Answer Addiction

Tag: opioid addiction

  • Opioids Improved Her Life, But Withdrawals Were Hell

    Opioids Improved Her Life, But Withdrawals Were Hell

    “I was afraid. I knew these drugs were heroin in another form. But after I started, I instantly regretted having waited so long.”

    By the time Madora Pennington was 13, she was living with extreme pain. Pennington was born with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a painful genetic disorder that left her suicidal by the time she was 20.

    Although she knew about the dangers of powerful prescription opioids, she felt she had no other option that could improve her quality of life.

    “Instead of following through with suicide plans, I spoke with my doctor, who prescribed me opiates,” Pennington wrote for The Los Angeles Times. She began taking Vicodin, morphine and a muscle relaxant every night.

    “I was afraid. I knew these drugs were heroin in another form,” she wrote. “But after I started, I instantly regretted having waited so long.”

    Living With Less Pain

    The opioids allowed Pennington to live with much less pain. For the first time, she was able to make progress in physical therapy, because her body had space to heal. Still, she recognized the powerful allure of the drugs. 

    “At night, when I took my tiny pills, I was transported to a realm where there are no problems. It felt so fake, so obviously chemically induced, but deeply soothing, nonetheless,” Pennington wrote. 

    Her doctor had warned her that she may never be able to quit morphine once she started. However, Pennington told herself that she would do anything she could to get off opioids once her pain and symptoms were under control. When she had the chance, she did just that. 

    “Per the medical definition, I was not an addict. I was never drug-seeking, never doctor shopping, never secretly taking more than I said, never taking for emotional relief. I reduced my intake as my Ehlers-Danlos improved,” she wrote.

    Time To Taper

    Her pharmacist warned her to taper her opioids extremely slowly. Still, Pennington felt unprepared for the physical and emotional symptoms she experienced as she worked to reduce her opioid intake.

    “In a life filled with pain, even I never knew such anguish could exist,” she explained. She was experiencing extreme stomach pain, emotional outbursts and jitters. “I stopped titrating and parked my dose where it was, too sick to go lower,” Pennington wrote.

    When Philip Seymour Hoffman left rehab and fatally overdosed in 2014, Pennington says she understood. 

    A doctor suggested that Pennington stay on low-dose opioids forever, but “that made me furious,” she wrote. “I wanted to be free.”

    She decided to start tapering again, as quickly as she could handle. “I stopped trying to get anything done and steeled myself for the unending agony,” she wrote.

    In 2014, Pennington was officially free from opioids. She had reached her goal and felt great physically, but writes that “the empty low was indescribable.”

    Low-Dose Naltrexone Became A Viable Option

    Finally, she was able to connect with a provider who gave her low-dose naltrexone to help ease the residual effects of opioid withdrawal. Now, she shares her experience on her website to highlight both the importance and dangerous power of opioids.

    “As someone born genetically destined to suffer, I don’t quibble over hypotheticals,” Pennington writes. “It’s no one’s fault that chronic pain is so difficult to treat. I wish I’d had better advice for opiate recovery. I wish I could have gotten to my life now sooner, where I enjoy getting up every day and doing what I want. But I made it here because of the relief I got from opiates. Yes, it was worth it.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Tennessee Overdose Rates Hit Five-Year High

    Tennessee Overdose Rates Hit Five-Year High

    The increase in overdose deaths comes despite the fact that prescriptions for opioids have been drastically reduced in the state.

    Fatal drug overdose rates in Tennessee reached a five-year high in 2018, despite efforts in the state to drastically cut down on opioid prescribing.

    Data released by the Tennessee Department of Health showed that 1,818 people died of drug overdoses in the state last year, Fox17 Nashville reported. That gives the state an overall overdose rate of 27.4 per 100,000 deaths. Opioids accounted for 19.9 per 100,000.

    The increase in overdose deaths comes despite the fact that prescriptions for opioids have been drastically reduced in the state, from 622,083 in 2014 to 440,473 last year.

    Multiple Overdose Waves Have Hit The State In 2019

    Still, officials in Tennessee are dealing with an ongoing crisis on the ground. In August, officials in one county reported 16 overdoses within 24 hours. Five of those overdoses were fatal. In May, Memphis police reported that they had responded to 12 overdoses in 24 hours, with seven deaths in seven days throughout Shelby County.

    Police Col. Paul Wright said that synthetic opioids were to blame for the deaths.

    “If you use drugs that are laced with fentanyl, if you use fentanyl, you will die,” he said.

    He urged people not to use drugs alone, and reminded them that they could call for help without fearing repercussions if they were concerned about someone overdosing.

    He said, “We’re not about picking up a user. If you are a user, don’t be scared to call for assistance.”

    Wright also urged users and their loved ones to carry opioid overdose reversal drugs.

