The advances in medical science over the years have benefited men and women struggling with addiction by reducing painful withdrawal symptoms and cravings. We now use opioids to reduce the physical and mental side effects of opioid addiction, but there are options for pain management that do not involve opioids. Addiction and pain management is different for each patient, and finding the right combination of medications is crucial for helping with your addiction recovery.
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, our medication-assisted treatment plans include opioid and non-opioid options for pain management. Your physical and mental health will determine the best medications to treat your addiction. If you do not want to use opioid-based medications, we will work with you to find the best treatment options for your symptoms. To learn more about the different options for pain management during addiction withdrawal, call 833.448.0127 today to speak with our caring support staff about our various options for pain management during opioid addiction treatment.
The Risks of Pain Medication Abuse
Opioids became popular for their pain-reducing abilities and the euphoric side effect that it produces. What many people did not know when first taking opioid pain medication is its effect on your brain chemistry. Opioids bind with the opioid receptors on cells throughout your body and signal a massive release of pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins. It also releases dopamine, which is what gives you that euphoric feeling.
When patients follow their prescription precisely, there is less risk of forming an addiction. Unfortunately, as tolerance levels rise, many people will simply take more medication instead of talking with their doctor. The more you take, the more your body relies solely on the pain medication. Your body stops the natural production of endorphins and dopamine, creating painful withdrawal symptoms that interfere with your recovery.
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we understand how addiction to pain medication can grow and turn into a powerful addiction. We can use non-opioid medication to help reduce your pain during treatment and allow you to focus more on your recovery.
Using Non-Opioids for Opioid Addiction Treatment
Non-opioid medications can be just as effective as opioid pain medication without the risk of addiction. Whether they will work for you depends on your individual symptoms, such as pain level, the severity of addiction, and physical and mental health.
Non-opioid options for pain management is available in several types:
- Acetaminophen – This is one of the safest non-opioid analgesics and helps reduce fever, and treats minor aches and pains.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) – NSAIDs can help reduce pain, fever, and inflammation.
- Antidepressants – Recent studies show that tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) can help with pain management through their analgesic effects on the pain inhibitor pathways.
- Anticonvulsants – The analgesic properties of some anticonvulsants affect neurotransmitters by reducing the number of pain-inducing messages that it sends to the body.
- Topicals – Topical medication that contains lidocaine and capsaicin can help reduce pain by blocking nerve endings to wherever the ointment is applied.
For patients with severe pain, low-dose opioid medication can help better reduce your pain so you can focus on your recovery.
Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery: Discover Your Options for Pain Management
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we use medication-assisted treatment coinciding with behavioral therapy to give you the greatest chance at recovery. We will discuss all options for pain management with you during your first appointment with us, where we will create a custom treatment plan that can help with addiction to several substances:
- Opioids and opiates
- Alcohol
- Meth
- Heroin
- Percocet
- OxyContin
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and does not want more opioid medication, call 833.448.0127 today to discuss non-opioid options for pain management.
