for any medication. Testosterone treatment can help greatly, but not everyone will need it. Changing your way of life and diet will come in handy, and also working out, avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, and smoking. If so, the results will be more than amazing in the end. Even though it is common to say that no one should expect results immediately, being patient with the method of treatment will be the quickest and safest way to get rid of the hot flashes. Take your time and these sizzling flashes will be gone before you know it!

For more information on how to relieve hot flashes in males, and how such problems as low testosterone can contribute to it, speak with Dr. Ben Evans of Scottsdale Internal Medicine today. If the symptoms are minimal, it could very well manifest other problems later down the line. Visit one of our locations and have a specialist speak with you today!

What are the Common Types of Opioids?

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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.