Wellbutrin strengths

Wellbutrin comes in a tablet, as well as a sustained release and extended release formula. Wellbutrin may be prescribedi n strengths of 75mg or 100 mg. You can develop a tolerance to the medication and eventual dependence on Wellbutrin if you take it long term. If you become physically dependent on Wellbutrin, doctors will have you decrease your dose gradually rather than stopping all at once to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

How much Wellbutrin is safe?

While it is possible to overdose on Wellbutrin, it’s never safe to take more than the recommended amount on your prescription. However, even at normal therapeutic doses, there’s a slight risk of seizures (about 4 in every 1000 patients), and this becomes more pronounced at doses higher than 450 mg per day.

How much Wellbutrin can you take at once?

Up to 100 mg of Wellbutrin should be taken at one time. And there is no medical reason which justifies higher doses of Wellbutrin. Plus, taking Wellbutrin in large quantities to try to “get high” is unlikely to result in any kind of euphoria, and is very dangerous.

How much Wellbutrin to overdose?

Cases of Wellbutrin overdose have been reported where individuals survived taking 12 g of the antidepressant medication – that’s 26 times higher than the maximum recommended daily dose. However, for many people OD on Wellbutrin occurs in lower doses, between 5.4 and 9 grams. But even at thes lower doses of Wellbutrin, you’re still likely to suffer adverse side effects which could be dangerous.

Toxic levels of Wellbutrin in the system

You can overdose on Wellbutrin by taking it orally. But it’s easier to overdose on Wellbutrin by taking it in ways other than prescribed (more frequently, in higher amounts, or by trying to abuse Wellbutrin). In fact, crushing a Wellbutrin tablet and snorting Wellbutrin SR, or dissolving it in water and injecting it, increases your risk of overdose or severe side effects.

Furthermore, how long Wellbutrin out of system can be long, because of Wellbutrin’s long half life and slow rate of absorption.  This is why traces of Wellbutrin can remain in your system for days to weeks after last dose.

How much Wellbutrin is fatal?

Any amount over 5.4 grams could be fatal. While some people can take much higher doses and survive, it’s not worth taking the risk. Individuals can react very differently to Wellbutrin, so it’s important to only take it as directed by a doctor.

How much Wellbutrin should I take?

You should take the amount of Wellbutrin prescribed to you by your doctor. Never take more than recommended by a medical professional, and only take this oral medication as directed.

How much Wellbutrin questions

If you still have questions about Wellbutrin and overdose, please leave them here.  We are happy to respond to your questions personally and promptly.

Reference Sources: DailyMed Drug Label: Wellbutrin
PubMed Health: Bupropion
Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Bupropion Hydrochloride

Here, we review how Spice affects the body and brain. And we answer some other questions for you such as: Does Spice have the same effects for everyone? What are the dangers and side effects of Spice use? And is Spice addictive? We invite your additional questions about Spice and how it works at the end.

How does Spice work in the body?

No one’s completely sure how Spice works in the body, since Spice is a relatively new drug. Spice usually consists of shredded plants sprayed with chemical compounds meant to mimic the “high” of marijuana’s active ingredients, THC. These chemicals, called synthetic cannabinoids, seem to work as cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1 receptor) agonists, and their principle action is on the central nervous system. Some of these chemicals are reported to be 66-800 times more potent than THC. The most common synthetics (known) include:

1. AM – 694
2. CP – 47,497
3. CP – 47,497-C8
4. HU-210
5. JWH – 015
6. JWH – 018
7. JWH – 019
8. JWH – 073
9. JWH – 122
10. JWH – 200
11. JWH – 250
12. JWH – 398

Can Spice show up on drug tests?  Yes, if the test is specifically searching for the compounds present in Spice.  However, no one can know exactly what’s in each individual batch of Spice. Because there are over 100 types of synthetic cannaboids on the market, the chemical compunds have very different effects each time they are taken. The physical effects of Spice on the body include:

• elevated blood pressure
• non-responsiveness
• seizures
• tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
• vomiting

How does Spice affect the brain and nervous system?

