Syndrome of medicinal dependence

Repeated prolonged use of medicines can lead to the fact that at their cancellation at the person the state of health or health sharply worsens. Such state is called a syndrome of medicinal dependence.

Often the syndrome arises at use of the psychotropic drugs which are most often connected with abstinence (opiates and psychostimulants), however medicinal dependence can arise also from many other medicines, for example, of glucocorticosteroids, and also from the hallucinogenic substances or organic solvents which are not applied to treatment.

The syndrome is defined by pathological need of the person for reception of such means for avoiding of discomfort, mental disturbances and abstinence – a state at which the patient has a hysterical fear of medicine cancellation.

It is possible to overcome medicinal dependence only sharp, in particular in cases of mental dependence, or gradual refusal of use of drugs, or their replacement by the additive means.

Types of medicinal dependence

In medicine distinguish two types of medicinal dependence – physical and psychological (mental). The first arises after cancellation of this or that substance or medicine leads the patient to a condition of abstinence, mental, vegetative and somatic or neurologic disorders.

Abstinence, in addition to cancellation of means, can be also caused by introduction of the antagonists of substance who caused physical dependence, her clinical picture completely depends on type, duration of use and doses of psychoactive agent.

Development of the second type of medicinal dependence – psychological, happens at states when drug withdrawal causes psychological or emotional discomfort. It is possible to distinguish it on an insuperable inclination of the patient to reception of this medicine turned into obsession.

Development of medicinal dependence

It is supposed that a basis for formation of psychological medicinal dependence is ability of psychotropic drugs to change psychological state of the person to the best.

The majority of such means, whether it be tranquilizers, narcotic analgetics, alcohol, hypnotic drugs and sedatives, psychostimulants or tranquilizers, exert a direct impact on perception, mood, thinking of the person, cause euphoria, defuse tensions, fear and alarm.

Such reaction of an organism at some people owing to the contributing genetic, psychological, social, biochemical and situational factors can create insuperable desire in repeated reception of psychotropic drugs, as results in medicinal dependence.

Extreme form of such imposed requirement is development of pathological desire to often use psychoactive connections for achievement of a condition of euphoria because of what afterwards such state turns into drug addiction or toxicomania.

In many cases psychological medicinal dependence arises at purpose of psychotropic drugs the patient having neurosis or with an alarming and hypochondriac warehouse of character. Such patients, getting into situations when drug withdrawal leads to negative affective reactions, often resort to independent reception of any psychotropic substances to eliminate negative effects of cancellation. Owing to similar actions on the uslovnoreflektorny mechanism at such persons medicinal dependence also develops.

Thus, it is possible to draw a conclusion that in many respects emergence of psychological dependence on medicines is connected with formation at a sick uslovnoreflektorny stereotype as after reception of such means he feels tranquility, the feeling of discomfort and alarm passes, there comes euphoria and an emotional and positive state.

Presumably in development of physical medicinal dependence, in addition to uslovnoreflektorny mechanisms, not the last role is played by those adaptive reactions of an organism which are connected with change in internals of sensitivity and the number of the receptors interacting with the accepted psychotropic substances.

Diagnosis and treatment of medicinal dependence

It is possible to distinguish medicinal dependence on steady thirst of the patient for drugs and their analogs, constant need of increase in a single dose when from only one thought of the admission of reception of means of people panics, at it hands shiver, the intolerance of bright light or loud sounds, a condition of alarm and the increased perspiration appears.

Having found out that at the patient dependence on administration of drug developed, the doctor defines its degree, and also learns, desire of the patient to get rid of this state is how strong. Strong and sincere desire of the patient plays a key role in treatment of medicinal dependence.

The full refusal of use of drug is the most important point of therapy, it is better to hospitalize all patient as such step will be able to provide strict observance of all recommendations of the attending physician. The family of the patient with medicinal dependence has to express understanding during rehabilitation and support him.

In general treatment of medicinal dependence is complex, it includes psychotherapy, clarification of an organism, prescription of medicines and physiotherapy exercises.

Medicinal dependence call a condition of the person at which it develops panic from only one thought of drug withdrawal. There is such dependence both on psychotropic drugs or glucocorticosteroids, and on the hallucinogenic substances which are not applied to treatment. Recognition and use at an early stage of adequate treatment are the key to the fact that fight against medicinal dependence will be effective.