    “If you have a family member, or you are a user, of opioids, you need to get trained on Narcan,” he said.

    National Overdose Rate Is Declining

    Overdose data from 2018 is just beginning to be released, and national data is not yet available. Yet, preliminary data has indicated that the national overdose rate fell about 5% last year, the first time in decades that there has been a decrease in fatal overdoses.

    “It looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, an opioid researcher, told The New York Times.

    The progress has been uneven across the country, however. While some areas, like Tennessee, have reported increased overdose rates, others are seeing some progress in the fight against opioid addiction.

    In New York City, for example, fatal overdoses dropped 2.6% from 2017 to 2018. That left officialls cautiously optimistic.

    “The decrease in drug overdose deaths is promising, but far too many New Yorkers are still dying” New York Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said, according to NBC News.

    Pennsylvania had an impressive 18% decrease in fatal overdoses during 2018. Officials credit increased access to treatment and widespread availability of naloxone for reducing the overdose death rate and the overall overdose rate.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Senator Urged AGs To Accept Settlement While On Sackler Payroll, Source Says

    Senator Urged AGs To Accept Settlement While On Sackler Payroll, Source Says

    Allegations surrounding Luther Strange’s role in the opioid settlements have created a deeper partisan divide.

    The opioid epidemic has been claiming lives across the country and affecting families no matter their socioeconomic status, race or political affiliation. And yet, a partisan divide has emerged in regards to the settlement with Purdue Pharma, thanks in part to one prominent Republican who was working with the Sacklers, the family that owns Purdue. 

    Conflict Of Interest

    NPR reported that Luther Strange, former Alabama attorney general and senator for that state, was working as a lawyer for the Sacklers at the same time that he was urging other Republican attorneys general to accept the proposed settlement deal. 

    At a meeting of the Republican Attorneys General Association, which took place over the summer in West Virginia, Strange allegedly urged attorneys general to accept the settlement with Purdue, while he was on the Sackler’s payroll. 

    Publicly, Strange has spoken out against the hiring of private lawyers to help craft the lawsuits against Big Pharma. He’s also said that using public nuisance laws to pursue companies could have wide-ranging impacts. 

    “I’ve written on this recently because it is a blooming problem and issue around the country,” he said in June. 

    The State Divide

    States are split almost evenly about whether to accept the proposed settlement with Purdue. The settlement would see the Sackler family contribute $3 billion of their personal money, but many attorneys general feel this is not enough, compared with the massive amount of profits that the family pulled from the company. 

    NPR found that opinions on the plan are split largely along part lines. Only two Democratic attorneys general are in favor of the settlement, with 20 opposing it. On the other hand, most Republicans are in favor of the settlement, with some exceptions.

    Richard Ausness studies opioid litigation at the University of Kentucky and says that the partisan divide can be explained by underlying differences about the purpose of the settlement. 

    He said, “Some of the Democratic politicians, more so than the Republicans, are on a crusade. This is a moral issue for them, not just simply a matter of economics. They want to punish the drug companies for what they did, and not simply make a deal with them.”

    Ausness pointed out that Republicans are less likely to want to sue companies, and that they have traditionally been more closely aligned with Big Pharma. 

    Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, a Republican, was widely praised for securing a $270 million settlement with Purdue Pharma and a ruling in favor of the state against Johnson & Johnson. While Hunter has secured millions in funding for his state, he was criticized by his party and was nearly defeated in a recent primary. 

    Over the summer, Hunter said, “It’s been tough. The extent to which this lawsuit was part of the discussion during the election was certainly regrettable. That was something that certainly gave me pause.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Judge Orders Pause On Suits Against Sacklers, Purdue

    Judge Orders Pause On Suits Against Sacklers, Purdue

    The Sacklers had asked for a months-long stay on lawsuits while they dealt with Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy. 

    A federal judge has put a temporary hold on further lawsuits of Purdue Pharma or the Sackler family, but not as long of a hold as the Sacklers wanted. 

    Robert D. Drain, a bankruptcy judge based in New York, is overseeing the proceedings for Purdue (the maker of OxyContin), part of the company’s settlement in opioid litigation. Drain put a stay in place that will last until November 6.

    According to the New York Times, Drain said that this will keep the parties from unnecessary spending on litigation, but also ensure that the settlement is moving forward. 

    States that oppose the settlement agreement are trying to go after the Sacklers’ personal wealth, which the states argue was gained through their company’s harmful and possibly illegal marketing practices.

    The Sacklers Wanted A Longer Stay To Deal With Bankruptcy

    The Sacklers are contributing $3 billion to the settlement, but states argue that is little compared to the amount the company profited from OxyContin and other prescription drugs. The Sacklers asked for a months-long stay on lawsuits while they dealt with the bankruptcy. 