Synthetic cannabinoids are thought to work as full cannabinoid agonists. Spice ingredients have

an affinity for the CB1 receptors and the effects of these synthetic chemicals are many times greater than the effects of THC. The side effects of Spice on the brain and nervous system are usually unpleasant and can sometimes be very dangerous. Emergency departments across the US are seeing a rise in Spice-related visits. Even if you don’t overdose on Spice, the mental effects of Spice can be terrifying. Some of the psychological effects of Spice include:

• agitation
• anxiety
• hallucinations (can be very intense)
• panic attacks
• paranoia
• psychotic episodes
• suicidal tendencies

How fast does Spice work?

Spice works fairly quickly when smoked. The effects begin within 5-10 minutes of taking the drug. Synthetic cannabinoids reaches peak levels in the blood within 10-45 minutes. However, it’s unclear how long Spice stays in the body after being taken.

How long does Spice work?

The effects of Spice can last from three to five hours. But some varieties of Spice don’t work for more than a couple of hours, since the effects start to drop off within 45 minutes. However, the half-life of synthetic cannabinoids is often slightly longer than that of THC, creating a longer-lasting high than marijuana.

What makes Spice work better?

Spice is normally taken rolled in cigarette paper (sometimes mixed with tobacco), or smoked out of a pipe. It’s often labeled as “incense” and marked “not for human consumption” – and with good reason, given the variety of potential side effects. Spice is also sometimes taken brewed as a tea, which will have a slower and milder onset of effects.

Does Spice work for everyone?

No, Spice is not right for everyone. In fact, Spice is not right for anyone.

Because so little is known about Spice, smoking Spice can be much more dangerous than taking a drug with more research behind it. While it’s sometimes marketed as being a “legal” alternative to weed, this isn’t true – many states and the U.S. military have made certain compounds illegal (Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act) and there are current federal restrictions on their use. While some people recommend taking Spice to avoid a positive drug test, it’s not a foolproof strategy. New drug tests are increasingly looking for the synthetic cannaboids found in Spice and similar products.

How Spice works questions

Do you still have questions about how Spice works in the body or brain? Please leave us your questions about Spice below. We will be happy to respond to your questions with a personal and prompt reply, or to refer you to someone who can help.

Reference Sources: Synthetic Drugs in Iowa: Get the Facts
National Institute on Drug Abuse: InfoFacts: Spice
Drug Enforcement Agency: Drug Fact Sheet: K2 or Spice
NIDA for Teens: “Spice” – Not as fun as it sounds

We’re going to look at the dangers and risks of mixing OxyContin with alcohol here. For example,  OxyContin overdose complications include slowed breathing and heart rate. You’ll learn What happens inside your body when these two drugs are combined and what side effects you can expect. Plus, what can go wrong? We invite you to ask questions about mixing OxyContin and alcohol in the comments, as well.

OxyContin and alcohol effects

OxyContin is a powerful prescription painkiller. Its main ingredient is oxycodone, an opiate. OxyContin can cause feelings of euphoria, especially when taken in amounts larger than prescribed. Some people mix Oxys with alcohol to intensify its pleasurable effects. In fact, alcohol has a chemical reaction with OxyContin in the body. But the two chemicals have an additive effect when combined. That means that the effects of the alcohol and OxyContin are both stronger when they’re mixed together, or even taken on the same day. This can cause accidental overdose.

In self-reports, people who have mixed OxyContin with alcohol experienced some of these effects:

• drowsiness
• euphoria
• dream-like state
• relaxation
• numbness
• wandering mind

Dangers of mixing OxyContin and alcohol

Taking alcohol and OxyContin together can result in serious adverse reactions; you can even die OxyContin. This is because of the additive effect they have on one another. Some potentially dangerous effects of mixing OxyContin with alcohol include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• loss of consciousness
• shallow breathing
• impaired coordination
• overdose
• slowed heart rate

OxyContin is more dangerous when mixed with alcohol, but the reverse is also true. The alcohol’s sedative effects will be heightened when mixed with any narcotic. Drinking and using OxyContin can cause trouble concentrating and difficulty with coordination. You’re more likely to be involved in an accident or injure yourself, and you’ll also experienc emore intoxication from the alcohol. Not only that, but your alcohol tolerance will be lower than normal. This can lead to alcohol poisoning, so it’s important to be aware of the subjective signs of alcohol intoxication rather than count drinks.

