If you’ve been suffering from insomnia or anxiety and are considering a sleep-aid drug or tranquilizer, you might be wise to consider more natural alternatives. For nearly 30 years, the risk of dependency on the benzodiazepine class of tranquilizers has been well documented. And while the newer class of “non-benzodiazepines” are said to be less risky, they also can lead to dependency and the need for a medical drug detox to safely and comfortably get off them. Alternative, drug-free approaches to dealing with insomnia and anxiety that don’t lead to dependence and the possible need for drug detox exist throughout the world. There are a host of herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines and dietary adjustments described on literally thousands of web sites. Even a simple regimen of exercise has worked wonders for people with trouble sleeping or suffering from attacks of anxiety or nervousness.But if you’re one of the millions of Americans who already rely on prescription drugs to sleep or to calm you down, you may not know that long-term use of benzodiazepines can lead to physical dependence. If you decide to stop taking them, only a medical drug detox will help you avoid the withdrawal symptoms, and the ugly alternative – a long and uncomfortable “weaning off” period that can last as long as 6 months or a year or more, complicated by even more prescription drugs which have side effects of their own.Benzodiazepines, often referred to simply as “benzos”, are a class of some two dozen psychoactive drugs that include such well-known brands as Valium, Librium, Klonopin and Xanax. Benzos, which have been around since the 1960s, are routinely prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures, and muscle spasms, and in some settings have even been used for alcohol withdrawal – an inferior approach to modern medical drug detox. They offer users a whole laundry-list of unpleasant side effects in addition to leading to dependencies and the need for drug detox.The relatively new non-benzos, which include more than a dozen drugs and such popular brands as Ambien, Sonata and Lunesta (you can’t watch television for more than 10 minutes these days without seeing a commercial for at least one of them), create some of the same calming effects as benzos. They’re called “non”-benzos because they have some of the same tranquilizing effects, but are structurally different. But non-benzos have their own list of nasty side effects, and although they are said to create fewer dependencies, medical drug detox centers still encounter these drugs on a regular basis, usually as part of a multidrug dependency involving other drugs and alcohol.Non-benzos produce some particularly horrible side effects, such as pronounced amnesia and hallucinations. They have been widely reported as causing a “fugue state” where people sleepwalk and then cook meals or even go driving in their cars while completely unconscious, with no memory of the events when awakened. As evidenced by the thousands of TV commercials, magazine and newspaper ads touting their use, and the billions of dollars pouring into the coffers of the pharmaceutical companies, both benzos and non-benzos have become part of America’s prescription drug culture – “take a pill for whatever ails you.” In spite of its need for a good night’s sleep, America needs to wake up and face the harsh reality of its dangerous dependence on prescription drugs. If you’re considering asking for a prescription, you should call a medical drug detox counselor and get the real facts – neither Big Pharma nor your doctor will tell you in plain language what you need to hear. And if you’re already a long-time user, you should call the same counselor and discuss whether you should get into a medical drug detox program right now.
Posts Tagged ‘withdrawal’
Medical Drug Detox Greatly Eases Benzo and Non-Benzo Withdrawal
December 3rd, 2011How Drug Treatment Is Done
August 11th, 2011What do you do when you fall down? Well, you normally get back to your feet and shake the dust off. But can if also be said regarding drug use, abuse or substance dependence? The answer is a resounding yes. However, there can be some challenges on the way to recovery. Nonetheless, sobriety is very much achievable through drug treatment
But before you undergo drug treatment, there are things that you and the drug rehab centre staff need to know. First, they need to know what drugs you are addicted to, how long you have been addicted, the amount of drugs you use on a regular basis. They also need basic information such as your age to be able to devise a specific program that can cater to your needs. There is a separate program that caters specifically to teenagers. This group has a different set of needs and has different types of issues compared to adults. Knowing the age of a patient is important in determining which group they will be assigned to.
Doctors and counselors are likewise on hand to be able to sort out various medical and mental issues a patient may have before a specific drug treatment program is made. A person’s drug history is one of the determining factors as to what withdrawal symptoms they may experience and what corresponding drug treatment can be done. Withdrawal symptoms depend on the kind and length of drug use.
