Answer Addiction

Tag: recovery

  • An Addicts Mind

    I lay on this bed encased by these walls. sober now.

    I can feel the pain of all my flaws.

    Peaceful and lost in the illusion I slept thru all my loved ones’ cries.

    Even her kind eyes couldn’t keep me from wanting to end my life.

    Caged outside my mind also brings confinement inside.

    My willpower shatters faced with all the brain cells I’ve fried.

    I was captivated by her pinprick of charm.

    Why didn’t God save me from sticking her into my arm?

    How could a bag bring such pleasure and pain?

    I still sit N stare, insanely at my veins.

    The bruises of this Lust affair dance up n down my body.

    Track marks tell the world far too much about me.

    Only time I felt Joy was with the pull of the plunger.

    Within the next few seconds, a nodded out slumber.

    Blue in the Lips N White in the Face.

    But with a shot or 2 of Narcan, it becomes just another day.

    Awakening startled I just overdosed, Yet still cursing at the E.M.T…

    “Next time just let me Go!”

    This tragedy to U has become my Life, U see?

    Inside I feel I’m No One.

    Just a junkie In long sleeves.

    I’ve become the monster U all made me out to be.

    And with a needle and a spoon, I’d nod my way to peace.

    Sleep away the day and steady search thru the nite.

    The daily fucking routine of a stupid dope heads Life.

    I snatch the mirror that I see myself in off the wall.

    As I looked inside I loathed the person that I saw.

    Sometimes in my Heart creeps a tiny bit of hope.

    I wish upon a star for the power to just stop shooting dope.

    But then Bam reality hits.

    So I’ve stopped throwing pennies and seeking shooting stars.

    Because I’ve learned prayers don’t get answered for those who are the likes of ours…

    “THIS IS A HEROIN ADDICT’S MIND”
    “Or at least this addicts mind”

    HOWEVER, IF YOU FIRST LISTEN TO YOUR HEART AND EMBRACE CHANGE, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR THINKING AND USE IT AS YOUR COCOON. AND I PROMISE IF YOU DO THIS CONFIDENTLY AND PATIENTLY THEN U2 WILL EMERGE AND FLY LIKE A BUTTERFLY.LEAViNG OLD REGRETS BEHIND AND NEW MEMORIES AHEAD.

    mwah

    Luv y’all

    Michael Henry Roberts

  • Jersey Shore: 'The Situation' Congratulates Ronnie on Recovery

    Jersey Shore: 'The Situation' Congratulates Ronnie on Recovery

    Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino congratulated co-star Ronnie on staying with his recovery on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

    Jersey Shore became a big hit on MTV, and now that it’s returned as Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino is congratulating Ronnie Ortiz-Magro on his sobriety.

    Sorrentino had to make the call from prison, where he’s currently serving an eight-month sentence for tax evasion. The scene was captured for Family Vacation, when Sorrentino’s wife Lauren shows up at Ronnie’s Vegas home to help celebrate the one-year birthday of his daughter.

    One Day at a Time

    Ronnie’s wife Jen explains that “everything’s good” in her relationship with Ronnie. “Everything is super chill now” that he went to rehab. Jen then told Lauren, “You went through kind of what I’m going through. It’s just good because [Ronnie is] very calm now. It’s completely changed him. And it’s changing me, because I’m not on edge. Everything has just been really good.”

    “Listen, it’s hard on him and it’s hard on you,” Lauren replied, “because it’s a new world. When you first start recovery, you’re like a newborn. Sometimes the relationship has to take a back-burner.”

    Once ‘The Situation’ speaks to Ronnie on the phone, he congratulates him for getting sober. “I heard that you have a sponsor, you’re doing meetings, and you’re working day at a time at the program, so I’m very proud of you. It works if you work it, buddy.”

    “It’s been good so far,” Ronnie replied. “One day at a time.”

    Life After Rehab

    Early this year, Ortiz-Magro revealed that he entered rehab because he was suffering from depression and alcoholism. “I decided to go to treatment because I wanted to be a better person, a better father for my daughter,” he explained. “Eventually, all the bad decisions I was making were going to lead me to places I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be led to the place that I am now – that’s happy, healthy, and the best role model for my daughter.”

    The Situation himself hit his three-year sobriety mark on December 22 last year. Sorrentino had struggled with painkiller addiction, and he went to rehab in 2012 and 2015. “Being sober really taught me how to just be at peace,” he said. “I live my life today at peace…I mean, everything in my life has changed. I really feel awesome today.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • On Gratitude

    On Gratitude

    Alcohol was the price we paid to pretend that we could feel wonder, when something broken inside of ourselves couldn’t grapple with the fullness of that reality with a clear head and a complete heart.

    Dawn is gratitude’s hour. At least for me that’s been true for the past four years. One of the clichés you’ll hear in recovery is that nobody ever wakes up wishing they’d somehow drunk more the night before. The platitudes of sobriety vary in their efficacy, but that one has always struck me as estimably wise, which is to say useful. It’s true: upon awakening, we never wish we’d gotten drunker the previous night, and if there is one imperative which I’ve learned at close to four years of sobriety, it’s to hang on till that morning sun notches its arrival. You might not always be able to make the days count, but you can at least count the days; and no matter how dark the night, no matter how many times the sweet oblivion promised by Sister Alcohol, the awareness that you made it to another clear-eyed morning is its own form of sanctification. 

    It’s a form of what the poet Raymond Carver, ten years into his sobriety, called “gravy” (others call it “grace”). Carver writes of the simple joy of being “Alive, sober, working, loving, and/being loved.” Rather than the mad scramble or the sinking pit of jittery anxiety, that’s my mornings now. 

    Equal Parts Shakiness and Shamefulness

    Before I got sober there were so many hundreds, thousands, of mornings when I’d startle awake as my hangover shocked my system into consciousness. That blind panic which an old drinking buddy (who knew the score) had christened “The Fear.” Mad fumbling towards a periodically broken flip-phone to see whom I’d bothered by text, the shuffling through of old receipts to fit together the narrative of a hazily remembered bar crawl, the moist, clammy feeling of heavy feet sticking to my hard-wood floor as I booted up my laptop to see what word salad I’d seen fit to post to Facebook or Twitter long after last call. A trail of Yuengling bottles lining a trail from my bed to the couch, where an antique ashtray designed in a faux Byzantine style was overflowing with cigarette butts. Equal parts shakiness and shamefulness. 

    That heavy, hungover feeling where the physical pain was such that the guilt surrounding the reality of how drunk you’d gotten (again) receded to a sort of personal background radiation, at least until you’d rehydrated and could focus on all of your iniquities before happy hour came, and you could do it all over again. What Caroline Knapp describes in her classic Drinking: A Love Story as the phenomenon whereby all that “you’re really aware of after a night like that is the hangover… You may feel a twinge of embarrassment, a pang of worry or despair, but most of the pain is physical in the morning, so you choose to focus on that.” At its worst, The Fear was a surprise visitor, a guest who came unexpectedly after you agreed to stop by for one or five at the bar after work, or who invited himself to Sunday boozy brunch and decided to stay until Monday morning. It’s a sickening feeling, that knowledge that you’d somehow done it again, even if the rest of what you knew was patchy.

    Which is why that hour after I get up makes me feel positively beatified in my new life. In those (often shockingly early!) hours I make coffee that’s too strong and drink too many cups, I take my dog for her morning walk, I listen to The National or The Shins and think deep, contemplative thoughts (or so I pretend). I’m experiencing a type of peace. I’m happy. And most mornings, when I realize the contrast (often helped along by Facebook’s anniversary algorithm), I pause to reflect on a past life, one of painful awakenings and forgotten stumbling. They guarantee that when you quit drinking, you’ll be delivered the life which alcohol had always promised you, but lied about. For me, that guarantee of sobriety has been largely accurate. 

    The Pull of Euphoric Recall

    But sometimes there is that electric pull, a slowing down when walking by a tavern window, hungrily eyeing the bottles of brown liquid behind the bar; or breathing in a bit too deeply when somebody at a bus stop lights a cigarette. Such an attraction to that feeling, to dwell in those moments, is what the old timers call euphoric recall. Maybe a neuroscientist can explain why my brain’s different, the malfunctioning neurons or compulsion for endorphins, but whatever the reasons, the moment ethanol diffuses through my blood, I sit in amazement that not everybody wants to feel that way. 

    There’s a thrum to alcohol through your veins, a magic whereby at some point between the third and fourth cocktail the very world seems to glow from the inside. And you’ll pursue that glancing feeling until you have no feelings left at all. This is a disease: You’ll make drinking your vocation even though it’ll make you miserable; you’ll head off to hold court at the bar even though you rationally know that you’ve got a better than average chance of getting hit by a car as you drunkenly meander home.

