It might be alcohol, legal prescription drugs, or illegal drugs - no matter the substance, addiction is a disease that changes the way your brain works. Even if you want to quit using, the desire alone may not be enough. But with medication management, you don’t have to do it by yourself.
Daniel J. Headrick, MD, and our team at Headrick Medical Center specialize in treating addiction. We combine medications like Suboxone®, Sublocade™, or Vivitrol® with expert medical care during detox and beyond.
Medication management is flexible for patients struggling with addiction. Dr. Headrick believes that medication and comprehensive therapy are indispensable when it comes to successfully treating addiction and substance abuse disorders.
Medication management could be part of your recovery plan, particularly if you:
Even if Dr. Headrick recommends medication, it’s only one part of your treatment plan. We specialize in medication assisted therapy (MAT) services, which include counseling to address the behavioral and lifestyle factors contributing to your addiction.
Recovering from addiction is a journey, and medication management evolves with you. At Headrick Medical Center, our medication management services include two main stages: detoxification and maintenance.
Detoxification is the first step in treating addiction and substance abuse disorders. Your body naturally starts eliminating toxins when you stop using drugs or alcohol, but detoxing can trigger withdrawal.
Withdrawal can cause intense symptoms from shakiness and sweating to insomnia and anxiety. In some cases, symptoms like seizures can even be life-threatening.
Detoxing is mentally and physically challenging, but the goal of medication management is to ease some of those negative side effects to help you get through the process. Depending on your health and the type of addiction you have, Dr. Headrick and our team may prescribe Suboxone, Sublocade, or Vivitrol during detox.
Medication can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal, increasing your chances of completing the detox process without relapsing. Whether you participate in inpatient or outpatient detox, our team stays in touch with you each step of the way, adjusting your medication as needed.
Once you complete your detox program, you can start focusing on the behavioral and lifestyle changes needed for long-term sobriety. Our team continues meeting with you regularly, and you continue to participate in individual and group therapy sessions.
Your medication plan changes during this time too. During detox, your dose of medication is typically higher to help you through the withdrawal period. After detox is over, our team adjusts your medication to a lower dose.
Medication isn’t meant to be a long-term solution, so you can expect your doses to get smaller as you get farther along in your recovery program. We monitor your progress to make sure the medication helps control cravings and normalize brain chemistry until it’s safe to stop taking it altogether.
No matter what stage of recovery you’re in, it’s important to take your medications as prescribed. Never take more or less than you’re prescribed, and never hesitate to ask Dr. Headrick or our team about any side effects you’re experiencing.
Medications like Suboxone can make recovering from substance abuse disorder a little easier, and our team at Headrick Medical Center brings extensive experience in medication management to our patients. If you’re ready to start your recovery journey, schedule a consultation online or over the phone.