    The judge, it seemed, ruled in the middle. During the seven-hour hearing, Drain emphasized that the bankruptcy court could craft a binding agreement that would help states reach their ultimate goal: getting damages to help them cover the costs of the opioid crisis. He said that Purdue (and the Sacklers) would not be able to use delay tactics in his court. 

    Midway through the hearing, the Times reported that Drain shouted, “No one wastes time in front of me! Everyone, the debtor first and foremost, would engage in good faith.” 

    Learning From The Big Tobacco Settlement

    Drain pointed out that his court has the power to make a settlement that will dictate what the funds are used for. He pointed out that this could help avoid issues like those that happened with the tobacco settlement, where funds that were intended for smoking prevention were instead used to cover general budget shortcomings. 

    “That could not happen in a bankruptcy plan, because a bankruptcy plan is binding,” he said. 

    The states agreed to voluntarily abide by Drain’s decision, since a federal judge cannot compel states to a certain action. By November 6, the states will have more information from the Sacklers and Purdue, including how much, exactly, the family profited, said William Tong, Connecticut’s Attorney General. 

    “We are disappointed by the court’s ruling, but pleased that it is limited in time to less than 30 days,” he said. “We will use this time to ensure that we get access to the Sacklers’ financial information and will be ready on Nov. 6 to make our case to hold Purdue and the Sacklers accountable.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ibogaine: Promising Addiction Treatment or Snake Oil?

    Ibogaine: Promising Addiction Treatment or Snake Oil?

    The induced vivid hallucinations and memories of childhood and formative experiences seem to be the key to ibogaine’s effectiveness in treating addiction, but experts don’t fully understand its mechanisms.

    With the rise in interest of various psychedelic drugs for a range of conditions (MDMA for PTSD, and ketamine and psilocybin mushrooms for treatment-resistant depression, to name a few), it seems only fair that we should pay serious attention to other substances in this family that might treat other conditions.

    Introducing ibogaine. Well, not quite introducing. The fairly-obscure African plant, used traditionally in Gabon, was first patented in the United States for use in treating opioid addiction in 1985. Unlike common street drugs such as MDMA (“ecstasy,” “molly”), ibogaine does not have the reputation of being known as a club drug.

    Like Years of Therapy in One Day

    But Ibogaine is still relatively unknown, despite a guest appearance in an early episode of Homeland. When I have advocated for its use in combating our nation’s opioid crisis, most of the responses range from a confused “What?” to an inquisitive “Oh, yeah. I’ve heard of that.” It isn’t a cheap thrill, something folks are clamoring to ingest. People who have found relief with the African root-bark have compared it to receiving years of therapy in the course of one day. The induced vivid hallucinations and memories of childhood and formative experiences seem to facilitate the process of overcoming addictions, even if it isn’t an automatic or guaranteed cure.

    However, that doesn’t mean it’s free of stigma. The federal government classifies it as schedule one – right up there with heroin, the addiction it is most well-known for treating, despite having “no medical use” according to the law. Statistics vary, with some rates as low as 20 percent. Other data shows  61% abstinence, eight months after treatment.

    So, what’s the issue? If this plant boasts a higher success rate than Suboxone (8.6%, once Suboxone use is discontinued), why is it only available outside the U.S.? Why are we not allowing a treatment method that people with opioid use disorder have touted as the thing that saved their lives?

    Why Is Ibogaine Illegal in the U.S.?

    Some of the fault lies with the media. Much like with LSD, clinical studies are slow and evolution of public consciousness is slower. Most of what we see in the news is negative and exaggerated. As with anything, there are risks. Up to 30 deaths have been documented. When people with other health problems related to addiction are treated by those without medical training, death rates can be as high as three percent. In healthy folks, that same rate is around .3%. 

    But when much of what you see in the news and on television is people panicking, convulsing, or dying, it’s tough to form a well-rounded opinion. We are emotional creatures, and even with positive perspectives from people who swear by their experiences, we can’t get the negative images out of our minds for long enough to consider the benefits of ibogaine treatment. 

    Many of the risks involve heart issues. Most psychedelics function as stimulants, raising the heart rate, but ibogaine can be especially cardiotoxic. Ibogaine affects electricity in the heart and could potentially result in dangerous arrhythmias or bradycardia (low heart rate). Because of this and any other possible risks, legitimate clinics pre-screen patients and offer a small test dose to evaluate the effects. Based on the results, they decide if a full dose will be safely tolerated. 

    Like Other Hallucinogenics, Proven Benefits but Not a Panacea

    The substance seems to work due to the uniqueness of the experience. I’ve read multiple accounts of people having vivid visions of the choices they made, and how they’ve arrived at this particular point in their life. This type of experience seems to be the key to its effectiveness in treating severe opioid and alcohol addictions, but experts don’t fully understand its mechanisms.

