Many individuals in the process of addiction recovery are also dealing with another form of mental health disorder. Some of these disorders may require or recommend the use of medications to assist the recovery process. While currently struggling with substance use disorder and developing a level of self-control, you may find managing prescription medication and using it appropriately a challenge.
Benefits of Medication
Using medications to assist with substance abuse disorder can have many benefits. These medications can be used to ease the symptoms of withdrawal and reduce cravings. These effects can be extremely beneficial in easing the struggle of the withdrawal process. Ensuring you take these medications as prescribed and not overusing them is extremely important.
Medication in Treatment Facilities
For individuals seeking recovery treatment in a residential facility, medications are often managed by the staff at the treatment center. This form of treatment could be worth looking into if you feel unsafe with the use of these medications on your own but feel they are useful in your recovery plan. In a residential setting, you will not have access to these medications unless they are given to you. Having another individual keep track of these medications and only allow you to receive the proper dosage can help you avoid abusing them.
Managing Medication on Your Own
If you are in a treatment facility that takes care of medication management for you, you can work to gain skills to manage the medications on your own before leaving treatment. If you are in a program that requires you to be in charge of your medication, managing that can be extremely stressful while working through an addiction. However, the following strategies may help you.
Use a Pill Tracker
Using a pill tracker with your prescribed dosage of medication can help you ensure you are taking the medication every day and consuming the correct dosage. If you are reaching for medication and grab the full bottle, you may be tempted to take more than prescribed to ease your symptoms. However, ensuring you follow your prescriber’s recommendations is important in managing the use of your medications. Pill trackers can be great ways to reinforce this practice. Be mindful when refilling your pill tracker and ensure you are putting the appropriate amount of medication into each space.
Be Aware of Potential Side Effects
Especially if you are taking a new medication, being aware of the potential side effects of your medication is extremely important. Understanding how the medication works and gaining knowledge of the potential effects can help you notice and regulate possible side effects more efficiently. If a medication has side effects of negative behavioral changes, you can be aware of them before taking the medication and have coping skills prepped for potential use.
Communicate With Your Pharmacist
Regularly communicating with your pharmacist regarding your current medication can help you further understand the potential side effects and risk factors. Talk with your pharmacist about the potential risks of combining your medications with each other as well as with other substances. If your medications have an extreme effect when combined with alcohol, it is important to refrain from drinking while on the medication. This is an extremely important aspect to be aware of during addiction recovery to ensure you are working toward sobriety.
Monitor Your Management
Follow up with your practice in medication management with your treatment team. If you find there is a particular area you are struggling in, let them know and ask for suggestions on how to work through these obstacles. Give yourself credit for the positive work you have put in and the days that you have successfully managed your medications. Pay attention to possible factors that are driving you from success in medication management and alter them if necessary. Self-reflection is an important aspect of achieving any goal and developing the skills to improve your medication management.
Ask For Help
If you find that medication management is a challenge for you during your recovery process, reach out to your recovery team and ask for assistance. Some recovery teams will work to help you refill your medications and understand the potential side effects, and some can even administer medications for you if you feel that it is necessary. If taking medications seems to be having more negative effects on your recovery than positive, changing the medication or stopping medication treatment altogether can be considered.
The reflection period is important to help you determine what steps need to be made to help you reach success in recovery. If you do not allow yourself to properly reflect on the effects of your medications, it can be hard to determine if they are helping or hindering your progress.
Managing prescriptions while working through addiction recovery can be an overwhelming level of responsibility. The self-control required to use the medications appropriately can be hard to practice when you are feeling symptoms of withdrawal. There are a variety of treatment paths that may alter your situation with regulating your medications. If you are in a residential treatment center, your medication is likely administered to you. If you are partaking in another form of treatment and are in charge of self-administering your medication, it is extremely important to take the medication as prescribed. Medications can help ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Using techniques to properly manage your medication can help you avoid the risk of your medication becoming a potential problem in your recovery. To learn techniques on medication management during addiction recovery, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.