What is addiction medicine?
Addiction medicine at Dr Malek's Office uses medications and other highly effective treatments to help you break an addiction. Dr. Malek may recommend addiction medicine if you struggle with alcohol abuse, opioid misuse, nicotine addiction, or other substance misuse disorders that you cannot break away from on your own.
What are the symptoms of an addiction?
Common signs and symptoms of an addiction include:
- Not being able to stop using harmful substances
- Desiring more and more of a substance
- Mood swings
- Feelings of being “high”
- Withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
- Fatigue
- Depression
Addictions often negatively interfere with school, a job, or relationships with other people. They can negatively affect your physical health, mental health, and overall well-being.
What are the risk factors for addiction?
Anyone can develop an addiction, but certain factors put you at risk. Examples include past trauma, ongoing stress, job or relationship struggles, and a personal or family history of substance abuse disorder. Having other mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, also increases your risk of developing an addiction.
Is addiction medicine right for me?
Dr. Malek and the team let you know if you’re a candidate for addiction medicine treatment after discussing your medical history and symptoms. They complete a physical exam or blood tests if needed and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment to evaluate your mental health before developing a personalized treatment plan.
What are the available addiction medicine treatments?
Addiction medicine and other mental health disorder treatments you may be a candidate for include:
- Healthy lifestyle changes
- Oral medications
- Nicotine replacement therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Other types of therapy
- Support groups
It's common to use a combination of treatments when treating an addiction.
Medications can reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping substance misuse. They also help diminish cravings for addictive substances.
If you're a candidate for an inpatient substance abuse program, Dr. Malek refers you to a highly effective program that best matches your needs.
To learn more about addiction medicine or get evaluated for an addiction, call the Bachar Malek, MD Office office or schedule an appointment online today.