Opioid addiction has now become an epidemic. Over 30,000,000 people worldwide. The feelings of withdrawal from opioids has been described by many patients to be unbearable, which then creates a perpetual cycle of opioid and other drug abuse.
What are symptoms of opioid withdrawal? They include excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping, feeling like you have the flu, and restlessness. Read the symptoms that were described in the last sentence. AS you can tell, they are nonspecific and can relate to many disorders. For this reason, if you are undergoing opioid withdrawal, it is very important to tell your physician this, because there is not a test that can make this diagnosis.
How do opioids work?
They attach to the mu receptors in the brain and the addiction starts when these receptors release dopamine. Dopamine is a very addicting neurochemical, that is involved in the pathways of many other drug addictions (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and more). The dopamine high does not last forever, so individuals then seek to have a greater amount of narcotics to feel that relief.
What are symptoms of opioid withdrawal? They include excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping, feeling like you have the flu, and restlessness. Read the symptoms that were described in the last sentence. AS you can tell, they are nonspecific and can relate to many disorders. For this reason, if you are undergoing opioid withdrawal, it is very important to tell your physician this, because there is not a test that can make this diagnosis.
How do opioids work?
They attach to the mu receptors in the brain and the addiction starts when these receptors release dopamine. Dopamine is a very addicting neurochemical, that is involved in the pathways of many other drug addictions (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and more). The dopamine high does not last forever, so individuals then seek to have a greater amount of narcotics to feel that relief.
What are treatments for opioid addiction?
Methadone or Suboxone can be utilized to assist patients undergoing withdrawal.
Methadone is given daily and Suboxone is utilized more often and is given weekly. Suboxone is made up of two different drugs, Buprenorphine and Naloxone, and together, they can help prevent withdrawal symptoms while preventing abuse (the naloxone ensures that a patient does not inject the drug). Suboxone can be an important step in the recovery process, and helps patients come off of heroin and prescription narcotics, that can devastate an individual’s life.
With suboxone clinics, there are also partnerships with counselors, therapists, and other professionals to help you face your addiction on a multitude of angles. We care for you, and we want what is best for you.
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are also psychological components in addition to other components that allow for an opioid addiction. Having a good understanding of why an individual is addicted to the dopamine pleasure of the opioid drug and finding other non-pharmacological ways to handle stressors in life is emphasized with our team of personal counselors, group counselors, social workers, and our team of other mental health professionals.
Methadone or Suboxone can be utilized to assist patients undergoing withdrawal.
Methadone is given daily and Suboxone is utilized more often and is given weekly. Suboxone is made up of two different drugs, Buprenorphine and Naloxone, and together, they can help prevent withdrawal symptoms while preventing abuse (the naloxone ensures that a patient does not inject the drug). Suboxone can be an important step in the recovery process, and helps patients come off of heroin and prescription narcotics, that can devastate an individual’s life.
With suboxone clinics, there are also partnerships with counselors, therapists, and other professionals to help you face your addiction on a multitude of angles. We care for you, and we want what is best for you.
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are also psychological components in addition to other components that allow for an opioid addiction. Having a good understanding of why an individual is addicted to the dopamine pleasure of the opioid drug and finding other non-pharmacological ways to handle stressors in life is emphasized with our team of personal counselors, group counselors, social workers, and our team of other mental health professionals.
At Psychiatrists of Kansas City, we have a team of excellent psychiatrists and counselors that want to help you along your journey.
Please contact us at 646-770-2110.
Please contact us at 646-770-2110.