The Treatment And Correct Opioid Dosing

By Kevin Graham


When one is dependent on opioids, withdrawal can start simply hours after taking one's last dose. One may experience diarrhea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, or muscle and bone pain. In the majority of cases, the biggest withdrawal symptoms are worst by seventy-two hours and eventually subside over the next 5 to 7 days. Generally, the physicians have to careful with the opioid dosing to avoid addiction and other consequences.

Opioid medications are prescribed for patients with painful conditions and the response is typically excellent pain relief. There are side effects which may include constipation, tolerance, depression, and sedation. With chronic pain affecting 15% of the US population, doctors are prescribing narcotic medications with alarming frequency.

Because of methadone's slow release, individuals who seek a fast high might take a dose, not get a high then consume more. By the time they get high, in a few instances, they've already consumed too much. Odds of revival are a lot lower for overdose of methadone than for additional opiates because of the long lasting nature of the drug. If you believe somebody has overdosed on this drug, contact 911 and immediately get them emergency assistance.

Patients in chronic pain are likely to take opioids for multiple years. A study done at the Universities of Washington and Arkansas showed when patients are prescribed opioids for chronic pain, they are likely to still be taking them 5 years later.

Interestingly, there were 2 factors that lead to the continued usage. One was if the patient had been prescribed the drugs before, and the other was if the patients were prescribed doses in excess of 120 milligrams of morphine. Of note, that is a hefty dose.

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is a condition that can result from long-term opioid use. It represents a heightened perception of pain and can make one feel worse with more pain sensation. The solution to this problem is a decrease or discontinuation of the medication which should be accomplished under medical supervision. The discontinuation can result in less pain than while on the medications.

Induction is a treatment which carefully is followed by the center's clinical staff to slowly assist a new patient in adjusting to their methadone medicine. Patients typically are started on a safe methadone dose which introduces a low threat of overdose, and their dose then is increased every couple of days until the individual arrives at a dosage that successfully eliminates their withdrawal symptoms to opioids.

There was also a temporary absence of REM sleep, which is the type of sleep people go into as they go deeper into sleep. So narcotics appear to affect both the quality and quantity of sleep, which is obviously suboptimal for patients who have painful conditions and need sleep for regeneration and healing potential.

Treatment of OIH can be time-consuming, perplexing, and stressful for both the physician and patient. Rotating to a different opiate class may help. Trying non-opioid medications and decreasing opiate dosing is often helpful, along with administering interventional pain treatments to reduce the need for medications or eliminate the need altogether.




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