Addiction, addiction-treatment / 19.11.2024

Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)Individuals seeking treatment or substance use support for themselves or a loved one can call the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The free, confidential hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and staffed by trained professionals. Detoxing from addictive substances is a crucial step in overcoming substance abuse, but it can be just the beginning of a long journey toward recovery. One of the significant challenges individuals may face after detox is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Understanding PAWS is essential for anyone looking to navigate the early recovery process successfully. This blog post will explore what PAWS is, its common symptoms, and how to manage these symptoms effectively.

What to Know About the Detoxing From Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Detoxing from addictive substances is a critical initial step in recovery from drug and alcohol dependence. During this stage, the body begins to clear itself of toxins, but the process can come with a range of intense withdrawal symptoms. Understanding these symptoms—and how they evolve from the acute to the post-acute phase—can help individuals prepare for the detox journey and know when to seek help. Common Withdrawal Symptoms  

Common Withdrawal Symptoms

The acute withdrawal phase typically occurs within hours to days after ceasing substance use and often includes severe physical and psychological symptoms as the body struggles to adapt without the substance. During this phase, common withdrawal symptoms include:
  • Anxiety and panic attacks: Heightened anxiety levels and even panic attacks are common as the central nervous system adjusts to the absence of the substance.
  • Nausea and Vomiting: These symptoms often accompany withdrawal, especially for those dependent on opioids and alcohol.
  • Sweating and Shaking: As the body tries to restore balance, sweating and shaking can be intense, particularly for individuals detoxing from alcohol or benzodiazepines.
  • Muscle Aches: Body aches and muscle cramps may occur as the body adjusts to functioning without the substance.
  • Insomnia or Impaired Sleep: Insomnia is common, with some individuals experiencing vivid dreams or night sweats as their sleep cycles are disrupted.

While these acute withdrawal symptoms generally subside within a week, recovery is rarely immediate. Instead, individuals often transition into a post acute withdrawal period, where symptoms like mood swings, fatigue, and cravings may persist for months, creating what is known as a protracted withdrawal experience. (more…)

Author Interviews, Opiods / 27.06.2021

http://www.indivior.com/This study and abstract presentation evaluated opioid withdrawal symptoms, safety and tolerability of initiating SUBLOCADE 300 mg one hour after administering a single dose of 4 mg transmucosal (sublingual) buprenorphine (BUP-TM). 26 participants received BUP-TM, 24 follow by  SUBLOCADE injection, and 20 completed the study. Participants were evaluated for opioid withdrawal symptoms as well as safety and tolerability of SUBLOCADE 300 mg. (more…)
Addiction, Author Interviews, Cannabis / 10.04.2020

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Anees Bahji, MD PGY5, Department of Psychiatry, Queen’s University M.Sc. Candidate, Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University Kingston, ON, Canada MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
  • There has been much speculation into the existence of a withdrawal syndrome involving cannabis much like withdrawal syndromes from opioids or alcohol. Our goal for this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS) and to identify any risk factors for CWS.
  • There has been a lot of research into cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS) in the past. A big part of this review involved understanding where the CWS field is in terms of the shared understanding on its epidemiology and physiology.
  • To that end, we were not surprised to find that the prevalence of cannabis withdrawal syndrome was high. However, we found that some of the characteristics of CWS are consistent with other substance use disorders, which really serves to legitimize the decision to classify CWS and cannabis use disorders as psychiatric conditions.
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Addiction, Author Interviews, Opiods, Pharmacology / 06.08.2018

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Mark Pirner, MD, PhD Senior Medical Director Clinical Research and Medical Affairs US WorldMeds MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this announcement? How does lofexidine differ from other opioid withdrawal medications? Response: LUCEMYRA™ (lofexidine) was FDA-approved on May 16 as the first and only non-opioid, non-addictive medication for the management of opioid withdrawal in adults. LUCEMYRA mitigates the acute and painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal by suppressing the neurochemical surge in the brain that occurs when opioids are abruptly discontinued. In clinical studies, patients receiving treatment with LUCEMYRA experienced greater symptom relief and were significantly more likely to complete their withdrawal. LUCEMYRA is not an opioid drug and is not a treatment for opioid use disorder; it should be used as part of a longer-term treatment plan. (more…)
Addiction, Author Interviews, Opiods, Pharmacology / 30.04.2018

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Maria Sullivan, M.D., Ph.D Senior Medical Director of Clinical Research and Development Alkermes MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Extended release injectable naltrexone is approved for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence after detoxification and when used with counseling. It is recommended that patients abstain from opioids for a minimum of seven to 10 days prior to induction onto XR-naltrexone to avoid precipitating opioid withdrawal. This requirement of detoxification represents a substantial clinical challenge, particularly in the outpatient setting. There is currently no single recognized best method for opioid detoxification prior to first dose of extended-release naltrexone (XR-naltrexone). A number of induction regimens have been explored, including the use of low doses of oral naltrexone to shorten the transition period from dependence on opioids to XR-naltrexone treatment. The goal of the study was to help establish an outpatient regimen to transition subjects from physiological opioid dependence to XR-naltrexone treatment and mitigate the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms. We hypothesized that low-dose oral naltrexone, combined with buprenorphine and psychoeducational counseling, would assist with the transition of patients with opioid use disorder onto XR-naltrexone. In this 3-arm trial, we examined the utility of oral naltrexone, buprenorphine, and a fixed regimen of ancillary medications (oral naltrexone + buprenorphine vs. oral naltrexone + placebo buprenorphine vs. placebo +placebo), to determine whether any of these regimens was associated with higher rates of induction onto XR-naltrexone. (more…)
Addiction, Author Interviews, Opiods, Pharmaceutical Companies / 04.04.2018

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: http://usworldmeds.com/Mark Pirner, MD, PhD Senior Medical Director US WorldMeds   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain how lofexidine works? Response: LUCEMYRA (lofexidine) was studied in two phase 3 pivotal randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies, and a phase 3 open-label study. Clinical pharmacology studies included evaluation of drug-drug interaction studies that demonstrated lofexidine can be safely administered concomitantly with methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone. LUCEMYRA is an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist that reduces the surge of norepinephrine signaling in the brain which results from abrupt opioid withdrawal, and thereby reduces the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms.  (more…)