OxyContin and alcohol overdose

It’s much easier to overdose on OxyContin when it’s taken with alcohol. OxyContin becomes stronger and more dangerous when combined with other depressants. In fact, doctors do not recommend mixing the two drugs at all. Sometimes it can be dangerous to take them on the same day, even hours apart, especially if you’re been prescribed an extended release version of OxyContin or chase snorting OxyContin effects.

OxyContin and alcohol deaths

Abusing OxyContin by taking more than a normal dose or by chewing, injecting or snorting OxyContin can cause overdose or even death. This risk increases when you add alcohol. Despite the dangers, OxyContin is often mixed with alcohol. But even normal doses of OxyContin combined with alcohol can cause your breathing to slow or stop completely. The only way to avoid these risks is to decide not to drink at all while on OxyContin.

Is it safe to drink on OxyContin?

No. It’s not safe to ever mix OxyContin and alcohol. The combination brings out the worst in both drugs. In fact, the FDA warns against mixing the two at all. You should ask your doctor for more information on how to stop drinking, if you find the idea of giving up drinking too difficult.

Mixing OxyContin alcohol questions

Do you still have questions about mixing OxyContin with alcohol or other substances? Please leave your OxyContin questions here. We try our best to answer all questions personally, and promptly. And if we don’t know the answer, we will refer you to someone who can help. Your experiences with mixing OxyContin and alcohol are also welcomed here.

Reference Sources: NIAAA pamphlet: Harmful Interactions, Mixing Alcohol with Medicines
Medline Plus: Oxycodone
PubMed: Oxycodone involvement in drug abuse deaths
FDA: Oxycodone hydrochloride oral solution medication guide
DailyMed: Oxycodone drug label

What makes Adderall addictive? Euphoric effect, or an extreme sense of well-being. But how Adderall works is different for those diagnosed with attention disorders than for addicts.  Here, we review what you need to know if you think you’re an Adderall addict. And we invite your questions about the addictive potential of Adderall at the end.

What is Adderall used for?

Adderall is a prescription stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Adderall comes in tablet form, and in either immediate release or extended release versions. When taken as prescribed, Adderall can offer relief from symptoms throughout the day. But when you take Adderall to try to get high or are snorting Adderall XR, Adderall can become addictive.

What is Adderall made of?

The active ingredients in Adderall are synthetic substances, created in a lab. Adderall is made of the stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These powerful stimulant drugs are related to the illicit drug methamphetamine.

So how can Adderall get you high?  Amphetamines disrupt normal communication between brain cells and increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the central nervous system.  The excess dopamine can produce a feeling of euphoria.  Although normal, prescribed medical use of Adderall does not trigger this reaction in most people, the effect can be experienced by people without attention or sleep disorders.

How addictive is Adderall?

Adderall is very addictive in people who don’t have ADHD. Adderall’s strong effects on the central nervous system cause it to be frequently abused. And although it’s illegal to use Adderall without a doctor’s prescription, people use Adderall to enhance performance or to feel an intense sensation of well-being.

Adderall dependence vs. addiction

Adderall dependence is not necessarily the same as Adderall addiction. Someone using Adderall to treat an attention disorder may not be able to function without the medication, or may experience withdrawal effects if they stop taking it. But this isn’t the same as an addition – an addiction involves a psychological compulsion to seek out the drug, even when it has negative effects on the addict’s personal or professional life.

How do you get addicted to Adderall?

