Everything You Need to Know About Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a prescription medication used to help patients withdraw from opioids. Ironically, buprenorphine is itself an opioid often prescribed by physicians and was the first drug of its kind to be approved by the FDA to treat opioid addiction.

If you suffer from opioid addiction or have a loved one struggling with opioid addictions, you should research buprenorphine. By understanding the characteristics of buprenorphine, how it’s used, the buprenorphine ceiling effect, and the risks involved, you can minimize associated risks and prevent overdose.

When administered properly, buprenorphine is not used by itself but in tandem with other addiction therapies such as individual psychotherapy, relapse prevention, behavior modification, or the 12 step program. Buprenorphine can be administered in an inpatient setting or taken in a patient’s home environment.

How Buprenorphine works

Buprenorphine is a Schedule III substance. By definition, a Schedule III substance means that it has less potential for being abused than drugs in Schedules I and II. It can still lead to moderate physical dependence if abused, despite acting as legitimate medical treatment. Though buprenorphine has been around since 1965 and has been legal to use in the United States since 1981, it’s only come to the general public’s attention in recent years.

Buprenorphine blocks the effects of other opioids such as heroin or hydrocodone. When it locks into a mu-opioid receptor in the central nervous system, it acts as a partial agonist. Even if the buprenorphine does bind to the receptor, the receptor is only partially activated. An opioid such as heroin would fully activate the receptor.

Buprenorphine not only blocks other drugs that would bind with the receptor, but the patient doesn’t feel the intense high that they would with an opioid such as heroin. At the same time, the patient escapes these severe withdrawal symptoms. With the assistance of buprenorphine, these substance-use sufferers are more likely to survive an overdose of buprenorphine than they would an overdose of another opioid. Because the euphoric effects of buprenorphine are much less intense, there’s less risk of it being abused or used recreationally.

How do you administer the buprenorphine

Medical personnel administer buprenorphine in a variety of ways. Physicians prescribe tablets that patients place under the tongue. In some cases, buprenorphine is a film applied under the tongue, an implant, or an extended-release injection. Often, physicians combine buprenorphine with naloxone, another opioid, for optimal results. Naloxone comes in both film and tablet forms.

Patients who begin a buprenorphine course need to abstain from their opioid use for 12 to 24 hours. Once they’ve hit this 24-hour mark, they will enter the withdrawal phase—a necessary evil. If they still have opioids in their system and haven’t gone into withdrawal, their withdrawal symptoms can be severe.

The dosage of buprenorphine and how long the patient stays on it depends on the individual patient. Some patients need to take buprenorphine for years to prevent relapsing.

Side effects of buprenorphine

Because buprenorphine is an opioid, it slows down the workings of the central nervous system. With this in mind, the common side effects include:

• constipation
• dry mouth
• insomnia
• heart palpitations
• sweating
• nausea and vomiting
• dizziness
• muscle cramps
• fever
• dilated pupils

More serious side effects include severe respiratory depression, dependence, itching skin, and potential overdose. Though physicians can prescribe pregnant women with buprenorphine, there’s a risk that it can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome. NAS is a condition where the baby exposed to an opioid during pregnancy undergoes withdrawal shortly after birth.

To ensure that taking buprenorphine is as safe as possible, the patient shouldn’t discontinue or take other drugs with this opioid without consulting with their doctor. Any patient taking buprenorphine should have their liver monitored and tell the doctor if they’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. A patient’s buprenorphine prescription should never be shared, even with another patient experiencing opioid addiction.

Buprenorphine ceiling effect

As previously discussed, respiratory depression is one of the side effects of buprenorphine. However, scientists believe that because buprenorphine is only a partial agonist at the opioid receptors, the respiratory depression has a ceiling and will not progress to the point where the patient’s breathing shuts down completely. With heroin and other opioids, the patient is at risk of death. Taking buprenorphine makes it less likely that the patient will die of an overdose.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Most Common Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Doctors Face

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People go to their doctors for treatment because they trust their physicians to provide them relief from their ailments. Most of the time, doctors go above and beyond to ensure that their patients receive the best care possible. However, it is also pretty common for them to make mistakes. Often, these mistakes cause more harm than good.

