Chemical dependency is a significant public health problem1; up to 25 percent of patients seen in primary care clinics have alcohol or drug disorders.² Family physicians who do not recognize substance abuse in their practices may not be screening effectively. Research now implicates pre-existing brain abnormalities in the development of addiction, noting differences in the brains of addicted persons even before being exposed to the substance of abuse.³

Current diagnostic criteria for chemical dependency stress tolerance to the substance, loss of control, difficulties in withdrawal, and the adverse impact of the addiction on daily function (Table 1).⁴ The screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chemical dependency are critical skills for family physicians and have been addressed extensively.^5–9 However, relatively less attention has been given to enabling family physicians to provide long-term support to patients recovering from chemical addiction.

This article describes how to care for patients recovering from chemical dependency, including special concerns that arise during the treatment of common medical conditions, to avoid adverse outcomes or relapse into addiction.

Physician Attributes and Charting Guidelines

Once an addicted patient becomes focused on recovery, extensive and difficult lifestyle changes must occur. Many recovering addicts have had negative experiences with health care professionals.¹⁰ Some negative experiences may be attributable to problems in physicians' attitudes, behaviors, or expertise in addiction medicine. Another possibility is inadvertent harm, such as relapse precipitated by a prescribed medication that altered the patient's vigilance and judgment.¹¹ Physicians must be cautious, sensitive, and nonjudgmental when caring for addicted patients. Heightened awareness of addiction and its ramifications, in addition to open discussion with addicted patients, should encourage trust and lay the foundation for a solid physician–patient relationship.

The patient should observe the formal recording of his or her sobriety date in the medical chart.¹² This demonstrates the importance of recovery and the joint commitment of the physician and patient to success. At every patient visit, the sobriety date should be confirmed and the patient should be encouraged to remain in successful recovery. If the sobriety date changes, the physician should remain nonjudgmental, record the new sobriety date, and discuss the details of the relapse. When planning for the success of the renewed recovery, the physician should inquire about and document the patient's use of support groups or 12-step programs, and ask if the patient's spouse, friends, and significant others are supportive of recovery or are themselves using alcohol or drugs.

Prescribing and General Care Guidelines

At every visit, the physician should review all of the medications, including nonprescription drugs and herbal supplements, that the patient is currently taking. Patients with chronic illnesses should be reminded that maintaining sobriety helps with the successful treatment of other medical and psychologic conditions.¹³ The relapsing patient is likely to be noncompliant,¹⁴ whereas patients in recovery are more likely to adhere to medical advice.¹³ If the recovering patient does not comply with medical advice for medical problems, this may signal a relapse.

Recovering patients may be reluctant to use medications, fearing that they will precipitate relapse. If appropriate, physicians should recommend nonpharmacologic treatment (e.g., lifestyle changes), as initial therapy. Patients may require referrals to learn stress reduction and relaxation techniques, and healthy eating and exercise habits. When medications are necessary for medical conditions in recovering patients, mood-altering or addictive drugs should be avoided whenever possible. Even nonaddictive, nonprescription medications may alter the patient's judgment, triggering relapse behavior. Patient education may alleviate fears and reinforce patient skills to avoid relapse. General guidelines on caring for patients recovering from chemical dependency are provided in Table 2.

Treatment of Common Medical Problems During Recovery

When treating common medical problems such as respiratory illness, obesity, gastrointestinal conditions, and pain disorders in patients recovering from chemical dependency, physicians should avoid therapies that may cause relapse (Table 3).

RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS

Patient education about the self-limited nature of most upper respiratory infections allows the recovering patient to choose whether to use medications to control symptoms. If medications are used, agents to be avoided include sedating antihistamines, stimulating decongestants, and potentially mood-altering cough preparations.¹⁵ Dextromethorphan acts on the brain's opioid receptors and may cause euphoric effects. Persons who abuse dextromethorphan, commonly adolescents, may develop respiratory depression and perceptual distortions while using the drug.¹⁵ Cough medications containing opiates, such as codeine and hydrocodone, are particularly hazardous for recovering patients.¹⁶

Respiratory problems in recovering addicts who smoke offer an excellent opportunity for an intervention that targets nicotine dependency. The incidence of smoking is significantly higher in chemically dependent persons than in the general population. Combining pharmacotherapy with cognitive and behavior therapies may be helpful. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nicotine-replacement treatments significantly increase the chance of successful smoking cessation.¹⁷ Applying principles of addiction treatment, which often are familiar to recovering patients, to smoking cessation can promote success. Patients recovering from chemical dependency who quit smoking in early recovery do not have higher one-year relapse rates than addicted patients who continue to smoke.¹⁸ Recovering addicts with depression are less likely to successfully quit smoking and, therefore, benefit from depression treatment before attempting smoking cessation.

GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS

Common gastrointestinal complaints such as gastroenteritis, gastritis, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea may occur in recovering patients. When treating abdominal cramps in these patients, special attention should be paid to avoidance of medications such as Donnatal,^19(pp2571) which contains phenobarbital and scopolamine. If diarrhea occurs and treatment is appropriate, physicians should avoid opiate-containing medications such as Lomotil,^19(pp3103) diphenoxylate with atropine sulfate (Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] schedule V drug), or Motofen,^19(pp568) difenoxin with atropine sulfate (DEA schedule IV drug), or other medications that are active in the central nervous system. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) are safe for recovering patients to use. Simethicone is a safe antiflatulent. Caution is advised when using antiemetics such as prochlorperazine (Compazine)^19(pp1489) or promethazine (Phenergan)^19(pp3432) because they may affect the central nervous system.

OBESITY

As with addiction, obesity is a chronic illness that requires a comprehensive management approach, including education about the health risks associated with obesity, laboratory and other diagnostic studies to evaluate potential causes or complications of obesity, and assessment of the patient's readiness to make significant lifestyle changes. First-line therapy generally includes dietary education and appropriate exercise instruction that can be incorporated into the patient's schedule.

Medications such as phentermine (Fastin), phenylpropanolamine, ephedra, and sibutramine (Meridia) are systemic psychostimulants with the potential for abuse or addiction, and should not be used in recovering patients.²⁰ Orlistat (Xenical), a nonsystemic medication, may be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes in recovering patients who have no contraindications to the drug.²⁰

Treatment of Psychiatric Comorbidity

In patients recovering from chemical dependency, psychiatric symptoms are common but may be difficult to evaluate. Such symptoms may result from chemical use, acute or postacute withdrawal, or a primary psychiatric condition. If psychiatric symptoms persist or worsen with abstinence, the patient may have a primary psychiatric disorder.

The patient who has a chemical dependency and a primary psychiatric disorder is considered to be “dual diagnosed.” A period of abstinence from two to eight weeks is optimal before the patient recovering from chemical dependency is diagnosed with an independent psychiatric disorder.²¹ However, the exact time frame may differ, depending on the potential comorbid diagnosis.^21,22

When patients recovering from addiction also have psychiatric conditions, both illnesses must be treated aggressively. An untreated psychiatric disorder may lead to an increased rate of addiction relapse.²¹ It is important to consider potential alcohol-drug and drug-drug interactions, or possible life-threatening reactions that may occur if the patient relapses while taking psychiatric medications. For example, a patient taking neuroleptics who relapses to stimulant medications is at risk of hyperpyrexia.²¹ Table 4 lists medications for use in patients with dual diagnoses.

When dealing with more complicated dual-diagnosis patients, especially those for whom bipolar disorder or schizophrenia are in the differential diagnosis, the primary care physician should consider appropriate consultation with an addiction psychiatrist. Consultation also is recommended when mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or potentially addictive medications are being considered for patients recovering from addiction.

DEPRESSION

Up to 80 percent of alcoholic patients experience depressive symptoms at some time in their lives, and at least 30 percent meet criteria for major depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed.²³ The serotonergic pathway has been implicated in the control of alcohol intake,²² and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found to decrease alcohol consumption in addition to managing depression.²¹ In depressed patients recovering from cocaine addiction, desipramine (Norpramin) may help facilitate abstinence and decrease depression.²¹ Although other antidepressants have not been studied extensively in persons recovering from chemical dependency, they are not contraindicated. Because tricyclic antidepressants have a sedative effect, they should be used with caution in this population.²²

ANXIETY DISORDERS

Benzodiazepines and sedatives often are prescribed for patients with generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, and panic disorders. These drugs are addictive and should be avoided in patients recovering from chemical dependency.²⁴ Medications such as SSRIs, buspirone (BuSpar), beta blockers, and anticonvulsants may be better choices, depending on the needs of individual patients.²⁴ If there are no other alternatives, the benzodiazepine clonazepam (Klonopin) may be considered because of its long half-life.²⁴ Kava, a natural sedative that is extracted from the pepper plant, has sedation effects similar to those of alcohol. Therefore, pending further research, kava is not recommended for recovering patients.¹⁶

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Post-traumatic stress disorder is prevalent in patients with chemical dependency. Emotional trauma associated with sexual, physical, or mental abuse can be masked by chemical use. With abstinence, memories, nightmares, and severe emotional symptoms may reappear and become disabling.²¹ Education focused on recovery and development of coping skills through psychotherapy and gender-specific support groups can help.

