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Archive for the ‘Prescription Drug Detox’ Category

Prescription Drug Rehab

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

Supposedly there are factors that can determine if someone is more likely to become addicted to drugs. People who are overworked or overstressed are much more likely to become addicted to prescription drugs. So are poverty and depression. Pain pills are so widely abused because they are cheap, readily available and produce a feeling of self-worth. Luckily, these abusers can achieve sobriety if they just enroll in prescription drug rehab and begin to detox.

There are many different methods to treat painkiller addictions. There are inpatient and outpatient facilities all over who can help develop a sobriety plan for you. There are groups like Narcotics Anonymous, a non-profit and free of charge organization that is modeled after other 12 step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous. Depending on the level of addiction you have, one of these choices should be a good fit for you, but only you and a medical professional can decide.

Find Sobriety Through Prescription Drug Rehab

To find a prescription drug rehab facility that can help you, you need to know the answers to a few questions:

  • Have they treated people with the same drug addiction as you?
  • Do they listen to you like a person and want to help tailor a program to your specific needs?
  • Are they going to help you through the withdrawal period and help you manage the stress of your daily life?

If these answers are YES, then you’re probably looking at a good center. If you need to detox and enter prescription drug rehab, you should start as soon as possible. It may not seem like it, but prescription pills do carry risks that can bring about long term health problems. Be strong and get help. It’s never easy to admit that you’re an addict, but know that you’re not alone and that there are people to help you every step of the way.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

It’s so easy to get a hold of prescription drugs. At some point, everyone will most likely have some prescribed to them for one reason or another. We’re so quick to take pills for our pain, but do we really understand the repercussions of taking these opiates? Prescription drug addiction is a serious problem in the United States in many age groups and if untreated, it can lead to death. Learn more about prescription drug addiction and what you can do to fight it.

Basically, we become addicted to a drug by repeatedly taking it within a close range of time. Someone who has had a surgery and has a few bottles of vicodin to recover can quickly notice they are dependent on the drug. They may enjoy the feeling of euphoria or the ease of sleeping on the drug. Our brains are not built to withstand drug abuse. The human brain will stop functioning properly if we continue to pop pain pills and it’s a slow recovery to get back to normal. Getting professional help may be the only way to stop the addiction.

Do You Know if You’re Likely to Become Addicted to Prescription Drugs?

There are cases where accidental addiction happens. Let’s say you’ve been in a bad car accident. You’ve had surgeries and now you’re left with several broken bones. You have pins to hold your bones together during the healing process and you’re in a good amount of pain. You will have been on pain medication for the entire duration you’ve been in the hospital, most likely. You will go home with a prescription and those prescriptions will be re-filled. This constant taking of pills every few hours actually “re-wire” your brain. Addiction happens, but there is help. If you’re concerned about addiction, talk to your doctor, especially if you have previously been through rehab for addiction or addiction runs in your family.

Lortab and its Associated Dangers

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Lortab is widely prescribed as a pain reliever to most people who suffer from moderate to severe levels of pain and this narcotic analgesic contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is important that you are informed and educated on all possible aspects when it comes to Lortab. For instance, the pain reliever is extremely addictive so it is really important that you do not take any more of this medication than prescribed by your doctor. Taking Lortab for longer or for more than prescribed could result in very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you do stop taking the medicine.It is of the ut most importance that you avoid alcohol at all times while taking this prescription medication. Lortab and alcohol combined are a lethal combination. The two combined can lead to high instances of dizziness and drowsiness already caused by Lortab. On the same note, you should avoid other medication that causes sleepiness when taking Lortab or the effects could be increased. Constipation could also result from taking Lortab. You can lessen these instances by ensuring you drink at least eight full glasses of water daily and increase your consumption of fiber.

Who should avoid Lortab

Any person who has or has had a history of Addison’s disease, head injury, gallbladder disease, epilepsy, seizures, hypothyroidism, prostate enlargement, urinary issues, asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, alcoholism, or drug abuse, should avoid Lortab or be closely monitored by a physician when taking this pain reliever. If you even suspect you might be pregnant or become pregnant, talk to your doctor. This medication may cause some serious problems for an unborn baby. Not unlike all types of medication, Lortab has some common and serious side effects to those taking the pain reliever. Common and less serious side effects of Lortab may include less desire to have sex, lessened urination, itchiness, sweating, twitching muscles, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dizziness, decrease in appetite, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth or constipation.

Serious side effects of Lortab require immediate care from a doctor right away. Some serious side effects include unusual bruising, unusual bleeding, and unusual fatigue, yellow of eyes, yellowing of skin, unconsciousness, severe dizziness, severe weakness, clammy skin, cold skin, seizures, weak or slowed breathing or symptoms of an allergic reaction. Patients, who have been prescribed an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) such as Parnate, Nardil, or Marplan, should not take Lortab within fourteen days of taking these medications. If taken earlier, this could result in very dangerous and serious side effects. You should make your doctor fully alert of all kinds of medications that are (prescribed or over the counter) and those you are taking as well as herbs, minerals, or vitamins earlier to prescribing Lortab to relieve your pain for this reason.

