• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Fibromyalgia
• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPNP)
• Chronic musculoskeletal pain

Common adult doses range from 20–60 milligrams a day, and the maximum daily dose is 120 milligrams. It can take several weeks before you notice the full benefits of duloxetine. However, some physical symptoms may begin to improve much earlier. Energy levels, appetite, and sleep can get better within two weeks, but mood can take up to eight weeks to start improving.

Patients under the age of 25 tend to have an increased suicide risk when using Cymbalta. It’s crucial to monitor patients of any age who use the drug as an antidepressant for suicidal thoughts and behavior, especially when starting or changing the dose.

Cymbalta Regulations and Abuse

Cymbalta is not a controlled substance because it has a low risk of misuse or physical dependency. Yet, you still need a doctor’s prescription to get duloxetine. The drug is available in the form of a delayed-release capsule.

Cymbalta is rarely misused, but when it is, individuals snort it or attempt large doses in a short amount of time. When abused, Cymbalta can heighten side effects, including hallucinations, nausea, and severe skin reactions.

According to research, people who stop duloxetine or Cymbalta too quickly may develop antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. This happens because brain receptors need time to adjust to lower levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.

How Cymbalta Affects the Brain and the Body

Duloxetine functions by altering the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine. These are critical neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. These chemicals help control emotional responses and how the body senses pain.

Cymbalta blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, so more of these neurotransmitters stay active between nerve cells. This helps rebalance brain chemistry and relieve depression symptoms. Duloxetine also has pain-relieving, or analgesic, effects for conditions like fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy.

The Half-Life of Cymbalta

Duloxetine has an average elimination half-life of about 12 hours in healthy adults. Once the last dose of Cymbalta is taken, it can take up to 60 hours (about 2.5 days) for most of the drug to leave the body. Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms usually begin after most of the medication has cleared and the brain is adjusting to lower serotonin and norepinephrine levels.

How Long Does Cymbalta Stay in Hair, Blood, and Urine?

People may be concerned about Cymbalta appearing in urine, hair, and blood tests. The drug is an antidepressant, and external perceptions of this might have nasty effects for some. Standard workplace drug screenings usually don’t test for duloxetine or other antidepressants.

Duloxetine begins to leave the bloodstream within hours, and most of the drug is gone in about 60 hours. It’s not usually measured on routine urine or hair tests, so a positive result for Cymbalta is uncommon unless a specific antidepressant panel is ordered.

Withdrawal Symptoms of Quitting Cymbalta Abruptly

Stopping Cymbalta or duloxetine suddenly can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, sometimes called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. These symptoms can last for weeks or even months. It’s safer to work with a doctor to taper the dose slowly instead of stopping on your own.

Signs of discontinuation syndrome include:

• Severe nausea
• Brain zaps or shivers
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nightmares
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Vertigo
• Irritability
• Tingling sensations of the skin

The Importance of Aftercare

Supportive treatment and aftercare can help people who are struggling with Cymbalta or duloxetine discontinuation. Some people still have symptoms, even when they taper slowly. Examples of aftercare include:

• Dual Diagnosis Support: Patients may have co-occurring mental or physical illnesses, and both should be treated together for better outcomes during Cymbalta or duloxetine withdrawal.
• Mental Health Tracking: Regular check-ins with your doctor or therapist help monitor mood, sleep, anxiety, and depression while your duloxetine dose is adjusted or slowly tapered.
• Therapy Sessions: Counseling explains how Cymbalta and other antidepressants affect the brain and teaches coping skills for mood swings, cravings, and withdrawal-related distress.
• Professional Guidance: You don’t have to manage Cymbalta withdrawal alone; a doctor, psychiatrist, or counselor can guide safe dose changes and add extra support if symptoms worsen.
• Black Box Monitoring: Cymbalta has a black box warning for suicidal thoughts, especially in younger people, so any new or worsening suicidal thinking should be evaluated urgently.

Granite Recovery Centers

Granite Recovery Centers helps individuals find relief from substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions, such as ADHD. While at the treatment center, you learn about potential side effects and how drugs, including Cymbalta and duloxetine, affect your mind and body.

There is comprehensive support for Cymbalta discontinuation through specialized mental health treatment and, when appropriate, medical detoxification. Our well-trained and experienced professionals create personalized care plans. They monitor your progress to make withdrawal safer than attempting to manage symptoms alone.

The center’s supportive environment is conducive to self-improvement. It also reduces triggers that might worsen depression or anxiety. Emotional support, therapy, and careful monitoring of withdrawal effects give your brain time to recover.

Our dedicated staff provides round-the-clock support throughout your recovery journey. This creates a therapeutic community, so you never feel alone. If you or a friend is experiencing Cymbalta side effects or duloxetine discontinuation symptoms, reach out to us to learn more about treatment options that can support your recovery.

FAQs About Cymbalta and Duloxetine

What is duloxetine used for?

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults.

What are the common side effects of duloxetine?

Common duloxetine side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleep changes, dizziness, sweating, constipation, and fatigue. Serious mood or behavior changes should be reported right away.

How long does Cymbalta stay in your system?

Duloxetine has a half-life of about 12 hours. After the last dose of Cymbalta, most of the drug leaves the body within about 60 hours, or roughly 2.5 days.

Start Your Recovery With Granite

Cymbalta and duloxetine can stay in your system for days, and stopping suddenly may lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and mood changes. You don’t have to manage this on your own. With careful medical guidance, a gradual taper, and emotional support, many people can safely discontinue Cymbalta and begin to feel more stable and in control again.

Granite Recovery Centers can help you plan a safe duloxetine taper, manage withdrawal, and address any co-occurring mental health or substance use issues. To get started, call us today at (855) 712-7784.

The post How Long Does Cymbalta Stay In Your System? appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are depressants that cause the user to become sedated or fall asleep. They also relieve anxiety and prevent the person from experiencing seizures. These medications increase the activity that occurs at the receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter that slows down the actions of the brain’s neurons, so it slows the brain and the nervous system down.

• Klonopin is a benzodiazepine that doctors prescribe to control seizures. Physicians also prescribe it to relieve panic attacks.
• Xanax is also a benzodiazepine that physicians prescribe to treat panic disorder and anxiety disorders.

Panic Attacks

When someone is having a panic attack, they suddenly begin to experience fear, but there isn’t necessarily anything tangible to fear at that moment. They feel as though they aren’t in control of the situation, and they begin to experience several symptoms. The physical symptoms include the following:

• Tingling or numbness in the hands
• Cold chills
• The sensation of heat
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Difficulties breathing
• Pain in the stomach or chest
• A rapid heartbeat

People may not know when or where these attacks are going to occur, so they develop a fear that these attacks can happen at any time. In order to prevent attacks, they may alter their lives in highly inconvenient ways. For example, if they experienced a panic attack in one portion of the city, they may avoid that area even if the alternative route takes them out of their way. Some people are so fearful that they don’t ever leave their homes.

Benzodiazepine Prescriptions

Many people are receiving benzodiazepine prescriptions in the United States. In 1996, 4.1% of adults received a prescription for this medication, and this number increased by 2013 to 5.6%.

Mixing Xanax and Klonopin

Both Xanax and Klonopin are benzodiazepine tranquilizers. When people experiencing anxiety take these medications, they decrease the abnormal electrical activity that exists in the brain. When people take Xanax, they report feelings of being sedated. They also describe a calming feeling. This is not the high that people get when they take a stimulant like cocaine; it is a relaxing feeling. They could also fall sleep after taking this drug. Klonopin and Xanax both cause users to experience similar feelings, so a user might decide to take both of them at the same time so that they can create even stronger feelings.

Of course, there are differences between these two drugs. People feel the effects of Klonopin for a longer period of time than those of Xanax. Since the half-life for Xanax is so short, users will feel its effects sooner than they feel the effects of Klonopin. These two medications are often mixed to give users the relaxed feeling they crave or to relieve tension. People may combine these drugs because they want the pleasant feelings they experience to last longer than either medication can provide.