    I’ve developed an armor to deal with those moments, and so far, it’s worked well. What polishes that armor, what oils its hinges, is gratitude. I know that that sounds at best abstract and at worst preachy, but gratitude is nothing less than the currency with which I purchase the rest of my life. Explicit in such personal negotiations must be the understanding that, without getting into those tired debates about faith and recovery, I’ve undergone a conversion of sorts. But just as every day I make the decision to not pick up the first drink (and every morning I feel gratitude for at least that fact), so every moment I must occasion that conversion anew. Philosopher Costica Bradatan writes in Dying for Ideas: The Dangerous Lives of Philosophers that the “convert is not a new person, but a renewed one… A convert is the impossible mixture of nostalgia and hope, past and future; in such a soul the fear of a relapse lives side by side with an intense passion for the newly found self.” 

    Reforming your life, living through that conversion, is one thing; being aware, thankful, and grateful for it is what’s necessary to not let it disappear, so that you find yourself sitting with your feet upon the brass rail after twelve pints again. So, what is gratitude then? If it’s just a “Thank You” sent to some higher power, it’s an anemic (though perhaps necessary) thing, for gratitude is not merely sentiment, feeling, or affirmation. Gratitude is an entire way of inhabiting reality; a philosophy, a metaphysic, a method. Specifically, a method of living within the fullness of a moment, an embrace of that shining, luminescent glory of existence that at its most complete undulates with a vibrating glow of wonder. In a word, gratitude is hard. I fear I’m not always the best at it, but of course I go on.

    Cheap Grace

    The problem, if you’re an alcoholic as I am, is that that particular state is very easy to acquire for the price of a shot or several. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian martyred by the Nazis, often castigated what he called “cheap grace,” and the phrase works well for the feeling you think you’re getting once your blood alcohol level rises. Euphoric Recall? I remember sitting in a pub, hitting that sweet spot between the first drink and intoxication, feeling every nick in the grain of the bar’s wood underneath my fingers, and marveling at the beauty of a beer swag neon sign hung up haphazardly near the liquor bottles. In my mind I was positively divine, for alcohol has always been an apt tool in “turning the volume down,” as the author William S. Burroughs used to put it. If you’re a dipsomaniac, that most metaphysical of afflictions, it’s pretty easy to buy benediction at the bar or liquor store. 

    When faux-grace is so cheap, it becomes preferable to doing the hard work of actually experiencing the wonder of existence, the joy in simply being. I’m not sure if alcoholism is all about using liquor to desperately plug a God-shaped hole in the human heart, and just feeling the vodka, scotch, or gin rush out into a splash on the other side, but based on how the damn thing makes you feel, I figure there must be some truth in Carl Jung’s contention that alcoholism is a material solution to a spiritual problem. So frightened are we of abandoning our vices, that we fear sobriety will only offer us mundanity, prosaicness, boredom. Eventually we become possessed by our afflictions, at which point they choose not to abandon us. What Tom Waits, crooning in that sandpaper cigarette voice of his, translated from the poet Rainer Marie Rilke: “If I exorcise my devils, well, my angels may leave too.” Worth mentioning that he’s been sober for 18 years now. 

    If gratitude is not just about feeling thankful (good enough in its own way), but is also a precise method of awareness, of presentness in the moment, it’s helpful to clarify what exactly we felt in those moments when we were enraptured with wine, liquor, and beer. Another one of those helpful clichés for me is, and I paraphrase: “When you’re drunk, you always think something amazing is going to happen in exactly 15 minutes from whatever time it happens to be, but of course that 15 minutes is never over.” That seems exactly correct to me; the illusion of intoxication is something where you never actually feel wonder, just the admittedly powerful sense that wonder is about to occur. The horrible irony of the substance itself is that the drunker you get, the less possible it becomes to be present or appreciative for any actual moments of glory. 

    A Clear Head and Complete Heart

    By contrast, in sobriety there’s no need to wait 15 minutes – wonder is available now. To feel the nicks of wood under fingertips, to acknowledge the cracked transcendence of a neon sign, to feel gratitude at every second of our fallen, flawed, limited, beautiful lives is an issue of simply “cleansing the doors of perception,” as William Blake wrote, so that “everything would appear to man as it is: Infinite.” The irony is that for its reputation, alcohol is a remarkable bad disinfectant for perception. The German philosopher Walter Benjamin, writing of the Kabbalah, said that for believers “every second of time was the strait gait through which the Messiah might enter.” Every second of time is a portal through which awareness, wonder, gratitude may enter. It’s important to remember that, because in forgetting we may return to the easy cheap grace. 

    Knapp explained it in a more elegant way: “There’s something about sober living and sober thinking, about facing long afternoons with the numbing distraction of anesthesia, that… shows you that strength and hope come not from circumstances…. But from the simple accumulation of active experience.” But to have active experience, you have to be present, “When you drink, you can’t do that.” Existence can be overwhelming – simply being can be terrifying. Alcohol was the price we paid to pretend that we could feel wonder, when something broken inside of ourselves couldn’t grapple with the fullness of that reality with a clear head and a complete heart. We have deep grooves in our souls; fractures, fissures, cracks, and crevices. We are broken grails, but our shards can be held together with that cement which, for lack of a better term, we call gratitude.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Find the Best Rehab for Anexsia Addiction

    How to Find the Best Rehab for Anexsia Addiction

    Anexsia is a prescription medication that contains opioid painkillers. Abusing Anexsia can lead to dependence which requires treatment or even rehab.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Anexsia?
    2. How to use Anexsia
    3. What are Anexsia side-effects?
    4. What precautions must be taken?
    5. What causes Anexsia addiction?
    6. Can Anexsia be abused?
    7. What’re the slang names for Anexsia?
    8. What are the Anexsia withdrawal symptoms?
    9. What are the benefits of Anexsia rehab care?
    10. Conclusion

    WHAT IS ANEXSIA?

    Anexsia is a combination-medication for pain which contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. While hydrocodone is an opioid painkiller, acetaminophen is a non-opioid one. Hydrocodone helps in reducing pain by altering how our brain perceives pain and responds to it. While acetaminophen helps in reducing pain, it reduces fever as well.

    Anexsia is a prescription medication as it contains hydrocodone. Upon taking medicines that contain opioid painkillers, like hydrocodone, one may develop tolerance and other problems associated with it. This is why it’s important that you buy Anexsia only when your doctor prescribes you to take it.

    HOW TO USE ANEXSIA

    Anexsia comes in both tablet and liquid form. When using Anexsia in its liquid form, make sure you use the measuring instrument that comes with the liquid to measure the exact dose. Using any other means like a spoon can result in inaccurate doses.

    The Anexsia tablet is supposed to be taken with water. You can take the tablet irrespective of whether you have had a meal or not. However, when you experience side-effects, like nausea and vomiting when taken without meals, try taking the tablet after meals. You can also try lying down for a while after taking the medicine. Both these remedies can help in bringing down nausea. However, if it still persists, talk to your doctor about what can be done.

    Anexsia is prescribed by doctors for severe pain, like that in cancer treatment. It works best when you experience the first signs of pain. It may not work if you take it after the pain worsens. Moreover, if you’re taking any other opioid medication to manage pain, ask your doctor if it’s safe to take both medications without causing an interaction or any side-effects.

    WHAT ARE ANEXSIA SIDE-EFFECTS?

    Anexsia may cause certain side-effects. While not all people witness these side-effects, it differs from person to person. Certainly, there are mild and common side-effects that can be taken care of. However, if you experience any severe and rare side-effect, make it a point to contact your doctor immediately and stop having the medicine until you have consulted your doctor about it.

    MILD SIDE EFFECTS

    • Constipation
    • Dizziness, drowsiness
    • Nausea, vomiting

    If you’re constipated while having Anexsia, it would be better to have more water and a diet rich in fiber. You can also have a laxative as prescribed by your doctor. For nausea and lightheadedness, it’s preferred to get up slowly if you’re lying down. This will reduce the chances of experiencing nausea. If you feel dizzy or drowsy, lie down and don’t perform any task that requires concentration or coordination.

    SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

    • Abdominal pain
    • Allergic reaction (swelling, itching, trouble breathing)
    • Hallucinations
    • Mood changes
    • Loss of appetite
    • Addiction
    • Fainting

    While this is a list of some common yet serious side-effects, you may also experience a serious side-effect outside the list. When you do, immediately contact your doctor. An Anexsia overdose can even cause death in some cases. In the case of an overdose and serious consequences from an overdose, make sure you call the emergency services and seek immediate medical help.

    WHAT PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN?

    It’s apparent that Anexsia can have many serious side-effects. An overdose can even cause death; and in other cases, it can have patients hooked on to it. It’s better to take all the needed precautions when administering Anexsia and avoid any serious consequences out of carelessness or ignorance. Here’s a list of precautions you’re supposed to take when you’re having Anexsia.

