Like most prescription medications, baclofen has various side effects and drug interactions you should be aware of. Before taking this drug for any reason, speak with your general practitioner and pharmacist and provide them with an up-to-date list of any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs you take regularly. They can help you understand what to avoid while you are on baclofen.

1. Alcohol

You should not drink alcohol while taking muscle relaxers, especially if your goal in using baclofen is to quit drinking. Since baclofen and alcohol both act upon the central nervous system, combining them can compound unpleasant side effects like confusion, dizziness, weakness, slowed speech and trouble concentrating.

2. Opioids

Opioids like Oxycontin, Vicodin and morphine are painkillers that can be effective when taken for short periods under a doctor’s supervision. However, taking opioids alongside other drugs can have severe side effects, including accidental overdose. Since opioids cause brain functions to slow down, the most common cause of death from an overdose is respiratory failure.

If your doctor prescribes you an opioid, it’s wise to have naloxone (brand name Narcan) on hand at all times to reverse the effects of an overdose. You can get this opioid antagonist at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

3. Benzodiazepines

Your doctor may prescribe you a benzodiazepine such as Xanax, Klonopin or Ativan if you struggle with mental health conditions like anxiety or panic disorder. Like opioid drugs, benzos can slow down your brain function and can cause labored or shallow breathing.

If you take benzodiazepines, check with your health provider before starting baclofen. They may recommend tapering off your anxiety medications or adjusting the dose. Don’t make sudden changes to your medication regimen without talking to your prescriber, as abruptly stopping benzos can be dangerous.

4. Sleep Aids

Prescription and OTC sleep medications like Ambien and Unisom can cause excessive drowsiness when combined with baclofen. Even some medications that aren’t specifically to help people sleep, but still cause sleepiness as a side effect, can also have risky drug interactions with baclofen. If you take these medications and want to start baclofen, let your doctor know. They may recommend a drug-free insomnia remedy.

6. Other Muscle Relaxers

Baclofen is not the only muscle relaxer available. These prescription drugs do not all have the same chemical structure or work the same way in the brain. Still, they act upon the central nervous system and have sedative properties. If you take multiple different muscle relaxers at once, you should know that the drug interactions can amplify effects like disorientation and dizziness.

Get a Tailored Treatment Plan to Help You Stop Drinking

Recovery Without Walls delivers proven treatment for substance abuse, chronic pain and mental health issues. Our experienced professional team stays up to date on the cutting edge of addiction medicine, and our use of baclofen to treat alcohol use disorder is an example of our willingness to innovate and evolve. After evaluating your needs, we will customize an approach that meets you where you are. Reach out to us today to learn about how we can help you overcome a drinking problem.

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Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom Management

If you are physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol, it can be challenging to quit drinking because alcohol mimics the effects of neurotransmitters in your brain. Without the presence of alcohol, your brain will become imbalanced. This struggle to regain equilibrium results in withdrawal.  

Typical acute withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Shaky hands
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Sweating

The most dangerous side effect of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens, which can involve potentially fatal symptoms like seizures and hallucinations. Because withdrawing can be so unpleasant, many people who try an at-home detox eventually return to substance abuse.

What Is Baclofen?

Baclofen is a selective gamma-aminobutyric acid-B receptor agonist, which means it works to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms and help people manage cravings. If you want to get sober, taking baclofen under medical supervision can be beneficial.

Since baclofen is a muscle relaxer, it can make you feel extremely drowsy. You may also experience dizziness, headaches, dry mouth or vision problems. While you are taking baclofen, alert your doctor about any changes to eye or skin color, breathing difficulties or increased muscle spasms.

If you take baclofen for alcoholism, you’ll need to avoid other depressants like benzodiazepines, sleep medications, opioids and barbiturates. Combining baclofen and alcohol can cause serious side effects like impaired motor skills, memory problems and dangerously slowed breathing. It is also possible to overdose on baclofen and alcohol.

Baclofen Benefits

Baclofen can be helpful for people withdrawing from alcohol. Some research shows baclofen is significantly better than other treatments at reducing alcohol cravings, which can be especially strong during the early stages of withdrawal. Using baclofen can make your detoxification process more comfortable, so you can stabilize and move into the next phase of treatment.