    And yet, even with its proven benefits, it’s not a panacea. The person with the addiction cannot just visit a clinic, have an ibogaine experience, and expect to return home without changing anything. There is still a rate of relapse, because they haven’t worked on the external triggers. They must still tackle their disease in a proactive way, which may include altering their life and addressing what led to using in the first place.

    Unlike commonly-used routes of getting off opioids – substitution medications such as methadone and Suboxone – ibogaine doesn’t require a patient to remain on another drug, taking it day in and day out to avoid experiencing cravings or going into withdrawal. Ibogaine seems to work by disrupting the receptors associated with addictive behaviors, as was witnessed in one 2015 study on its efficacy in opioid addiction.

    Scientists found that the substance (which, I learned, doesn’t always produce the talked-about hallucinogenic effects that led to its illegal status) acts on receptors such as dopamine and serotonin, which are linked to addiction and the brain’s reward system. Other psychedelics that are currently being studied for their effects on mental illness and addiction – such as MDMA and psilocybin mushrooms – make use of these same receptors. What makes ibogaine unique is that, rather than attaching to receptors on the outside of a cell membrane, it attaches to the inside. This mechanism seems to be unique to ibogaine; it has not been observed in any other naturally occurring molecule.

    Legal Status of Treatment Creates Financial Barrier and Increased Risk

    A major barrier to receiving an ibogaine treatment is the prohibitive cost. A single week of treatment in Mexico costs $5,000, and that’s after the price of a plane ticket. In Canada, the price for a ten-day round is $8,000. As a result, it’s not an option that’s available to most people in need of addiction treatment.

    We must legalize it here. International travel, necessary funds, time off from your job to recover – all these restrictions make it virtually impossible for the average person with treatment-resistant addiction to crack the barriers of that final, desperate chance at a life beyond drugs or alcohol.

    There is a strong, tight-knit movement of psychedelic therapists, but due to the criminalized status of what should be viewed as medicine, those involved with administering these substances remain underground, increasing risks. Even though many of these practitioners are medical doctors, they work without the support of a hospital or facility. While their willingness to practice this medicine outside of the law is a testament to their belief in its efficacy, it also means they are less able to quickly and safely address problems that may come up.

    Who knows what the genuine death toll of ibogaine is in the U.S.? It’s not likely that underground doctors are reporting these deaths to nurses and other hospital staff. If so, they’d be discovered, in turn ruining their careers and possibly derailing the entire growing movement. At least, that’s what instinct tells me. If nothing else, with the substance legalized, fewer deaths and injuries would occur due to more rigorous testing and administering – and consequently fewer accidents would happen as well.

    Ibogaine has shown lasting benefits in treating addiction, as many people attest. One patient was quoted as saying: “It’s not just [that] it gets you off the heroin, it’s like, it hits the reset button — that’s the only way to really explain it. It’s like a new brain.” Shouldn’t we be listening to the voices of people who have actually been there, rather than tossing their words to the wind and sticking with what hasn’t worked?

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • DEA Was "Slow To Respond" To Opioid Crisis, Report Reveals

    DEA Was "Slow To Respond" To Opioid Crisis, Report Reveals

    According to a watchdog report, the DEA allowed the drug crisis to reach a level that could have been prevented.

    The DEA could have done more to blunt the impact of the national opioid crisis, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives in the U.S. since 2000, according to a new report.

    The “harsh” report—released by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, which is responsible for auditing the DEA—found that despite rising opioid abuse being reported early on before the full-blown epidemic emerged, the DEA failed to act in a timely manner, allowing the drug crisis to reach a level that could have been prevented.

    “DEA is responsible for regulating opioid production quotas and investigating its illegal diversion,” said inspector general Michael E. Horowitz in a video summarizing the report’s findings. “We found that DEA was slow to respond to this growing public health crisis and that its regulatory and enforcement efforts could have been more effective.”

    Opioid Manufacturing Skyrocketed From 1999 To 2016

    The report noted that from 1999-2016, despite increasing reports of opioid abuse, the amount of opioid manufacturing authorized by the agency “also increased dramatically during that same time.”

    It should be noted that during this time period, a number of high-profile events occurred that established opioid abuse as a national public health crisis. From 1997-2002, OxyContin prescriptions for non-cancer related pain increased from 670,000 in 1997 (a year after OxyContin went on the market) to about 6.2 million in 2002, according to a timeline provided in the report.

    In 2007, Purdue Pharma and three company executives pleaded guilty to charges of false branding of OxyContin and were fined $634 million. Meanwhile, the rate of drug overdoses, fueled by opioid abuse, surged.

    Too Little, Too Late

    The agency waited until recent years to scale back opioid production. “It wasn’t until 2017 that DEA significantly reduced the production quota for oxycodone by 25%,” the report noted.

    The report did acknowledge the agency’s recent efforts to tighten up enforcement of drug diversion (when prescription drugs end up being abused in a way it was not intended) but said that more work is needed overall.