    • Talk to your doctor if you’re suffering from a certain health condition and are currently taking medicines for it. The doctor would look at your medical history and health status to make sure Anexsia doesn’t pose any health risks or drug interactions.
    • A doctor prescribes a certain dose of Anexsia by looking at your health, weight, and many other aspects. Make sure you take the exact doses that are suitable for you as prescribed. Upon taking Anexsia in lower or higher doses, it may result in altered effects.
    • Store the drug safely and make sure it’s out of the reach of children or other people.
    • Stop having Anexsia as soon as you complete the course or when your doctor asks you to stop. Taking Anexsia any longer can cause addiction and tolerance.
    • If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about it. Taking Anexsia while breastfeeding or when pregnant can have undesirable effects on the baby.

    WHAT CAUSES ANEXSIA ADDICTION?

    It’s well established that Anexsia is one of the prescription medications that have a very high likelihood of causing addiction in people. Anexsia contains hydrocodone- a compound that comes under opioids. Opioids are quite an addictive substance. Thus, even patients who take Anexsia or any other opioid drug for a long time can get addicted to it.

    Opioid painkillers are addictive because they attach to the opioid receptors in our brain. By doing so, they alter how our brain perceives and responds to pain. Upon taking Anexsia or any other opioid analgesic for a long time, our opioid receptors get habituated with having opioids attached to them. This leads to a desperate urge to administer Anexsia, which is termed as Anexsia addiction.

    Since the very nature of opioids is addictive, doctors are very cautious when prescribing opioids, like Anexsia. And the same is expected from the patients. Patients are always advised to take the prescribed doses very seriously. Upon taking Anexsia in the right doses, there are fewer chances of getting addicted to it. However, when patients take it in higher doses or continue to administer even when the course is completed, that is when there are increased chances of Anexsia addiction.

    The underlying problems when we talk about opioid addiction are tolerance, dependence, and relapse. When patients develop a tolerance for Anexsia, they need more of it to have the same effect it had before. Additionally, as people start having more of it, it causes Anexsia dependence. When patients start depending on Anexsia, even as they try to stop having the medicine, chances of relapsing are high.

    CAN ANEXSIA BE ABUSED?

    Since Anexsia causes a high feeling and intoxication when hydrocodone attaches to the opioid receptors, Anexsia abuse has become quite common. In fact, opioid abuse and addiction in young people, especially teens, is becoming a growing concern. Though Anexsia and various other opioid medicines are prescription drugs, it’s still easy to access these drugs illicitly, which opens doors for people to abuse opioids.

    Anexsia abuse is also seen in former patients who, at some point, were prescribed Anexsia. This happens in patients when they start taking Anexsia in higher doses to experience euphoria. Once the course is over, they start acquiring Anexsia illegally or go around doctor shopping.

    WHAT’RE THE SLANG NAMES FOR ANEXSIA?

    It’s quite apparent that people can purchase Anexsia even without a prescription. However, such purchases are illegal. This is why people who illegally buy Anexsia and other opioid medicines use certain code names so that no one suspects them of such transactions. Here’s a list of some common street names for hydrocodone that are used for buying Anexsia.

    • Hydro
    • 357s
    • Fluff
    • Norco
    • Tabs
    • Vikes
    • Vics
    • Bananas
    • Dro
    • Watsons

    WHAT ARE THE ANEXSIA WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?

    Whether it’s Anexsia abuse or Anexsia addiction, the next stage is witnessing withdrawal symptoms as people stop having the medicine. It might look pretty simple- start having Anexsia for some time, have the fun you want, and then stop having it. However, Anexsia withdrawal symptoms that show up when a person quits having the medicine can be devastating.

    Whether it’s patients who suddenly stop having Anexsia or addicts who decide to live a drug-free life, Anexsia withdrawal symptoms – both physical and mental make recovering from addiction or abuse a painstaking task. Once our receptors are used to opioids being attached to them, the sudden absence triggers many negative physical and mental effects. In fact, this is why doctors are always against abruptly stopping a course. They always gradually decrease the doses so that our body is equipped to deal with the absence of the drug.

    This is also one of the reasons why people suffering from Anexsia addiction are scared to quit their habit. People start having Anexsia and other opioids for recreation and continue to have it to escape the Anexsia withdrawal symptoms. This is why Anexsia abuse and addiction needs professional help.

    If you or a loved one suffer from opioid addiction, Anexsia rehab is the best solution. In a residential rehab facility, the patient would first have a detox session that flushes out the opioids from the body. Once the patient has a clean system, he is then given therapy and medicines to minimize the Anexsia withdrawal side-effects.

    WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ANEXSIA REHAB CARE?

    Anexsia rehab care has its own perks. First of all, living with other patients and empathetic health professionals gives them a conducive environment – the one that promotes Anexsia addiction treatment. Residential rehab care also helps health professionals assess and monitor the behavior and attitudes of the patients in a more accurate way. When we talk about outpatient rehab services, patients only visit the rehab center for a few hours. While the health professional would be able to assess the behavior of the patient only in that given time frame, the behavior of the patient outside the Anexsia rehab center would go unnoticed.

    The chances of relapse when the patient opts for a residential rehab facility are minimal. This is because when the patient is in the rehab center, he has no chance to access addictive substances. And gradually, the patient is equipped with skills to overcome the urge to go back to his addictive habits through therapy.

    As a whole, going for therapy, taking medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, and being monitored by health professionals have a high success rate. However, as you look for Anexsia rehab facility, make sure you do your research and find out if the facility specializes in providing therapy and care for opioid addicts. See if the rehab center has a good track record of providing therapy and curing the patient with the least chances of relapse. And if the cost is your concern, you can ask your insurance company if they cover rehab expenses as well. However, if not, there are a number of affordable rehab care centers as well.

    CONCLUSION

    If you have been prescribed Anexsia for a condition, you should always make sure that you administer it in the exact doses and follow all the instructions as given to you by your doctor. Don’t ever engage in Anexsia abuse as it can lead to dangerous outcomes, an overdose or even death in some cases. If you or a loved one suffer from opioid addiction, seek rehab care without any delay. Opioid addiction can be treated if you’re receptive to therapy and are willing to come out of this deadly habit for your own sake.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Guide to Luxury Rehab for Hycodan Addiction

    Guide to Luxury Rehab for Hycodan Addiction

    Hycodan is a prescription opioid drug for patients who experience chronic pain. When people develop Hycodan addiction, it’s a matter that needs immediate attention and help.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Hycodan?
    2. What are the slang names for Hycodan?
    3. How to take Hycodan
    4. What to know about Hycodan interactions
    5. What is Hycodan abuse?
    6. What are the effects of Hycodan abuse?
    7. What are Hycodan withdrawal symptoms?
    8. How to treat Hycodan addiction
    9. What is rehab and how useful is it?
    10. What are the types of rehab facilities?
    11. What are the stages in residential rehab?
    12. How to choose the right rehab facility

    WHAT IS HYCODAN?

    Hycodan is a prescription drug that doctors write for patients who experience chronic pain associated with surgery or a certain condition. There are a number of side effects and serious problems associated with Hycodan overdose and abusive use of this drug, which is why it’s only supposed to be used when prescribed.

    It’s especially prone to be abused since Hycodan is an opioid. When people develop Hycodan addiction, it’s a matter that needs immediate attention and help. Knowing how to use Hycodan can help minimize the cases of Hycodan abuse. Here’s everything that you need to know about using Hycodan, Hycodan addiction, abuse, and how you can help yourself or a loved one who suffers from Hycodan addiction.

    WHAT ARE THE SLANG NAMES FOR HYCODAN?

    Slang names are used for prescription drugs that are taken for recreational purposes. Hycodan, being one such tablet, has many slang names that people use. If you find people saying hydro, Norco, vikes, or Watson-387, they are probably referring to Hycodan. Since there are countless people abusing prescription drugs, it becomes important to know what terms abusers use for these drugs so that the problem can be identified, addressed, and help can be offered to people suffering from the addiction.

    HOW TO TAKE HYCODAN

    Hycodan is a tablet and should be taken orally with water. While Hycodan can be taken with or without food, it’s recommended to be taken after meals if you have an upset stomach as a result of the tablet. Make sure you ask your doctor about the right doses and other instructions about administering this tablet. It’s especially important to stick to the prescribed doses and taking it on time without missing a dose.

    WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HYCODAN INTERACTIONS

    Doctors would only prescribe Hycodan if they believe that the benefits you witness through the medicine outweigh the side effects. However, there are a few things to know about Hycodan so that you use drugs wisely and take proper precautions.

    First of all, consult your doctor about the use of Hycodan while pregnant. The doctor would also recommend this medication if it’s really required. Upon taking it in high doses, there can be neonatal withdrawal and respiratory depression. Hycodan may even affect the respiration and feeding patterns in individuals. Furthermore, it can also inhibit lactation. This is why you should observe the changes so that you can take immediate action when needed.

    Hycodan can cause pulmonary and respiratory problems more easily in people over the age of 60. People may even encounter confusion, falls, and delirium. Since Hycodan can interact with other medications, it’s important that your doctor knows what all medications you take so that the doctor can make sure if prescribing Hycodan is not problematic as a result of the interaction with other medicines.

    WHAT IS HYCODAN ABUSE?