Without alcohol as a crutch to help them relax, people who struggle with anxiety disorders can feel overwhelmed and experience insomnia and panic attacks. As a muscle relaxer, baclofen can also help ease the anxiety that comes with alcohol addiction and withdrawal.

Cutting-Edge Treatment Customized for You

Recovery Without Walls delivers proven treatment for substance use disorder, chronic pain and mental health issues. Members of our medical team stay abreast of the latest advancements in addiction medicine, and our use of baclofen for alcoholism represents one of our many innovative offerings. After your initial evaluation, our team will create a tailored plan that fits your unique needs and situation. To learn more about our internationally informed approach, contact our office today.

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The ability to recognize the warning signs of lesser-known depressive disorders may help you understand when to seek help for yourself or be more compassionate toward people who are living with these conditions.

Hypersomnia

If you routinely get plenty of restful sleep and still wake up feeling groggy, confused and unfocused, you may have hypersomnia. The leading characteristic of this condition is extreme daytime fatigue, despite getting adequate sleep at night. People with hypersomnia may fall asleep several times a day or take naps that do not feel refreshing or restorative. They are often anxious and irritable, with frequent headaches and trouble concentrating.

The cause of hypersomnia remains unknown, but if you suspect you have this condition, you can visit a sleep specialist to conduct various screenings. They can also rule out illnesses that may have hypersomnia as a leading symptom, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea and multiple sclerosis.

Intrusive Thoughts

Have you ever had a strange idea pop into your head for seemingly no reason? Most of the time, these thoughts are random and have no deeper symbolism or meaning. They can include negative, sexually graphic, violent or paranoid images. Usually, these thoughts will fade on their own, and it’s best not to take them personally. However, if they continue bothering you, talk to your doctor – they could signify a mental health condition like obsessive-compulsive disorder or depressive disorder.

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Though depression is a leading cause of disability, many people find relief through a combination of medication, therapy and lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for treatment-resistant depression, a depressive disorder that fails to respond to these remedies. Some people with TRD need a second opinion to get a more accurate diagnosis, while others need trial and error to find a different medicine that works better for them. It’s also possible to have a co-occurring disorder such as a chemical dependency that your doctor overlooked the first time.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Hallmarks of cluster B personality disorders include dramatic, overly emotional or unpredictable thinking or behavior. These include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.

A Person-Centered Approach

Recovery Without Walls is different from many other residential or inpatient treatment programs because it is patient-responsive. We will create a flexible plan based on your needs, instead of adhering to a rigid framework.

Our team knows addiction and chronic pain are complex illnesses with many contributing factors, and that inspired us to use an integrative, holistic and evidence-based framework that includes nutritional support, psychotherapy, vitamins and supplements, meditation, exercise programs, massage therapy and acupuncture. If you are interested in finding complete healing, please connect with us today.

The post Lesser-Known Depressive Disorders appeared first on Recovery Without Walls .

A class of prescription drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can improve depression and anxiety symptoms and make you more responsive to treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy.

How Do SSRIs Work?

Many physicians and psychiatrists prescribe SSRIs because they generally have fewer side effects than other antidepressants. A prescription for these medications will usually start with the lowest possible dose necessary to improve your symptoms. When you begin using them, your doctor may want you to check in regularly to discuss how well the medicine is working.

You’ll usually need to keep taking SSRIs for a few weeks to start feeling relief from your depression. If you’ve been consistently using your medication for more than six weeks without noticing a difference in your mood or behavior, speak to your provider. They may recommend increasing your dose or trying an alternative antidepressant.

Are There Any Risks of Using SSRIs?

Before prescribing antidepressants, your doctor should explain all possible risks associated with the medication, including what could happen if you abruptly stop taking it. About 20% of people who take SSRIs for a month or more experience a phenomenon known as SSRI discontinuation syndrome when they quit using their medications. Symptoms include:

• Flu-like body aches and pains
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Nausea
• Insomnia, which can include vivid nightmares
• Dizziness, vertigo or lightheadedness
• Hyperarousal

SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome vs. Withdrawal

While you may hear people call SSRI discontinuation syndrome “antidepressant withdrawal,” experiencing these symptoms after using a prescription medication doesn’t mean you’ve become chemically dependent on your antidepressant. That’s because antidepressant use does not typically cause the intense cravings and loss of control associated with addiction.  