The first step in drug treatment is detoxification. This comes with the cessation of drug use and flushing out of toxins from the body. Medications can be given in order to suppress withdrawal symptoms especially during detoxification. Nonetheless medically-aided detox is not the drug rehab or treatment itself but is just the initial part of the whole drug treatment process. Individuals who undergo medically assisted detox, but do not undergo further treatment exhibit drug addiction patterns that comparable to those of addicts who have never undergone treatment.
Medications can be utilize as aid for reestablishing normal function of the brain and to diminish cravings and prevent relapse. There are medications available for nicotine, opioids such as morphine and heroin, and alcohol. Most individuals who have severe cases of drug addiction use at least two drugs and will need drug treatment for all substances they abused.
One common drug treatment is the use of buprenorpine, methadone or in some cases naltrexone to address opiate addiction. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings are suppressed by buprenorphine and methadone. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opiods such as heroin at the receptor sites. This drug is only recommended for those who have already undergone detoxification. All these treatments help patients advert drug seeking behavioral and be more open to behavioral treatments.
In the end, although drug treatment may cost you a good sum of money, it would nonetheless assure you of a greater chance of recovery and can help save you from relapse which can all the more burn a whole in your pocket. Drug treatment is necessary in the quest for drug addiction recovery and sobriety.
Is Internet Addiction a Type of Mental Health Disorder?
August 9th, 2011The internet is an easy and simple for interpersonal communication and an excellent source of learning, improving one’s career, etc., can also cause psychological problems that can jeopardize your mental health. Internet if you are psychologically dependent activities related to r an alarm bell for you.
How can you addicted to the Internet?
The phenomenon of excessive and compulsive use of the Internet is also known as Internet addiction, the one described in the medical language known as pathological Internet use. Those who were dependent on the Internet were originally interested in many things that are available on the web. When the novelty of normal Internet activity takes offered the witch is to the Internet and other attractive incentives that online gaming chat, connected, social networks, etc., pornography, leading to compulsive Internet use and ultimately makes them poor mental health.
Internet addiction is a mental illness?
For some of the most precious thing on the Internet, which is in his life? If you are single central priority for the internet usage of his life a concern. When you start thinking how important the Internet is to the detriment of their health, family, work, social life actually is a pointer to a mental disorder.
Internet addiction is similar to alcoholism or drug abuse?
In some ways, it seems there is some truth in this area. As in the case of an alcoholic or drug addict, is heavily dependent on alcohol or drugs completely for each task, a person who is addicted to the Internet requires a constant impetus to the use of fall Compulsive Internet. This gives you a kick or pleasure. However, it is detrimental to their mental health.
Every time a person is addicted to the Internet, from the source of the stimulus (e.g. the Internet), the excited nervous, agitated and even aggressive. This step can with the withdrawal symptoms that we are in the person who uses drugs like alcohol, cocaine, heroin, etc. are compared depend, and must refrain from these drugs for any reason.
Damage relationships of Internet addiction social: when starting your enthusiasm for Internet use with their ability to generally pay for their relationship Disturb must sit down and stop, otherwise you may have to pay a high price.
The impact of incentives, such as pornography, online games, chat, blogs etc. can be offered over the Internet to be fatal, not only for their mental health but also their social and family relationships.
Is there help for Internet addiction?
As a mental disorder Internet addiction is relatively new, extensive studies on the reduction of this disorder are in the training phase. It is difficult to correctly diagnose Internet addiction, and has no toxic product. The addict on the Internet makes people anxious and nervous when they’re online. This condition is a serious threat to their mental health.
These interventions combined clinical, psychological and education can help these people. Internet addicts suffer from withdrawal symptoms can to be given to the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics. Behavioral therapy may be beneficial.
A psychologist can help shift your feelings addicted noted that compulsive Internet use. It is also true that total abstinence is not possible that the Internet has become an integral part of our daily life. A professional can motivate to the Internet in the management of online and offline addicted to.
Experts agree that people should learn to use the Internet to be a moderate and controlled. Self-help can be an advantage. Those of you who sit on the edge of the trap of dependency on the Internet must begin to keep your social life outside the Web to improve the fit and improve their mental health.
Prevention
If a person knows or has difficulty with other forms of addictive behavior, you should consider the nature of the application using the Internet with care. It is important for people to participate in social activities outside the Internet.
Finally, it should explore the mental health workers the opportunity to participate in the implementation of new technologies, rather than waiting for the consequences.