Tolerance

Benzodiazepines cause users to become tolerant over time. This is what is occurring when the user starts to experience less of a reaction to the medication than was experienced the first time that the drug was ingested. When this occurs, the user must increase the amount of Xanax or Klonopin to feel what was felt the first time. Tolerance for one of the drugs may have started, so people may combine these medications so that they can increase the feelings again.

When People Misuse Xanax and Klonopin

Misusing Xanax causes people to experience nausea, vomiting, confusion, a lack of focus, impaired memory, loss of muscle coordination, blurry vision or double vision, sleepiness and slurred speech. When people misuse Klonopin, they experience the same negative side effects. If the user decides to take both of these drugs together, these side effects will be even more pronounced. In most cases, benzodiazepines are not dangerous, but if the user decides to take more than one at a time, the combination can become much more hazardous. The symptoms of an overdose on Xanax include the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion
• Drowsiness

If a person who takes Xanax also takes Klonopin, the possibility of overdosing increases. That is because Klonopin is a sedative as well, and sedatives inhibit CYP3A, a pathway that allows Xanax to be broken down. Because it is harder for the body to break down the Xanax when this occurs, it increases the risk of an overdose.

Severe Symptoms of an Overdose

The most severe symptoms of an overdose when mixing benzodiazepines include the following:

• Coma
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Chest pain
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Slower breathing
• Lower blood pressure

Suicide and Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines often cause people to experience extreme mood swings, and this leads some users to attempt to take their own lives. Some people also use these drugs when they want to kill themselves by overdosing on purpose. In 2013, 3,724 people died by use of alprazolam or Xanax, and three years later, this number increased to 6,209.

Long-Term Risks Associated with Mixing Xanax and Klonopin

When you mix Xanax and Klonopin, there is a higher risk of severity for long-term consequences if you ingest this mixture on a regular basis. For example, brain damage results when people indulge in Xanax and Klonopin repeatedly, and it may lead to serious psychological disturbances.

What Is Psychosis?

Psychosis means that someone is experiencing a break with reality. Several mental disorders have this as a symptom. When people are experiencing psychosis, it means that they are either having delusions or hallucinations.

• Delusion: A belief that the affected person holds strongly, but it isn’t true and may be a contradiction of reality. One example of a delusion is known as a “somatic delusion.” With somatic delusions, people wholeheartedly believe that they are in the middle of a terminal illness, but the reality is that they are healthy.
• Hallucination: A sensory perception that is not stimulated by an actual event. This means that people see, smell, hear or feel something that isn’t really there. For example, people experiencing auditory hallucinations may hear other people talking in the room with them when they are actually alone.

Delusions and hallucinations can be very disconcerting to the people experiencing them, and individuals may try to hurt themselves. They may even hurt other people, so delusions and hallucinations are considered medical emergencies.

Psychotic Disorders

Mixing Xanax and Klonopin may cause psychotic disorders, including the following:

• Schizophrenia: This is a mental condition that usually causes psychotic symptoms.
• Psychotic depression: Psychotic depression is major depression, but the person experiencing the condition also has psychotic symptoms.
• Delusional disorder: Delusional disorder causes people to believe things that are entirely untrue.
• Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings that go from very high to very low and back again. During the times when people with bipolar disorder are experiencing positive moods, they tend to also experience psychotic symptoms. These people feel great and believe that they have the power to do anything. Depression can also cause psychotic symptoms, and these people may believe that people are out to get them.
• Other mental disorders: Along with psychosis, people can experience many other mental disturbances when they mix Xanax and Klonopin. Users have been known to experience panic attacks, mood swings, irritability, depression, tension and anxiety.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms for two benzodiazepines are much worse than those for just one medication. When these withdrawal symptoms begin, they can be very dangerous. Both Xanax and Klonopin reduce the brain’s activity, but when people stop taking these drugs, the brain becomes overactive. This may cause seizures, convulsions or death. As people’s moods change at this time, it can lead them to think about suicide. Withdrawal symptoms can begin in as little as five hours after the last use of the drugs. Stopping the use of Xanax and Klonopin together can cause several other withdrawal symptoms, including the following:

• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Tension
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Panic attacks
• Aches
• Spasms
• Pain in the muscles
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Headaches

Treatment at Granite Recovery Centers

If you or a loved one has been mixing Xanax and Klonopin, stop what you have been doing and get help. As was mentioned above, refraining from mixing Xanax and Klonopin after repeated use can lead to worrying withdrawal symptoms, so it would not be a good idea for you to detoxify on your own. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

t would be extremely uncomfortable for you to go through the detoxification process without the help of a medical professional. Withdrawal symptoms are the signals that your body sends to remind you to give it more of the drugs. If you cannot tolerate these symptoms until your body stops sending them to you, you will have no choice but to return to your drug use. We will prevent this by administering FDA-approved medications during the withdrawal process. Discomfort is not the only thing that may concern you. As was mentioned above, the possibility of experiencing psychotic symptoms may worry you enough to avoid detoxifying from substances on your own, but you may not be convinced that you should enter a drug treatment center. The safest thing for you to do is come to Granite Recovery Centers so that you will be cared for in our detox program and remain for treatment so that you avoid substance misuse in the future.

Contact Us Today

Granite Recovery Centers offers substance use disorder and addiction treatment. Depending on the severity of your drug misuse, we can place you in a 30-day, 60-day or 90-day program for treatment in our inpatient treatment program. If you or your loved one is ready to embark upon a new chapter of reclaiming your life, call us today at Granite Recovery Centers. We’re here to lend a compassionate ear and help you find the right help to overcome drug misuse.

The post Dangers of Mixing Xanax and Klonopin appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

It’s an oral medicine that balances neurotransmitter levels in the brain to boost the user’s mood and overall mental health. When taken in high doses, Wellbutrin produces effects similar to those of recreational drugs like cocaine. For this reason, some people abuse the drug leading to an addiction.

Causes of Wellbutrin Addiction

According to a CDC report, 13.2% of people aged 18 and above uses antidepressants. Most doctors will advise their patients to take the drug for about six months or until the depressive symptoms are gone. However, some users may choose to continue using the medicine to enjoy the effects even after the prescribed period. Others will choose to take the medication in increased dosage or at closer intervals to get high. Over time, they end up becoming dependent on the medication.

Wellbutrin increases the concentration of dopamine in the brain, which improves mood and suppresses depression symptoms. Hence, most people abuse the drug in an attempt to hasten the mood boost effect. Others choose to use the drug for recreational purposes. The manufacturer recommends that users swallow the medicine whole.

On the contrary, some users chew the pill or crush and snort the powder. Others dissolve the drug in water and inject it into the body. When you swallow the pills whole, they will have to go through the digestive tract, which reduces the speed at which it reaches the bloodstream, minimizing the effects. If you snort or inject the drug, you introduce it directly into the bloodstream. Due to the high level of the drug in your body, you risk becoming addicted and suffering an overdose.

Signs of Wellbutrin Addiction

Always be on the lookout for drug abuse signs if you or your loved ones take Wellbutrin. The addiction risk is even higher for people who heavily drink alcohol or those with a history of drug abuse. Even people who don’t intend to abuse the drug may become addicted when they use it for too long.

Note that many cocaine users will go for Wellbutrin when they can’t get access to enough cocaine. This is because the prescription drug is easy to obtain and also a cheaper alternative. The medication produces a similar stimulant effect to that of cocaine but at a lower intensity.

After abusing the drug, some people begin to show signs of elevated mood. They become more talkative than usual, and they show signs of increased energy and activity. If someone is addicted to Wellbutrin, they will have trouble sleeping and stay awake for long hours. Others will show a sudden increase in self-esteem. It also leads to loss of appetite and euphoria.

