Methadone is the oldest medication used in heroin addiction treatment.
Heroin addiction is a complex illness that often requires a combination of medical care, support and medication in treatment. Patients in heroin rehab often receive medications to help curb cravings, stop withdrawal symptoms or treat other medical issues while they are in recovery. Some of the most common medications in heroin rehab include:
Methadone
Buprenorphine
Naltrexone
Each of these medications acts upon various elements of the brain and the body to help the user feel more comfortable during heroin addiction treatment.
Methadone
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Methadone suppresses withdrawal symptoms while reducing cravings so that the user can be at ease during the early stages of heroin addiction recovery. The CDC states that, “Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) can help injection drug users reduce or stop injecting and return to productive lives.”
Methadone works by blocking the effects of opiates to produce a calming effect for the user. This medication can help to reduce the risk of relapse for those in heroin rehab while restoring a sense of stability so that the user can work or participate in normal activities.
Buprenorphine
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Buprenorphine is a “long acting partial agonist that acts on the same receptors as heroin and morphine, relieving drug cravings without producing the same intense high or dangerous side effects.” This medication is commonly prescribed in heroin rehab to help the user adjust to life without heroin without having to feel the serious cravings to use.
Buprenorphine has been credited with helping users to seek treatment earlier on because they know that they can have access to medications in heroin rehab that will not force them to feel the terrible effects of withdrawal. This affordable and innovative medication makes addiction treatment possible for a wide range of users who otherwise may not have been able to afford help or care.
Naltrexone
This medication is an opioid blocker that prevents the user from feeling any of the euphoric elements of using opiates such as heroin. Naltrexone can be highly effective in the promotion of abstinence as it works to prevent the user from feeling the joyful or exciting effects of the drug and essentially makes heroin use no longer pleasant.
Naltrexone is credited with helping to manage opiate addiction by taking away the reward that comes with getting high. The medication is most commonly either combined with buprenorphine or used as an after effect to help in the prevention of relapse. Naltrexone is provided orally every 1 to 3 days or via an injection once a month.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a person does not necessarily need to want to go to rehab in order for rehab to work. This means coerced or forced rehab does still have a chance to get your loved one back on the right path. There are a number of ways to go….
When you first enter into a drug rehab program the most important relationship you will make is that between yourself and your drug rehab counselor. Not only do you have to feel comfortable with your drug rehab counselor but you must also be accepting and willing to work together on your addiction treatment. The experience….
Statistics show that there are millions of people who suffer from drug addiction and need drug treatment in the United States alone yet less than 3% of them will ever be admitted to a drug treatment center. Residential treatment centers provide the necessary treatment for an addict to break the cycle of addiction and begin….
Eating Disorders and the Brain Eating disorders are extremely problematic to an individual and their family, especially when treatment is not received in time. Eating disorders normally stem from a person’s poor and distorted body image of their self. For example, people with anorexia typically believe they are overweight and need to lose weight, even….
As you progress through treatment, it’s common to feel as if you need some social element as a part of your recovery. Safe socialization and making friends in recovery is a huge part of healing. It’s common to feel a little uneasy, scared or otherwise out of place at first but as time goes on….
There are a lot of terms that are used to reference the situation of having both a substance use disorder and a mental illness. Sometimes it is called dual diagnosis. Other times, it may be comorbid or co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis can happen in any combination and number, but there are patterns among specific groups…..
When it comes to helping a loved one find an alcohol treatment center, there are many details that will come into play. Once you learn as much as possible about alcohol addiction, you will find yourself in position to provide your loved one with the help they need to get their life back on track…..
If you or a loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol then you already know how difficult it is to quit. Unfortunately, some people need more than just one reason to seek help before they actually make the call and the commitment to getting sober. If you’re one of those people who needs a….
Maybe you are unfamiliar with drug rehab or maybe you only know a little bit about it, the fact is though that you probably have many questions concerning drug rehab and this is likely the reason that you aren’t there yet. People fear the unknown and therefore many refrain from seeking help for drug addiction….
There are many different types of holistic rehab treatments and programs that give patients another layer to their addiction recovery. Christian drug rehab is one of these, and while it isn’t the right match for every patient, a program like this can be incredibly beneficial to certain individuals in helping them overcome their addictions. We….
Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Recovery Helpline or Alli Addiction Services.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