To minimize the risk of SSRI discontinuation syndrome, talk with your prescribing physician before you stop taking your medication. They may recommend gradually tapering off by taking increasingly smaller doses to help your body adjust. In some cases, they might prescribe an alternative medication to decrease your chances of uncomfortable symptoms. If you’re switching antidepressants, your doctor could have you start taking the new medication before you completely stop taking the original prescription.

After you quit using an antidepressant, some of your depression symptoms may return. Keep your doctor informed of your progress and mood. If necessary, your provider might recommend a combination of medication, therapy and lifestyle changes to improve your mental health.

How Integrative Medicine Can Help You

At Recovery Without Walls, our approach allows us to tailor options to each client’s specific needs. Our holistic process combines psychotherapy with nutritional support and evidence-based medicine to help people heal from mood disorders, addiction and chronic pain. To learn more about how and what we treat, please reach out to our team today.

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Understanding Hyperalgesia and Allodynia

Hyperalgesia occurs when processes in the nervous system work to heighten the intensity of the pain you feel. Meanwhile, allodynia is pain caused by something that wouldn’t ordinarily hurt, such as a light touch.

Warning signs of these two conditions include:

• Pain that gets progressively worse despite treatment
• Skin sensitivity akin to having a sunburn
• Pain from abnormal causes, such as a hug or your clothes moving across your skin
• Changes in pain patterns or triggers

Researchers haven’t yet pinpointed a specific cause for hyperalgesia and allodynia. However, our current knowledge suggests that abnormalities in the brain and nervous system may work together to cause and maintain opioid-induced pain. For example, overactive receptors in the brain and spinal cord or irregularities in the way your brain processes pain signals could play a role.

Opioid-Induced Pain, or Increased Drug Tolerance?

Not everyone who takes opioids will develop hyperalgesia or allodynia, but prolonged, frequent opioid use can put you at higher risk. Taking higher doses or experimenting with increasing your dosage can also be dangerous. Long-term opioid users develop a tolerance to the medication, making it less effective over time. That’s why it can be challenging to tell the difference between a drug tolerance and new or worsening chronic pain.

Make an appointment with your health provider to discuss your symptoms. Trying to figure out what’s causing your pain by adjusting your dosage on your own can be dangerous because of the risk of experiencing an opioid overdose. The more details you can tell a physician about how your pain has changed and ways it may relate to your opioid usage, the easier it will be for them to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

Chronic Pain Treatment in San Francisco

At Recovery Without Walls, our Bay Area pain doctors have helped people living with various forms of chronic pain – including migraines, nerve pain and arthritis – lead happier, healthier lives. We also treat opioid addiction. Dr. Howard Kornfeld pioneered buprenorphine use for managing pain and substance use disorders, and he remains a nationally recognized leader in using buprenorphine to minimize addiction and overdose.

We use integrative medicine to create personalized options for each client’s unique needs, including psychotherapy, nutritional support and evidence-based pharmacology. The benefit of this approach is that it addresses the underlying causes of addiction, instead of merely treating superficial symptoms. If you struggle with chronic pain or a substance use disorder, our staff of credentialed experts is here to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Contact us today to learn more.

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Understanding the Drug Addiction Epidemic

Health providers know that prescription medications like Vicodin, Valium and Ambien have a high potential for addiction when people use them for long periods, which is why they limit access. When people who rely on these drugs can’t get a refill due to these restrictions, it forces them to seek new ways to get their next dose.

People who are desperately chasing a high might also be more willing to experiment with unfamiliar substances such as fentanyl, which drug dealers have increasingly turned to because it is cheaper and easier to transport than heroin. Unfortunately, fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, substantially increasing the risk of overdose. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal.

International Overdose Awareness Day

Unlike prescription medications, illicit drugs are not subject to any FDA regulations, which often means they have inconsistent dosages and unpredictable effects. As a result, they are considerably more dangerous and can cause people to overdose. However, it is possible to take too much of any drug, even over-the-counter cold medications like Robitussin and NyQuil.

