Fentanyl Rehabilitation
BACKGROUND:
Fentanyl is a kind of drug that belongs to the group of medicines which are commonly used to relieve pain, a class of medicine collectively called narcotic analgesics. It was first manufactured in the year 1950 by a biopharmaceutical company located in Beerse, Belgium, the Janssen Pharmaceutica. In the year 1960, Fentanyl was introduced under its brand name, Sublimaze. During those years, Fentanyl was first used in medical practices. Fentanyl has a similar effect like that of morphine. Fentanyl is a useful drug for those individuals who are experiencing chronic pain. It is also used for anesthesia and analgesia. The drug can only be used upon the prescription of an expert; for an instance your physician or your Oncologist. However, in our time, problems of using Fentanyl improperly became widespread.
Nowadays, many drugs are being abused by irresponsible people who don’t know the fatal effect that it can cause. Fentanyl addiction is one of many addictions that are present in many places today. Although hazards of abusing different drugs are already clear to us, many of our people are still hooked to their addiction. Different surveys showed that not only elders are hooked in addiction, but teenagers as well.
HISTORY:
As stated above, Fentanyl was introduced by Janssen Pharmaceutica in the late 1950's. Janssen Pharmaceutica was established by Dr. Paul Janssen in the year 1953. In the year 1961, Janssen Pharmaceutica merged with a global American pharmaceutical company that is considered as one of the largest, the Johnson & Johnson. The company was dedicated to research for different drugs that will help patients get treated. Over decades of their work, Janssen Pharmaceutica has developed different kinds of medicine that made both the doctors and patients mutually comfortable with their works. One of these drugs is Fentanyl. Fentanyl’s effectiveness is 80 percent more compared to that of morphine.
USE:
Fentanyl is used as a pain reliever. It is mostly used in unavoidable pains like bone injuries, migraines, severe back pain, neuropathy, arthritis, and especially in cancer pain. It is useful for patients who are experiencing chronic pain. Duragesic, a drug marketed by Janssen Pharmaceutica from fentanyl, was approved by the FDA with its generic formulations of 25, 50, 75, and 100 µg/hour fentanyl transdermal systems.
Fentanyl is available in a variety of brands such as Duragesic by Janssen Pharmaceutica, Actiq by Cephalon, and many more. Actiq is a solid form of fentanyl that has just been developed recently. Unlike Duragesic that comes in the form of a patch, Actiq is a lollipop-like candy that is consumed by means transmucosal absorption. Actiq delivers the fentanyl by being dissolved in the mouth; shortly afterwards, after a period of almost 20 minutes, 25 percent of the painkiller is rapidly passed to the oral muccossa. The other percent will slowly be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract; shortly after, the user will suddenly feel the effect of fentanyl into his body. However, as stated above, Duragesic comes in a patch. During the process, fentanyl is released into our fats and absorbed by our bloodstream. The dosage of Duragesic depends on the size of the patch, while that of Actiq depends in the color of its box and plastic handle.
Just recently, on September 25, 2006, another brand of fentanyl was introduced. It was named Fentora (which comes in tablet form).
ABUSE:
Fentanyl is a powerful opoid drug that can be useful for the patients suffering from severe and even chronic pain. However, today, fentanyl was being abused by many people in our country. As of the year 2006, surveys have shown that 80 percent of users are using the drug without the prescription of doctors. It is clearly shown in these surveys that the problem of addiction is growing continuously. Little do they know about the fatal effects that it will cause to the body. Fentanyl and morphine has a similar biological effect in our body. Overuse of these drugs can lead to overdose and addiction that, in long run, can cause death.
REHABILITATION:
Rehabilitation from fentanyl addiction is offered by many institutions today. Fentanyl, as experts have said, is one of the drugs which have the highest potential for abuse and associated risk of fatal overdose due to respiratory depression. Only a few of its users know this fact, which is why many are being hooked in fentanyl addiction. However, treatment for this addiction is offered in many varieties. There are two kinds of treatment used in Fentanyl addiction. The first one is the so-called Behavioral treatment. This treatment includes self-discipline and teaching oneself how to live without craving for a certain drug. The other one is the pharmacological treatment. While the first treatment most often leads to failure because of the unwanted withdrawal effects, the second one always leads to success depending on the patients’ willingness to go to the treatment. The process of pharmacological treatment of fentanyl addiction requires another drug to counteract the effects produced by fentanyl. It is mostly suggested by experts because of the convenience you can get while in the process of treatment. The usual drug used in this process is called methadone. This drug helps to relieve withdrawal symptoms experienced by the patient. Methadone is suggested as the most effective and comfortable way to treat fentanyl addiction.
What Rehabilitation Patients say about Malibu Horizon
The identities of the following people writing these testimonials have been withheld to protect their inalienable right to privacy. The names that follow are fictional names of the author’s choosing:
"What Rehabilitation Patients say about Malibu Horizon" – Tom
"Malibu Horizon is the right place for people experiencing addiction in Fentanyl. They have every thing you need in the process of treatment not to mention their approachable staffs." – Terrence
"Thanks for bringing me back again. More power to you Malibu Horizon." – Mary Anne
"The coming of methadone in my life was considered a blessing. Thanks to Malibu Horizon for introducing it." – Christopher