    The inspector general offered a list of nine recommendations to improve the DEA’s opioid response. They include developing a comprehensive national strategy that involves better cooperation between federal and local authorities and timely monitoring of emerging drug abuse trends, among others.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • FDA, DEA Warn Sites To Stop Selling Opioids

    FDA, DEA Warn Sites To Stop Selling Opioids

    The government agencies partnered to issue a joint warning to rogue online pharmacies. 

    The Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration have issued formal warning letters to websites that illegally sold opioid pain pills, including pills given to people without prescriptions. 

    “As the FDA works to forcefully tackle the opioid crisis on all fronts, we cannot allow rogue online pharmacies to continue to fuel the crisis by illegally offering opioids for sale and circumventing the important safeguards that have been put in place for opioids to help protect the public health,” said acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless in a press release. 

    Joint Warnings

    Sharpless pointed out that the letters were the first of their kind because they brought the two federal agencies together. 

    “Today’s effort is also noteworthy because while the FDA partners regularly with the DEA, this is the first time we have issued joint warning letters with them,” he said. “This action further strengthens the warning to the operators of these websites. We remain committed to using all available regulatory and enforcement tools to stop the illicit flow of opioids online.”

    According to the press release, the 10 websites that received warnings were selling opioids online without following federal regulations. 

    “The products, while being marketed as authentic, may be counterfeit, contaminated, expired or otherwise unsafe,” the agencies said in the news release. 

    Other Types Of Fraud

    Although authorities are most concerned about the physical harm that these websites can cause, doing business with them can expose consumers to a host of other issues as well. 

    “In addition to health risks, illegal online pharmacies can pose other risks to consumers, including credit card fraud, identity theft and computer viruses,” the agencies warned. 

    The letters demanded that the pharmacies stop selling products to American consumers immediately. They also required the companies to respond within 15 days detailing the steps that they will take to curb the violations that were outlined in the letters. If the companies fail to respond, they could face legal action. 

    Issuing warning letters is a way for the FDA to intervene when a company is doing something illegal or harmful. Earlier this year the agency issued a warning letter to the drug manufacturer McKesson after it shipped “illegitimate” opioids.

    Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon said that by working together, the DEA and FDA are able to increase their enforcement capabilities. 

    “Issuing these warning letters is not only an effort to deter the availability of dangerous illegal opioids, but it is also a testament to the close cooperation between DEA and FDA,” he said. “We will continue to attack organizations that facilitate the sale of dangerous drugs, putting profit over public safety.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Nikki Sixx Pens New Song About Addiction Stigma, Opioid Abuse

    Nikki Sixx Pens New Song About Addiction Stigma, Opioid Abuse

    The song is part of the National Opioid Action Coalition’s campaign to end the stigma surrounding addiction.

    Motley Crue founder Nikki Sixx has a well-storied history of addiction and recovery, and with his current band, Sixx:A.M., he’s composed a new song, “Talk To Me,” which deals with opioids and the stigma surrounding addiction.

    Earlier this year, Sixx tweeted, “We are very proud of something we just wrote/recorded. It will be part of a campaign helping in the fight against the opioid epidemic worldwide.”

    Ending Stigma

    As Blabbermouth reports, the song is named after a hashtag, #TalktoMe, launched by the National Opioid Action Coalition, which is hoping to eventually eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction.

    As Sixx tweeted, “#TalktoMe is a movement by National Opioid Coalition to use the power of conversation to overcome stigma plaguing opioid use disorder. Join us in conversation.”

    Sixx, the chief lyricist of Motley Crue and SixxA.M., wrote in one verse, “Look at your hands as you’re dripping those pills. You dance with the stigma, then wake up in chills. You’re not alone. Not alone. Don’t be afraid to survive. You know you can. Talk to me. I’ll be right by your side.”

    Sixx Moderated A Conversation About The Opioid Crisis

    In addition to releasing the song, Sixx also moderated a panel organized by Advertising Week, where influencers, government and global business executives have talked openly about what can be done about the opioid crisis, and the stigma surrounding it.

    Having struggled with addiction throughout his life, Sixx has been outspoken about the opioid crisis. Last month, he told MSNBC, “People are talking about it, and they’re not hiding in the shadows anymore. Addiction is horrible, but suffering in silence is even worse. [Awareness] is the number one thing.”

    Sixx has been especially worried about how easily people can access opioids through prescriptions and unethical doctors.

    “It’s the prescription thing that’s really severely scary to me,” he said. “It’s the scariest. I had to go to the street to get it. We were just partying, and then it turned into addiction. But now the kids are just talking, just carrying in their pocket. It is a pill. You can wrap it up in a tissue, stick in their backpack and no one knows. It’s not like a syringe…So there’s a lot of opportunity for really horrible things to happen in secret. A lot of the young kids are getting into it and they’re trading it in the schoolyard.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Michigan Reduces Opioids After Surgery, Patients Fare Fine

    Michigan Reduces Opioids After Surgery, Patients Fare Fine

    A new study examined information on patient satisfaction and outcomes in the seven months following the release of new opioid prescription guidelines in the state.