International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 is an effort to increase public understanding of the factors that can lead to accidental drug overdoses. The most common signs of a drug overdose are:

• Unconsciousness and unresponsiveness
• Disorientation
• Difficulty breathing
• Erratic heart rate
• Blue-tinted skin and fingernail beds
• Clammy skin

Why Are Overdoses Dangerous?

While overdoses can be fatal, they rarely cause immediate death. Many overdoses occur when the victim’s system becomes overwhelmed, which can cause them to lose consciousness and gradually stop breathing or choke on their vomit.

Sadly, American cultural expectations and systemic weaknesses have increased the risk of mental illness and substance abuse. The stigma surrounding drug use causes isolation and loneliness – two significant triggers for drug use and relapse. If people take drugs alone, nobody will be around to recognize the warning signs of an overdose and call for help. Even when they have others nearby, a lack of education about this issue can have tragic outcomes.

Bay Area Addiction Treatment

Don’t become part of the statistics surrounding drug abuse and overdose. Recovery Without Walls is a confidential outpatient program that provides qualified treatment for substance use disorders, dual diagnoses, chronic pain and mental health issues. We use an integrated approach to promote holistic health and recovery. Thanks to our personalized care, you’ll receive treatment tailored to your unique needs.

Our services include nutritional support, psychotherapy, meditation, exercise programs, massage therapy and acupuncture. We specialize in treating chronic pain and addiction, including people whose prescription medication use has led to a physical or psychological dependence. Contact us when you are ready to take the next step in your journey to wellness.

The post Symptoms of Overdose appeared first on Recovery Without Walls .

What Is Benzodiazepine Dependence?

Long-term benzodiazepine use is risky for those who underestimate the potential consequences. People can quickly build a tolerance, requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the desired results. While physicians can work with their patients to reduce their dependence on these medications, tapering off benzodiazepines can lead to severe physical withdrawal symptoms that cause a resurgence in the original underlying conditions.  

A team of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the VA Portland Health Care System have recently created a new name for this experience – complex persistent benzodiazepine dependence, or CPBD. The study’s authors note that CPBD is not the same as an addiction, but instead is a form of physical and psychological dependence that develops when people try to scale back their benzodiazepine use or quit altogether.

What Happens During Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?

These medications act upon the chemical receptors in your brain. When you quit taking benzodiazepines, the abrupt change makes it challenging for your brain to adjust. As a result, withdrawal often brings uncomfortable symptoms such as:

• Muscle stiffness and body aches
• Heart palpitations
• Moderate to severe depression and anxiety
• Body tremors
• Memory and concentration problems
• Migraines
• Sleep disturbances
• Weight loss
• Sweating, shaking, seizures 

Though these side effects’ severity can vary depending on factors like how long someone has taken benzodiazepines, acute symptoms generally subside after one to two weeks. Still, some former users of sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications experience a phenomenon called post-acute withdrawal syndrome that can persist years after getting clean and sober.

The Importance of Medically Supervised Detoxification

While it might seem like the safest way to wean yourself off a benzodiazepine dependence is in the comfort of your home, attempting to quit these drugs cold turkey can be dangerous and unpleasant. In a medically supervised detox program, qualified health care professionals will monitor your symptoms and administer medications as necessary to help ease your discomfort.

At Recovery Without Walls, we use time-tested methods from the Ashton Manual to help people with a long-term benzodiazepine dependence quit successfully, including creating individual tapering schedules and addressing long-term withdrawal symptoms. After you are out of the initial detoxification phase, you can then begin a personalized treatment plan that includes individual therapy, meditation, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, exercise and nutritional supplements, whenever appropriate.

To learn more about safe, effective benzodiazepine addiction withdrawal and treatment in Mill Valley, CA, please contact us to take the first step on your journey to sustained sobriety.

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What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol derived from hemp became legal in the U.S. with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Today, you can find CBD products like capsules, oils, tinctures and gummies in various online and brick-and-mortar stores. People take CBD in hopes of relieving the symptoms of conditions like anxiety and inflammation, but you should be wary of products claiming to be a “cure” for any illness.

CBD is one of hundreds of compounds in the marijuana plant, but unlike THC, it’s non-psychoactive. That means it doesn’t bind to the brain receptors that are responsible for the characteristic high. The World Health Organization has no reports of CBD-related abuse or deaths, but it’s possible to become psychologically dependent on any substance if you use it often enough.

