EXPERT
Dr. James Laurent Gagne, MD
Pain Management Specialist
Dr. James Laurent Gagne MD is a top Addiction Medicine Specialist in Glendale, . With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. James Laurent Gagne MD is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. James Laurent Gagne MD is a prime example of a true leader in healthcare. As a leader and expert in their field, Dr. James Laurent Gagne MD is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life. They embody the values of communication, safety, and trust when dealing directly with patients. In Glendale, CA, Dr. James Laurent Gagne MD is a true asset to their field and dedicated to the profession of medicine.
51 years
Experience
Dr. James Laurent Gagne, MD
- Glendale, CA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Accepting new patients
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Can you be addicted to pain medicine after dental surgery?
Yes, absolutely. The longer you're taking an opioid painkiller, the more likely the risk of addiction. Please contact your primary physician for assistance. And in the future, READ MORE
Yes, absolutely. The longer you're taking an opioid painkiller, the more likely the risk of addiction. Please contact your primary physician for assistance. And in the future, be sure no one prescribes an opioid following a medical or dental procedure; Advil or Aleve taken with Tylenol work just as well.
Is it safe to take a lot of prescription medicines when you have heart problems?
Unfortunately your question is so vague, there's no way to answer it. I would connect with your primary care physician with a LIST of your medications, age, exactly what kind of READ MORE
Unfortunately your question is so vague, there's no way to answer it. I would connect with your primary care physician with a LIST of your medications, age, exactly what kind of heart problems you have, etc.
What are withdrawal symptoms after using painkillers?
Painkillers are opioids, like Norco (hydrocodone), Percocet (oxycodone), OxyContin, morphine, etc. Opioid withdrawal causes anxiety, body aches, tremors, sweating, runny nose, READ MORE
Painkillers are opioids, like Norco (hydrocodone), Percocet (oxycodone), OxyContin, morphine, etc. Opioid withdrawal causes anxiety, body aches, tremors, sweating, runny nose, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and a strong feeling of dread. But it's harmless unless extremely severe or to the fetus of a pregnant lady.
What happens if you drink alcohol while taking antidepressants?
This depends upon which antidepressant you're taking: there are about two dozen possibilities. As a general rule, taking an antidepressant multiplies the effect of alcohol by two. READ MORE
This depends upon which antidepressant you're taking: there are about two dozen possibilities. As a general rule, taking an antidepressant multiplies the effect of alcohol by two. So, one drink has the effect of two; two drinks is like having four. Sometimes benzodiazepines are used to treat depression, but they don't work well. If you're taking a benzodiazepine and mix it with alcohol, you can stop breathing and die of an overdose. And consuming a lot of alcohol can interact in the same way with other medications.
What is the best non-addictive anti-anxiety medication?
I'm becoming increasingly impressed by buspirone (trade name Buspar), which works well most of the time and is completely nonaddicting. The other choices are a variety of antidepressants READ MORE
I'm becoming increasingly impressed by buspirone (trade name Buspar), which works well most of the time and is completely nonaddicting. The other choices are a variety of antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. Whatever you do, avoid benzodiazepines like Ativan, Klonopin, and especially Xanax. They're addicting, and over time they make anxiety worse. The trick with any of the medications I mention is to start with a really low dose and then gradually increase it until you get the result you want.
Can alcohol change your personality?
OMG, **YES** totally. Some people become gentle and sweet. Some go to sleep. But the most common personality change is RAGE, often coupled with verbal or physical abuse. If your READ MORE
OMG, **YES** totally. Some people become gentle and sweet. Some go to sleep. But the most common personality change is RAGE, often coupled with verbal or physical abuse. If your husband is abusive when drunk, you should insist on him getting sober immediately. You can stage an "intervention" to accomplish this, using a specialist addiction counselor called an "interventionist" to help set this up. If he's abusive and won't change, you need to separate from him.
What to expect when stopping antidepressants?