    The state of Michigan implemented opioid prescribing guidelines that resulted in people receiving fewer painkillers after surgery—but patients taking fewer pills did not experience more pain after procedures, according to a new study. 

    The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, looked at information on patient satisfaction and outcomes in the seven months following the release of new opioid prescription guidelines in Michigan. The study examined results for nearly 12,000 patients, and found that the average number of pills patients were given following a surgery was reduced from 26 to 18. 

    Controlling The Numbers

    Despite the drastic reduction, patients reported “no clinically important changes in pain scores,” the study authors found. 

    Study author Dr. Joceline Vu, a surgical resident at the University of Michigan, said that controlling the number of opioids people are given after a surgery can help reduce their risk for long-term use, and can help avoid introducing people to opioids. 

    “For healthy people, surgery may be the first time they are exposed to opioids,” she told ABC News. 

    On average, Michigan physicians prescribed eight fewer opioids per patient after the guidelines were released. Patients took, on average, three fewer pain pills. The percentage of prescriptions that were for fewer pills increased from 20% to 59% during the seven months of the study. 

    Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, who has studied the opioid epidemic as a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that the study shows that changing recommendations can have a real impact on doctors’ habits. 

    “The results here are promising,” he said. “Most [physicians] prescribe by routine, and changing those routines is hard. This shows that some changes are possible. It is important that this study be read, and people realize that changes are possible.” 

    Before the statewide guidelines were issued by the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, there was no standard that doctors could turn to for guidance on how many opioids to prescribe. Vu explained that doctors always wanted to be sure patients had enough pain pills, so that patients would report that they were satisfied with their surgical experience. Having lower patient satisfaction could affect ratings for doctors and hospitals, she noted. 

    However, the study found that patients did not experience increased pain levels when they were given fewer opioids. This shows that reducing the number of opioids prescribed is an effective way to mitigate the risks of opioids, without compromising patient comfort, the researchers say. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How Can I Find Luxury Hycet Rehab?

    How Can I Find Luxury Hycet Rehab?

    Use this guide to find out all you need to know about Hycet and Hycet addiction.

    1. What is Hycet and What Is It Used For?
    2. How to Take Hycet?
    3. What Precautions Should Be Followed?
    4. What Are The Side Effects of Hycet?
    5. What Is Hycet Addiction and Abuse?
    6. What Are the Slang Names for Hycet?
    7. What Are the Signs of Hycet Addiction?
    8. What Is Hycet Withdrawal?
    9. What Are Hycet Withdrawal Symptoms?
    10. How to Treat Hycet Addiction?
    11. How to Find the Best Hycet Rehab Care?
    12. Conclusion

    What is Hycet and What Is It Used For?

    Hycet is a medicine that is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. It contains two pain relievers, hydrocodone and acetaminophen. While hydrocodone changes how our brain perceives and reacts to pain in order to manage it, acetaminophen aids in reducing fever. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever, and acetaminophen is a non-opioid pain reliever. Both these ingredients of Hycet help in tackling pain.

    Hycet contains an opioid pain-relieving agent, which is why it’s not available without a doctor’s prescription. Hycet is not supposed to be used by children below the age of 6 since the medicine may exhibit increased risks of hydrocodone side effects, like shallow or slow breathing.

    How to Take Hycet?

    Hycet is available in two forms: tablet form and liquid form. When you take the tablet form of Hycet, you can simply swallow it with a glass of water. You can take Hycet with or without food. If you experience mild side effects like nausea and vomiting, you should try taking Hycet after having a meal. Doing that may help avoid these side effects. However, if you still feel nauseous, you can try lying down for a bit soon after taking the medicine. You can also talk to your doctor about what can be done to reduce these side effects if you feel they’re getting out of hand.

    When using the liquid form of the medicine, make it a point to only use the measuring cup that comes with Hycet. This is to ensure that you only administer Hycet in the exact dose as prescribed by the doctor. Using other ways of measuring, like spoons, can deliver an incorrect dose. This would directly influence the effects that Hycet delivers through either Hycet overdose or an underdose.

    When you take Hycet, make sure you follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Read the leaflet that comes along with the medicine carefully so that you know how to administer the medicine exactly.

    What Precautions Should Be Followed? 

    Before you take any medicine, it’s important to know what precautions need to be taken, especially when taking prescription medications, like Hycet. Here’s a list of precautions to be taken if you’re taking the Hycet tablet or liquid.