Top 5 Medical Malpractice Claims Filed Against Doctors

1. Failure to Diagnose the Patient’s Medical Condition

One of the most common lawsuits that doctors have to deal with in their practice would be a failure to diagnose the patient’s medical condition. However, it is essential to note that, on its own, misdiagnosis alone cannot be considered medical malpractice because even doctors, even seasoned doctors can make mistakes. There are certain medical conditions wherein the presentation would not follow the hallmark symptoms. Failure to diagnose can only be considered medical malpractice when the doctor did not provide the proper medical care necessary or delayed the treatment process that worsened the patient’s medical condition. It is also fairly common for doctors to miss an underlying medical condition because they are too focused on the first condition.

2. Patient Injury During Medical Treatment

Doctors can also be held liable if they cause a patient’s injury which led to their disability. Remember, however, that there are certain cases where a doctor injures a patient in order to provide treatment. One example is when providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a patient who suffered cardiac arrest. To revive the patient, the doctor may perform cardiac compressions that may cause broken ribs. In such a case, the doctor is only doing their duty and cannot be held criminally liable should the patient die because their action was bound by their commitment to restart the patient’s heart.

However, the other side of the coin would be when a doctor injures a patient during a procedure like surgeries. For example, a surgeon may resect an organ by mistake, causing the patient to lose functionality. Suppose the doctor has performed a kidney transplant and injured a ureter in the process. This may cause the patient to experience urinary incontinence. In this case, the patient has all the right to work with medical malpractice lawyers such as Tinker law firm and sue the doctor for medical malpractice.

3. Failure to Treat Medical Conditions

Sometimes, doctors can be overly confident and fail to realize that a medical condition is now beyond their control. When this happens, they would not refer their patients to a specialist, causing the condition to worsen.

4. Failure to Keep Medical Documentation

Physicians are adept at caring for their patients, but they can often fail at keeping an accurate and complete record of their patient’s health data. Sometimes, patients require a copy of their medical reports, and failure to provide these can be grounds for medical malpractice because it demonstrates negligence in keeping their patient’s data up-to-date.

5. Medication Mistakes

Pharmacology is a practice that doctors need to be well-versed in. They have to know the drug interactions and side effects that their prescribed medications can make. Errors in providing medications can cause a patient’s condition to worsen or, worse, death. Sometimes, doctors can make errors in dosages that may cause the patient to overdose.

These medical malpractice cases show that doctors are humans, too, and can make mistakes. However, this should not be an excuse for them to become lenient in their patient care.

This is a guest blog entry.

3 Things to Understand About Preventive Oral Health Care

It’s a well-known fact that when it comes to your dental health, preventive care is absolutely essential. While the level of care available in the United States is very high, avoiding medical issues will always be safer and more comfortable than only seeking help once there is a major issue.

To this end, if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, the single most important thing you can do is practice preventive oral health — but what does preventive care mean when it comes to oral health, and what does it involve?

Here are three things you need to understand about what preventive care is — and isn’t — if you want to take the best possible care of yourself.

1. Preventive Care Doesn’t Mean You Avoid the Dentist

When we think of preventive care, we usually think of things that we can do on our own to avoid having to get professional help: things like diet, exercise, and cleaning that maintain good oral hygiene.

But perhaps the most important thing to understand about preventive dental care is that it doesn’t mean you can skip your dental appointments. Getting high quality preventive care from Ocean Dental Studio in Boynton Beach in the form of nightguards and cleaning are still key for avoiding major oral health problems.

2. Preventive Care Might Involve Major Procedures

Just as preventive care doesn’t mean you get out of visiting the dentist, it also doesn’t guarantee that you will completely avoid major procedures. But it does mean that you will limit the number of invasive oral health procedures you have to undergo over the course of your life.

