Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist

What is medication-assisted treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment is a way of treating substance use and addiction. It helps prevent overdose and sustains your recovery. When combined with therapy, it’s a highly successful treatment method, particularly for opioid use disorder. 

The team at Integrative Wellness Center closely monitors you as you go through medication-assisted treatment. The medications reduce your brain’s chemical dependency and block the effects of the drug. They also reduce your cravings for it. 

Weaning yourself off opioids causes severe withdrawal symptoms that make it harder to avoid a relapse. Medication-assisted treatment reduces those symptoms, so stopping your use of opioids becomes easier. 

Who can benefit from medication-assisted treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment is a strategy for treating opioid use disorder. The category of opioids includes both prescription pain medications and some illegal drugs, such as heroin. Many people develop opioid use disorder only after being prescribed pain medication for a legitimate medical purpose. 

Some possible signs of opioid addiction are:

• Drowsiness
• Cravings
• Sleep changes
• Weight loss
• Isolation from friends and family
• Stealing habits
• Financial problems

The team at Integrative Wellness Center can diagnose and help you decide if medication-assisted treatment is an appropriate treatment option for you.

Which medications are used in medication-assisted treatment?

The most effective medications used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder are:

Methadone

Methadone is a medication you take daily to block the effects of opioid drugs. You must take it for a minimum of a year while closely supervised by your medical providers. 

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a medication you can take alongside counseling to curb the effects of opioids and reduce cravings. 

Naltrexone

Naltrexone, a third medication option for medication-assisted treatment, is one that you take orally. Instead of daily, you take it once every two or three days. 

For more information on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, call Integrative Wellness Center or book an appointment online today.