Tuesday, June 23, 2015

You'll Die In Your Sleep: Xanax Overdoses

 

Imagine falling asleep in your bed at night and never waking up again. For some at the end of their lives, this would be a blessing and a peaceful way to die. For many others -- especially young people today -- it is a tragic end to a young life that could have been avoided.

Xanax Abuse

Xanax is a prescription medication that is often prescribed to treat anxiety and panic attacks, as well as sleeplessness and various other ailments. It is also one of the most widely abused prescription drugs on the market today, with teens and younger adults abusing it at frightening rates! What's worse is that many young adults today mix this drug with other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and others. While the drug is mostly safe when used as directed, it has a nasty side effect of suppressed breathing. This side effect is what most often kills abusers of the drug. While it is possible to overdose on just the Xanax alone, most of the deaths from supressed breathing function is related to mixing it with alcohol and other drugs.

Suppressed Breathing

The suppressed breathing side effect is the real killer with this medication. In low doses, the suppressed breathing can help you to relax -- the main purpose of the drug's use. This suppression is usually very mild, and won't complicate one's health, but when breathing is suppressed too much, the weight of the ribcage is too heavy for the suppressed lungs and the breathing gets shallower and shallower until the individual simply stops breathing completely and slips away.
Because there are no violent convulsions or signs that the breathing is stopping, most overdoses are not discovered until long after the victim has expired. In many cases, those that overdosed and died were sleeping right next to their significant other who had no idea the person was dying right next to them.

How to Avoid Xanax Overdoses

The easiest way to make sure that you do not die in this fashion from a Xanax overdose, is to simply not take Xanax. If you need to take this medication for a legitimate medical reason, consider asking your doctor if there are safer alternatives, and make sure to keep the doses low.

Again, the main reason that people die when taking Xanax is from mixing it with other drugs or alcohol. If you feel that you have taken to much of Xanax or have mixed it with alcohol, treat the situation like a concussion. The worst thing you can do is to lay down and go to sleep. Try and keep yourself awake, or have someone you trust check your breathing regularly. If you do stop breathing, you have a limited amount of time to start breathing again before the heart completely stops, then you have a limited amount of time until the lack of oxygen causes brain damage and death.

Always be careful when using prescription medications.

Learn More About Benzodiazapine and Xanax Abuse and Withdrawals:

Xanax Abuse


Monday, June 8, 2015

Benzodiazepines - Uses And Threats




Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder wherein a patient suffers from elevated periods of depression and periods of mood. A person suffering from this disorder would be abnormally happy and energetic at sometimes while depressed and avoiding eye contact at the others. Benzodiazepines are used to provide relief to the patients suffering from bipolar disorders. This class of drug helps curb anxiety and insomnia.

Use of Benzodiazepines

This drug is used as a sleep aid for the patient. However, the use of this drug is always made under a fixed schedule and limited quantity so as to avoid any addiction of it.

How it works?

It acts by slowing the nervous system down. It helps ease the feelings of nervousness and anxiousness. When consumed, this drug slows down the nervous system and it acts quickly, providing immediate relief. The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutryic acid in the brain is affected by this drug and is released more due to the activity of this drug.

Who can use it?

It is used in limited doses as any overdose may prove fatal. Moreover, pregnant women should avoid its use because it may cause birth defects in the offspring.

Side effects of Benzodiazepines

It is given in a limited dose to avoid addiction as regular and prolonged use can cause amnesia and sleepiness. Over dosage can cause adverse effect on the nervous system. Alcohol and other substance that inhibit the nervous system should not be consumed by the patient while undergoing this therapy.

This drug is administered to give relief to the patient in extreme conditions of mood swings. With the aid of this drug, the patient is able to calm down and behave properly. Moreover, the patient should also be treated by a psychiatrist so as to improve his condition.

Its available types
•  Ativan (lorazepam)
•  Valium (diazepam)
•  Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
•  Xanax (alprazolam)

Conclusion

Drugs like these are to be used cautiously and sparingly under medical supervision. The patient should also be warned of the effects of its over dosage. However, it is a bitter truth that so many people lose their lives because of excessive dose of this drug.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Frequent Use Of Molly Can Lead To Physical And Psychological Dependence



When using drugs such as MDMA, which is commonly called Molly, the risk of addiction is always present. Many people become addicted because Molly offers enhanced mental alertness and it increases sensations such as intimacy. The altered perceptions felt while on Molly enables users to enjoy and experience things on an entirely different level.

Being a derivative of methamphetamine, Molly acts as a both a stimulant and a psychedelic. It is the combination of these affects that lures so many people into using Molly. Sadly, like any other drug, this drug poses huge problems if addiction sets in.

Many people are asking the question, Is Molly Addictive? The answer is yes, the risk of addiction is high, especially if this drug is used on a regular basis. Typically, most people do not develop a chemical dependence on Molly. However, the risk for developing a severe psychological addiction to Molly is extremely high.

Molly alters the chemical responses of neurotransmitters, which is why the brain experiences altered affects that enhance the users sensations to stimuli such as intimacy. When Molly is used frequently it begins to totally alter the brains chemistry.

After a period of time, the user will become dependent upon Molly to experience normal cognitive behavior. This is the point when a user becomes physically addicted to Molly. The risks of developing a physical addiction to this drug are higher in users that have a family history of drug or alcohol dependency.

Due to the fact that Molly use is not regulated, many people do not know the dosage it takes to become addicted. Because Molly use is unregulated, it is very difficult to determine how much is needed, or how fast a user can become addicted to Molly. Additionally, each person reacts to Molly differently so it is nearly impossible to develop a regime for relieving withdrawal symptoms to MDMA.