Possible Dangers of CBD

Though you can’t overdose on CBD and it isn’t psychoactive, not everyone who uses cannabidiol has a pleasant experience. Some potential adverse side effects include dry mouth, diarrhea, fatigue and a loss of appetite.

Always check with your doctor before beginning a CBD regimen, especially if you routinely take other meds. If you’re taking a prescription medication with a “grapefruit warning,” you should also be aware that cannabidiol can cause similar unexpected drug interactions. People who take high doses of cannabidiol may show abnormalities in liver-related health screenings, which is the same effect as over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol.

Does the FDA Regulate CBD?

A significant safety concern with cannabidiol is that it is primarily available as a supplement, not a medication. Since the FDA does not regulate the efficacy and purity of dietary supplements, there’s no way to be confident that the product you buy has the correct dosage, or that the ingredients listed on the label are accurate.

While some evidence suggests CBD can manage anxiety symptoms, Parkinson’s disease and help treat stimulant addiction, more research is necessary to determine whether cannabidiol is medically beneficial. Currently, the only FDA-approved drug derived from the marijuana plant is Epidiolex, a medication that treats seizures associated with rare forms of epilepsy.

If you decide to try cannabidiol products, do your homework to ensure they come from from a reputable source, and talk with your doctor to confirm CBD use won’t affect any other medicines you take.

Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care

If you are struggling with chronic pain, addiction or a mental health disorder, Recovery Without Walls is here for you. Our beautiful California location is an ideal environment where you can begin your self-guided journey to healing. We primarily provide outpatient treatment to allow our clients to recover on a flexible schedule with minimal disruption to their busy lives.

If our addiction rehab, dual-diagnosis treatment and pain management programming might help you or someone you love, contact us for a confidential consultation.

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As America’s Great Resignation continues, more media outlets are pointing to “burnout” as a source of worker dissatisfaction. This term is more than just a buzzword. It’s a very real syndrome resulting from chronic stress in the workplace.

While evening news anchors debate the severity of overworked employees’ symptoms, the World Health Organization has officially classified burnout as a medical diagnosis. The WHO only recognizes this condition among professionals; however, its symptoms can manifest in all areas of your life.

There’s an important line to be drawn between run-of-the-mill stress and a diagnosable problem. While stress may abate after a quick vacation or restful weekend, burnout is more insidious. It is characterized by unending exhaustion and a constant state of overwhelm. People with this condition feel hopeless and stuck. While those who are stressed may actually perform better and work harder, people who are burnt out feel unmotivated, apathetic, and unable to put in any effort.

Burnout can affect people from many different backgrounds, including:

• caregivers,
• college students,
• doctors and nurses,
• stay-at-home parents,
• people with demanding careers, and
• artists, musicians, or creative professionals.

Signs of Burnout

No matter which career or calling you have, the indicators of this condition remain the same.

The stage is set when you are treated unfairly at work, receive an unmanageable workload, or lack support from management. This lays the groundwork for chronic stress.

Symptoms begin with fatigue, negativity, and poor job performance. As your emotional state worsens, you may begin to notice the following signs of burnout.

• Feeling so overwhelmed by tasks that you can’t even start them.
• Becoming moodier and more irritable, especially when asked to take on new assignments.
• Losing motivation to try at work.
• Struggling to put forth any real effort.
• Experiencing incredible fatigue that isn’t fixed by sleeping in.
• Feeling more distant from your job.
• Missing deadlines or producing subpar work.
• Emotionally disconnecting from your co-workers, patients, or family members.
• Withdrawing from your friends and family.
• Making more mistakes than usual.
• Struggling to concentrate or be creative.
• Fantasizing about quitting your job.
• Feeling more negative and cynical.
• Using drugs and alcohol excessively in an attempt to cope.

A Note About Substance Use Disorder

This last point is particularly important. At Recovery Without Walls, we often work with career professionals who turned to alcohol or drug use as a result of burnout. While these substances may seem to help in the moment, they actually create more problems.

Some people use stimulants in an attempt to meet deadlines and increase their focus. This is especially common among young adults with access to Adderall and other prescription drugs. However, the increased anxiety and hyperactivity that come with stimulant use negatively impact one’s physical and mental health in the long run.