Prescription Drug Addiction among Teens

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

For a variety of reasons prescription drugs are used by teens in all parts of the world. Some teens may think that the drugs will assist them to have more excitement or to be happier, or to lose weight. Because family members could have the prescription, these drugs can be easier to get than street drugs. Prescription drugs are very commonly sold on the street like other illegal drugs as well. Some teens even think a prescription drug, regardless of whom it was prescribed to be safer than an ordinary street drug. Cynthia may take her brother’s ADHD medicine to curb her appetite because she had been told how bad diet pills could be. Cynthia thought the ADHD drug would be safer. After all, it was prescribed by a doctor for her brother – - but not for her – - and not for the condition in which she is taking the ADHD drug.Prescription drugs are only safe for the people who actually have prescriptions for them. A doctor has examined the person and told them exactly how to take the drug, and most likely, the person has also been told those things to avoid while taking the drug such as alcohol or other medications. Cynthia would most likely not have the same type of information and may combine this drug with another substance that could cause her significant health problems and/or even death. Cynthia did not know that taking her brother’s ADHD medicine was also illegal. Taking drugs without a prescription – or sharing a prescription drug with friends – is breaking the law.

There are three classes of most commonly used prescription drugs which include: Opioids, Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants, and Stimulants

Opioids include: Oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and meperidine (Demerol) Opiodis are prescribed to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants include: Valium and Xanax. Medical uses of CNS drugs are to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks and sleep disorders.

Stimulants include: Ritalin and Strattera. Stimulants are used to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, obesity and asthma. Drug abusers usually have trouble at school, at home, in relationships with friends or significant others and the law. A person abusing drugs is more likely to commit a crime or have an accident regardless of whether the drugs are prescribed medications or street drugs.

As with all types of drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious health risks. A single dose of an opioid can lower breathing rate and even kill if taken by the wrong person in the wrong circumstances. These health risks are increased when taken with other substances such as alcohol, antihistamines, and CNS depressants. The most common result of prescription drug abuse is addiction.

Signs of prescription drug addiction:

The need to have a particular drug or substance. Changes in mood, weight, or interests There are two kinds of treatment for persons addicted to prescription drugs, they are: Behavioral, Pharmacological

Behavioral treatments teach people how to function without the drugs, how to handle cravings, how to avoid drugs and situations that could lead to drug use and preventing and handling relapses. Pharmacological treatments involve giving a patient a special type of medication to help him or her overcome withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings.

If you are worried about becoming addicted to a drug prescribed for you, this most likely will not happen. Doctors know how much medication to prescribe so that you do not receive too much. The prescribed drug for you will be the correct amount and the drug will relieve your symptoms without making you addicted. If a doctor prescribes a pain medication, stimulant or CNS depressant, follow the directions exactly. Keep all your doctor’s appointments. Your doctor will monitor how well the medication works for you and will make necessary adjustments. Some medicines will need to be stopped or changed after a while so the person does not become addicted. Follow all the instructions given regarding drugs and activities you should avoid while taking your prescription medication. Despite of how do you feel consult your physician at first to increase or decrease the dosage of your medication.

Are You a Hydrocodone Addict?

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Increased usage of hydrocodone is being noted as a growing trend in recent days as addiction to Hydrocodone is a very common issue due to the trouble-free availability of this drug. It is often consumed with other drugs that are not severely restricted and these mixtures usually come in the form of painkillers that are prescribed by doctors. Some of the common preparations that are used are Vicodin and Lortab. Medications containing Hydrocodone can come in tablet; capsule or syrup forms and all preparations are taken orally. In its pure form it is very hard to obtain, because of its addictive nature.The symptoms of addiction are anxiousness to take the drug and the need to take more of the drug to get the desired effect. To feed their addiction, many addicts go from doctor to doctor faking the severity of a condition in order to obtain the medication. Some resort to criminal behavior such as breaking into pharmacies to steal the medication or forging prescriptions. After prolonged usage, Hydrocodone begins to control the brain to make itself the highest priority. This makes the addict compelled to use the drug to gain pleasure from it. Hydrocodone addiction is a physical habit as well as a psychological habit. It is rare that an addict can quit this addiction on his or her own. In order to obtain help, an addict must seek treatment from a medical professional.

Treatment for Hydrocodone Addicts:

Treatment for addicts consists first of detoxification to rid the body of the drug. Once this is accomplished, the patient can be given treatments such as methadone and LAAM. These are much the same as the treatments used for heroin addicts. During this treatment period, there is often counseling offered for the psychological damage sustained while taking Hydrocodone over a long period. Hydrocodone also has many common side effects such as light-headedness, nausea, drowsiness, euphoria and vomiting. Some of the less common side effects may include allergic reactions, blood disorders, anxiety, lethargy, difficulty urinating, breathing difficulties and rashes.

It is not recommended that pregnant women take this drug, as the effects on the unborn fetus are unknown. It is also recommended that alcohol be avoided as there is an increased risk of liver damage and overdosing causing hapatotoxicity. Alcohol is often mixed with Hydrocodone preparations because of the feelings of euphoria or drowsiness that are experienced. It is recommended that if you feel you may either be at risk of addiction or you are already addicted, you should seek the advice of a doctor immediately. He or she can help you approach this problem with helpful advice and treatment. There are a number of support groups are available to counsel and assist families of addicts to understand the addiction, so you can seek the help of these support groups if your loved one is addicted.