Additional Signs & Symptoms

When someone becomes addicted, they begin to seek prescriptions from several doctors. Others will try sourcing the drug from illegal websites and store them in unlabeled containers. Wellbutrin addiction could also lead to loss of family, friendships, and other relationships. Such people begin to enjoy more time alone, taking the drug and enjoying the effects. As a result, most of them are highly likely to neglect family responsibilities.

Addiction can also make you lose your job or perform poorly at school. The drug won’t let you concentrate on schoolwork or your career as you used to. As the urge to use the drug grows, it creates a continuous need for the medication, so most people spend all their money acquiring it. Other common symptoms of Wellbutrin addiction include:

• Constipation
• Muscle pain
• Hallucinations
• Seizure
• Decreased sex drive
• Delusions
• Aggression

Watch out for such signs, and seek medical help as soon as possible. Note that, if a person becomes so addicted to the drug, such that they consume it at a higher dose, it could lead to cardiovascular collapse, which causes death. Though death-related cases due to Wellbutrin abuse are limited, there are still 0.5% reported cases of death due to an overdose.

Wellbutrin Addiction Treatment

Understanding Wellbutrin addiction symptoms paves the way for users to seek treatment. Note that you should never attempt quitting the drug without medical assistance since it can lead to withdrawal symptoms. When you abruptly stop taking the medication, you might begin to experience:

• Extreme agitation
• Suicidal thoughts
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Irritability

The symptoms will vary based on the level of addiction. To avoid such issues, it’s a good idea that you seek help from a rehab facility like Granite Recovery Centers. In such institutions, you will interact with specialists who will help treat the addiction and address any underlying issue that could trigger drug abuse. Wellbutrin treatment process may involve the following.

Medical Detoxification

At Granite Recovery Centers, you will undergo a safe medical detox program to eliminate toxins in your body. Keep in mind that every patient’s detox need is unique. The doctor begins by first conducting a thorough examination to assess the drug level in the blood and determine the amount of medication needed for detox. You may also need to undergo a dual diagnosis to help understand whether various mental issues have noticeable impacts on the addiction. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

The specialists can administer other medications to stabilize the patient and minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms. The doctor will also inform you what the detox process entails in preparation for treatment. After detoxing, you will continue with therapy to help you cope with the situation. You can enroll in some of the following treatment programs.

Inpatient Program

For patients with high Wellbutrin addiction levels, you might need to consider the inpatient treatment program. You live within the rehab center for close monitoring and intensive care within the facility. This treatment plan allows you to work on your recovery away from the outside world’s everyday temptations. Granite Recovery Center provides a supportive environment where addicts receive the skills and insights needed to stay away from drugs and lead a sober life.

The treatment length will vary from one patient to another. You will need around three to 10 days for detox, followed by 30 to 90 days of therapy sessions. Patients should follow a specific schedule that includes physical exercises, study, and individual and group psychotherapy sessions during this period. The main goal here is to help patients understand the triggers and causes of their addiction and adopt new approaches to help them remain substance-free throughout the treatment and beyond.

Within the facility, you will interact with other people struggling with the same issue as you. You can share insights and work together towards recovery. Based on your progress and ability to meet goals, your doctor will decide when you are free to move to a less intensive treatment program.

Outpatient Program

If your addiction level isn’t extremely severe, the doctor may advise you to opt for an outpatient program. For this option, you stay at home and only come to the rehab facility for treatment several days a week based on the scheduled appointments. Patients are likely to achieve long-lasting sobriety through an outpatient treatment plan just like the inpatient one.

Note that the path of recovery from drug addiction can be very challenging. In case you finish the inpatient treatment but you still feel that you need professional support and counseling, enroll in an outpatient treatment program. A specialist will guide you on how to transition from the rehab facility into everyday life safely.

The treatment involves holistic and individual therapies, skills-building sessions, and a 12-step rehab program. During the sessions, you will discuss with your therapist to identify the addiction problem’s root cause. You will then learn some behavioral modification techniques that will help you refrain from drug misuse.

For this option, you can go to work or attend school as you work on recovery. Since you have more freedom, you might need to undergo regular screening to ensure credibility. Note that drug addiction treatment is a continuous process, and you will only succeed if you consistently honor your outpatient treatment appointments.

Partial Hospitalization Program

If you still need intensive care to treat Wellbutrin addiction but don’t wish to stay within the facility, you can opt for the partial hospitalization program. This option works well for patients with great support from their family members. Instead of residing within the rehab facility, you come in for treatment sessions several hours a day and head home later.

Most times, the treatment runs for five days each week. Together with your therapist, you will develop a personalized plan to guide you through recovery. You still have access to group therapy, where you can communicate and share opinions with others. If you have issues that you feel uncomfortable sharing in a group, you will hold face-to-face meetings with your therapist to address such concerns.

If you are struggling with Wellbutrin addiction and other mental health conditions, you will receive medication to help you cope with the situation. A psychiatrist will guide you on how to manage the drugs better to avoid misuse. Note that drug addiction also affects people around the patient. During the partial hospitalization program, you will undergo family therapy sessions to teach your loved ones how to better cope with your condition. They will also learn how to offer you better support to speed recovery.

Sober Living Homes

Most patients find it hard to adjust to their daily lives after leaving the rehab center. Once you complete the inpatient treatment, you can choose to reside in sober living homes for a while till you fully recover. These are houses designated for people struggling with addiction. Although you might not get the same care level as in an inpatient facility, a sober living home environment promotes healthy coping skills and habits.

You will live along with other people who share similar experiences and goals, which helps reduce loneliness, an inherent part of the addiction cycle. When using the drug, you may have cut out friends or withdrew from family members due to the fear of judgment or rejection. In sober living homes, you will create better relationships, so you have someone to confide in if you face difficulties during recovery.

When someone becomes addicted to drugs, they might disengage from basic skills more often than not. In sober living homes, you will try to regain various skills like exercising, eating healthy, cleaning, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You have a chance to apply for jobs, and because you are living in shared spaces, you will learn some financial and social skills.

Also, these homes offer more independence and control over the recovery process, giving patients a more positive feeling towards the treatment. You have a chance to do all the things you enjoy, provided that you make responsible choices.

You will still undergo regular and random drug testing to ensure complete abstinence. Besides the peer-to-peer support, the rehab center will offer therapy sessions as well. You can reach out to your doctor for advice if need be. This is the last part of Wellbutrin addiction treatment, and it promotes lifelong sobriety.

Summing Up

Consuming high Wellbutrin dosage can change how your body functions making it hard to stay away from the drug. With time, you might become addicted and begin to abuse the drug. Note that overcoming any form of drug addiction requires multiple episodes of treatment. If you or your family member struggles with Wellbutrin or any other substance addiction, you can seek help from us at Granite Recovery Centers. Our facilities aim to provide patients with a smooth transition into a purposeful, independent, and drug-free life.

After treatment, your specialist will advise you on the best care program that provides the proper support. Our rehab center even has an alumni program that allows the patients to keep in touch, maintain friendships and strengthen their recovery. With the appropriate treatment, professional therapies, and aftercare programs, soon, you will regain freedom from Wellbutrin addiction.

The post Wellbutrin Addiction Treatment Options appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

Uses of Vyvanse

Apart from treating ADHD and BED, Vyvanse can also help you manage other conditions. With a doctor’s prescription, you can use Vyvanse to manage lethargy, help in hypoactive delirium and boost focus if you have a neurological disorder that can cause cognitive issues.

Due to how Vyvanse metabolizes in your system, most physicians don’t like issuing it for stimulant purposes. You can also use it to treat depression or too much sleepiness during the day, but this is an off-label use.

Understanding How It Works

You can take Vyvanse as a tablet or capsule. Its dosage strengths include 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg and 70mg. Once you swallow this drug, it gets absorbed into the blood. Over time, it will break down before it’s excreted in the urine.