Others use depressants to unwind after a long shift. Unfortunately, alcohol and other depressant drugs can worsen the low mood associated with burnout. They also contribute to an increase in sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts.

If you have become dependent on addictive substances, help is available. Recovery Without Walls offers proven outpatient programs for career professionals.

Are You Burned Out? Take the Quiz.

Psychologists measure burnout through evidence-based assessments. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, or MBI, is an evaluation that takes just ten minutes to complete. The MBI’s questions analyze five dimensions of this disorder: depersonalization, cynicism, professional efficacy, personal accomplishment, and emotional exhaustion.

Various forms of the MBI are available for people from different professions, including educators, medical personnel, and those working in human services.

While you will need to visit a clinical professional to take the MBI, we’d like to share a few sample items from this assessment. If you resonate with the below, we recommend seeking treatment.

• Working with people all day is very stressful for me.
• When it comes to my work, I feel frustrated.
• I feel like I’m at the end of my rope.
• I feel as though my colleagues blame me for their problems.
• I worry that my work has emotionally hardened me.
• I feel tired from the moment I wake up in the morning.
• I have the feeling that I work too hard.

How to Recover from Burnout

While burnout is an exhausting, demoralizing experience, we have good news. It is treatable! There are steps you can take to alleviate stress and create a life you’re excited to live.

We recommend:

Setting boundaries at work. A clear work/life balance is paramount for those suffering from burnout. Talk to your boss about how much work you can handle. Let them know that when you’re out of the office, you won’t be reading emails or doing any assignments. Setting these boundaries can provide much-needed relief from round-the-clock stress.

Finding opportunities for improvement. If you’re frustrated with certain time-consuming tasks, set aside time to re-evaluate them. Is there a way to automate a monthly report or learn a new technique from your manager? Instead of ruminating on what bothers you about your position, look for chances to make it better.

Highlighting your accomplishments. While it may seem silly to want a “good job” after every assignment, research shows it majorly contributes to worker satisfaction. Don’t let your wins fly under the radar. Instead, mention them to upper management and co-workers. You may be surprised by the positive feedback you receive.

Getting a new job. If you realize that your workplace is toxic, don’t be afraid to seek other opportunities. Sometimes, finding a new position or trying out a different company can be an instant cure for overwhelm and chronic stress.

Addressing problematic substance use. If your approach to stress management includes drug or alcohol use, you should make every effort to quit. Seek professional addiction treatment if you need help with prescription drug misuse, binge drinking, or the use of illicit substances.

Recovery Without Walls is an outpatient treatment center in Mill Valley, California. We specialize in helping professionals to overcome burnout, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health conditions. To learn more about our credentialed clinical team and our unique approach to treatment, contact us today.

The post Signs of Burnout appeared first on Recovery Without Walls .

While there is no single comprehensive list of the different “families” or “types” of drugs, many medical experts recognize eight categories.

1. Opioids

Opioids/opiates are the first drugs that come to most people’s minds upon hearing “addiction” or “street drugs,” though opioids are also used medically as painkillers. Derived from opium-poppy extract or made synthetically, these drugs induce a pleasant feeling of drowsy numbness, but can also cause dangerous slowing of body functions. Opiates are extremely addictive, and a person in withdrawal will experience symptoms akin to a severe case of the flu: vomiting, muscle pain, fever, heavy perspiration. 

Examples of opioid drugs include:

• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Morphine.

2. Depressants

Opiates are also depressant drugs in the sense of “depressing,” or slowing down, body functions. Many other depressants are even more dangerous: besides carrying high risk for addiction or overdose, they can have truly life-threatening withdrawal effects, such as seizures or heart failure. “Sleeping pill” medications and many antianxiety compounds, as well as alcohol, are in this category.

Examples of depressant drugs include:

• Alcohol
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines.

3. Prescription Drugs

While most prescription drugs/medicines also fit one of the other drug categories, many people assume that anything prescribed by a doctor is “different” from illegal drugs and carries no potential for harm. This is a very dangerous assumption. Prescription drugs are safer than illegal ones in being well-tested and subject to quality control; but that doesn’t mean any prescription should be taken with a cavalier attitude. Anyone can have an unexpected bad reaction, and even doctors can get careless in their advice: indiscriminate prescriptions helped cause the current opioid-addiction epidemic. Most serious problems, however, begin when someone goes outside prescription instructions and starts taking “just a little more” on their own initiative. (This is a common temptation when a prescription no longer seems to be “working”—a possible warning that tolerance, the first step toward addiction, is developing, in which case more of the same is the last thing a person needs.)

