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Handling Side Effects of Opiates and Making Them More Effective

December 14, 2009 by

[HTML1] This week Dr. Gracer interviews Beth, a patient at Gracer Medical Group, highlighting the use of micronaltrexone to handle opiate side effects. Many patients take opiate drugs such as morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid) in ever increasing doses, but their pain does not improve. In fact, for many it actually gets worse. This is due to the complex nature of the opiate receptors and the fact that they are not simple on/off switches.

Beth describes her severe problems and how they were resolved using a combination of micro doses of an opiate blocking drug, naltrexone. The issues of hyperalgesia (worsening pain induced by higher doses of opiates), pseudo addiction, and drug tolerance are explained. If you are taking an opiate for pain, this show will help you understand many of the problems that you may have.

More about Beth
Beth is a woman in her 50’s who has suffered with back pain for many years. Several months ago her pain escalated and started going into her leg. Even though she had a huge disc on her MRI, her doctors labeled her as a problem patient and would not perform the surgery she desperately needed. Today, she has only minimal pain and is on her way to getting off all pain medications.

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About Richard Gracer

Richard I. Gracer, MD, is the founder of Gracer Behavioral Health Services, an innovative and comprehensive substance abuse program that stresses the reduction of cravings, and has been in medical practice since 1974. He is certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Practice, and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management. He edited Beating the Years, Beating Sports Injuries, and Beating Back Pain (Barron’s, 2003,2005, 2006), and wrote the popular “Ask the Doctor” column in the Lamorinda Sun for 10 years. He is the author of A New Prescription for Addiction.

Dr. Gracer is also the Host of A New Prescription for Health on WomensRadio. A New Prescription for Healthfeatures discussions with noted experts, both researchers and practitioners, on cutting edge, holistic, and comprehensive treatments for pain and addiction. Aimed at the educated person seeking more information, this series provides hard-to-get information and insights, including interviews with actual patients, on treatment of these difficult and pervasive problems.

Email Dr. Richard Gracer by clicking HERE.