After getting into your system, Vyvanse can increase your energy level, attentiveness and alertness. Vyvanse begins metabolizing almost immediately in your body; you’ll feel its effects for up to 12 hours. However, this will largely depend on the dosage you took. Given that it’s a Schedule II controlled drug in the USA with medicinal benefits, it also poses a high risk of abuse and dependence. This means it can cause both physical and psychological dependence, which is not good for your health.

What Are the Stimulant Effects of Vyvanse?

If you take a stimulant drug, it will interfere with your body and brain’s normal functions. For instance, taking Vyvanse will make you have increased heart rate and blood pressure. Some people abuse stimulants because of the drug’s ability to make them more confident and reduce appetite. A considerable percentage of people who use stimulant drugs are teens or college students who want to stay awake for more extended periods while studying.

What Happens to Your Brain or Body After Taking Vyvanse?

Vyvanse has symptoms that extend beyond its stimulant properties. It will increase the processes of your central nervous system. This is because it’s an amphetamine that changes how your brain balances some chemicals like dopamine that are responsible for your feelings of pleasure. Over time, this process becomes a routine, and you will find it hard to discontinue its use. If you use the drug for recreational purposes, expect to be anxious, irritable and sleep-deprived if you try to quit. It may also make you have hallucinations, paranoia and delusions.

What’s the Half-Life of Vyvanse?

This refers to the period in which Vyvanse takes before its concentration reduces to half. A drug is often gone from your body completely after about five half-lives. Vyvanse doesn’t have a long half-life; it can take a maximum of one hour for half of the drug to leave your system. This means it can last about 5.5 hours for the whole drug to be out of your system. However, not all the drugs will get out of your system as some metabolites remain after the process. When this happens, the metabolites will have their half-life between 9 and 11 hours. At times, though, they can stay in your body for up to two and a half days.

How Long Will It Last in Your System?

Urine sampling is the quickest way of detecting Vyvanse levels in the body. It gives more accurate results than blood tests. Smaller traces can be detected in urine, and a positive result will show up even if the patient used the drug three days prior.

Saliva tests can be carried out too. However, the positive result shows a maximum of 40 hours after use. Saliva tests still give a higher detection level than in blood.

While in your blood, Vyvanse will test positive depending on its half-life. This can take about 8 to 12 hours after use. A blood test is more difficult and expensive than doing a urine test, so prepare well if you wish to be tested.

In your hair follicles, traces can test positive 90 days after use. Hair follicles give positive results for drug use for a more extended period after use, but conducting a hair follicle test is a much more expensive affair.

Factors That Influence the Duration Vyvanse Takes in Your System

Various factors contribute to the duration in which Vyvanse stays in your body. These factors include the following:

• The amount and number of times you use it: When you take a higher dosage, the duration of Vyvanse staying in your body increases. Remember, the frequency that you use this drug will determine how long it stays in your system. For example, if you use it daily, the effects will accumulate in your body and prolong the duration it stays in your body.
• Your health and activity levels: If you’re using this drug while unhealthy and inactive, it lasts longer in your system. However, if you’re active and healthy, it will metabolize faster. Exercising affects your basal metabolic rate, which affects the time your body takes to break down various substances. Note that your health determines the duration of drug stay since Vyvanse is excreted through urine. For instance, if your kidney has problems, the time will increase, making Vyvanse stay in your body for long.
• How you administer it: You can either chew the Vyvanse tablet, swallow the pill or mix the contents from the capsules with water or yogurt. All these methods will be effective, but the drug’s duration to metabolize before excretion differs.
• The presence of alcohol or other drugs in your system: In case you are using Vyvanse alongside other medications, the time taken for the medicine to stay in your system will vary with the time taken while using Vyvanse alone. The drugs will affect the metabolic rate of Vyvanse, which can increase its bioavailability. Some of the drugs that can interfere with its metabolism include antidepressants, tricyclic and MAOI.
• Body mass index: Your body mass index can affect the duration Vyvanse is in your body. If you have a higher body mass and fat, metabolism will take place more slowly. When this happens, the detection time will increase since the drug will stay longer in your system. However, a faster metabolism will increase the rate at which the drug gets eliminated from your system.
• Your age: The more you grow old, the slower your metabolism gets. If you’re in your youth, the drug elimination process takes place faster than when you get older. Slow metabolism means the drug detection will take longer.

How to Use Vyvanse

It’s advisable to only use Vyvanse under your doctor’s prescription. It would be best to take this drug once a day in the morning since it can affect your sleep pattern. You can also take it with or without food. If you have either BED or ADHD, it’s best to start using a lower dose and increase the levels depending on your body’s response.

Since Vyvanse is a capsule or tablet, you shouldn’t have problems taking it. If you fear swallowing medication, mix the pills with juice, yogurt or water. After a period of time, your doctor might advise you to discontinue its use to check your progress and the symptoms. Some other conditions, such as kidney complications, may force your physician to cut down the dosage.

Vyvanse is a controlled drug because it may lead to abuse. For this reason, your doctor has to examine the possibilities of abuse before prescribing it. They may also check on you to ensure that you don’t become Vyvanse dependent.

If you’re using this medication, ensure that you keep it safe from people who can abuse, steal or misuse it.

Precautions When Using Vyvanse

While using this drug, avoid using it with antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOI. If possible, use it after 14 days from the last day of MAOI use.

If you have an allergic reaction to Vyvanse or any of its active ingredients or if you have ever reacted to any stimulant drugs, don’t use it.

How You Can Abuse Vyvanse or Become Addicted

Usually, taking this drug through following a doctor’s prescription is safe for your health. However, as a stimulant, it possesses a high risk of abuse. If you take a higher dosage than your doctor prescribed, you may experience drug tolerance. You will take more doses to feel better. With time, you could become drug-dependent or develop an addiction. If you are using this drug for weight loss or to improve your concentration, you’re more likely to meet the threshold for addiction quickly because you don’t have a doctor’s supervision.

How to Increase the Metabolism of Your System After Using Vyvanse

You can help your system to speed up the elimination of Vyvanse by doing the following. Note that these are general methods that you can use to flush out other medications, too, since there is no specific one for Vyvanse.

• You can drink a lot of water after using the drug. If you are a female, drink around 2.7 liters; a man should drink about 3.7 liters in a day.
• Stay hydrated with water and drinks rich in antioxidants like cranberry juice or tea.
• While taking Vyvanse, avoid drinking alcohol until it’s entirely out of your system. Alcohol will reduce the elimination rate of Vyvanse.
• Do aerobics to help you sweat out the drug from your system. You can also go to the sauna.
• Bathe with Epsom salts.
• Eat a balanced and healthy diet during this period to aid your body’s natural detox process.
• Increase your fiber intake to increase the chances of excreting the drug.

Signs That You Are Abusing Vyvanse

Using Vyvanse increases your risk of developing both physical and mental disorders. If you’re using it, be on the watch for addiction to avoid risking your life. Some of the signs you may notice include:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Rapid weight loss
• Desire to snort the drug
• High levels of anger
• Difficulty sleeping

If you abuse Vyvanse for long, you may become dependent and need the assistance of a professional counselor from a drug rehab program to see you through.

Getting Assistance for Vyvanse Addiction

If you are addicted to Vyvanse, the chances of experiencing various side effects in your body are high. In order to prevent these harmful effects, it’s best to ask for assistance from a residential treatment program. You can also opt for an outpatient treatment program and get help from professional team members who will guide you through therapy.

If you need help dealing with your Vyvanse addiction, we can help you on your path to drug addiction recovery. Call us today at Granite Recovery Centers and take the first steps toward the path to wellness. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

The post Vyvanse: How Long is it in Your System? appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

About Vicodin

Vicodin is a medicine used to treat mild to moderate pain with hydrocodone and acetaminophen as the active ingredients. Hydrocodone is an opioid. It is a highly prescribed medication around the world. Vicodin comes in pill form or liquid form with the liquid form being the more concentrated option. It generally comes with either 5 mg, 7.5 mg or 10 mg of hydrocodone. It should be eaten with food for people who suffer from stomach issues.