"Antidepressants" aren't just one drug but a class of different drugs, each with somewhat different properties. Many do have withdrawal issues if you stop too quickly, especially READ MORE
"Antidepressants" aren't just one drug but a class of different drugs, each with somewhat different properties. Many do have withdrawal issues if you stop too quickly, especially SRI type antidepressants like Lexapro or SNRI meds like Cymbalta. Abruptly discontinuing them can make your stomach really upset. Tapering slowly over a couple of months usually avoids these problems. But the larger issue is that for many folks, slowly tapering and stopping your antidepressant can lead to a relapse of your depression. If this occurs, resuming your antidepressant dose usually fixes the problem.
What happens if I take antidepressants and I'm not depressed?
Hard to say because there are so many different kinds of antidepressants. I'd look up their effects and side effects. Many (but not all) antidepressants are the treatment of choice READ MORE
Hard to say because there are so many different kinds of antidepressants. I'd look up their effects and side effects. Many (but not all) antidepressants are the treatment of choice for anxiety, and some really help chronic pain. They're effective even if you're not depressed.
Can people abuse anti-anxiety medications?
The answer depends upon which drug you mean: there are a bunch of different kinds of anti-anxiety medications. The medication class used most frequently is benzodiazepines like READ MORE
The answer depends upon which drug you mean: there are a bunch of different kinds of anti-anxiety medications. The medication class used most frequently is benzodiazepines like Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax. They have all kinds of drawbacks. First, the anti-anxiety effect wears off after a few weeks. Second, they are among the most abused medications available aside from opiates. Third, if you take an benzodiazepine for more than a month, you'll have an anxiety flare-up when you try to stop, even if addiction has never been an issue. The trick in this instance is to cut the dose VERY slowly, maybe by 10% a month. The most recommended anti-anxiety medications are SRI-type antidepressants and buspirone. Gabapentin can be occasionally useful. None is addicting.
Can you be addicted to anxiety medication?
There are a quite a few medications that can treat anxiety. Surprisingly, the most commonly prescribed are benzodiazepines like Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax. They're effective READ MORE
There are a quite a few medications that can treat anxiety. Surprisingly, the most commonly prescribed are benzodiazepines like Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax. They're effective in the short term (for a few days). Probably the best use is if you're getting on an airplane and are anxious about flying. More than 1-2 weeks, these medications not only lose their efficacy, but often make anxiety WORSE because they can make you more emotional and impulsive, much like a few alcoholic drinks. And yes, they can be addicting. Benzodiazepines are one of the major drugs of abuse, especially Xanax.
Much better are other medications proven to help anxiety over the long term. Most effective are virtually any of the antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, etc. These can worsen anxiety for the first few days, so it's best to start with a low dose and gradually increase the dose as tolerated. Buspirone (brand name Buspar) also works well.
Much better are other medications proven to help anxiety over the long term. Most effective are virtually any of the antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, etc. These can worsen anxiety for the first few days, so it's best to start with a low dose and gradually increase the dose as tolerated. Buspirone (brand name Buspar) also works well.
How does alcohol affect your mental health?
Alcohol is a potent neurological toxin and can affect every part of the nervous system. The most common effect is alcoholic dementia: confusion and loss of recent memory and cognitive READ MORE
Alcohol is a potent neurological toxin and can affect every part of the nervous system. The most common effect is alcoholic dementia: confusion and loss of recent memory and cognitive function. Mood swings are part of the disease of alcoholism and could well be worse as neurologic damage occurs.
Why am I scared to ween off my bipolar medication?
You SHOULD be afraid to stop your bipolar medication. Bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive syndrome) is a PHYSICAL, INHERITED illness that severely affects your safety READ MORE
You SHOULD be afraid to stop your bipolar medication. Bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive syndrome) is a PHYSICAL, INHERITED illness that severely affects your safety and function.
What do you do when emotional pain is unbearable?
That's a HUGE question, and I doubt I can do it justice in an email or web reply. The key is who can you talk with whom you can trust? As a rule, spouses and other relatives are READ MORE
That's a HUGE question, and I doubt I can do it justice in an email or web reply. The key is who can you talk with whom you can trust? As a rule, spouses and other relatives are a poor choice. Do you have access to a psychotherapist? If you decide to work with a therapist, be sure to interview at least three potential therapists so you can find the one who is the most compatible. A psychiatrist or primary physician may be able to prescribe medication that can take away the worst of the emotional pain. If you're ever feeling suicidal, please immediately call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Is drug addiction a genetic disorder?