Are you taking Adderall for a medically-diagnosed disorder? If you’re taking Adderall as directed by your doctor, you probably won’t form an addiction to Adderall. In fact, it’s far less likely that you’ll get addicted to Adderall this way. However, if you increase doses or frequency of use, or enjoy the focused concentration you get while on Adderall, your chances of developing an addiction increase.

In general, you can get addicted to Adderall if you take it in a manner other than normally prescribed. If you make a conscious decision to misuse Adderall, it’s very likely you’ll become addicted. Some ways that people misuse and abuse Adderall are when they:

• chew Adderall to prevent controlled release
• crush Adderall into a powder and snorting Adderall
• crush Adderall to dissolve in water and inject
• take Adderall in higher doses than prescribed
• take Adderall more frequently than prescribed

Finally, it’s worth keeping in mind that you’re at a higher risk of Adderall addiction if you’ve been addicted to other drugs or alcohol in the past.

Signs of Adderall addiction

Adderall dependence and addiction can be hard to tell apart. Both may manifest characteristics of tolerance and withdrawal. However, an Adderall addiction involves intense cravings for the drug and the feeling that the user can’t go without it. In other words, you may be addicted to Adderall if you need to take it to deal with normal stresses in daily life. Other signs of Adderall addiction include:

1. Continued Adderall abuse despite negative consequences to your social, financial or physical livelihood.
2. Craving Adderall and using it compulsively.
3. Seeking Adderall in order to stimulate the “reward center” of the brain.

Adderall addiction potential questions

Do you still have questions about the addiction potential of Adderall? Please leave your questions, comments or feedback here. We are happy to help answer your questions personally and promptly. And if we do not know the answer to your particular Adderall question, we will refer you to someone who does.

Reference Sources: NIAAA pamphlet: Harmful Interactions, Mixing Alcohol with Medicines
DEA: Methamphetamine
Medline Plus: Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine

Tramadol effects on the body and brain

Tramadol hydrochloride is an opioid agonist medication used as short term analgesic to manage moderate to severe pain. Although experts aren’t exactly sure of how tramadol works, tramadol has been seen to bind parent and M1 metabolites to µ-opioid receptors in the brain and to cause weak inhibition of reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brains of mice and rats. In short, experts know that tramadol works by affecting the levels of different chemicals in the brain.

Tramadol is a central nervous system depressant. The most common side effects of tramadol are dizziness, nausea, constipation, and drowsiness. When taken as prescribed by a doctor, tramadol can offer mild pain relief as needed. However, when taken to try to achieve a euphoric high, or used long-term to control pain, tramadol can become addictive.  Tramadol overdose amount generally occurs over the 450 mg tramadol daily safe limit, but mixing alcohol with tramadol can increase risk of serious adverse side effects, including slowed breath and loss of consciousness.

Tramadol duration of action

Tramadol hits its peak blood plasma level an hour and a half after the drug is taken. Tramadol has a half life of 6 hours. The immediate-release tramadol tablet will need to be taken every 4-6 hours for continuous pain relief. The extended-release tramadol tablet, used mainly to manage chronic pain, will last for 24 hours, and is only taken once a day.

Tramadol time in the body

After more than a day or two, it’s unlikely that tramadol will still be present in the blood. Tramadol extended-release version may take a little longer to clear the blood than for the regular variety of the drug, as it’s released continuously throughout the course of the day. furthermore, tramadol will show up on urine screens for 1-2 days, but can stay present in hair samples for 90 days or even longer.

How long do tramadol effects last

The effects of tramadol won’t last long if you’re taking an immediate release tablet – only 6 hours at the most. If you take the controlled release tablet (as directed, without tampering), the effects should last all day, a complete 24 hours. However, if you tamper with the controlled release tablet by crushing, chewing, or snorting it, the effects may be immediately delivered to the body but will not last as long. Not only that, but you’ll be running the risk of overdose from releasing too much tramadol into your system all at once.

