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A young women is sitting at a table holding up two different packs of tablets that have resulted in experiencing a paradoxical effect.

What is a Paradoxical Effect?

Paradoxical effects and reactions are generally quite rare. They are described as experiencing the opposite of what a medication or drug is intended to do. It is an unusual medical response where the drug causes an effect that is opposite of what it would normally produce. For example, when a person uses Benadryl to treat allergies, it promotes sleep and sedation. During a paradoxical effect, a reaction to the drug causes hyperactivity, irritability and insomnia. The exact opposite of what the medication is supposed to do. The exact reasoning and science behind this phenomenon is still very unclear.

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A pill bottle of Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin sitting on a pharmacy shelf represents the possibility of Concerta withdrawal.

What happens in Concerta Withdrawal?

Concerta or methylphenidate hydrochloride, is a stimulant prescription medication used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a similar type of ADHD medication to Ritalin and according to the DEA, it is even more closely comparable to the illicit substance cocaine. Compared to other medications such as Adderall, Concerta only comes in an extended-release formulation that works by blocking the reuptake of chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine and producing sensations of energy and euphoria. This allows for more availability of neurotransmitters to be used up by the brain and body. Similar to other powerful and addictive prescription stimulants, Concerta users can develop a dependence on the drug leading to misuse and Concerta withdrawal.

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A young woman sitting on a sofa smoking a marijuana blunt participates in the California Sober lifestyle.

What is California Sober?

Have you quit drugs? Have you quit drinking? Are you going California Sober? There is no official definition of California Sober. Some people refer to it as only using substances or “soft drugs” such as marijuana while cutting out all “hard drugs” such as cocaine, heroin and alcohol. One definition of the term refers to the occasional use of alcohol or even other hard drugs in a controlled setting because of the belief that it can offer mental health benefits. Other definitions of the term refer to only using marijuana and alcohol in moderation and avoiding other drugs. Advocates for this semi-sobriety approach claim that marijuana offers therapeutic benefits when trying to overcome an addiction.

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A group of three, young, female sober friends dancing in the car as they embrace their life without drugs.

The Benefits of having Sober Friends

Sobriety can be a lifelong journey. The physical, psychological and emotional toll substance addiction takes on a person can be devastating. Because of that, the road to recovery and sobriety can become a constant work in progress for many people. One factor that can greatly contribute to sobriety success is finding and surrounding oneself with sober friends. Sober friends are people who also abstain from all forms of mind-altering substances such as alcohol and drugs. Having sober friends can be very beneficial to your emotional wellness, maintaining sobriety and maintaining important relationships during recovery.

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A young person is injecting themselves through a vein on their wrist represents how track marks are formed.

What are Track Marks?

Track marks are a series of needle or small puncture wounds across various areas of the body that typically indicate drug use. It is most commonly seen in more severe substance addictions. Track marks are a sign of intravenous drug use and are known as needle marks, injection marks or puncture marks. Puncturing the skin and veins repeatedly over a long period of time causes, bruising, collapsed veins, discoloration, scabs and the development of scar tissue at and around the injection site creating what can look like “track marks” on the skin.

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A young women is slouched over to the side of a sofa because she is experiencing a condition called sobriety fatigue.

What is Sobriety Fatigue?

Healing from the throws of addiction is a physically, psychologically and emotionally taxing ordeal. It can be both cognitively and spiritually draining and lead to an overall sense of exhaustion. In some cases, it can even exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression. These feelings will most often manifest during the early stages of immediate addiction recovery and it is also known as sobriety fatigue. Sobriety fatigue is a natural reaction to the time, energy and efforts the user has invested into breaking free from and overcoming the challenges of their addiction.

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A light colored yellow pill of cyclobenzaprine on a blue background represents cyclobenzaprine withdrawal.

Cyclobenzaprine Withdrawal

Cyclobenzaprine is a type of muscle relaxant usually prescribed for short-term pain management from muscle injury including strains, sprains and spasms. It is more commonly known by the brand name Flexeril. Though the medication Flexeril is no longer available, many people still refer to this type of muscle relaxant medication as such. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications used to treat musculoskeletal pain.

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A young person sitting on the edge of their bed holding various pill packets of Klonopin and other drugs.

What causes a Klonopin OD?

Klonopin is a prescription medication used to treat varying mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, panic disorders and agoraphobia disorders. It falls under the substance category of benzodiazepines and is a commonly abused drug. All benzos carry a risk of misuse and dependence. According to the FDA, exposure to benzos can increase a user’s risk of abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose. However, an overdose of the anti-anxiety medication alone is rare. In fact, most cases of Klonopin-related overdose almost always involve other substances or doses that are greater than the maximum recommendation from a medical provider.

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A young woman holding up a glass cup, who cannot stop shaking after drinking alcohol.

Why am I shaking after drinking Alcohol?

Is shaking after drinking alcohol normal? In fact, many people experience shakes or tremors after drinking or when they are hungover from alcohol. The timeline in which a person experiences shakes or tremors will depend on how much alcohol they consumed and other factors such as individual metabolism, the type of alcohol and if they have been consuming alcohol alongside other substances. Alcohol shakes are a common mild symptom of alcohol withdrawal or alcohol-related brain damage. They typically occur when the depressant effects of alcohol wear off and the brain is experiencing overwhelming amounts of activity that it is not used to after being on alcohol for a long period of time.

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Cannabis infused chocolate edible candies spread out on a white table can vary in how long edibles last in the system.

How long do Edibles stay in your system?

Edibles are food products such as drinks, candy and baked goods that contain cannabinoids. The cannabinoids in the edibles often produce a psychoactive effect without the user having to inhale the substance into their lungs. Edibles are a tastier and often easier way to consume, an alternative to smoking cannabis. Cannabis edibles can affect every user differently. However, an edible can stay within your system anywhere from 3-12 days. This is much longer than when a users smoke or vapes cannabis.

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