    When a patient who has been prescribed to take Hycodan starts taking more than the recommended dose to get high, we call it Hycodan abuse. Besides that, many people have also found ways to buy Hycodan under-the-counter or even on the internet. This as well comes under Hycodan abuse. As people start altering their doses in order to feel the high from it, they slowly get hooked on to Hycodan and are soon driven to increase the doses to retain that pleasure that comes from having Hycodan.

    While Hycodan is prescribed by doctors keeping in mind that it can be of great help under certain circumstances, Hycodan addiction and abuse can be a major problem. The biggest problem with Hycodan is that people who abuse this drug get addicted to it even within a few weeks. This makes it very important to monitor doses of Hycodan and understand how serious Hycodan abuse can be.

    WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF HYCODAN ABUSE?

    Once a person starts abusing this drug as a result of addiction, there are a number of effects that the person would witness. Moreover, as the person develops a tolerance for Hycodan, it can magnify these side effects making it even worse. As a person experiences high tolerance and increased Hycodan dependence, there are more chances of an overdose. This necessitates the need for Hycodan treatment upon addiction. With that being said, here’s a list of Hycodan effects upon being abused, both physiological and psychological, that drive people to increase their doses.

    • Euphoria

    • Drowsiness

    • Constricted pupils

    • Lethargy

    • Anxiety


    WHAT ARE HYCODAN WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?

    People who realize they are abusing Hycodan may try to stop the tendency at some point by stopping the consumption of the medicine. However, as a person stops consuming Hycodan, he/she would experience physical and psychological Hycodan withdrawal effects, which make it even more difficult to give up on Hycodan completely.

    As a person develops Hycodan addiction, he is, emotionally, physically, and mentally attached to it. And on stopping the consumption, they would experience withdrawal symptoms that can be hard to deal with. To give you a better picture of what Hycodan withdrawal symptoms look like, here’s a little list.

    • Restlessness

    • Nausea

    • Muscle pain

    • Bone pain

    • Leg twitches

    • Loss of appetite

    • Diarrhea

    • Runny nose  


    HOW TO TREAT HYCODAN ADDICTION

    Now that you know how severe the withdrawal symptoms of Hycodan addiction can be, you might also realize that self-treatment can be hard. This brings us to the most important question, that is, how can one treat Hycodan addiction and abuse successfully? The answer- you definitely need professional help to get out of the vicious cycle of trying to stop having Hycodan, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and again having Hycodan to escape these symptoms.

    The battle against Hycodan addiction is not that easy. Hycodan withdrawal effects intimidate patients to the extent that they helplessly continue to dose it just because they fear the return of withdrawal symptoms. So, battling the addiction as well as withdrawal symptoms to come out of it and get back to normal is not an easy task.

    Addiction treatment solutions involve a workable treatment plan that includes therapy and medication coming from expert therapists and other professionals. Even once the patient stops having Hycodan and starts recovering from the addiction post-Hycodan treatment, aftercare is also an important aspect to maintain the recovery. Therefore, seeking professional help and assistance is highly recommended.

    WHAT IS REHAB AND HOW USEFUL IS IT?

    Rehab is a drug addiction treatment program that helps patients in getting rid of their addiction based on abstinence and detoxification, along with professional attention and support. When we talk about Hycodan addiction, pretty much like any opioid addiction, rehabilitation can actually be the most effective form of treatment. There are various types of rehab facilities, out of which one can choose what seems the best. With that said, here’s a list of types of rehab facilities.

    WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF REHAB FACILITIES?

    OUTPATIENT TREATMENT


    In outpatient treatment, a patient stays in the place of treatment for a few hours in a day or a few days in a week. These sessions that the patient has with the health professionals help in recovery as the patients can return to their normal activities for the most part.

    INPATIENT TREATMENT

    When we talk about inpatient treatment, the patient is admitted in a hospital where he or she undergoes an intensive treatment along with 27/7 monitoring and assistance. These are for those cases that require constant supervision.

    RESIDENTIAL REHAB

    Residential rehab treatment is pretty much like inpatient treatment. However, instead of being in a hospital, the patient lives in a non-hospital setting that involves a more holistic approach to treatment and recovery. The patient lives with other patients, health professionals, and health assistants. While the patient is monitored every minute and every hour of the day, the environment of the residential rehab helps in a better recovery of the patient, and thus, is recommended more strongly for Hycodan addiction treatment.

    WHAT ARE THE STAGES IN RESIDENTIAL REHAB?

    While there’s no certain demarcation between each stage that residential rehabilitation centers follow, we still can divide the whole process into 3 broad stages that help better understand how rehabs work to treat patients.

    STAGE 1

    The first stage is the detox stage, wherein the alcohol or drugs are removed from the system of the patient. This stage helps in making sure that as the patient starts receiving the treatment, he enters the Hycodan rehab center with a clean system, having no drugs or alcohol in the body.

    STAGE 2

    It’s in the second stage of residential rehabilitation that the patient receives the actual therapy. The therapy aims at changing the thought process and behavior associated with addiction and abuse of the drug in the patient. It’s understood what triggers the use of the drug, and the patient receives a well-planned therapy that is designed to study and solve the root problem.

    This aims at making sure the patient completes his therapy in the rehabilitation center; he doesn’t feel the need to get back to his old habits associated with Hycodan addiction and can live a drug-free life.

    STAGE 3

    Once the therapy for the patient is over, the therapist and other professionals develop an aftercare and follow-up solution for the patient. This solution aims at helping the patient adjust to the world better by developing life skills so that the patient doesn’t feel the urge to relapse.

    HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT REHAB FACILITY

    While a Hycodan rehab facility can be of great help in dealing with Hycodan withdrawal symptoms and addiction problems, it’s equally important to choose the right rehab center. While you look for a rehab facility for Hycodan addiction treatment, here’s a list of factors you should consider.

    SPECIALTIES

    There are many rehab centers, and each rehab center specializes in the treatment of a certain kind of addiction. While some may be good for alcohol addiction, you can’t go to the same rehab center for heroin addiction. Look for a rehab center that not only specializes in opioid addiction treatment but also has a positive record of accomplishment and success rate.

    THERAPIES


    Every rehab center has its own set of therapies and treatment models that they use. While certain types of therapies can be the best possible solution for one patient, it may not be as helpful for another patient. The effectiveness of therapies varies based on the personality of the patient. Thus, it would be better to do a bit of research about therapies for opioid addiction and see what you find out.

    Based on a few therapies that you think can be useful, talk to the therapist in rehab centers, and see if they provide those therapies. You can also seek the opinion of a psychologist or therapist in order to help you find a suitable rehab center.

    AMENITIES

    Since residential rehab centers would require the patient to stay in the center for as long as the program goes on for, it’s important to choose a rehab that provides amenities that are close to the patient’s standard of living.

    While there are many rehab centers that offer very basic amenities, there are also many rehab centers that offer amenities that match that of five-star hotels. Based on what would keep you comfortable and help you get rid of the addiction conveniently, you can choose the right rehab for yourself in terms of amenities.

    COST

    It’s also important to look for a rehab center that does not burn a hole in your pocket. Rehabilitation facilities can be costly based on the amenities they provide and the kind of treatments they give. So, it would be better if you match all these factors with one big factor- your budget. Many health insurance policies also cover rehab expenses. So, you can also check with your insurance company to see if you can meet the expenses with the help of your policy. 

    That was all about Hycodan, its addiction, and how to seek Hycodan addiction help when needed. If you or someone you know suffers from Hycodan addiction or addiction to any other drug, it’s important to seek immediate medical help.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Guide to Finding the Best Reprexain Rehab

    Guide to Finding the Best Reprexain Rehab

    If you believe that you or someone close to you is becoming dependent on Reprexain, it is vital to find a quality Reprexain rehab center that can help with the recovery effort.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Reprexain and What is It Used For?
    2. What Adverse Side Effects Could Reprexain Cause?
    3. Reprexain Street Names
    4. Signs of Addiction to Reprexain
    5. Overdosing on Reprexain
    6. Reprexain Withdrawal and Detox
    7. Getting Treatment and Rehabilitation for Addiction to Reprexain
    8. Choose the Best Rehabilitation Center for Reprexain

    Do you worry that someone close to you is taking their Reprexain more often than they should? Are you concerned that you might be a little too reliant on the drug to manage your pain, and you don’t like the idea of quitting? There is certainly a chance that you are becoming dependent on the drug, and perhaps even addicted to it. Coming to this realization can be quite frightening, whether it is a loved one who is addicted or it is you. However, this finally means that you are aware of the problem and you can do something about it.

    It is important to make sure that you take the time to find a quality Reprexain rehab center that can help with your recovery efforts. It is also a good idea to have an idea of what this drug is and why it can be so dangerous. After all, there is a massive problem with opioids today, and this is one of the drugs that opioid addicts seek.

    What is Reprexain and What is It Used For?

    Reprexain is the brand name for a drug that contains hydrocodone and ibuprofen. The hydrocodone in the drug is what makes it addictive, as it is an opioid. The ibuprofen is simply an NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that is available over the counter. The medication is typically used as a means to help provide short-term pain relief.