Side effects of Vicodin include:

• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Constipation

On rare occasions, you may experience more problematic side effects, such as sleep apnea or seizures. If this happens, tell your doctor immediately. The risk of serious side effects is low.

Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin definitely has the potential for abuse and addiction, especially for people with other addiction issues. One of the main ingredients of Vicodin is hydrocodone, which is an addictive substance. Hydrocodone is a man-made opioid that stimulates the same pleasure points in the brain as heroin. People who start with Vicodin may graduate to more intense opioids.

Signs of Vicodin Abuse

There are a number of ways to tell that you are starting to abuse Vicodin. If you recognize several of the signs in yourself, it’s time to take action. Here are some of the signs of abuse:

1. Tolerance
   It’s normal for a drug to not work as well after an extended period of time. This is a sign that your body is not responding to the drug as it did before due to developing a tolerance. You may have to start taking more in order to feel the effects. If you start taking more without getting approval from your doctor, this is considered misuse.

2. Taking Drug Outside of Prescription
   Vicodin is prescribed to many people. Your doctor prescribes a certain dosage for a reason, and you should stick to it. If you are told to take a certain dose twice a day, you should only take it those two times a day.

3. Cravings
   It’s a bad sign when you find yourself constantly craving Vicodin. If you start thinking about it while at work or doing other daily activities, it’s a serious indication of a problem. Rather than satisfying those cravings, listen to your body telling you that you are crossing the line from normal use to something more intense.

4. Financial or Legal Trouble
   When you allow your Vicodin use to impact your future by taking up all of your money or leading to a DUI, you will be forced to address these issues to any future employer and the people in your life. It’s even more of a sign of a problem when you continue to use it even after you get arrested. Let any legal ramifications be a serious warning sign and take action to help yourself.

5. Nodding Off
   One of the main signs that someone is using too much Vicodin is nodding off. You may notice your loved one sleeping at inappropriate times, too, because Vicodin is a depressant and will make the user feel sleepy. It can even get to the point where they can’t properly get through their daily responsibilities.

Vicodin and Alcohol

Vicodin by itself usually isn’t too debilitating. However, mixing it with alcohol can make it especially dangerous. Both Vicodin and alcohol contain depressant properties. When combined, they can reduce respiratory function to the point of being dangerous. You don’t want to end up falling asleep and not waking up. Also, Vicodin enhances the effects of alcohol on the body. A person taking Vicodin may get drunk much faster than normal when they are on Vicodin. This means that they can get very drunk and hurt themselves before they realize it, and they are more dangerous behind the wheel than if they had just been drinking.

Mixing Vicodin and alcohol is also worse for your body. It will create negative effects on your heart and liver more quickly than alcohol alone.

Vicodin Withdrawal

You can absolutely experience withdrawal from Vicodin. If you talk to your doctor in advance, they will likely reduce the dosage of the pill to help wean you off of it and reduce potential withdrawal symptoms. In time, you won’t need it anymore. If you go cold turkey, it may be more difficult. The withdrawal symptoms are not so severe as to cause serious conditions or death. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

Vicodin Treatment Options

You have options if you are seeking treatment for a Vicodin addiction. The key is to find the option that is best for you. Here are just some of the options available to you.

Rehabilitation

One of the best treatment options is inpatient rehabilitation. With this option, you will stay in a facility for an extended period of time while you detox and deal with the root of your addiction issues with the help of professional medical staff. You may have to make accommodations at home and at work for the time you are in rehab. Also, rehabilitation is on the expensive side. Talk to your insurance provider about what options you have, or talk to a social worker about state-funded options. By enrolling in comprehensive treatment, you can safely rid your body of the drug and learn resources to deal with cravings and triggers. Facilities like Granite Recovery Centers provide evidence-backed treatment to help patients prevent relapse and maintain long-term sobriety.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings are a safe space for people who suffer from addiction to narcotics, and it can be a great way for people to find support. There are 12-step programs available for free in most cities and towns. You can visit a meeting as often as you’d like to find support for your goal of sobriety. There will be other people there who understand what you’re going through, and you’ll be able to express yourself to a number of people who understand.

Therapy

Many people who suffer from addiction also suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, or another emotional disorder. To get to the bottom of the issue at hand, a therapist can help. You can talk to them about your addiction issues and the other things happening in your life, both past and present. Most therapists use a specific theory to guide the treatment. Some of those theories include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that identifies your triggers. Triggers are things that make you want to reach for the Vicodin bottle against your better judgment. Once you identify your triggers and other patterns, you can make an effort to change.
• Rational Emotive Behavior Theory: This is a theory that emphasizes mind over matter, indicating that it’s important for positive thoughts to overpower other thoughts. A therapist will help teach you how to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. The idea is that positive actions will happen as you train your mind to avoid drug misuse.

Medication

While you don’t want to replace your Vicodin addiction with another medication addiction, taking a medication with a very low chance of addiction might be the best option for you. There are a number of medications that help prevent addiction by addressing emotional issues. Talk to your doctor about your addiction problems so that they know to prescribe something with an extremely low chance of addiction. There are also drugs specifically designed to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Holistic Treatments

Some people want to focus on alternative treatment methods. These treatments may utilize more emphasis on your connection to the universe and yourself. It may also incorporate things like meditation and cleansing practices to make the environment around you as positive as possible. This can be a good addition to traditional treatment methods.

Life After Treatment

When you get home from treatment, you may be off Vicodin. However, the pain may still be there. One of the first things you’ll have to do is look for alternative solutions to the pain problem that caused your Vicodin usage in the first place. Many people will turn toward holistic options. Others will turn to less addictive drugs. Still, others will try chiropractors or physical therapy. There are options, so don’t be afraid to explore alternatives. The point is to reduce your need for the actual substance.

You will also need to continue your care when you get home. Be sure to plan ongoing treatment with a therapist or support group. You should also work to develop a strong support system. Try encouraging your support system at home with family and friends. You also need to have faith in yourself and your recovery. This can be difficult if you experience any guilt about your addiction. However, you can learn to love yourself again. Try saying positive affirmations and celebrating yourself and your accomplishments. Avoid other substances and focus on your overall health to promote a clean environment and mindset. When you are healthy on the inside, you will want to be healthy on the outside as well.

Granite Recovery Centers

Anyone can come back from a Vicodin addiction. Do not think that admitting to your problem and getting help is a sign of weakness. It’s actually a sign of strength to take a journey to better yourself. Start your journey by talking to one of our professionals at Granite Recovery Centers. We are known for our success stories.

With professional help, you can take control of your life again. Get the right head start by taking some time to yourself to detox and undergo helpful therapies. There will still be work to do when you get back home, but you’ll have a sturdy foundation underneath you.

The post Vicodin Addiction Treatment Options appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

Trazodone overdose can happen when someone takes more than the recommended dosage. Here is an informative guide that aims at shining light on what happens if you take too much Trazodone to help you seek the proper treatment.

How to Take Trazodone

The drug comes in the form of oral tablets, and the dosage depends on various factors. It might vary based on the type of condition, severity, underlying medical issues, and age. Your doctor will start you off with the lowest dose that delivers the desired effects and adjust it over time. The tablets have varying strength and come in 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, and 300 mg.

The typical starting dosage is 150mg daily divided into multiple doses to treat major depressive issues. The doctor may then gradually increase this dosage by 50mg until you reach the maximum, 400mg. Individuals in inpatient treatment for depression may take up to 600mg of Trazodone.