For example, getting your wisdom teeth pulled out in your early twenties might seem like a major imposition, but if your wisdom teeth are impacted then getting them pulled early will spare you far more pain than waiting until they start causing major problems for the rest of your teeth.
Similarly, regular professional cleaning is essential for removing plaque that can harden into tartar and lead to cavities or gum disease if it is allowed to build up.

3. Preventive Care is a Partnership

While it is true that your dentist plays a major role in helping avoid serious oral health problems, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for you to play as well. In fact, the person who will have the biggest impact on your oral health is you.

In a way, your mouth is a bit like your car: just because you go for regular tune-ups and get your mechanic to take care of repairs doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your part to maintain it as well. To this end, you should make sure you:

• Brush twice a day
• Floss regularly
• Avoid sugary drinks
• Limit or eliminate your tobacco use

At its heart, preventive health is maintaining good oral hygiene and catching problems before they get out of hand.

While there is a lot you can do on your own to keep your teeth and gums in good condition, regular check-ups with your local dentist and proactive procedures to avoid degeneration of teeth and gums are crucial as well. So if it’s been awhile since you last saw the dentist, book an appointment today!

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Reasons Why Clear Aligners Would Work Well For You

You’d like to do something about your teeth, but the idea of wearing metal braces holds no appeal. There’s another solution that you can discuss with your dentist. Clear aligners are excellent options in many cases. Why would you want to go with something like Invisalign rather than more traditional solutions for straightening teeth? Here are some of the benefits that come with these clear aligners.

The Comfort Factor

When it comes to comfort, it’s hard to beat clear aligners. There’s no wires that can poke the tender skin along the gum or the inside of the cheek. Many people report that while they can feel the aligners helping to move their teeth in position, there’s less soreness and general discomfort. That makes it all the easier to get through the day and even to drift off to sleep without really paying much attention to your mouth.

Makes Dental Hygiene Simpler

Unlike metal braces that have to remain in place all the time, it’s possible to remove clear aligners while you eat or drink warm beverages. Before you put them back into position, feel free to brush your teeth, use mouthwash, and floss if you like. You can also rinse the aligners before slipping them back over your teeth.

The result is that it’s a lot easier to keep up with your dental hygiene. The teeth feel fresh after each round of brushing and the aligners help that sensation to last for some time. Remember that you can remove them for snacks as well as meals. Remember to rinse out your mouth after the snack and before putting the aligner back in place.

Fewer Dental Visits

You’ll use a series of aligners that gradually move your teeth into position. Each aligner is used for a certain amount of time before being replaced by the next one in the series. Unlike metal braces that have to be tightened from time to time, all you have to do is stop using one aligner and switch to the next one. That translates into fewer dental visits for however long you continue to wear the aligners.

Harder for People to Notice

One benefit that usually compels people to choose clear aligners is how difficult it is for others to see them. The impact on your appearance is so slight that it may take coworkers and others who see you frequently a little while to notice that there’s anything in your mouth. The low profile also has less of an effect on your ability to pronounce certain words, a quality that only makes the aligners that much more difficult to detect. If you want a solution that doesn’t draw much attention, this is definitely the way to go.

Are you ready to do something about those crooked teeth? Now is the time to make an appointment and listen to what can be learned from professionals who have helped many past clients. For these Barrie dentists improving smiles is something they can do with ease. After hearing what the dentist has to say, making an informed choice will be easy.

This is a guest blog entry.

What You Need to Know About CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is CBD in its isolated and purest form. This means it does not have any other components such as flavonoids, turpentines, THC, fats, etc. Such forms of CBD have no psychoactive activity. While pure CBD is good, it is not the perfect option and it comes with its pros and cons.

The CBD market is very dynamic and many products are being brought to the market and the technologies improving with time. There has been a lot of pressure on the industry to meet high standards of safety.

Advantages CBD Isolate
Some countries have introduced regulations seeking to ban any products with THC content, and this is expected to happen in the UK. Today, only 0.3% of THC is allowed, but some manufacturers usually add higher quantities. There are benefits of THC, but many researchers are concerned about safety. This is why a CBD isolate is considered a safer option.