    When it is misused, Reprexain can cause addiction, as well as overdose and death. It is made even more dangerous when combined with alcohol, which can cause respiratory slowdown. Even the ibuprofen in the Reprexain has the potential to be dangerous and can increase the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke when used in high doses or over a long period of time.

    What Adverse Side Effects Could Reprexain Cause?

    In addition to the pain relief and the pleasurable feeling that can come with use of the drug, and the potential for respiratory slowdown, there are other possible side effects that can occur. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following side effects, it could be a sign that something is wrong and that you need to seek medical help. Some of the potential side effects include:

    • Slowed heartbeat
    • Skin rash
    • Bloody or tarry stools
    • Coughing up blood
    • Upper stomach pains
    • Dark urine
    • Swelling in the feet and ankles, which could be indicative of a kidney problem
    • Vomiting
    • Dizziness

    Reprexain Street Names

    As with many drugs that are bought, sold, and traded illegally, there are a number of slang names that become associated with it. These names can change based on the location and the individuals. Some of the most commonly used street names for hydrocodone include:

    • Norco
    • Hydro
    • Vikes
    • Perks
    • Tabs
    • Watsons
    • Vic
    • Vico
    • 357s

    Many other names can be used to represent drugs that include hydrocodone. Sometimes, it might just be a shortened version of the brand name. For example, someone who is looking for Reprexain might ask for Reps.

    Signs of Addiction to Reprexain

    How does someone know if they are suffering from an addiction? There are many people who live in denial, believing that they have control over their use of Reprexain. However, that might not be true at all. It is a good idea to look at the 11 potential signs and symptoms of addiction to determine whether you are in control or whether the drug is in control of you. It is important to be honest.

    Those who have even just a couple of these signs are considered to have a mild addiction. The more of these signs that a person exhibits, the more severe the addiction.

    • You take more of the drug, or you take it for longer than you had originally intended.
    • You want to stop, but you find that you can’t.
    • You have cravings to use the drug.
    • You spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how you are going to get the next dose.
    • You forget about obligations that you have for your school, work, and home life.
    • Even though the drug is causing problems, you continue to use it.
    • Your usual social and recreational activities, including work, are no longer important. You are withdrawing from them to use the drug.
    • You use the drug even when it causes dangerous situations, such as driving while on the Reprexain.
    • Even though psychological problems or physical problems are developing, you keep using.
    • You have become tolerant of the drug and need to use more to achieve the desired effect.
    • You are suffering from symptoms of withdrawal whenever you decrease usage of the drug or try to stop.

    Overdosing on Reprexain

    It is possible to overdose on this drug. Some of the signs of an overdose of the Reprexain include:

    • Blurred vision
    • Cold and clammy skin
    • Difficulty hearing
    • A general feeling of being unwell
    • Headache
    • Vomiting
    • Severe stomach pain
    • Slowed heartbeat
    • Trouble breathing

    If any of these symptoms are present, it is important to get in touch with emergency services. An overdose, when not dealt with by medical professionals, can lead to death.

    Reprexain Withdrawal and Detox

    Those who are going through withdrawal from Reprexain will have similar signs and symptoms to other opioid withdrawals. The patients will often have feelings of flu-like symptoms. These can include:

    • Body aches
    • Vomiting
    • Nausea
    • Diarrhea
    • Stomach cramps
    • Fever
    • Rapid heart rate
    • Agitation
    • Chills

    Typically, the signs of the withdrawal symptoms will start to begin within six to 12 hours of the last time the patient had a dose of the drug. These symptoms can be very difficult and painful, but it is necessary to detox before entering a Reprexain rehab center.

    One of the common ways to detox is through medical detoxification. This can help the patients by gradually reducing the quantity of Reprexain they are taking. The doctors might also administer other medications to help with the side effects of the withdrawal. They may even offer opioid replacement therapy, which can provide drugs that will help to deal with the cravings and the withdrawal symptoms.

    Getting Treatment and Rehabilitation for Addiction to Reprexain

    After you have gone through detoxification, the real work at the Reprexain rehab facility can begin. There are different types of facilities that are available, including those that have inpatient and outpatient treatment options. Either of these options could work well, but it will depend on what is best for the patient.

    While it is nice to be able to go home each day after therapy, only those who have addictions that are considered mild should use this straight out of detox. Typically, an inpatient facility is a better option for those who are trying to recover, since it will not allow them any temptations, and there is around-the-clock care. Still, outpatient treatment options can be a good choice for those who have to go to work and who have to take care of their family. They just need to be committed to going to their therapy.

    There are a number of therapies available today, including a range of different types of psychotherapy. Counselors can help people to deal with their addiction, and the underlying causes of that addiction, alcohol abuse, and other issues they might have. There might be individual therapy sessions, as well as group therapy, which can help people to see their situation from the perspective of others. Family therapy can help with this as well.

    Some facilities will offer holistic treatments too, including art therapy. There are a range of options available today that can put recovery within your reach.

    Choose the Best Rehabilitation Center for Reprexain

    You have made the decision to enter a Reprexain rehab facility, or you have talked with a loved one and they will be going into a rehabilitation center. You know some of the types of treatments that you can expect and the types of options that are available with from rehab centers. However, you still need to make sure that you are choosing the one that will be right for your needs.

    It is a good idea to find rehab centers that understand that each individual is unique and that their needs for recovery will also be unique. Finding a facility that can provide you with the types of treatment that you believe will work best for you, that has a variety of treatments available, and that will treat you like an individual is important. You want them to be able to develop a treatment and recovery plan that will work for you.

    You will also want to consider the way you are treated when you speak with the facility about entering their recovery program. They should always treat their patients with the utmost respect.

    Finally, when you are choosing a Reprexain rehab center, you want to make sure that you are choosing a facility that can offer some type of aftercare treatment. This ensures that you will have some help and guidance on how to avoid a relapse and how to stay strong after you are out of the treatment.

    Resources:

    https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

    https://www.drugs.com/mtm/reprexain.html

    https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/podat_1.pdf

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Find the Best Rehab for Co-Gesic Addiction

    How to Find the Best Rehab for Co-Gesic Addiction

    If you’re struggling with the life-altering impact of Co-Gesic addiction, the number one topic on your agenda should be treatment in a reliable, effective substance program.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Co-Gesic and Why is it Prescribed?
    2. Development of Hydrocodone Dependence
    3. Development of Hydrocodone Addiction
    4. Detoxification Starts Your Recovery From Addiction
    5. Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment?
    6. Effective Treatment Plans
    7. Finding the Best Treatment Facilities

    Finding the Best Treatment FacilitiesOn any given day, you may see dozens of these rehab programs advertised online, in print or on television. With so many options, how do you determine which facilities offer you the best chance of a sustainable recovery?

    To make effective choices, you must have the information needed to make educated decisions. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to ground yourself in the basics of Co-Gesic addiction and appropriate addiction treatment. With knowledge on your side, you can do more than just pick an adequate rehab destination—you can pick a first-rate rehabilitation facility that does everything possible to help you succeed.

    What is Co-Gesic and Why is it Prescribed?

    Co-Gesic is the brand name of a prescription drug that contains two active ingredients: the opioid painkiller hydrocodone and the non-opioid painkiller acetaminophen. It belongs to a large group of combination medications based on the same two substances. Co-Gesic comes in the form of a tablet, which is available in two strengths.

    The medication’s hydrocodone content produces its primary effects by changing the way that pain signals travel between your brain and body.  At the same time, it produces a significant increase in feelings of pleasure, as well as sedation (reduced feelings of agitation). The acetaminophen in Co-Gesic also provides relief by altering your normal perceptions of pain. In addition, it lowers your body temperature.

    Doctors prescribe Co-Gesic for the treatment of pain that ranges in intensity from moderate to moderately severe. Current federal laws include the medication on a register of controlled substances known as Schedule III. All substances listed under this heading have a “moderate to low” potential to trigger physical dependence and addiction.

    The list of combination products that also contain both hydrocodone and acetaminophen includes Vicodin, Hycet, Lorcet, Liquicet, Lortab, Norco, Maxidone, Zydone, Zolvit and Xodol. Products that combine hydrocodone with other active ingredients include the non-expectorant cough medications Ru-Tuss, Vicodin Tuss and B-Tuss.

    There is apparently no specific street name for Co-Gesic. However, medications that contain hydrocodone are sometimes known by names such as:

    • Vikes
    • Hydro
    • Watsons
    • Tabs

    Opioid Overdose Risks

    If you take too much Co-Gesic in a given span of time, you may experience a non-lethal or lethal opioid overdose. This situation occurs when the medication’s hydrocodone content slows down your central nervous system too far for it to maintain its basic function. (Some people are unusually sensitive to the drug effects of hydrocodone. In these circumstances, even a standard level of intake may trigger the same harmful reaction.) The most common symptom of overdose in Co-Gesic users is respiratory depression. Doctors use this term to refer to a slow and/or irregular pattern of breathing that may not supply you with adequate amounts of oxygen.