How long does a tramadol high last

Although some people do not think it possible, others claim that a tramadol high lasts between 4-6 hours, since that’s how long it takes for the drug to be cleared from the human body. In order to get high on tramadol, you will have to tramadol other than prescribed (snort tramadol, inject tramadol, or smoke tramadol or take higher/more frequent doses of tramadol). However, trying to get high on tramadol is dangerous because of the risk of tramadol overdose and addiction.

Tramadol high effects

Tramadol does not trigger euphoric feeling for everyone who takes the opioid. In fact, getting high on tramadol is an adverse side effect with incidence rates of 0.5% to <1.0%. Although rare, tramadol’s pain-relieving effects can also have the side effect of causing a high. However, tramadol can also be addictive, so abusing tramadol to get high does carry risks. In self-reported examples, people have reported some of these tramadol high effects:

• cheerful mood
• estatic mood
• intense happiness

How long tramadol lasts questions

Do you still have questions about the duration of action for tramadol? Please leave your questions about tramadol below. We are happy to try to answer your tramadol questions personally and promptly. And if we do not have the answer to your question, we will refer you to someone whoe can help.

Reference Sources: PubMed: Tramadol extended-release in the management of chronic pain
PubMed Health: Tramadol
DailyMed: Tramadol Hydrochloride
Toxnet: Tramadol 

Here, we review the dangers and safety concerns of snorting Methadone. We welcome questions about snorting Methadone or Methadone side effects long term at the end of this article, and will try to answer all legitimate questions with a personal and prompt reply.

Methadone: What are you really snorting?

Methadone is a prescription drug used both to relieve moderate to severe pain and to help treat opioid dependence. Methadone tablets include methadone but might also include magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and starch.

How does snorting Methadone affect the body?

Snorting Methadone changes the delivery time of the drug to the brain, and brings about intense, almost immediate action of effects. Snorting Methadone causes large amounts of the drug to instantly enter the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. Because this causes Methadone to be absorbed in higher amounts than normally taken, it can be dangerous.

Methadone’s effects are primarily on the central nervous system. Methadone alters the body’s perception of pain by binding to opiate receptors in the brain. This can cause feelings of euphoria, along with dizziness, lightheadedness, and even mood changes.  Methadone stays in your system and can be detected in urine 2-4 days after last use.

Snorting Methadone to get high

Methadone is not very effective for getting high, which is why it’s used to treat the withdrawal symptoms of other opiate medications. However, the risks of snorting Methadone are high. A large dose of Methadone inhaled through the nose can cause you to abruptly stop breathing and can even kill you. With the extended-release versions of methadone, this becomes even more dangerous. Even if you can tolerate the high doses of methadone, you’ll experience a higher rate of adverse effects when snorting Methadone versus oral administration.

Snorting Methadone vs oral

Narcotic pain medications are prescribed as an oral tablet for a reason. Although Methadone can also be crushed and snorted or injected as a solution, an oral is better controlled and oral preparations are safer than other methods of administration. Snorting Methadone causes the effects to come on more rapidly, providing almost immediate pain relief and euphoric effects. This quick rush is also dangerous because of the heightened risk of overdose.

Snorting Methadone side effects

Taking Methadone normally can cause a number of unpleasant of side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Severe side effects occur less frequently with normal use,but do occur more often when the medication is not taken as prescribed. These effects include:

• abnormal heartbeat
• clammy skin
• confusion
• difficulty breathing
• fainting
• loss of consciousness

Snorting Methadone dangers

Snorting Methadone has some serious side effects. Snorting Methadone puts you at increased risk of accidents due to your impaired abilities. Snorting Methadone definitely increases the risk that you will become addicted to the medication. And insufflating Methadone can harm your nasal passages over time, and even spread disease if you share snorting instruments. The most serious risk of snorting Methadone is that of potential overdose and death.

Snorting Methadone safely

Methadone is not safe to take by snorting. As little as 50mg of Methadone can be fatal in someone who doesn’t have a built-up methadone tolerance. Because it’s hard to say how a person will react to large doses of methadone all at once, it’s simply not safe to snort methadone.

Snorting Methadone questions

Do you still have questions about snorting Methadone? If so, please let us know. We attempt to respond to all Methadone questions with a personal and prompt reply.

