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Prescribing Gabapentin for Substance Use Disorders

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a “novel anticonvulsant” and is FDA indicated for partial seizures and post-herpetic neuralgia. But the drug has long been heavily marketed to psychiatrists to treat a range of conditions from bipolar disorder to anxiety to alcohol withdrawal Read More

Interventions for Treatment or Prevention of Alcohol Hangover: Systematic Review

As clinicians, we’re more interested in preventing excessive drinking than curing hangovers. But it’s always nice to have some helpful advice for patients, which we found in a recently published literature review of clinical trials of hangover treatments. Read More

Neurostimulation for Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

A challenging barrier for patients with opioid use disorders is the discomfort that can occur during the “induction phase” of their treatment, which is the period between discontinuation of opioids and initiation of medication-assisted therapy (MAT). Read More

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 1 CME credit. Read More

New Study Shows That Vivitrol Is Just as Effective as Suboxone…But Not Really

A recent study in The Lancet appears to conclude that Vivitrol (extended release naltrexone) and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) are equally effective treatments for patients with opioid use disorders (Lee JD et al, The Lancet 2018;391(10118):309–318)—at least this is how the study has generally been reported. Read More

Helping Patients With Stigma and Addiction

Stigma is a condition that can be socially discrediting. When it comes to substance use disorders, internalized stigma can lead to feelings of shame. Often, people who suffer from addiction feel discriminated against. People also feel very bad about their behavior, and over time they get more disillusioned with themselves and their own ability to change. Read More