3 Effective Medications Used To Treat Opiate Addiction

Opiate addiction is a devastating disease that can take over your life. Here’s how meds and counseling can help you treat opiate addiction.

If you are struggling with opiate addiction, you may feel like there is no hope. However, there are effective treatments available that can help you overcome your addiction and regain control of your life.

In this blog post, we will discuss the three most effective treatments for opiate addiction:

1. Buprenorphine;
2. Methadone;
3. And extended-release naltrexone.

What you should know about opiate addiction is that it is a chronic, relapsing disease. This means that even if you successfully complete treatment and are able to abstain from opiates for a period of time, there is always the risk of relapse.

However, with the right treatment plan in place, you can dramatically reduce your chances of relapsing and make a full recovery.

How To Treat Opiate Addiction

Opiate addiction should be treated with a combination of medication and counseling.

When in therapy, you will learn how to identify and manage the triggers that lead to drug use.

Medication can help to reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. The most effective medications for opiate addiction are buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone.

All of them work by binding to the same brain receptors as opiates, but they are much weaker and do not produce the same high. This makes it easier for you to stick to your treatment plan and avoid relapse.

There are three main medications that are used to treat opiate addiction:

1. Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a medication that is used to treat opiate addiction. It is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it produces milder effects than full opioid agonists like heroin and morphine.

It helps reduce cravings for opioids and blocks the effects of other opioids, making it less likely that you will relapse.

Its history dates back to the 1970s when it was first used as an analgesic (pain reliever) in Europe. In 2002, buprenorphine was approved by the FDA for the treatment of opiate addiction in the United States.

Nowadays, buprenorphine is the most commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of opiate addiction. It has been proven to be an effective treatment for many people struggling with opiate addiction.

Not only does it help reduce cravings and block the effects of other opioids, but it also helps prevent overdoses.

What most people don’t know is that buprenorphine can be taken at home and does not require daily visits to a clinic.

If you are struggling with addiction, search for addiction treatment near me and find the right medication for you. Have in mind that buprenorphine should not be taken by pregnant women or people who are allergic to opioids.

2. Methadone

Methadone is another medication that is used to treat opiate addiction. It is a full opioid agonist, which means that it produces the same effects as other opioids like heroin and morphine.

However, it helps reduce cravings for opioids and blocks the effects of other opioids, making it less likely that you will relapse.

Its history dates back to the 1940s when it was first used as a treatment for opiate addiction. In the 1960s, methadone was approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

It has been proven to be an effective treatment for many people struggling with opiate addiction.

Like buprenorphine, methadone also helps prevent overdoses. What is interesting about methadone is that it can be taken orally or injected.

When taking methadone, you need to visit a clinic daily to receive your dose. Have in mind that methadone should not be taken by pregnant women or people with certain medical conditions.

It is very important that you only take methadone under the supervision of a doctor. This is because methadone can be habit-forming and can lead to addiction.

3. Extended-Release Naltrexone

Extended-release naltrexone is a medication that is used to treat opiate addiction. It is an opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks the effects of opioids.

It helps reduce cravings for opioids and blocks the effects of other opioids, making it less likely that you will relapse.

Its history dates back to the 1990s when it was first used as a treatment for opiate addiction. In 2010, extended-release naltrexone was approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

It has been proven to be an effective treatment for many people struggling with opiate addiction.

Having said that, extended-release naltrexone is not as commonly used as buprenorphine and methadone. It is only available in pill form and needs to be taken once a month.

You should also have in mind that extended-release naltrexone should not be taken by pregnant women or people who are allergic to opioids.

Remember: Each of these medications has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. It is important to discuss all of your options with a doctor before beginning any treatment program.

Other Treatment Options For Opiate Addiction

Besides medication, there are other treatment options that can help an addict deal with more than just the physical aspect of substance abuse.

Yes, medication is necessary to overcome withdrawal symptoms. But how do you deal with your mental health and social interaction? There are no meds for this.

Some psychological treatments for opioid addiction include:

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy – helps you find the right motivation that will support your process of quitting opioids.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – helps identify the causes, events, and patterns that lead to your addiction and starts the recovery program from there.
• Hypnotherapy – as its name suggests, it uses hypnosis to suggest you embrace the change.
• 12-Step Facilitation – a strategy that helps you achieve and maintain abstinence through group support, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

On the other hand, in order to rebuild your social relations, specialists recommend family therapy and couples counseling.

These treatments proved to be very helpful for most addicts who wanted to quit opioids.

The Takeaway

Treating opiate addiction is a complex process. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The most important thing is to find a treatment plan that works for you.

If you are struggling with opiate addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are many resources available to you.

Remember, you are not alone. There are people who care about you and want to help you get through this difficult time.