Specific pharmacotherapy with SSRIs, clonidine (Catapres-TTS), and anticonvulsants can be useful for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.²¹ Antipsychotics such as risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), and quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) also can provide some immediate relief without the risk of addiction that accompanies use of sedatives.²⁵ Referral to a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction should be considered when pharmacotherapy other than SSRIs is necessary.

INSOMNIA

Acute and postacute drug withdrawal can affect sleep in recovering addicts. Patients may have problems initiating sleep, staying asleep, or both. Treatment of patients with insomnia should include avoidance of stimulants, development of appropriate sleep hygiene, and use of relaxation techniques.

When pharmacotherapy is necessary, sedating antidepressants such as trazodone (Desyrel) or mirtazapine (Remeron) may be used judiciously.²⁶ Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) alters judgment and should be avoided.¹⁴ Non-benzodiazepine-schedule intravenous hypnotics, including zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata), are indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia in the general population. Because they depress the central nervous system and have the potential for abuse, however, these drugs should be avoided in patients recovering from chemical dependency.²⁶

Pain Management in the Patient Recovering from Chemical Dependency

Pain management in the recovering addict is challenging. Most physicians generally avoid prescribing narcotics, but unrelieved acute and chronic pain also may lead to relapse.^27,28 Open physician–patient communication regarding the level of pain the patient is experiencing and the occurrence of drug cravings can decrease the risk of relapse.²⁹ The patient should be encouraged to increase contact with support systems, sponsors, and nonaddicted friends and family members. The patient must be assured that his or her pain will not be ignored and that therapy will be modified as needed. Tables 5 and 6 list resources for physicians, patients, and families who are dealing with chemical dependency.

Treatment must include regular reassessment of the patient's level of pain and adjustment of strategies to prevent or relieve it. Whenever possible, nonpharmacologic pain management should be used alone or as adjunctive therapy. Heat, ice, rest, and elevation are the first line of therapy for pain. If symptoms are not relieved, physical therapy that includes ultrasonography, massage, and iontophoresis should be considered. Nontraditional therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and relaxation training may be used alone or in combination whenever appropriate.³⁰

When pharmacologic therapy is necessary to manage pain, one physician should be responsible for prescribing all pain medications to avoid confusion and exploitation. Nonaddicting medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can provide pain relief. Patients with migraine may benefit from the triptan medications, which are not contraindicated in patients recovering from chemical dependency.¹⁴ A combination of acetaminophen, dichloralphenazone, and isometheptene mucate (Midrin) often is prescribed for headaches, but should be avoided in these patients because isometheptene mucate is a sympathomimetic and dichloralphenazone is a sedative.^19(pp3366)

If opiates are necessary for the management of chronic pain in recovering addicts, frequent office visits should be required. Safeguards, including a signed treatment contract for pain management, can lower the risk of relapse.³¹ Physicians should prescribe opiates in limited quantities (i.e., a supply sufficient to last only until the next appointment if the patient is taking the medication according to directions). Early refills should not be provided under any circumstances. Physicians may need to educate patients who are fearful of opiate use about the relapse risk associated with untreated pain. A physician who is considering the use of opiates for the management of chronic pain in a patient recovering from chemical dependency should collaborate with physicians who specialize in addiction medicine and pain management.

When treating acute pain in patients recovering from chemical dependency, the physician must consider the phenomena of cross-tolerance and cross-addiction. Research has shown that a given drug can affect several different neurotransmitters, leading to different effects.³² Cross-addiction allows an addicted person to substitute one class of drug for another because of a common neurochemical pathway.³² Therefore, physicians can substitute benzodiazepines for alcohol in a controlled environment to treat acute withdrawal, and patients addicted to heroin can be treated with methadone (Dolophine).

Cross-tolerance occurs when a patient develops tolerance to a medication to which he or she has not been exposed because of tolerance developed to another chemical substance. With regard to pain management, recovering addicts may be cross-tolerant and require higher dosages of pain medication than nonaddicted patients to achieve the same level of pain relief. The physician should remember that the correct dosage is the one that relieves the pain with the fewest side effects,²⁷ and that as a disease progresses, dosage escalation may be necessary.²⁹

Patients on methadone maintenance for opiate dependency require the addition of short-acting opiates to their regular dosage of methadone for episodes of severe acute pain.¹⁴ Physicians may consider giving the narcotic prescription to a trusted support person who will dispense the medication to the patient as directed. This may help to relieve anxiety about possible relapse.

Having patients keep a pain and medication diary is helpful and more reliable than recall during office visits. When pain treatment is expected to be lengthy or chronic, use of a long-acting opiate produces less euphoria and has a better steady state level.³⁰