    • Hycet is generally prescribed for acute pain. Doctors usually prescribe other opioid painkillers for long-term pain caused by conditions like cancer. So, when using two or more painkillers for your condition, make sure you ask your doctor how to administer all the medicines to avoid any chances of drug interaction.
    • The doctor generally runs a complete health check to figure out whether or not it would be suitable to prescribe Hycet. So, make it a point to discuss with your doctor any health problems that you have or any other medication that you’re already taking. Hycet may worsen the symptoms of certain health conditions and may also interact with other medicines. This makes it important to discuss your medical history as well as your current health status with the doctor.
    • Since Hycet contains hydrocodone—an opioid analgesic—it’s always recommended to be aware of the dosage. Also, the medicine is prescribed in certain doses based on the medical condition of the patient, their weight, and many other factors. Make sure you always stick to the exact dose as prescribed by your doctor. Opioid medicines carry a high risk of addiction, particularly when taken for long stretches of time . So, patients are instructed to follow the course properly and to stop taking the medication once the course is completed.
    • Hycet may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision in some individuals. Therefore, it’s recommended not to perform any tasks that require you to focus. Avoid driving, operating machines, or lifting heavy objects when you take Hycet.
    • If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure you talk to your doctor about it before taking this medication. This is because Hycet has the potential to cause harm to a fetus or nursing baby as it may also pass to the baby through breastmilk and cause some serious side effects. Thus, pregnant women and those who breastfeed should be extra cautious, and the medication should only be prescribed if it’s clearly needed.

    What Are The Side Effects of Hycet?

    While Hycet can cause some common, mild side effects, it may on rare occasions, cause more serious ones. It’s important to know these side effects so that if you experience any, you are in a position to identify and address them when you talk to your doctor. Here’s a list of both mild and severe side effects that you should know:

    Mild side effects

    • Vomiting
    • Nausea
    • Constipation
    • Dizziness
    • Drowsiness

    Upon experiencing nausea and dizziness, it’s advised to lie down for a while and get out of bed slowly when you arise. To avoid constipation, drink a lot of water and eat food that is rich in fiber. You can also talk to your doctor about it and get a laxative prescribed.

    Serious side effects

    • Confusion
    • Hallucinations
    • Allergic reaction (itching, swelling, rashes)
    • Trouble breathing
    • Loss of appetite
    • Abdominal pain
    • Fainting

    While these are some of the known side effects of Hycet that are serious in nature, you might experience side effects outside this list as well. Upon experiencing any of these serious side effects, consult your doctor immediately before continuing the course.

    What Is Hycet Addiction and Abuse?

    Hycet contains hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is known for its effects on the brain. People may even experience a feeling of being high or a euphoric feeling when they take Hycet. This effect causes many people to get addicted to the medication. People who develop a Hycet addiction experience a strong and desperate urge to take more Hycet and feel like they can’t do without it. If you feel like you need more Hycet even after you have finished the course, you may be addicted to Hycet.

    It’s important to understand what Hycet addiction is because an addiction can also possibly lead to an overdose. Additionally, an overdose can have the worst of consequences, even leading to death in some cases.

    Besides addiction, Hycet abuse is also a widespread problem. Many people purchase the medication illegally and abuse it. In fact, people have become increasingly vulnerable to opioid drug abuse and addiction. Young people and teens are the sometimes participants in this abuse. What starts as recreational use can soon turn into a vicious cycle.

    What Are the Slang Names for Hycet?

    When people purchase Hycet or any other opioid drug illicitly, they can’t do so by using the real names thereby drawing attention to an illegal transaction. So, for people who abuse Hycet, it makes more sense to use code words that let them make the purchase without catching anybody’s attention, especially law enforcement. Here’s a list of slang names for hydrocodone that are common to drugs like Hycet, which contain the compound.

    • Hydros
    • Tabs
    • Watsons
    • Vics
    • Vicos
    • Vikes
    • 357s
    • Lorris
    • Nirco
    • Perks

    If you hear someone using these terms it may be an indication of Hycet abuse or Hycet addiction.

    What Are the Signs of Hycet Addiction?

    You can find out if a person is experiencing Hycet addiction if you notice some of the symptoms listed below. First of all, if you know that a patient has been prescribed Hycet for pain, taking it for a long period of time can cause addiction. If a person who takes Hycet over a long duration experiences the following symptoms on a regular basis, you can assume that the person may be addicted to Hycet or other hydrocodone medicines.

    • Extreme happiness and euphoria
    • Numbness
    • Lethargy and laziness
    • Reduced sense of stress
    • Taking too much time to complete tasks
    • Buying Hycet illegally
    • Taking Hycet even after the course has been completed

    What Is Hycet Withdrawal?

    Hycet withdrawal is experienced when our body gets used to a certain level of the drug,, and as we stop taking Hycet, we experience some undesirable side effects. Hycet withdrawal symptoms can be experienced both by patients who are on Hycet and those who abuse the medicine because of an addiction problem.

