Deciding to recover from addiction can be super hard, and even more exhausting is finding the right treatment. People who are dealing with addictions no matter if it’s opioids, alcohol, or other prescription medications can face different challenges. Not all treatments can have the same outcome for all the patients.
There are many different ways & tools to treat addiction. One of the first steps of many treatment plans is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). This method can help patients transition to the next steps of treatment smoothly, experiencing much fewer symptoms from discontinuing the addictive substance.
MAT uses medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of substance use disorder. These are combined with therapy to give better results during recovery, especially in the beginning.
Why Choose MAT?
MAT has shown many benefits in the process of recovery. It can improve the results of a treatment plan, decrease the cravings for the addictive substance, as well as reducing the risk of relapse after the recovery is done.
Medications Used in MAT
Methadone
Methadone is used for treating opioid addiction. It binds to the same receptors that opioids affect in the brain but does not cause the euphoric effect of opioids. This can help with withdrawal symptoms, and by keeping the receptors busy the cravings for opioids decrease.
However, It needs to be used under supervision in the right environment so it would not cause any kind of dependency.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex)
Almost works like Methadone which keeps opioid receptors busy. This medication is used very often for the treatment of addiction. It reduces withdrawal symptoms & reduces cravings. It has a lower potential for abuse compared to methadone. Buprenorphine can be combined with Naloxone to decrease its possibility for misuse even more.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Naltrexone is one of the best choices in MAT for treating addiction to both opioids & alcohol. It completely stops opioid receptors, which causes the medication not to have any euphoric opioid effects. Matter of fact, it can even make the patient feel a lot worse if they use any opioids while taking this medication. If a patient has gone through complete detoxification & needs to completely avoid Opioids, this is a good option to start with as it has no risk of dependency.
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
This medication is one of the main medications used to treat alcohol addiction. It affects the way the body deals with alcohol & can make the person taking this medication feel sick when they use alcohol. Because of how effective it is as well as its effects when alcohol is used, the patient has to be educated on the medication to prevent any complications.
Acamprosate (Campral)
Acamprosate can help people who are struggling with alcohol use disorder. It helps the brain to gain the balance that was disrupted by alcohol & decreases withdrawal symptoms. However, It needs to be taken frequently & will not work if the patient uses alcohol which can affect adherence on some occasions.
Naloxone (Narcan)
This is not a medication that is used for MAT by itself alone (used combined with buprenorphine as suboxone).
However, Naloxone alone comes in the form of a nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses in case of an emergency. It does not treat addiction, but can save many lives & give people a chance to start recovery. It is the best medication for reversing opioid overdose & is required to be offered to patients taking opioids by healthcare providers.
Combining Medications with Therapy
As mentioned in the beginning, MAT can be most effective when it is combined with therapies and behavioral therapy. Some of these therapies that are used alongside MAT at Ready To Evolve are Cognitive behavioral therapy to identify negative thought patterns, Dialectical Behavior therapy which teaches patients how to deal with their emotions, and Motivational interviewing.
Take Your First Step Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we are here to help. At Ready To Evolve Recovery Center, our compassionate and experienced team is dedicated to supporting your journey to recovery through personalized Medication-Assisted Treatment and comprehensive care.
reach out to us today to learn more about our MAT program & take the first step. Contact Ready To Evolve Recovery Center and let us guide you on your path to freedom from addiction.
