LAAM Addiction

Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol (LAAM), also known as Levomethadyl, is a narcotic pain prescription drug used to treat opiate addiction. It does not cure addiction. Rather, it is a harm reduction measure much like methadone that allows those who are addicted to opiates to choose a safe alternative to needles and the inconstant quality of street drugs. It is generally used as a long-term maintenance measure to help addicts free themselves from the bonds of addiction by allowing them to focus on other things without going through LAAM detox.

What is a LAAM Addiction?

If you are taking LAAM, you are already addicted to opiates but don't want to continue living the life of an addict, constantly procuring drugs either from doctors or street dealers. Going from illicit or illegal addiction to a legal LAAM addiction is a huge step, but the fact is, opiate addiction in any form is a health risk. LAAM binds to the opiate receptors in the brain and blocks the pain signals from communicating with your consciousness. In response, your body begins to depend upon the LAAM to do the job of ameliorating pain. Should you stop taking it, your body reacts harshly by going into withdrawal. It is this withdrawal that characterizes an addiction to LAAM.

What are the Symptoms of a LAAM Addiction?

The key symptom of LAAM addiction is determined not by your reaction to the drug itself but by how you react when you stop taking the drug. If you are addicted to LAAM, detox is automatic within four to six hours of your last dose. Withdrawal symptoms are hard to miss: headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, bone pain, insomnia, irritability, cold sweats. You need only be a few hours late taking your dose or forget to refill your prescription to experience LAAM withdrawal symptoms.

How do I Know if I Need Treatment for LAAM Addiction?

It's simple: if you experience withdrawal symptoms without LAAM, then you are addicted. If you are addicted, you need treatment. Period. If you don't have the time or the inclination to enroll in a long-term inpatient drug rehab, then you can take advantage of an outpatient treatment like the Suboxone detox and opiate addiction treatment provided by Meditox.

How Does Meditox Treat LAAM Addiction?

The Meditox outpatient treatment program centers around Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is FDA-approved for the treatment of opiate drug addiction out of a doctor's office. Unfortunately, most doctors are not certified to prescribe Suboxone, even if they can legally prescribe narcotics. That's where Meditox comes in. Our team of doctors are all addiction specialists, each one holding the required certification to prescribe Suboxone.

You need only meet with a Meditox doctor once at the beginning of your treatment. During this appointment, the doctor will determine whether or not Suboxone is suited to your particular circumstance. If so, the two of you will then create a treatment plan for you to follow when you return home. If you should have questions or need help while executing this treatment plan and taking the Suboxone prescription as directed, Meditox is available to you 24 hours a day for assistance. For more information or to get started, contact Meditox today.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

LAAM in the Treatment of Opiate Addiction
LAAM Drug Information

All Detox Programs

“Today is week #5! I have my life back, this morning my husband told me he hadn't seen me like this in three years! My daughter told me "your back Mom"! My Fybromyalgia is down to 2 to 3 percent of what it was, I am fully able to live with the Joy and Love and Laughter which has always been my way.”

Mother, Real Estate Agent, 49
August 11, 2006

More Success Stories