    You can increase your chances of overdosing by mixing your medication with alcohol or benzodiazepines on any occasion. That’s true because the added effects of these substances will make your nervous system run slower still. Your risks for an overdose escalate even further if you combine a pattern of hydrocodone abuse with a pattern of benzodiazepine or alcohol abuse.

    Development of Hydrocodone Dependence

    As a Schedule III substance, Co-Gesic does not carry a high risk for physical dependence. However, a very real risk still exists. Hydrocodone dependence occurs when your brain’s chemical environment shifts and comes to expect a certain amount of the medication throughout the day. Failure to receive this accustomed intake can lead to the onset of something called opioid withdrawal.

    When this form of withdrawal begins, you may experience symptoms that include sleep problems, unusual yawning and heavy sweating. You may also experience effects such as achy muscles, a persistent runny nose and increased tear production. Later on in the withdrawal process, notable effects that may appear include nausea, vomiting, pupil dilation and bowel or abdominal distress.

    Opioid dependence is distinct and separate from opioid addiction. If you become dependent on hydrocodone, your doctor can manage your medication use and help you stay away from any kind of serious harm. In this way, you can remain functional, live your life and avoid the serious problems that characterize the presence of addiction.

    If you abuse any product that contains both hydrocodone and acetaminophen, you also run the risk of developing serious health problems that have nothing to do with dependence or addiction. That’s true because acetaminophen can damage your normal liver function if you take too much of it. In extreme cases, this damage can be extensive enough to trigger the need for a liver transplant. In a true worst-case scenario, it can even kill you.

    Development of Hydrocodone Addiction

    In contrast to cases of dependence, cases of addiction are marked by uncontrolled actions and behaviors that have a major, negative effect on your ability to stay mentally and physically well. Chances are you will avoid any risk for addiction-related problems if you have a legitimate prescription for Co-Gesic and use the medication as directed. However, your risks will rise if you abuse hydrocodone/acetaminophen in any way.

    There are several potential ways to abuse prescription medications. If you hold a current prescription from a doctor, abuse occurs if you do either of two things: take your medication too often or take more than instructed in individual doses. Some people combine these two forms of abuse. Abusive intake of a prescription drug also occurs whenever someone without a prescription takes any amount of that drug.

    Addiction specialists and other medical professionals can diagnose a condition called opioid use disorder in people who develop serious, opioid-related substance problems. You can meet the terms for this disorder if you don’t have symptoms of addiction, but still experience significant harms that stem from your hydrocodone abuse. Possible symptoms of these harms in people who take Co-Gesic include:

    • A recurring pattern of using the medication excessively when involved in activities that could cause you to injure yourself or someone else
    •  A level of medication intake that makes it difficult or impossible to live up your responsibilities in any major area of life
    • A level of medication intake that you maintain even though it disrupts your ability to keep important relationships intact

    Clinical addiction to Co-Gesic also produces a classic set of potential symptoms. These symptoms may include things such as:

    • Experiencing strong cravings for continued medication abuse
    • An established pattern of taking hydrocodone/acetaminophen too often or in overly large amounts
    • A history of poor results when trying to limit your intake of the medication
    • Setting up your daily routine to accommodate your need to buy the medication, use it or recover after using it
    • Diminishing drug effects from any typical dose of hydrocodone/acetaminophen (a phenomenon also known as tolerance)
    • A pattern of abuse that you continue despite knowing that it hurts you physically and/or mentally
    • Opioid withdrawal symptoms that appear if you rapidly decrease your typical dose or stop taking the medication altogether

    Damaging abuse and addiction are not completely separate aspects of opioid use disorder (or any other type of substance use disorder). You can develop symptoms of both of these problems at the same time. In fact, such a symptom overlap is quite common.

    To be diagnosed, you must have two or more symptoms of addiction or serious abuse within a single 365-day window. If you have no more than three total symptoms, your case will be considered mild. Moderate opioid use disorder involves four or five abuse/addiction symptoms, while severe cases involve six or more.

    You may sometimes hear Co-Gesic-related hydrocodone addiction referred to as Gesic addiction. However, this term is not strictly accurate. The words gesic and analgesic can be applied to any substance capable of relieving pain. For this reason, many medications have “gesic” in their name. Among other things, this means that the terms Gesic addiction  and Gesic rehab could be used to describe problems with other substances, not just hydrocodone.

    Detoxification Starts Your Recovery From Addiction

    Safe, effective recovery from hydrocodone addiction begins with a period of medical detoxification. Detoxification has two overlapping objectives. First, it’s designed to break your current habit of excessive medication use. At the same time, the process provides the time needed for your body to eliminate the accumulation of Co-Gesic already in your system.

    You might think that you can just go “cold turkey” and stop your medication abuse on your own. However, in reality, there are several good reasons for enrolling in a detoxification program instead. First, if you halt your addiction-supporting hydrocodone use all at once, you will quickly go into opioid withdrawal. And depending on factors such as your level and duration of addiction, those withdrawal symptoms can take a severe form. In turn, the degree of mental and physical misery triggered by your symptoms may be enough to encourage you to relapse and give up your recovery efforts.

    During supervised medical detoxification, your withdrawal symptoms will be monitored. In some cases, your doctor may be able to ease those symptoms with a medication called lofexidine (Lucemyra). You’ll also receive supportive care to maximize your comfort. Together, these services help reduce the discomfort of withdrawal and increase your chances of completing the detoxification process.

    Supervised detoxification also safeguards your health during opioid withdrawal. If any unforeseen complications should arise, you’ll have ready access to medical assistance. This margin of safety can be critical in emergency situations.

    There is another major danger to going through detoxification on your own. If you make it even partway through the process, your tolerance to the drug effects of opioids will decline by a considerable amount. A relapse at this stage of detoxification can have catastrophic consequences. That’s because a dose of Co-Gesic that you normally used in the past may now have a much bigger impact on your central nervous system. If that impact is too great, you may find yourself facing an overdose. Every day, someone in the U.S. dies in exactly this kind of scenario.

    Finally, detoxification does one other crucial thing. Namely, it prepares you for participation in an active course of addiction rehabilitation. This is important because all public health officials and addiction experts view rehab enrollment as an essential next step after detoxification comes to an end. Unless you take this step, you’ll have serious chances of relapsing, even if you’ve succeeded in reaching an initial state of sobriety.

    Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment?

    Rehabilitation from Co-Gesic problems can take place in any one of several settings or facilities. If you have severe symptoms (and/or other serious health problems) that pose a clear risk to your short-term well-being, rehab may be preceded by some type of hospitalization. However, this is not required for the vast majority of people. Instead, you will start your treatment in an inpatient rehab program or an outpatient rehab program.

    Inpatient programs take place in residential treatment centers. While participating in this kind of rehab, you must leave home temporarily and live at your chosen facility. During your stay, you’ll follow the plan of treatment devised by you and your rehabilitation team. You’ll also receive round-the-clock monitoring of your vital signs and other key aspects of your health. If an emergency arises, onsite staff will be there to help you as soon as possible. And if your doctor needs to adjust your current treatment, that change can be made with little or no delay. For all of these reasons, experts in the field view inpatient rehab as the most effective approach to recovery.

    Most people with moderate or severe symptoms of opioid use disorder are steered toward inpatient treatment from the very beginning of rehab. On the other hand, if you have mild symptoms of this disorder, you may choose to enroll in an outpatient program. Rehabilitation programs of this type serve the same basic purpose as inpatient options. However, they provide greater flexibility and convenience by allowing you to remain in your home during treatment.

    Despite the benefits, there are tradeoffs to outpatient rehab. For example, if you remain in your normal, day-to-day environment while receiving care, you may face exposure to situations and influences that boost your chances of abusing hydrocodone. Even if you don’t have to deal with these kinds of direct problems, the outpatient approach can increase your exposure to everyday stress. In turn, this stress can disrupt your ability to focus on your recovery.

    You should also know that inpatient treatment is sometimes considered a must for people with mild symptoms. That may especially be the case if you suffer from a serious mental illness in addition to your substance problems. The combination of these issues, known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, introduces a whole new level of difficulty into the treatment process. In these circumstances, inpatient facilities often provide the only available setting for safe, effective care.

    Effective Treatment Plans

    Whether hydrocodone or some other substance plays a role in opioid use disorder, the same basic treatment approach is used. That approach has two main parts: medication and forms of psychotherapy designed to help you change your addiction-supporting behaviors. Two of the approved, proven medications used to provide help are buprenorphine and methadone. Both of these treatment options are themselves types of opioids.

    It might seem scary or foolish to rely on opioids to treat hydrocodone addiction. However, controlled use of these medications in Co-Gesic or Gesic rehab is far different from the uncontrolled use that supports serious substance problems. To begin with, the doses of methadone or buprenorphine you receive will not make you feel “high.” In addition, they will not promote a pattern of abusive opioid consumption. Instead, both of these medications help you avoid abusive intake, while also making the withdrawal process easier to withstand. Some programs will taper your intake of buprenorphine or methadone to zero before your treatment ends. Others will bring you to a low, stable maintenance dose instead.