It’s worth noting that children below the age of 18 shouldn’t take this drug. You can use the drug for long-term treatment, but it could lead to adverse health issues when taken other than as prescribed. For instance, if you suddenly stop taking the medication, your conditions may get worse, and you might even experience some withdrawal symptoms, which include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Troubled sleep

If you want to discontinue taking the drug, inform your doctor to prescribe lower doses, and you should be able to stop over time. If you fail to take the medications on schedule, the drug won’t work as expected. When you forget to take your medicine, do it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s just a few hours before your next dosage, take a single dose at the next scheduled time. If you take too much, a higher level of the drug accumulates into your blood, potentially causing an overdose.

Trazodone Warnings

The drug comes with a boxed warning from the FDA to notify users of deadly side effects. According to a report by FDA, Trazodone can cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in young adults. The possibility of overdose is also higher at the beginning of the treatment or during dosage changes.

Trazodone Overdose

People who have a high risk of Trazodone overdose are users who need the drug to manage specific conditions. This is because the medication doesn’t have any recreational use. Taking a higher dose speeds up the effects of the drug while increasing drowsiness.

Even if they are prescribed the medication, some people feel tempted to take an increased amount in an attempt to get rid of depressive symptoms. In most cases, Trazodone overdose occurs unintentionally, but a few issues happen when patients attempt to cause self-harm or die by suicide.

How Much Trazodone Causes an Overdose

The amount of Trazodone that can cause an overdose varies. This highly depends on your kidney functionality because the kidneys are responsible for processing and removing the medication from your body. It’s worth noting that people aged 65 and above are at a higher risk of Trazodone overdose. With age, the kidney may not work as efficiently as it used to, and it processes the drugs slower.

While taking the drug to treat depression, if you take over 600mg of Trazodone in a single day, this is typically considered an overdose. You will need a lower dosage to treat insomnia, about 75mg. The amount and type of products you consume together with the drug may also cause an overdose. A large number of deaths linked to Trazodone overdose occur when users mix the medication with other substances.

Signs and Symptoms of Overdose

A Trazodone overdose causes a wide range of hazardous symptoms in various areas, including the following.

The Respiratory System

An increased level of Trazodone in your body depresses the respiratory system. As a result, the lungs fail to expand and contract as expected. When this happens, breathing may stop for some time or entirely. Note that slowed or stopped breathing for an extended period can cause permanent brain damage. Some common symptoms include:

• Respiratory arrest
• Breathing problems

Central Nervous System

Most of the benefits you reap from taking Trazodone develop when the drug interacts with the central nervous system. Hence, in case of an overdose, it highly affects your brain functionality and causes various symptoms like:

• Seizure
• Tremors
• Coma
• Insomnia
• Uncoordinated actions
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Chronic headache

Cardiovascular System

Trazodone overdose also affects the functionality of your heart and blood vessels. The drug dramatically slows down your heart rate. Blood pressure can also drop low, resulting in fainting. Watch out for irregular heartbeat and chest pain.

Serotonin Syndrome

Besides affecting some vital body systems, Trazodone overdose can cause serotonin syndrome. Serotonin is a brain chemical whose primary purpose is to promote a positive mood and boost relaxation. When you take Trazodone, it blocks serotonin receptors to accumulate more active chemicals in the body. When serotonin gets in your blood at higher levels, it causes adverse reactions. You will begin to experience:

• Loss of consciousness
• Hallucinations
• High fever
• Profuse sweating
• Shivering
• High blood pressure
• Coma
• Stiff muscles
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Dilated pupils
• Seizure
• Loss of muscle coordination
• Irregular heartbeat

Mixing Trazodone With Other Drugs

Before you start taking Trazodone, let your doctor know if you are taking any other medications. This covers everything from supplements to over-the-counter drugs or any other herbal medicine. Sharing such information with a qualified physician will help reduce the risks of drug interactions.

Opioids, alcohol, and benzophenones have similar effects on the body as Trazodone. They all target the brain, reduce its activities, and slow down the heart rate to promote relaxation. Combining such substances increases the central nervous system’s effects and severely depresses the respiratory system, which can be fatal.

Note that your body can only process a certain amount of antidepressants at a time. When you combine too many of them, a higher level of unutilized drugs accumulates into your body, causing an overdose. For an individual using cocaine, Trazodone can also lead to priapism.

Overdose as a Result of Snorting the Drug

It can take you up to two weeks to experience the drug’s anti-depressive effects when taken orally. As a result, some people choose to crush the medication and snort it to get immediate results. You should only take the drug in tablet form. This method allows the pill to go through the digestive system, decreasing the speed at which it reaches the bloodstream, which slows down the effects.

If you snort the medication, your nose blood vessels absorb the drug and take it directly into the blood. Thus, there is a high risk of overdose even after snorting the safe dose that you should have taken orally.

Trazodone Overdose Treatment

If you suspect that your loved one has taken more than the recommended dose of Trazodone or you see any of the symptoms mentioned above, seek emergency medical assistance. When you take in a person for Trazodone overdose treatment, you need to explain to the physician how the scenario occurred. Be ready to give specific information about the victim, like their age, weight, and height. If you know how much of the drug they took and at what specific period, availing such information will help in treatment.

When the patient arrives at a health facility, the doctor may begin by pumping the stomach to remove any remaining drug traces. They may also administer a dose of activated charcoal to absorb the toxins and alleviate overdose symptoms. The patient might need intravenous fluids to replenish nutrients and prevent dehydration. Physicians may also administer intubation to aid in proper breathing. If a person displays serotonin syndrome symptoms, the doctor will provide some medication to block the serotonin.

Luckily, most people recover from Trazodone overdose, especially if they seek medical attention as soon as possible. Based on the overdose extent, the doctor may require that the patient stays within the health facility for monitoring.

Preventing Further Overdose

Taking the person to a rehab facility like Granite Recovery Centers can help the user uncover potential overdose triggers and prevent another incident in the future. Our facility aims at helping people struggling with drug misuse. Our patients often undergo a mental health program to help them deal with emotional or psychological issues that could encourage drug overdose.

At Granite Recovery Centers, we offer a dual diagnosis program to treat mental health concerns as well as drug misuse. The main aim is to identify and address any underlying issues to ensure that the patient won’t be at risk of another overdose after treatment.

When the doctors identify a potential problem, they can recommend that you opt for various treatment programs based on your condition. For patients who require intensive care and monitoring, you might have to enroll in an inpatient treatment program. For this option, you reside within the treatment center, which provides a supportive environment to aid in recovery. You will undergo therapy sessions aimed at addressing the emotional and other impacts of medication misuse.

If your case isn’t so extreme, you can consider an outpatient treatment program. You can plan several visits to the rehab center for professional support and counseling to ensure that you overcome drug misuse. You can still go ahead with your daily activities, but you will visit the rehab center on specific days as agreed upon with your doctor.

Bottom Line

Consuming higher than the prescribed amount of Trazodone doses increases the risk of an overdose. The excess drug can alter your body’s functionality and cause serious medical complications. Also, remember that even a lower Trazodone dose can produce toxic symptoms when mixed with other substances. Hence, you should only take the drug under medical supervision to avoid such complications.

It’s a good idea for people struggling with Trazodone abuse to enroll in a rehabilitation facility like Granite Recovery Centers. You will learn ways to manage depression, alleviate anxiety, and relieve insomnia without misusing your medication, minimizing the risks of a drug overdose.

The post Trazodone Overdose Signs and Symptoms appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

We will cover what tramadol is, what it’s most often prescribed for and whether it can make you feel high, as well as side effects and treatment options. Knowing more about Tramadol can be beneficial if you or a loved one is taking it.

Tramadol Description

Opioid medications come in many doses and strengths. Tramadol is considered one of the weaker opiates compared to stronger medications such as morphine or fentanyl. Despite their differences in strength, they all work using the same biological principles. According to Medline, Tramadol interacts with the opioid receptors in your brain. This changes the way your body interacts with pain.