Yes, to some extent. If one of your first-degree relatives (parent or sibling) has or had a substance use disorder, your chance of inheriting it is about 25%. This likelihood is READ MORE
Yes, to some extent. If one of your first-degree relatives (parent or sibling) has or had a substance use disorder, your chance of inheriting it is about 25%. This likelihood is much less with just a single affected uncle. (But not an uncle by marriage who's not a blood relative.) One way to tell is how you respond to alcohol. If having a few drinks is the most fun you can have, you've likely inherited the risk. If you can take or leave alcohol and find no euphoria when you drink, then you probably didn't inherit the risk. Those with the risk have about a 50-50 chance of becoming addicted. Again, the test is how euphoric you become with a given substance. There are a lot of people who recognize they're at risk, but never let themselves get to there. For those with the risk or who have crossed the line into active use, my advice is that this illness is NOT your fault. But it IS your responsibility!
Coming off Suboxone or overdosing?
Great question: a LOT of people try to come off Suboxone the way you did. They just stop taking it. That's a really bad idea. It takes MONTHS to come off Suboxone. If you cut the READ MORE
Great question: a LOT of people try to come off Suboxone the way you did. They just stop taking it. That's a really bad idea. It takes MONTHS to come off Suboxone. If you cut the dose too quickly, you'll become dope sick: go into opiate withdrawal. That's what happened to you. Work with your prescribing physician to slowly cut the dose, something.
How long does it take suboxene to get out if your system to get out of your system?
Most urine screening tests do NOT test for buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone. And anyway it should be long gone by the time you have your pre-employment test. Good READ MORE
Most urine screening tests do NOT test for buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone. And anyway it should be long gone by the time you have your pre-employment test. Good luck!
How do I lower my temptation to take prescription medicine while on quarantine?
Being stuck at home and staying sober can be challenging. If you're already starting to use, you should check out online intensive outpatient treatment. Otherwise, find ways to READ MORE
Being stuck at home and staying sober can be challenging. If you're already starting to use, you should check out online intensive outpatient treatment. Otherwise, find ways to connect with others in recovery. I've heard it takes some getting used to, but online 12-step meetings (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) can be a great source of support.
Good luck!
Good luck!
How to help people predisposed to overtaking prescription medicine?
Assuming your son is over age 13, as his parent, there's very little you can do to stop an addict from using drugs. See if you can attend online meetings of AlAnon for yourself, READ MORE
Assuming your son is over age 13, as his parent, there's very little you can do to stop an addict from using drugs. See if you can attend online meetings of AlAnon for yourself, which will help you determine what works and what doesn't. You can also set limits in your household, along the lines of "if you use drugs, here's the outcome in this home. I'll be very sorry if you bring that."
Will there be more drug overdoses over the coronavirus?
As was the case in the 2008 Great Recession, the first rule of the coronavirus is nobody knows much of anything. But this time, we're learning fast. Some states haven't really READ MORE
As was the case in the 2008 Great Recession, the first rule of the coronavirus is nobody knows much of anything. But this time, we're learning fast. Some states haven't really restricted movement of their citizens, and in that case there may not be much difference. In California, my state, we're all supposed to stay home. This restriction is harder to obey if you're an addict or don't have much money. Some addicts won't change their behavior at all. Some people will get REALLY bored and use more. Some will use less. So, your guess is as good as mine.
Will the coronavirus make people more likely to abuse medications?
Becoming ill from coronavirus can cause anything from a mild cold and fever to life-threatening pneumonia and being unable to breathe. Pain is not the most prominent symptom, although READ MORE
Becoming ill from coronavirus can cause anything from a mild cold and fever to life-threatening pneumonia and being unable to breathe. Pain is not the most prominent symptom, although most people ache all over. If you're already an addict, your risk of contracting this illness may be much higher, because most addicts aren't worrying about their health and typically get into dicey situations to obtain their drugs. I could imagine that a few people might become even more anxious and use more than usual.