    If detoxification proceeds to a point where there are no opioids left in your system, your treatment plan may also include the prescription drug naltrexone. Once you take it, naltrexone shuts down the chemical mechanisms that opioids must use to reach your brain. In this way, it makes intake of those substances unrewarding as long as it remains in your bloodstream.

    Behavioral therapies can support your recovery process in a number of ways. The methods used to help people with opioid problems include:

    • Motivational interviewing
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy
    • Community reinforcement approach (CRA) plus vouchers
    • Contingency management
    • 12-step facilitation
    • Family behavior therapy

    Motivational interviewing is used to help you overcome any objections or reservations you have about participating in treatment. Therapists who use this technique take a stance called reflexive listening. This means that they actively engage with you instead of just giving one-way advice. In addition, motivational interviewers help you see how your behaviors can make your stated goals harder to reach. They also work with you to help you find treatment success on your own terms.

    In group or individual cognitive behavioral therapy, you start by learning more about the ways you’re affected by your substance problems. From there, you learn how to identify specific things you think or do that can increase your chances of abusing hydrocodone or other opioids. Next, you learn effective ways of countering those thoughts and behaviors so you can make better choices in moments of stress.

    Community reinforcement approach plus vouchers and contingency management are separate therapy options that rely on some of the same techniques. In CRA plus vouchers, the focus is on valuable vouchers that you receive when you remain substance-free during treatment. Contingency management also sometimes uses vouchers to help you remain substance-free and follow your program guidelines. It may also encourage the same kinds of compliance by giving you a chance to win prizes in the form of cash.

    The goal of 12-step facilitation is to encourage you to follow up or combine your time in Co-Gesic or Gesic rehab with enrollment in a 12-step mutual self-help group. To achieve this goal, facilitators introduce you to some of the key aspects of 12-step groups (including acceptance and surrender). Participation in a mutual self-help program may reduce your risks for relapsing back into opioid use.

    Family behavior therapy views opioid addiction as a family-wide issue, not just an issue affecting you as an individual. During this form of treatment, you and your loved ones discuss any and all topics that may be contributing to a dysfunctional home life. You will also learn ways you can change your current behaviors and create an environment that doesn’t support or promote substance abuse.

    Finding the Best Treatment Facilities

    Today, it sometimes seems that almost everyone is either seeking or providing help for people with opioid-related problems. If you’re seeking treatment, that can be a good thing. However, it can also lead to some major confusion if you don’t know what to look for when picking your Co-Gesic or Gesic rehab destination.

    To avoid this kind of confusion, keep several important things in mind when making inquiries or reading facility websites. First and foremost, any program worth your consideration must follow the accepted professional guidelines for helping people affected by opioid use disorder. Those guidelines are firm in their requirement of some combination of approved medication and behavioral therapy with known effectiveness.

    If you call a program for help, make sure they steer clear of meaningless jargon and focus on the ways that they provide useful treatment. You should also receive clear answers to your questions about how the facility operates. In addition, whether you call or check a website, you should receive proof that the facility is accredited and is staffed by addiction experts with a wealth of experience. In every case, those experts should begin their work with a comprehensive screening that reviews all factors with an impact on the best choices for treatment.

    Top hydrocodone addiction programs do something else. They supplement their primary care options with secondary options that help reinforce your prospects for recovery. The best of these options (e.g., stress management, music therapy) take a holistic perspective that views you as a unique person in a unique situation.

    At each stage of your rehab facility selection process, remember that the goal is to return to a functional, stable way of life that doesn’t revolve around Co-Gesic abuse. Examine every program from this perspective, and you’ll increase your chances of making the perfect personal choice.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Recovery Month: A Time of Celebration and Hope

    Recovery Month: A Time of Celebration and Hope

    September is National Recovery Month. We celebrate the millions of Americans who are living their lives in recovery from mental and substance use disorders and honor those who work to make recovery possible. We also take time to remember the people who have lost their lives and those who still need help.

    We are in the midst of a public health emergency. An average of 115 people die each day from an overdose of heroin or opioid-based pain medication, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mental illness, particularly serious mental illness, also presents an urgent need for treatment. People with serious mental illness constitute approximately 20 percent of people incarcerated every year, one-third experience homelessness, and have a suicide rate 25 times that of the general public. Tragically, these and other factors result in people with serious mental illness dying anywhere from 10 to 25 years earlier than the general population.

    Even those who don’t face the worst outcomes from having a mental illness or an addiction still feel significant effects. Mental and substance use disorders affect people in every community in the U.S. so we must provide effective treatment and recovery services to all those in need. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that in 2016, approximately 20 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder and about 44.7 million Americans aged 18 and older experienced a mental disorder. In addition, an estimated 2.6 million adults aged 18 or older had co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder.

    To help the millions of people with a mental and substance use disorders, Recovery Month serves to educate Americans about the benefits of treatment and recovery services. It also promotes three key messages:

    • Prevention works.
    • Treatment is effective.
    • People can and do recover.

    Communities across the country celebrate Recovery Month by hosting events that provide understanding, hope and help to people living their lives in recovery.

    The 2018 Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community”. It highlights how a full range of treatment and support services are important to supporting recovery for people with mental and substance use disorders. Examples of such services include healthcare, housing, employment, education, and social supports. This theme represents the efforts of people working toward recovery, their families and friends, peers in long-term recovery and those who provide care to make recovery possible.

    SAMHSA will host the 29th Annual National Recovery Month Kick-off on September 6, 2018. The event will highlight SAMHSA’s treatment and recovery activities as well as share perspectives from the field and people living in recovery. I invite you to watch this special observance via webcast at https://www.hhs.gov/live/live-2/index.html#9156.

    Finally, I encourage everyone to get involved. Visit the Recovery Month website to see the available material and products, such as the Recovery Month Toolkit, public service announcements, logos, banners, flyers, posters and more. You can also find out what is happening in your state or local community through the Recovery Month event listing.

    View the original article at samhsa.gov

  • New Year’s Resolution 2019: Tobacco-Free Recovery

    New Year’s Resolution 2019: Tobacco-Free Recovery

    Quitting smoking is a resolution many smokers set for themselves.  It’s widely known that quitting has significant health benefits, but did you know it also can improve a person’s mental health?  And for those with substance use disorders, smoking cessation is associated with increased odds of long-term recovery.

    Smoking cessation is linked to decreased depression, anxiety, and stress.  It’s a factor in experiencing improved positive mood and quality of life, and is also related to improved substance use disorder recovery outcomes.  Research shows that quitting increases the odds of long-term recovery, whereas continued smoking increases the likelihood of relapse.

    As a result of this evidence, SAMHSA developed the recently released toolkit, “Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings” to aid in the integration of tobacco treatment in behavioral healthcare treatment.  The toolkit contains a quick guide providing an overview of the challenges associated with tobacco cessation and the benefits of being tobacco-free for those with substance use disorders.  It also includes tips that can be used in substance use disorder treatment programs to implement tobacco cessation programs of their own.

    In addition, SAMHSA awarded a five-year grant to the University of California at San Francisco to establish the National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery.  The Center provides technical assistance, training, and educational resources to promote the adoption of tobacco-free facility/grounds policies and the integration of tobacco treatment into behavioral healthcare.

    Research has consistently found that smokers with behavioral health conditions—like other smokers—want to quit, can quit, and benefit from evidence-based smoking cessation treatments.  Cessation counseling and medication significantly increase the chances of quitting.  The combination of counseling and medication is more effective than either is alone.  There are evidence-based resources to help smokers quit at www.smokefree.gov.

    View the original article at samhsa.gov

  • Luxury Rehab Guide for Oramorph Addiction

    Luxury Rehab Guide for Oramorph Addiction

    Oramorph is an opioid analgesic medication that is prescribed to treat severe pain and should not be used occasionally or outside a prescribed course of medication. Oramorph abuse can cause overdose and even death.

    Table of Contents

    1. What is Oramorph and what is it used for?
    2. How is Oramorph taken?
    3. What are the side-effects of Oramorph?
    4. What are the precautions to be taken?
    5. Is Oramorph prone to addiction and abuse?
    6. What are the slang names for Oramorph?
    7. What is Oramorph withdrawal?
    8. How to deal with Oramorph addiction
    9. What is Oramorph rehab?
    10. How does Oramorph rehab help?
    11. Conclusion

    What is Oramorph and what is it used for?

    Oramorph is a medication that is prescribed to treat severe pain, like in the case of cancer. Oramorph is popularly known by the generic name Morphine and belongs to the opioid class of drugs (opioid analgesics). Oramorph works to reduce pain by influencing how the brain perceives and responds to pain. Since Oramorph comes under opioid analgesics, it’s not sold without a doctor’s prescription.