Tramadol is most often prescribed for moderate pain, but it can sometimes be prescribed for moderately severe pain as well. It comes in several forms, such as an extended-release tablet that helps with chronic pain. This ensures that the Tramadol releases slowly, so you can feel relief throughout the day.

Tramadol and Feeling High

Opioids have quickly become some of the most common drugs to abuse because many of them create a high feeling that comes on fast and strong. While many people know of heroin and its effects, this may make you think about other opiate medications and whether they are similar. Does Tramadol get you high? The short answer is yes, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, Tramadol can create a high sensation. This only occurs when taking very high doses that are far beyond what you would normally be prescribed. Even when taking a very high dose, the feelings are minimal compared to other more notorious opioids.

You might be thinking that the overdose potential is low since the high is relatively minor. The truth is that there is a very risky overdose potential if you are willing to take such a large dose to achieve a high. While the feeling might not be as strong as other opiates, the drug is still flooding your system and can affect your heart, lungs, brain and other organs. As such, Tramadol may actually be more dangerous because you may overdose before experiencing a high.

Tramadol Side Effects

Every medication has the potential to cause side effects, and Tramadol is no exception. These side effects are like the ones experienced with other opioid pain relievers, so you may have seen similar symptoms while looking at other opioids.

The most common side effects for Tramadol include:

• Headache
• Sleepiness or difficulty falling asleep
• Nervousness or muscle tightness
• Shaking
• Mood changes
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Dry mouth

Keep in mind that these are only the common side effects. They are typically mild, but they can be more severe. If you feel any of these symptoms, then be sure to alert your doctor. They can tell you if the side effects are truly from the Tramadol. They can also tell you if it would be helpful to change the dose, take a different medication or do something else depending on the actual side effect.

Tramadol Overdose Symptoms

If you are taking Tramadol according to the doctor’s orders, then there is a very low chance of overdosing. It can happen if you were put on a higher dose, but the chances are fairly low. If you are taking Tramadol to get high or if you are taking several opioids simultaneously, then the risk of overdose dramatically increases.

In either case, knowing the common Tramadol overdose symptoms can be helpful. Overdose symptoms typically include:

• Labored breathing
• Slow and shallow breaths
• Slow heartbeat
• Inability to wake up
• Significant drowsiness
• Muscle weakness
• Cold and clammy skin
• Reduced pupil size

If you are experiencing any of these overdose signs or see someone else experiencing them, then you need to get emergency medical attention immediately. A Tramadol overdose can be fatal if not treated properly and immediately.

Withdrawal Symptoms With Tramadol

Not only do opioid medications like Tramadol have a chance of becoming habit forming, but they also typically involve withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication. While withdrawal is common with opioids, this can be countered through a medical detox and by tapering the dosage. This should only be done under medical supervision. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

Common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Panic
• Nervousness
• Sweating
• Difficulty going to sleep
• Sneezing or a runny nose
• Chills
• Shaking
• Hallucinations

The withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to handle on your own, so it’s best to seek medical supervision when it’s time to discontinue Tramadol. While there isn’t a guarantee that you will experience these symptoms, you should still seek medical supervision just in case.

Serotonin Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome is a condition where your body is flooded with too much serotonin. Normally, serotonin makes you feel good, but having too much of it can actually lead to serotonin toxicity along with many different symptoms. There is a rare chance that Tramadol can cause this syndrome. The chances increase if you are taking tramadol to get high because you’ll be taking a significantly higher dose than what a doctor would prescribe.

While serotonin is typically positive to have in the body because it makes you feel good, serotonin syndrome is a dangerous and potentially fatal health condition. This causes some of the symptoms seen in the overdose and withdrawal sections above. It is common to experience hallucinations, fast heartbeat, lack of coordination, dizziness, muscle twitching and severe nausea with this condition.

You should contact your doctor or get emergency medical attention if you experience these symptoms. While serotonin syndrome is rare from Tramadol, the chances increase if you are taking very high doses or are combining opiates or other medications that increase your serotonin.

Medical Detox

If you are using Tramadol or any other opiate substance to get high, then you may want to consider a medical detox. As discussed above, opiates like Tramadol can lead to withdrawal symptoms that might be uncomfortable. Many people go back to using the medication because they want to stop the withdrawal symptoms.

A medical detox may not entirely prevent the withdrawal symptoms, but it will lessen them at the very least. This process involves one of our doctors tapering the medication off so that your body gets used to properly functioning without Tramadol. The process typically takes two weeks, but it may take longer depending on how your body reacts. Our doctors will be able to adjust the taper schedule as needed based on your reactions.

While this process allows you to discontinue Tramadol and remove the opiates from your body, it isn’t always enough to help you stop using Tramadol. This only addresses the biological part of use. If you find that you are still experiencing cravings, then we highly recommend our therapy services.

Outpatient Therapies

If your cravings are mild to moderate and your environment is supportive of recovery, then we will likely recommend either outpatient or intensive outpatient therapy. These two treatment programs work well in conjunction, so you can enjoy the benefits of both group and individual therapy.

Outpatient therapy involves seeing your designated therapist on a weekly basis for individual sessions. The sessions last an hour and are typically once or twice a week. Once is most common, but you may need additional support. Individual sessions allow you to explore deeper themes without worrying about what others are thinking. This also helps you figure out your cravings while discovering coping skills to use when you are stressed.

Intensive outpatient, more commonly known as IOP, is the next step up. This is a type of group therapy where you meet with a counselor and several other members who are also seeking to recover from their substance use. IOP sessions meet three times a week, and each session is normally three hours. That may sound long, but this ensures that everyone has enough time to talk about their recovery. Group therapy helps ensure that you can all learn from each other.

Inpatient Care

If your environment isn’t supportive of recovery, your cravings are more severe, or you’re finding that you cannot stop using despite being involved in IOP or outpatient treatment, then you may want to consider inpatient treatment. This level of care allows you to get away from everyday stressors so that you can focus entirely on your recovery. Some people find that work and family are too stressful when they are attempting to stop using. Others find that their environment isn’t supportive of recovery. For example, others might use around you, which increases your own cravings.

No matter the case, inpatient care is always available if you need it. We allow you to live at our facility as you receive both individual and group therapy. You will also perform other activities and chores to keep your mind and hands busy, which has been shown to help with recovery.

Be sure to let us know your preference when you contact us. We will build a treatment plan around your specific needs.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Another option we offer is medication-assisted treatment, or MAT. This is commonly used with stronger opioids like heroin and fentanyl, but it can also be applied to Tramadol dependency if needed.

The difficulty with discontinuing opioids is that these substances flood your opioid receptors and create a physical dependency. MAT uses medications such as Methadone, Suboxone, or Vivitrol that keep these receptors engaged but do not produce the same high as with other opioid substances. This makes it easier to stop using the substance as the physical cravings should go away.

If you are interested in participating in MAT, then be sure to tell us while we are creating a treatment plan. We will listen to your preferences while making a plan that fulfills your needs for recovery.

Conclusion

Granite Recovery Centers has been helping clients like yourself in the New Hampshire and New England area for over 10 years. We provide many levels of care from medical detox and MAT to group therapy and inpatient care. We encourage our clients to talk to us about their recovery and what they need in order to get better. It can be a long journey, and we want to help every step of the way.

If you find that you’re having cravings for Tramadol or other substances, then contact us to help you get back in control of your life.

The post Does Tramadol Get You High? appeared first on Granite Recovery Centers.

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This drug comes in tablet form and can become seriously addictive if taken in high doses or over a long period of time. If misused, Xanax can create a euphoric high. This is especially true if the drug is crushed and snorted or liquefied and injected. Due to the increased illicit abuse of the drug, tests have been created specifically to detect it in someone’s system.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in the System?

Xanax has an elimination half-life of as little as six hours up to 27 hours and sometimes longer in patients who are obese. The average half-life of the drug in the human body is about 11 hours. Elimination of half-life means that a person of good health will only get rid of half the dose that he or she consumed in the amount of time post use.