    This is why it’s always important that you strictly follow the prescribed doses and do not take the medication for a long time. The hydrocodone found in Hycet attaches itself to the opioid receptors in our brains. Thus, we develop a tolerance for Hycet after a certain period of time. This means we would need more Hycet or other hydrocodone medicine in a higher dose for it to have the same effect as before.

    Our bodies also get used to the presence of Hycet in our bloodstream. However, once we stop taking the medication, our bodies don’t get the required amounts of it, which causes unpleasant Hycet withdrawal symptoms. There are many patients who keep taking Hycet just to escape the withdrawal symptoms and end up getting addicted to it.

    This is why doctors always lower the dosage of the medication gradually so that the body is able to adapt to having less of it in the bloodstream. So when the patient finally stops taking Hycet, they experience withdrawal symptoms on a level that is more tolerable and manageable. This implies that if you follow your doctor’s instructions properly, there is less of a chance of experiencing Hycet withdrawal symptoms. However, withdrawal symptoms can be an issue if people abuse Hycet or take it for longer than they are supposed to, or if they have it in higher doses than recommended.

    What Are Hycet Withdrawal Symptoms?

    When a person stops taking Hycet suddenly, he may experience the following withdrawal side effects:

    • Chills
    • Shivering
    • Insomnia
    • Anxiety
    • Hallucinations
    • Vomiting
    • Sweating
    • Depression

    These Hycet withdrawal symptoms are so hard to deal with that it’s very hard for a an addict to stop taking the drug. Hycet withdrawal effects and addiction are closely associated with each other. The problem is often best solved when Hycet addiction is treated while managing the withdrawal symptoms.

    How to Treat Hycet Addiction?

    It’s pretty clear that Hycet addiction needs to be treated in order to avoid bigger and more severe consequences, like death from an overdose. However, it’s also clear that solving this problem on your own can be a very difficult task. While many might believe that addiction can be overcome with willpower, opioid withdrawal causes physiological problems that can’t be tackled with willpower alone.

    Opioid addiction can usually be best treated when you go to a mental health practitioner. Hycet addiction treatment is a very systematic process that takes careful assessment of the condition before providing treatment. While the therapist will impart the best therapy for the problem based on the specific needs of the patient as well as the severity of the problem, a psychiatrist is also able to prescribe certain medicines that help manage the Hycet withdrawal symptoms.

    When we talk about Hycet addiction help, going to a Hycet rehab center is sometimes the best solution. This is because a rehab center lets the health professionals keep a close watch on patients as they monitor their behavior. While outpatient services are also helpful, the rate of relapse is higher with that kind of treatment. However, a Hycet rehab facility that involves a residential (inpatient) treatment helps ensure that the patient doesn’t come into contact with addictive substances.

    Moreover, Hycet rehab facilities house many addiction patients, which makes for a more comfortable environment for people seeking therapy and care. Patients are able to relate to each other and be more motivated to overcome addiction. Thus, for anyone considering opioid addiction treatment, seeking rehab care may be the answer.

    How to Find the Best Hycet Rehab Care?

    While rehab can be useful for treating Hycet addiction, it’s important to select a suitable rehab facility. Different kinds of rehab centers specialize in treating different kinds of addictions. This is important to remember because opioid addiction is very different from alcohol or any other type of addiction. If you go to an alcohol rehab center to help you with your opioid addiction, you may not find it to be a good fit. Opioid addiction causes both mental and physiological problems. Thus, while hunting for Hycet rehab treatment, it is always a good idea to look for one that specializes in treating opioid addiction.

    Another factor that is worth noting is that all rehab facilities are not the same in terms of cost. You can find cheap ones that provide very basic living conditions and promising treatments, and you can also find very expensive ones that provide their patients a luxurious stay. Since the costs involved are mostly about the amenities, you may not want to choose a reab based solely on the costs.

    If the cost seems out of reach, you can always ask your insurance company if they cover Hycet rehab expenses. Insurance companies have become more progressive when it comes to covering addiction treatment these days. Most health insurance policies also cover mental health treatment. So, if your health policy covers rehab expenses, it would be easier for you to cover of the expenses for Hycet rehab.

    Look for a Hycet rehab center that has a good track record. While some centers may talk about their amenities and specialization, the best way to find out if it’s the truth or not is by checking their success rate.

    Conclusion

    It’s always recommended to be precise with dosage when you take an opioid medication like Hycet. Being careful about doses might help you avoid having to go to a Hycet rehab facility. However, even if you go through addiction, drug tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms, your problem can be solved. It’s important to spread awareness about opioid addiction and educate people on how to use opioid medications in the right way. The good news is that people are becoming increasingly aware of the mental health complications caused by opioid dependence and the need for professional treatment. 

    View the original article at thefix.com