The chemical dependence to MDMA and Molly addiction are similar, however they are clinically different. Some of the signs of Molly addiction are: use of Molly to maintain normal functioning, putting a lot of effort into seeking the drug regardless of how it disrupts the users life, intense craving for the drug, and rationalizing the use of Molly. The best way to overcome Molly addiction is to seek professional help immediately.

Friday, April 10, 2015

What Medications Are Used To Treat Opiate Addiction

 

There is no doubt that drug abuse is a serious problem in society. The scourge has split families, let to millions of deaths and contributed to an increase in different types of crimes. What is ironical about drug abuse is that some of the abused drugs are meant to help relieve pain in patients, but people use it to get high instead, hence the harmful effects. Opioids, for instance, are a group of pain medication that can be highly addictive if abused. There are several opiate addiction treatment centers across the country, and they are all experiencing considerable success. During treatment, certain medications are used to counter the effects of withdrawal, act as substitutes for opiates, suppress cravings and help treat opiate addiction.

Medications Used for Opiate Addiction Treatment

i) Methadone

This is the most popular medication for treating opiate addiction. It is a full opioid agonist. While methadone may have never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the drug has proven to be very effective with minimal side effects. It is normally given to patients in various forms, including; liquid concentrate, solution, powder or tablet form. Dosage normally depends on the level of addiction. Methadone is basically a synthetic opioid, which acts by suppressing opioid craving as well as withdrawal symptoms.

ii) LAAM

This is also a full opioid agonist that helps to suppress withdrawal symptoms as well as eliminate opioid craving. However, the use of LAAM to treat opiate addiction has reduced significantly over the years. This is because some patients who used LAAM experienced cardiac arrhythmia. Usage of the drug reduced further in the year 2001. Ironically, the FDA approved LAAM for use in opiate addiction treatment in the year 1993. Available as an oral solution, the dose of synthetic opioid needed to treat opiate addiction depends on the patient's level of tolerance for short-acting opioids.

It is important to note that the medication used for opiate addiction treatment are normally eliminated by the body's excretory system. Enzymes in the liver are largely responsible for metabolizing this synthetic opioid, but there are also enzymes in the intestines that help with metabolism and removal of the metabolites.

Friday, April 3, 2015

You Can Get Help For Steroids Abuse

 

Even though it is not like a traditional drug, you can still get help for steroids abuse. You can get treatment and get better. You don't have to live with the addiction.

If you are struggling with steroids use right now, the first thing you should do is talk to someone about this. It can be a family member or a close friend. Just make sure it is someone you feel comfortable around.

Tell them how you are feeling and what you want to change. Ask them to support you through the process so that you can have an easier time while you try to get better. Ask if they can help you locate a good treatment center.

If the person you talk to can't help you, tell someone else. You don't have to go through this alone. There are people who will walk with you on your journey.

Once you do get into a treatment center, it might take a long time to get back to where you were before you started abusing. Things won't change overnight and it will require a lot of work on your part. The good thing about a center is that they know this and will be there to help you through it.

Whether you are in the center for a few weeks or a few months depends on who you are as a person and how bad of an addiction you had. Just take your time and know that it might take longer for you than it did for someone else.

Take people up on their offers to support you. Let them know you appreciate what they are doing to help you along your journey. Do what you can to work with them and you will be on your way to a healthier life.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Meth Is A Terrible Drug To Be On



You'll want to get help when you can if you have an addiction to meth. This hard drug is one of the worst for your body and mind. While you may enjoy it at first, as you continue to use it will quickly eat away at you.

You need to make sure that you realize when you're buying meth on the street, you're getting something that may or may not be pure or even the real thing. They can cut the meth with varying chemicals so that they can sell you more of the product for more money. When you use this drug to get high, then you're taking in whatever else they put into it. This can be tough on your system, and could even kill you. While one batch may take a lot to get you high, if you did the same amount from a new batch you could overdose and possibly die.

Meth can make you start to lose your sanity basically when you use a lot of it for a long period of time. You may think you are in control of your mind at all times, but once you take too much and stay up for too long you really cannot control what's going on. You may not be able to sleep but will feel like you're dreaming and seeing things that you believe to be real. Lots of paranoia will occur and in general it's not good for you and could land you in the mental ward or worse.

Getting help is important when you have an addiction to meth. Be aware of your options and you will be able to start working through this in a careful manner. It will be tough, but once you get clean you will feel so much more happy.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholism and Alcohol abuse effect millions of people all over the world. Usually, a person suffering from either of these problems won't realize that a problem exists for a long time. There is a bit of a difference between the two, and the problems can be treated once an abuser realizes there's a problem and wants to see help.

Alcohol abuse is different from Alcoholism because people who abuse alcohol don't need it to function. An abuser of alcohol may only do so on the weekends or when drinking in social situations. Generally, an abuser will have a limit, but drink in amounts that could cause damage to themselves and others.

Alcoholics on the other hand need to drink and often can't function without drinking throughout the day. They won't have any limit and will drink until they pass out and begin again the next day. They'll have a large tolerance for alcohol meaning they'll need to drink more and more to achieve the same high.

There are many causes for alcohol abuse and alcoholism that often have to do with anxiety and depression. Alcoholism is also thought to be a genetic disorder that runs in families. Abusers and alcoholics use drinking to treat their mental health issues rather than get the proper help.

Many groups and rehabilitation centers exist that can help abusers and alcoholics overcome their addiction. A popular support group is Alcoholics Anonymous where addicts assist each other with treating the problem. Some people also choose to go to a rehabilitation center for treatment.



Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are dangerous addictions that can effect a person's health, family and other relationships. Proper care and support is available from many different sources. Once an abuser recognizes the problem and wants to seek treatment they should do so right away.