CBD rich isolate powder is 99% pure. It has the advantage of being easy to consume and has no unusual odor. You can easily add it to edible oils, beverages, sublingual tablets, and also to your food items.

When you use CBD in its pure form, you will have an easier time dosing. You can measure the exact dose, just like medications. When you use it in other forms, you will have a hard time determining how much CBD is in it.

Quality control of CBD isolate is much easier because it is less complicated to analyze in the labs. This is even more important considering there have been a lot of Chinese or CBD related products of unknown origins.

The most important thing to look out for when buying CBD products is its purity or the amount of CBD in the product. Products being imported to the US usually don’t have a lot of CBD in them. Having low quantities of CBD makes it easier for companies to overcome regulatory hurdles, but this means the consumer is not going to get a lot of health benefits from it.

Disadvantages of CBD Isolate
There is a strong reason why not everyone likes CBD in its isolate or pure form. Many studies have been done and they have shown isolating single compounds from natural extracts doesn’t work well. This is because the other compounds play a role in the efficacy of such compounds. Their role has not yet been explained by science.

When it comes to CBD, the synergetic effect among the CBD constituents is known as the entourage effect. One worry for CBD specialists is that products without any trace of THC, turpentines, other cannabinoids, and flavonoids can result in a lower efficacy of the CBD. The various components make the CBD work for many people.

The process of getting 99% of pure CBD is complicated; there is a lot of complex processing that has to be done and also adding and removing different solvents. The end product is pure CBD in crystal form, but it has to go through a lot of processing.

There might be a place for CBD isolate in the industry, but it might not have benefits like the full-spectrum CBD. Producers might be forced to make products as pure as possible without compromising on the competency of their products. This will involve using higher standards.

This is a guest blog entry.

Common Health Conditions for Seniors

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Older adults face many unique health issues as they maneuver their twilight years. While most of these challenges are normal and expected, there are things that can be done to ensure the seniors’ struggles are minimized. Below are five common old-age conditions to brace for, and some of the measures you can take to ensure your loved one’s life isn’t overly affected.

1. Cerebral Palsy

Often associated with kids, cerebral palsy (CP) is a disease found in older adults too. Most seniors with cerebral palsy are those that had the condition since their infancy. Common CP symptoms in older adults include increased pain, muscle rigidity, walking difficulties, swallowing difficulties, dental health issues, and frequent falls. Medications and other therapy plans are used to manage the symptoms, but it is good to have a doctor examine your loved one before a treatment plan is recommended.

2. Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is typified by a breakdown of dopamine-producing neurons. It gradually affects movement, with severe cases making it extremely difficult for victims to live without some assistance. It is thus advisable to get your loved one to a responsible assisted living facility such as Long House, so they can receive the care they need and deserve on a 24-hour basis.

3. Heart disease

Heart disease can affect anyone, but it is most prevalent among the older population. Coronary artery disease, a type of heart disease, has been shown to be behind around half of all deaths linked to cardiovascular disease. The main reason for this is that as you grow old, your body experiences a rise in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and more, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. While it is impossible to completely curb heart disease, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of a coronary event. These include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight.

4. Rheumatoid arthritis

Age-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sets in between ages 60 and 65. Typically, RA that sets in late progresses much faster than early-onset arthritis. Its symptoms – joint degeneration, shoulder degeneration, pain, anemia, fever, and weight loss – are also more severe than those of its early-onset cousin.

Pain management and joint damage prevention measures for RA victims include medication, physical therapy, balance exercises, and aquatic therapy.

5. Dysphagia

You would be forgiven for thinking dysphagia isn’t a sufferable condition, given it only causes mere swallowing difficulties. There are many stages of the disease, and chronic dysphagia can come as a serious medical concern. Watch for warning signs such as painful swallowing, hoarse voice, abrupt weight loss, coughing or gagging when swallowing, food regurgitation, and frequent heartburn.

A primary care physician can help perform a diagnosis and create a personalized treatment plan for your loved one.

