Prescription Medications in Addiction Recovery
If you are taking prescription medications, you might be worried if they will affect your journey into sobriety. There are many types of prescription medications that people can’t stop taking, even during recovery from substance use. However, this isn’t something that should prevent you from going into a treatment program. No matter what prescription drugs you are taking, it is always important to consult your doctor about taking them in treatment and in recovery.
Talking to Your Doctor
The first thing you need to do is contact your doctor and ask them about taking medication during addiction recovery. If you are aware that you can become addicted to one of your medications, it is imperative to discuss this with your doctor.
In addition to talking with your doctor, speak with your therapist about the prescription medications you are taking. Be honest about your concerns and seek advice about your best course of action. This can also be discussed with your recovery community, where people can share their experiences. Many people in the recovery community take prescription medication and have had success taking them while avoiding forming habits and relapse. However, it is crucial to take the advice of your doctor first and foremost.
Ways to Prevent Issues With Prescription Medications During Recovery
Stopping prescription medications is not an option for some people. However, there are ways to avoid your medications becoming a problem during addiction recovery. For example, avoiding any increased dosages is an excellent way to prevent potential habit-forming. It is also essential to take your medication just as your doctor instructed you to. This means taking the exact dosage at the precise time of day as prescribed. Avoid using any stimulants or depressants while taking your prescription medications.
Medications for Mental Illness
There are plenty of medications out there that help those with any number of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. If you are currently on one of these medications and are about to start addiction recovery treatment, it is essential to discuss this with your treatment facility. Some facilities may want to have a specialist help monitor and ensure the medication doesn’t conflict with your addiction treatment.
Medications You Likely Want to Avoid
There are several types of medication for pain that you may want to avoid if you’re going through addiction recovery. Opioids, for example, are sometimes prescribed after you’ve had surgery or have chronic pain. If you’d had a past addiction to heroin or another type of opioid, then it may be a bad idea to start taking a prescription opioid. However, you should discuss with your doctor alternative medications or treatments to help with chronic pain. You should not have the be in pain to go through recovery.
Besides opioids, many other types of medication can be addiction-forming, including benzodiazepines and psychostimulants. Benzodiazepines are often used to treat anxiety, while psychostimulants can be used to treat ADHD. Zoloft and Celexa are popular types of psychostimulants that can be habit-forming.
If you are offered any of these medication types and are worried about the effects, then discuss it with your doctor. Explain your situation, and your doctor will likely help you find the best course of action, be that finding a new medication or alternative treatment methods.
Natural Ways of Recovery
While it isn’t always the best course of treatment for many people, there are some natural ways to avoid medications. Using natural recovery is subjective and doesn’t work for everyone. Be sure to do your research and talk with your doctor before relying on any form of alternative medicine.
Some people have found relief in certain forms of alternative medicine, including acupuncture and body movement therapies. These alternative treatments may only be helpful when it comes to illnesses like anxiety or mild depression. Additionally, some have found exercises like yoga to be beneficial in pain relief.
Make Recovery Your #1 Priority
If you are entering an addiction treatment program, you know how important it is to get past your addiction and onto the road to healing. This should be your number one priority, and if certain medications are conflicting with your recovery, then it is essential to discuss your best course of action with your doctor.
You don’t want to start a prescription medication that may cause temptation and eventual relapse. However, you should not worry if you are on a prescription medication that you can’t stop taking. There are always ways to take prescription medicine while going through addiction recovery.
Many people wonder if they can still take their prescription medications while going through an addiction recovery treatment program. The answer will depend on your exact situation. Some cannot stop taking certain prescription medications, while others find it beneficial to not take any medications during recovery. Either way, this should be discussed with your doctor. At Choice House, we have professional therapists on staff that can help you with these situations. Be honest with our therapists about your concerns, and they can offer the best advice. Choice House is located in Boulder, Colorado, and provides several different therapy methods, all designed to help our guests recover and avoid future relapse. Our facility offers some of the best views of the local landscape and is a short drive from some of the area’s most popular attractions. Our guests work to help each other through recovery. At Choice House, we want you to form life-long friendships with other guests. Get your journey started by calling Choice House at (720) 577-4422.