Antabuse, or disulfiram, and naltrexone are common medications used to treat alcohol use disorders. Both have been shown to improve outcomes in people who want to stop drinking. As with many forms of treatment, what works best depends on your situation. Here are some considerations that can help you decide which is better for you.…
Methadone and Suboxone are drugs commonly used in opioid replacement therapy, a form of medication assisted therapy, or MAT. Methadone and Suboxone both work by mimicking the effects of opioids, only they don’t cause the same euphoria. Therefore, they can reduce the intense cravings that so often derail recovery from opioid addiction while allowing the…
By some estimates, as many as 20 percent of Americans will experience a depressive episode at some point in their lives. Depression includes prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and pessimism, along with sleep disturbances, fatigue, aches, slow movements, poor concentration, and persistent thoughts of death or suicide. There are many aspects of depression we are…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications in conjunction with counselling or treatment to recovery from addiction. The most common and controversial form of MAT is opioid replacement therapy, in which patients typically take methadone or buprenorphine to control drug cravings and prevent relapse. While opioid replacement therapy is controversial, it is not…
Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year. Common symptoms include persistent sadness, fatigue, lack of motivation, disrupted sleep, body aches, feelings of hopelessness, poor concentration, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you experience several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, see a doctor. Depression is typically treated with a combination…
There’s a saying in AA that goes, “Your best thinking is what got you here.” Studies have shown that intelligence is no protection against substance use disorders. In fact, the opposite may be true. People with above average IQs are more prone to substance use and addiction. Clearly, intelligence can’t do much for you when…
Women with substance use issues may find themselves in a difficult position if they become pregnant. Using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can have many negative effects on both the mother and the child. Women who use stimulants during pregnancy are at a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Many drugs can harm a…
Panic attacks can be terrifying. Your heart races, you shake, you sweat, you have trouble breathing, and you feel like you might die. Many people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks, which only increases their fear. Once you’ve had a panic attack, the fear of having another one may actually precipitate another attack. People with…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, means using FDA-approved medications as part of a treatment plan that includes counseling and therapy. Currently, MAT is primarily used to treat alcohol addiction or opioid addiction. There aren’t yet any medications for treating addiction to stimulants or benzodiazepines, although medications such as antidepressants may be used to treat co-occurring…
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, is the practice of using FDA-approved medication as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. MAT has been shown to be most effective for treating alcohol and opioid use disorders. Typical medications include Antabuse, naltrexone, and Campral for alcohol addiction, and methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, often in the monthly, injectable form,…
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