For example, if an individual injects 20 milligrams, within six hours the body still has 10 milligrams of the drug present in their system. As with any drug, the amount of time that a drug stays within the system is contingent on the following:

• How much Xanax the person ingests
• What other drugs were taken with it
• The type of drug taken
• A person’s weight, height, and age
• A person’s metabolic speed
• A person’s body fat

How to Test for Xanax

Testing for Xanax occurs for a variety of reasons ranging from employment to legal situations to an order by your healthcare provider to maintain proper levels. Due to the sedating effects of the drug, it can be tested for on the job if sleepiness, comprehension issues, lethargy, and lack of coordination are noticed. Xanax can be tested for via urine, blood, hair, or saliva. Here is each testing method with details of the detection window.

1. Urinalysis test – It takes approximately four to seven days for Xanax to give a negative test result or even longer for those who are heavy users. Urine testing is the most common test for detecting Xanax in the system. It’s quick, non-invasive, and easy to administer. It is also inexpensive, so employers can test for it on the spot if needed.
2. Blood test – Xanax in the blood will only be detectable for up to 24 hours post use. One day post use will give a negative test result.
3. Hair test – Follicle analysis for Xanax can detect the drug up to one month post use although it is important to note that it takes much longer for a drug to show up in the hair. Follicle analysis is usually for someone who has been using Xanax for quite a while. If a test is done too soon, however, it may come back negative.
4. Saliva swab – Saliva, like blood, has a small detection window. A saliva test will only work two and a half days after last use.

Xanax Addiction: Signs and Symptoms

Benzodiazepines, also called Benzos, are often referred to as sedatives or mild tranquilizers that can affect the neurotransmitter GABA. These types of drugs are generally safe for short-term use and are not long-term solutions. Side effects of using Xanax are:

• Sleepiness or insomnia
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Memory problems
• Lethargy

Excessive use of the drug will cause excessive drowsiness, blurry vision, deceptive behavior, slurred speech, and the inability to stop taking the medicine, which leads to trying to find ways to obtain it.

When someone uses Xanax long term, it can lead to cognitive issues that are similar to dementia. Once they stop taking the drug, the issues will stop. Prolonged use is sometimes the only way to manage anxiety disorders, although alternative methods are ideal. It is important to note that long-term use can cause a return of anxiety issues once the individual no longer takes the medication.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Medical professionals advise tapering down doses of Xanax in order to slowly come off the drug. Withdrawal symptoms that occur with Xanax can include both emotional and physical effects, such as:

• Hallucination and delirium
• Headaches
• Tremors and muscle spasms
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Panic attacks
• Depression
• Concentration issues
• Rapid heart rate
• Hyperventilation
• Seizures or convulsions
• Feeling detached from reality

Complications of Taking Xanax

The improper use of Xanax involves the risk of overdose and death just like any other drug. Xanax has been associated with suicide due to the fact of its increased effects of depression when trying to stop taking the drug quickly.

The risk of an overdose of Xanax is generally not because of the drug alone. The majority of overdoses from Xanax involve other drugs such as opioids or alcohol. Signs of overdose from Xanax can include:

• Confusion
• Agitated state or aggression
• Slow or shallow breathing
• Poor coordination
• Lethargic
• Low blood pressure
• Slurred speech
• Hypothermia
• Seizures
• Eyes jerking back and forth

The signs of overdose will be notable within three to four hours after the dose is taken. The symptoms of overdose may persist for 12 to 36 hours. Xanax overdose can cause depression to the central nervous system, which then leads to impaired respiration and a slowed heart rate. From this point, a coma can set in or even cardiac arrest. If you suspect someone has overdosed from Xanax, call 911 immediately.

Risk Factors for Xanax

Addiction to Xanax, or any benzodiazepines, can happen to all people. There are certain groups that are at a higher risk for developing an addiction more so than others. Risk factors include:

• Having a personal history of alcohol abuse
• Individuals ages 18 to 25
• Having a family history of substance abuse
• Having an antisocial personality or psychiatric disorders (BPD, depression, bipolar disorder)

Dependence Upon Xanax

A substance use disorder is characterized by being a condition in which behavioral, cognitive, and physiological symptoms occur and cause a person to use a substance excessively or illicitly in order to seek relief of the symptoms.

Dependence upon a drug will lead someone to use it despite the adverse health or emotional effects it can have on the body and the brain. A doctor can diagnose an individual with a mild substance use disorder if they present at least two or three of the 11 below symptoms. If the individual meets four or five of the criteria, then they classify the disorderas moderate. Six or more of the below list are a case of severe substance use disorder.

• Neglecting duties in order to use the drug
• Using the drug in a harmful way
• Having tolerance to the drug so that needs higher and higher dose to achieve the same effect
• Using increased amounts of the drug
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when one stops taking the drug
• Being unable to reduce the drug
• Spending time trying to obtain the drug before or when it runs out
• Having relationship or social problems due to drug use
• Experiencing adverse effects of the drug
• Dealing with cravings
• Giving up normal activities to use drugs

Antidepressants: Benzodiazepine Alternatives

Antidepressants are more helpful in the long-term treatment of anxiety and panic disorders than benzodiazepines. They are less addictive, more effective, and safer. Antidepressants have the distinct advantage of relieving depression as well.

Another alternative to benzodiazepines is treatment without drugs. Psychotherapy of various kinds, yoga, exercise, muscle relaxation training, and hypnosis are a few to name.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which you will learn more about below, is noted in helping with insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. With this therapy, patients learn to examine, record, and analyze their thought and feeling patterns. In many cases, a good CBT regimen can help some mental health issues without the need for drugs to stabilize.

With the help of a therapist, a patient can become aware of his or her triggers and can manage unrealistic or irrational thinking. The individual also learns how to respond to anxiety-provoking situations while also practicing exposure and systematic desensitization techniques.

Treatment Options for Xanax

Detoxification and behavioral therapies are often considered the best way to reach a level of abstinence from Xanax. Some situations may involve harm-reduction strategies as well. Generally, treatment can be done on an outpatient basis after an inpatient detox program. In detox, a person can face severe or even dangerous withdrawal issues. From physical to mental symptoms, stopping Xanax has to be gradual. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.

In addition to detox, behavioral therapy, is an important component to recovery from drug addiction. EBT, an evidence-based treatment program, is a type of treatment that is integrated with a comprehensive 12-step curriculum. The purpose of EBT is to teach evidence-based therapies such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – a common type of talk therapy focused on changing negative thought patterns by recognizing them and implementing new patterns
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – a therapy that combines strategies such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, and acceptance
• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy – has a focus on changing behavior that stems from irrational thoughts
• Motivational Interviewing – involves questions from a therapist that helps to increase a person’s motivation for change

The above therapies help with changing thought patterns and teaching coping strategies for handling emotional triggers that may occur in the future. EBT may also include therapies for trauma, as well as grief and loss therapy. One or more of the EBT therapies, coupled with a 12-step program, will help maintain abstinence, stabilization, and maintenance for a successful recovery.

Granite Recovery Center

Granite Recovery Center offers a variety of treatment programs for substance use disorders, including Xanax. For over 10 years, we have helped many overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Granite Recovery Center is located in the New Hampshire area and offers the following treatments for addiction to Xanax:

• Medical detox program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Men and women’s specific treatments
• Evidence-based treatment program
• Mental health program

We also offer counseling and aftercare programs either solo or with family to work through issues to create and sustain a healthy recovery. In counseling, you will gain an understanding of how best to handle future issues and resolve them without turning to drugs or alcohol.

Granite Recovery Center has a total of drug rehab facilities across the state of New Hampshire, including two inpatient residential drug rehab programs: Green Mountain Treatment Center (Effingham) and New Freedom Academy (Canterbury). Our very experienced professionals will help you find the best option of treatment based on your needs and goals.

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