Reference Sources: Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheets: Methadone
Methadone Fast Facts
Toxnet: Methadone

Especially when you are trying to create a new identity for yourself and move from acting with a sex addiction brain to becoming a loving companion. So how you can understand sexual compulsion and help yourself get over sexual addiction? We explore here and invite your questions about sexual addiction at the end.

Why is it so hard to stop acting out sexually?

Stopping, really stopping, a sexual compulsive behavior or addiction presents a major challenge. Some of us can actually stop or at least curb our behavior but we never really feel out of the woods. We continue to feel that we are prone to relapsing. Intellectually we may know that the bad choices we might make are harmful, even wrong, yet we still know that if we get to a certain tipping point, all logic or maturity might just fall away. But why is that we just can’t seem to really let go of our acting our behaviors – “our inner addict” — at least not all the way? Why we can’t stop looking at women, can’t stop feeling addicted to porn, can’t stop contacting sex workers…is because sex has become a security blanket.

Letting go of the inner sex addict

How do you let go and finally break up with “your addict”? Many people who struggle with sexual compulsive behavior look at their struggle as a sort of Jekyll and Hyde or good versus evil battle. If you are a person who grapples with a sex or porn addiction, have you ever considered that your acting out behavior is something, some aspect of you that you actually rely on? It can be helpful to check out the ways the use of porn or sex works for you. How does this behavior, your addict, attempt to help you cope with your problems?

Your identity as a sex addict: friend or foe?

It is possible to begin to look at your addict as a friend, not a foe. I believe we often overlook the emotional relationship or dependency we have on sex or porn. It’s like that favorite toy or activity that we used to use to feel comforted, to feel safe. I often conjure up an image of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts character, Linus, and his attachment to his ever-dependable blanket … the quintessential comfort object. These items—teddy bears, blankets, a favorite toy, for example—provide familiarity, and safety during trying times. As children and adolescents, we may have used comfort objects to soothe, to cope, to feel better when we experienced hard feelings. They helped us bridge the gap as we matured through the stages of our human development.

If you’re struggling with sex addiction, might porn or addictive behavior be working like a security blanket? Think of how long you have actually had your behavior around. Perhaps at first maybe it was just fantasy and masturbation. Eventually you progressed to more frequent and/or severe behavior. Your comforting behavior, your addict, has likely traveled with you for most of your life. Maybe you relied on porn for many reasons—like when you were bored, lonely, angry, etc. to self-soothe. In this sense, the addict is like an old friend that provides familiarity and (short-lived) comfort. But, is this addict part of you a friend who really has your best interests in mind?

How to change the relationship with yourself

If it is hard to break up with your addict, how about growing him up instead? How can you go about changing the nature of this relationship? Can you see what your addict is trying to accomplish and then find other ways to cope rather than acting out sexually?

Here are some questions to examine to help you do that:

• How long has your addict been around? At what age did you start acting out?
• How does your addict help you? What do you get out of acting out sexually?
• What would it be like to stop? Can you see a life without acting out? Have you experienced that already and what was it like?

Understanding this concept can be an important step in actually changing your behavior. Examining why you act out, the relationship you have with your sexual behavior, will begin to tell you how and why you rely on your addiction. Then you have a chance of either breaking up with the addict part of you — or helping that aspect of you to mature, helping that part find ways to find comfort and safety that are not detrimental.

How does cocaine work in the body?

When cocaine is inhaled, snorted, or injected, it enters the bloodstream and is delivered to the brain. Cocaine works by interfering with the normal processes of the brain, flooding the pleasure-center of the brain with the chemical dopamine, creating a feeling of euphoria.  Cocaine stays in urine and is detectable via drug screens 2-4 days after use.

Cocaine also effects other systems of the body. As a stimulant, cocaine creates a feeling of alertness and energy, increases body temperature, and raises heart rate. However, the cardiovascular effects of cocaine can put cocaine users at risk of heart attacks and stroke.