    Oramorph is only supposed to be taken when your doctor tells you to do so. It should not be used for mild pain or the kind of pain that goes away after a certain duration of time. One has to follow a prescribed course for this medicine, and it’s not supposed to be used occasionally.

    How is Oramorph taken?

    Oramorph is available in various strengths. The high strength of Oramorph is only suitable for patients who have already been taking low to moderate doses of opioid medications. Administering a higher dose can cause Oramorph overdose and even death, as a result. This is why doctors always prescribe Oramorph based on the condition of the patient and the history of opioid use.

    The tablet form is supposed to be swallowed with water, pretty much like most other tablets. You can either take it after having a meal or without meals. If you experience nausea or vomiting upon having it without meals, you can try taking it with meals. If nausea still persists, you can talk to your doctor to see what can be done to minimize the repercussions.

    When you buy Oramorph, you get an instruction leaflet along with it. Read the leaflet carefully and follow the instructions provided by your doctor. Oramorph is supposed to be taken in fixed doses, and generally, one dose is followed by the next after 8 to 12 hours. It would be better to follow the regular doses as instructed by your doctor and take the medicine on time, without skipping doses.

    If you take the tablet form of this medicine, make sure you swallow it whole in a go. Crushing, breaking it into pieces, or having a tablet that is soaked in water can alter how Oramorph works or even increase the likelihood of experiencing side-effects.

    What are the side-effects of Oramorph?

    Some of the common side-effects of Oramorph are- nausea, constipation, drowsiness, sweating, and lightheadedness. Many patients report these side-effects as they initially use Oramorph. Upon using it for a while, these side-effects may decrease. However, if they still persist, it would be better to consult a doctor.

    It’s recommended to lie down for a couple of hours after taking Oramorph to manage the feeling of nausea. Moreover, for constipation, having a diet rich in fiber or having a laxative recommended by your doctor would help. Furthermore, make sure you have an adequate amount of water as well.

    While these common side-effects can be managed and may not persist, see your doctor if you have any serious side-effects. Here’s a list of some of the adverse side-effects that you should watch out for:

    • Hallucination
    • Confusion
    • Agitation
    • Abdominal pain
    • Loss of appetite
    • Shallow breathing
    • Fainting
    • Allergic reaction

    While this is a list of some common serious side-effects, you may experience other side-effects too. If you witness any serious side-effects even outside this list, visit your doctor immediately.

    What are the precautions to be taken?

    When taking an opioid analgesic, it’s important to take precautions so that you can avoid the chances of side-effects, overdosing, or any other problem that can arise. Here’s a list of some precautions that you must take when administering Oramorph:

    Make sure you talk to your doctor about any other health condition that you have, other opioid medicine or any medication that you’re on so that an Oramorph interaction with other drugs can be avoided. The doctor generally makes a complete assessment before prescribing Oramorph to avoid any complications.

    Make sure you strictly stick to the prescribed doses. The doctor decides a specific dose based on the severity of your condition and many other factors. Taking Oramorph in lower doses may fail to deliver the desired outcomes while an overdose can be fatal.

    Oramorph may cause dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and blurred vision. It’s recommended not to perform any task that requires focus, motor skills, or good vision, like driving or operating heavy machinery.

    Store it in a safe place, away from heat, direct sunlight, and moisture. Make sure it’s out of the reach of children and can’t be accessed by any other individual except for the patient or the caretaker of the patient.

    Is Oramorph prone to addiction and abuse?

    Yes, being an opioid medicine, Oramorph abuse and addiction are two common problems associated with the medicine. Opioids work to alter how our brain perceives and responds to the brain, sometimes even causing a high feeling. This is especially the case for people who use the medicine illicitly or use it in higher than prescribed doses or strengths.

    When we talk about patients who are prescribed Oramorph, there are chances of Oramorph addiction when the patients either take it for a long time (beyond the course) or take it in higher doses. This is why the dosage is the most important factor to monitor when administering an opioid medicine.

    Since Opioids have an intoxicating effect on people, Oramorph abuse is also a common sight. People find various illegal means of buying and using Oramorph or other opioid medicines.

    What are the slang names for Oramorph?

    Today, opioid abuse among young adults and teens is becoming a growing concern. Opioid medicines are available both online and in designated places where drugs are sold illicitly, like the black market. People who buy these drugs use slang names for the drugs which make the whole process of purchase quite discreet. Knowing these slang names also helps in being aware of a possible chance of drug abuse in young people. Here’s a list of some of the common slang names used for Oramorph:

    • White Lady
    • Salt and Sugar
    • Miss Emma
    • M

    What is Oramorph withdrawal?

    When patients have Oramorph for a long time, they develop Oramorph dependence. The brain becomes used to the influence of Oramorph, and when the bloodstream doesn’t have enough of the drug in it, people experience certain unpleasant effects. This is called Oramorph withdrawal. While patients normally experience Oramorph withdrawal side-effects that are mostly physical without addiction, people who are a victim of abuse develop an addiction, tolerance, and emotional side-effects as well.

    Withdrawal effects become hard to deal with when patients start abusing Oramorph and use it even after their course ends. This is also the case for people who have opioid drugs for recreational purposes. After a certain point, a single dose of Oramorph wouldn’t be able to get the person high. When this happens, people start increasing the dose to reach those same effects. More and more of the drug makes it to the bloodstream, and when they stop having Oramorph, they experience withdrawal symptoms. Some common Oramorph withdrawal symptoms have been given below.

    • Muscle aches
    • Runny nose
    • Diarrhea
    • Anxiety
    • Restlessness
    • Nausea

    Withdrawal effects are not as bad initially. However, when you don’t take the medicine for a few days, the symptoms get worse and cause a relapse. This is one of the reasons why people should use Oramorph wisely. Stopping the medication all of a sudden increases the chances of Oramorph withdrawal side-effects. This is why even doctors, instead of suddenly stopping the course, decrease the doses gradually so that the patient doesn’t experience these dreadful withdrawal symptoms.

    How to deal with Oramorph addiction.

    Whether it’s the patient or people who buy Oramorph to get high, Oramorph addiction can lead to tolerance and overdose of the medicine. Also, as already mentioned, an overdose can have serious consequences, even leading to death. This makes it important to address and treat any opioid addiction before it gets out of hand.

    Oramorph addiction has many sides to it. Once a person gets hooked, the dependence that is created is on both a mental and physical level. This makes the treatment an intense and complicated process. While the physical withdrawal symptoms are reduced using medicines that are prescribed for the purpose, mental symptoms can be dealt with the help of therapy. Therapy aims at fixing the thought process associated with addiction and, as a result, the kind of behavior an addict would display. Due to this complicated design of Oramorph addiction treatment, it’s always recommended to seek professional help.

    What is Oramorph rehab?

    Oramorph rehab refers to the kind of setting wherein a patient is supposed to undergo detox and then complete a course of treatment in a residential setting. The rehab treatment can last for either 30 days or even go upto 60 days based on the patient’s personality as well as the extent to which he is addicted.

    Oramorph rehab, pretty much like any other opioid addiction needs a very systematic approach to not just break the vicious cycle of stopping and relapsing. It’s also very important that through the treatment solution that is designed, the patient should not only receive temporary relief but should be able to live a life free of opioid drugs permanently.

    How does Oramorph rehab help?

    The Oramorph rehab solution gives patients a very stable environment where they feel encouraged and motivated to work on their addiction problems. Being with various other addiction patients and seeing them work towards the same goal makes them feel at ease.

    Residential Oramorph rehab also makes it easier to monitor behavioral changes in patients as well as how they respond to the therapy and overall treatment. Health professionals can monitor the patient’s behavior on a daily basis, and it can also be made sure that the patient doesn’t succumb to taking opioids again. Thus, Oramorph rehab makes complete sense to deal with opioid addiction.

    There are many types of rehab centers based on the amenities provided and the price range. However, when making the decision, you should also look for one that specializes in treating patients that have an opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is different from many other addiction cases, like alcohol addiction. Therefore, expertise in specifically providing therapy and Oramorph addiction help is very important to consider if you expect the highest chances of cure and lesser chances of relapse.

    Conclusion

    Doctors prescribe Oramorph when they see that it has maximum chances of helping in the treatment of the patient and the benefits outweigh its possible side-effects. When you follow the instructions of your doctor and take it while keeping all the precautions in mind, Oramorph can be quite useful. However, the problem with the medicine starts when you overlook the precautionary instructions and give way to dependence, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms. While it’s true that many patients who develop opioid addiction or abusers who intently become a victim of Oramorph abuse can still be helped, prevention is definitely better than cure.

    If you’re suffering from addiction and dependence, there is still hope with Oramorph rehab. Today, many insurance companies cover rehab expenses, and there is also an increased awareness in people to view addiction problems without prejudice. These changes work better for patients who always fear being stigmatized by society. Given you choose the right rehab center, residential rehabilitation can help you in developing life skills and being more aware of the social norms to avoid any future chances of sliding into the habit of taking opioid medicines for recreational reasons.

    View the original article at thefix.com