Conclusion

These are some of the conditions you should watch out for if you have been entrusted with the care of your aging loved one. Seek the advice of a healthcare provider before taking any action. If need be, check your loved one into a care home for more professional care.

This is a guest blog entry.

A Guide to Dealing with Fallen Arches

One of the major causes of fallen arches is posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. The tibialis posterior is one of the muscles located in the lower part of the leg. The tendon extends from the muscle in back of the ankle's inside bone, over the insteps, and then is attached to the bottom part of the foot. The arch of the foot is held up by the tibialis posterior which also prevents the foot from rolling over. The tendon sometimes becomes inflamed and stretched The condition is referred to as Acquired Adult Flat Foot or Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. The condition is most commonly referred to as fallen arches by most people.

How does the condition progress?

Injury or trauma: Fallen arches can occasionally be caused by a direct blow to a tendon, sprain, or fracture.

Age: As we age, our risk for developing fallen arches goes up. It has been suggested by research that the group of people who are most commonly affected is middle-aged women.

Being overweight: if an individual has flat feet, the more weight may cause the tibialis posterior tendon to undergo excessive stretching and that can cause the development of fallen arches.

Footwear with inadequate support can be a contributing factor. This can easily be remedied, visit the Orthotic Shop for supportive footwear.

Inflammatory arthritis: Degeneration and inflammation of the tendon can cause tearing in the tendon.

The factors above can cause the foot's arch to collapse ("fallen arches") and for the position of the bones in the ankle and foot to change.

Common symptoms of fallen arches

Pain along the inside part of the ankle and foot, where the tendon is. This might or might not be associated with the area having swelling.

Pain that worsens with activity. It can be quite difficult to engage in high-impact or high-intensity activities like running.

Pain on the outside part of the ankle. Whenever the foot collapses, the bone in the heel might shift to a new outward position.

Fallen arches can be prevented by taking the following measures:

- Whenever you are able to recognize fallen arch symptoms early, it can help you prevent more serious problems from developing. A burning, sharp pain in the heel area and arch is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include having a hard time running fast, jumping high, or standing on your tiptoes as well as swollen ankles. Some individuals also have pain in their lower back, knee, or calf.

- It is very important to wear the right footwear if you have fallen arches. It is recommended that you wear a pair of sturdies fallen arches shoes like lace-up boots or shoes that stabilize your feet and are able to accommodate orthotic braces and insoles.

- Wear supportive orthotic insoles. Fallen arches orthotics can help to support the arches of your feet and to compensate for any over-pronation. When you wear the proper fallen arches insoles and foot orthotics together along with fallen arches shoes it can help to alleviate inflammation and pain and reduce the amount of strain placed on your posterior tibial tendon. Inflammation can also be helped with creams, balms, oils and other products.

- Do exercises to strengthen your arches. You can help to prevent fallen arches by strengthening your arches. There are several different exercises that can be done, including wrapping a towel over the sole of your feet and extending and holding your leg for 30 seconds in an extended position. Another thing you can do is stand on a hard surface barefoot and flex your feet just as hard as possible. This will activate your arch muscle and also ensure that your toes do not press down and your feet do not roll.

How to purchase fallen arches shoes
Like all good investments, particularly when it comes to investing in your health, it is important to know which features you should look for before purchasing a product. The same is true when you are looking for a pair of fallen arches shoes. In order to find the best shoes to wear with fallen arches, be sure the shoes have these features:

- Premium orthotic insoles that offer anatomical arch support to reduce over-pronation and to help with aligning the foot.

- A firm heel counter that reduces over-pronation, supports the foot and holds the heel.

- Soles that offer firm support and do not collapse under the foot's arch.

-    Creams

- An extra-depth design that accommodates custom orthotics, allows for more toe motion and offers a relaxed fit.

- Removable insoles that you can replace with custom orthotics.

The Orthotic Shop stock footwear that is equipped with unique orthopedic features to provide the market with some of the best fallen arches footwear.  Browse through our huge assortment of fallen arches shoes.

This is a guest blog entry.