How does cocaine affect the brain and nervous system?

Cocaine directly affects the central nervous system. As mentioned earlier, cocaine interferes with normal brain processes, causing dopamine levels to spike in the brain. As a result, cocaine can cause a variety of central nervous system effects, including:

• anxiety or panic attacks
• changes in behavior
• euphoric feelings
• paranoia
• restlessness

How fast does cocaine work?

Depending on how cocaine is taken, it can begin to work within minutes. Smoking the crack form of cocaine will result in a high within seconds, but snorting cocaine will take several minutes for cocaine to work. Cocaine is not often administered orally, but takes about 30 minutes to take effect when ingested (as in the case of coca leaves).

How long does cocaine work?

The duration of cocaine’s effects depend on the method of administration. When cocaine is snorted the effects last longer, 15-30 minutes. When smoked, the effects of cocaine may only last 5-10 minutes. In other words, cocaine is not effective for a lasting high.

What makes cocaine work better

Cocaine works most quickly and efficiently when it’s snorted or smoked. However, because so much cocaine is flooding the brain all at once, these methods of administration come with their own particular dangers. Using cocaine can also damage the nasal tissues and the lungs.

Does cocaine work for everyone?

No, cocaine won’t work for everyone. Taking cocaine is always risky when it’s not sued for medical purposes, particularly because street cocaine is often mixed with other drugs or potentially toxic substances. Furthermore, using cocaine opens you up not only to potential health problems, but also to the risks of addiction and overdose.

How cocaine works questions

Still have questions about cocaine and how cocaine works? Please leave your questions and comments about cocaine below. We will be happy to try to answer your questions personal and promptly.

Reference Sources: MedlinePlus: Cocaine
NIDA InfoFacts: Cocaine
DEA: Drugs and Chemicals of Concerns: Cocaine

Although the amount of a drug it’s necessary to take to overdose varies greatly, most drug overdoses are unintentional. And a tramadol overdose can be avoided. What can you do to protect yourself from an accidental tramadol overdose? And what happens when you take too much tramadol? We explore more here, along with the risk factors for tramadol overdose. Your questions about tramadol addictive drug and overdose are welcomed at the end.

Can you overdose on tramadol?

Yes. You can overdose on tramadol. However, how much tramadol to overdose will vary from person to person, depending on previous exposure to narcotic pain medications.  Plus, if you are mixing tramadol and alcohol, your risk of overdose increases.  But even without overdosing on tramadol, it’s possible to suffer severe health complications when you take too much tramadol.

What happens when you overdose on tramadol?

The most dangerous complication of tramadol overdose is slowed or shallow breathing. Tramadol overdose can cause your breathing to stop completely. Other medications combined with the tramadol may also cause overdose, or make these effects more pronounced.

Keep in mind that if you are taking tramadol to get high, tramadol abuse increases your risk of death and overdose. This medication should only be taken swallowed as a whole pill, and only in the doses recommended by your doctor. You’re much more likely to overdose when you chew, crush, snort or inject tramadol pills.

How many tramadol is too much?

The amount of tramadol you need to take to overdose depends on your previous exposure to opioids. You can take more tramadol safely if your body is already tolerant to tramadol, opiates, or opioids. The safe doses for tramadol will vary between different strengths and formulas of tramadol. For example, if tramadol is mixed with other medications, such as acetaminophen, it can be much easier to overdose on the combined product. And if you’ve developed a tolerance to tramadol, you’ll have to have your dosage increased under a doctor’s direction – and you should never start taking more without your doctor’s input to avoid the risk of accidental overdose.

It would be difficult for an adult to take enough tramadol to be fatal. However, it’s very easy to exceed the maximum safe dose of 450 mg tramadol a day. And at doses around 500 mg many people begin to experience seizures and serotonin syndrome. Furthermore, a tramadol OD is a little more difficult with stronger medications – fatalities have been reported at doses between 2.65 and 8.2 g, which is 5-18 times the recommended maximum daily dosage.