Examples of prescription drugs include:

• Methadone and buprenorphine (opioid-addiction-treatment medicines)
• Opioids such as codeine, OxyContin (oxycodone), and Vicodin (hydrocodone)
• Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Valium (diazepam)
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), ketamine, and other antidepressants.

4. Cannabinoids

Drugs extracted from cannabis plants soothe nausea, reduce pain, and induce feelings of euphoria, confusion, or anxiety. Marijuana, the best-known cannabinoid, is a Schedule I drug (no recognized legitimate medical use) under U.S. federal law and is known to carry psychosis and addiction risks. Nonetheless, cannabinoids are now considered medical drugs in most states, and are sold over the counter in many places.  

Examples of cannabinoid drugs include:

• Marijuana
• Hashish
• Marinol (a prescription pill that reduces nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients)
• Syndros (an antiemetic for anorexia patients)
• Epidoloex (an epilepsy medicine).

5. Stimulants

Stimulants “stimulate” the nervous system, speeding up body functions and causing users to feel energized, alert, and often anxious or euphoric. Medically, stimulants are most often used to treat concentration-related problems such as ADHD. However, many people take stimulants carelessly in attempts to stay awake for late-night work, “wake up” after taking depressants, lose weight, or boost self-confidence. Stimulants can be highly addictive, and withdrawal is characterized by extreme anxiety, drug cravings, and/or depression.

Examples of stimulant drugs include:

• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamine
• “Bath salt” designer drugs.

6. Hallucinogenic Drugs

Hallucinogens distort perception of reality, or cause users to experience things that don’t actually exist. Mood swings are frequent under hallucinogenic influence. For some people, a hallucinogen “trip” is a pleasant experience: others become panicky or develop delusions of invulnerability, and may seriously injure themselves acting on their misperceptions.

Examples of hallucinogenic drugs include:

• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
• Phenylcyclohexyl piperidine (PCP)
• Psilocybin
• Mescaline.

7. Inhalants

Anything that gives off chemical fumes becomes a drug when someone deliberately inhales those fumes to get high. To concentrate the fumes for greater effect, users often cover the inhalant container and their heads with a plastic bag: death by suffocation is not uncommon.

Examples of inhalant drugs include:

• Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)
• Gasoline
• Glue
• Paint thinner.

8. Steroids

Anabolic steroids are probably the best-known “performance-enhancing drugs”: they build muscle and improve athletic ability, but they have extremely unpleasant side effects: violent mood swings, balding, altering of secondary sex characteristics, and sometimes heart trouble or stroke.

Examples of steroid drugs include:

• Anadrol
• Dianabol
• Stanozol.

———————————–

More Than 8 Types of Drugs

Of course, not every drug falls neatly into a single category—and many people take drugs from different categories together, which increases risks.

While understanding the unique qualities of each drug type is useful in determining medical treatment for overdose or addiction, it’s as important to recognize that any type of drug—even if not particularly addictive—can cause serious problems if used carelessly. Remember these key points:

• Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all. (If you or anyone in your family have a history of substance use disorder, complete abstinence is the safest course.)
• Never use any illegal drug.
• Take medical drugs strictly according to prescription—and report any problems to your doctor at once.
• And if you suspect you already have a drug-addiction problem, get professional help immediately. Don’t procrastinate, rationalize, or try to “just quit” on your own. Medical detox and follow-up support guarantee the best odds of getting and staying clean.

Contact Recovery Without Walls for Addiction Treatment

Different types of drugs have different effects, addiction risks, and withdrawal symptoms; but whatever the exact drug(s) involved, addiction is an illness that requires professional medical treatment. If you have symptoms of substance use disorder but your other responsibilities make a lengthy inpatient treatment program less than feasible—or if you’ve tried detox before and found it inadequate for your needs—consider our Recovery Without Walls holistic outpatient program. We treat every aspect of addiction and tailor every treatment program to individual patient needs. Contact us today to learn more!

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