Because of these risks, you only should take the amount of tramadol prescribed to you by your doctor. Never take more than recommended by a medical professional, and only take this oral medication as directed.

Tramadol overdose help

If you’ve taken a high dose of tramadol and experience adverse side effects, the outlook is good. Prognosis and recovery without long term damage is possible if breathing has not been compromised. Realistically, you’ll probably recover because it’s so hard to OD on tramadol.

In a more serious case of tramadol overdose, your doctor may administer oxygen to help you breath better. This is because although uncommon, tramadol overdose can be deadly. The lack of oxygen reaching your brain due to depressed breathing can cause permanent brain damage. Luckily it’s hard to accidentally take this much tramadol.

Overdose on tramadol questions

If you have any questions about safe amounts of tramadol in your system, please leave them here. We are happy to try to help answer your questions about tramadol, and will try to respond with a personal and prompt reply for all legitimate queries.

Reference Sources: Toxnet: Tramadol
Medline Plus: Tramadol
FDA MedWatch: Tramadol hydrochloride tablets

Health insurance for addiction rehabilitation

Although celebrities are the public face of substance addiction in the United States, the truth is that 70 percent of the people who struggle with alcohol and drug problems are working people. Oddly enough, this fact is to their benefit, but many don’t know it.

Rehab is expensive and potentially lengthy

When is alcohol rehab necessary?  When you can’t quit alcohol or drugs on your own.  But some addiction sufferers report that they have not sought insurance benefits out of a sense of guilt because they are the cause of their own problems. But failing to see addiction as a disease in need of treatment is a costly mistake. Ignoring the devastating health consequences of addiction not only raises the specter of higher medical bills in the future, but also the real possibility of an early death. So how much does rehab really cost?

The cost of rehab for an in-patient program averages as much as $7,000 a month according to the National Substance Abuse Treatment Services Study. But addiction recovery rarely takes as little as 30 days. Instead,a 90-day course of treatment tends to be the norm. And given that relapses are also typical, in some cases, the total cost of rehabilitation can total $75,000.

So can Americans afford drug rehab?

In a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2011, statistics showed the average annual health premium for a family whose coverage was provided as a work benefit was $15,073. That represented an escalation of 9% over 2010 figures. For a family struggling to meet a $15,000 annual insurance bill in an economy plagued by four years of recession and high unemployment, the additional cost of rehab treatment is untenable. In the face of addiction, accessing the health benefits that are a legal and viable part of existing job-related coverage is not just a right, but a necessity.

Does insurance cover drug rehab?

Yes. In fact, many group insurance plans cover addiction rehab costs. For people facing issues with addiction, shame and fear of job loss often prevent them from using the benefits to which they are entitled. However, The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires that health insurance providers make the limits for drug and alcohol treatment on group plans equal to those applied to “standard” medical treatment under certain circumstances.

The law extended rehab coverage to about 100 million workers, but only if their group plans had existing provisions for mental health services. Still, there are large numbers of working people in this country who actually can draw on benefits to help with their recovery. Those monies, when available, typically cover programs for detoxification, group and individual outpatient care, inpatient hospitalization, day programs, and long-term residential treatment.

Addicts with private insurance or no coverage

For the unemployed, or anyone faced with buying private health insurance at even higher rates, rehab coverage is often not an option. Consequently, public assistance programs are strained to the breaking point and many people are not getting the help they need. This fact makes the survival of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court all the more crucial.

Among its many provisions, the Affordable Care Act extends parity for mental health and rehab services to all insured workers, increases the available Medicaid benefits, and requires all plans offered through health-insurance exchanges to include mental health and rehab coverage. Without this vital assistance, countless addicts will continue to suffer in silence with no access to the care they need.

How can we pay for addiction rehab?

What do you think? Should the cost for mental healthcare become a public issue? Can only those who are covered in group plans continue to receive benefits for drug or alcohol rehab? Should rehabs offer sliding scale fees? How can drug and alcohol addiction treatment become accessible to all Americans? Your opinions, comments and input are welcomed here.