Addiction Medicine Specialist In San Jose, CA
American Society of Addiction Medicine: "Addiction is a treatable, chronic, medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. Prevention efforts and treatment approaches for addiction are generally as successful as those for other chronic diseases."
If you’re struggling with addiction to internet overuse, sugar, alcohol, stimulants, opioids or compulsive behaviors such as gambling, assistance is available at Bay Area's Preventative Medicine Inc. in San Jose, CA. The compassionate, caring team, led by Sepideh Moayed, MD, offers innovative solutions for helping you regain control of your life and stay focused on making the necessary lifestyle changes to support wellness and help you achieve peak performance when it comes to your birthright-your health. Addictive and compulsive behaviors are symptoms of undiagnosed root causes-often exacerbated by genetics and variable biopsychosocial determinants. Lifestyle stressors, prior traumas, unresolved physical, mental and spiritual / relational issues, suboptimal relaxation techniques, inadequate exercise, circadian rhythm variations and genetic heterogeneities can create the perfect storm as this neurodegenerative disease makes its debut. Addiction is a treatable chronic disease and there are many treatment approaches that have proven highly effective in this rapidly evolving field. Dr. Moayed takes a highly personalized, evidence based, functional medicine and neurometabolic approach to diagnosing, treating and maintaining health for those who suffer from addiction. You will learn how to personally optimize the science of neuroplasticity and benefit from the infinite power of recovery used daily by highly successful people who remain in recovery by choice. Learn more about the multidisciplinary addiction medicine treatment plans available at Preventative Medicine Inc. by calling the office today.
What is addiction medicine?
At Preventative Medicine Inc., Dr. Sepideh Moayed looks for and treats the root cause and biopsychosocial contributors of addiction and helps recovery adherence by helping the patient feel their absolute best. Dr. Moayed is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, uses evidence-based guidelines as well as a multifaceted approach to address the individual in their entirety. Addiction medicine aims to treat a variety of substance and process addictions including
- Drugs (opioids, stimulants, marijuana, designer street drugs, etc)
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Gambling
- Shopping
- Internet overuse
Dr. Moayed uses the best of evidence based medicine along with a highly individualized whole person, mind-body-spirit in synch approach. Dr. Moayed knows that treating addiction is an art form that can save lives. Dr. Moayed uses a safe, trauma informed, highly empathic and stigma free approach to connect with patients who have suffered from this fatal chronic disease. At their core, addiction and compulsive behaviors are born of human connection and bonding challenges. Substance use disorders also rob their victims of trust and trust related issues. Unlike other chronic diseases, addiction enslaves the patient to repetitive traumatic events while simultaneously distancing the patient from their loved ones! Without a deep dive into these crucial contributing factors, abstinence from substance use disorders predisposes many patients to further trauma caused by relapse and the inability to stay quit.
Dr. Moayed will create an integrative individualized plan that focuses on revitalizing your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Your personalized plan includes learning mindfulness techniques, like meditation, breathing exercises, and positive reinforcements that you can use on a daily basis to support good health and stay in recovery.
What addiction medicine treatments are available?
At Preventative Medicine Inc., Dr. Sepideh Moayed looks for and treats the root cause(s) of addiction and compulsive behaviors. Methodically and thoroughly, she looks at the biopsychosocial contributors to addiction and helps recovery adherence by helping the patient feel their absolute best. Insulin, sugar and cortisol cascade control and having a support group to depend on are the pillars of her treatment protocol. When warranted, pharmaceuticals can be utilized to lessen the severity of withdrawal and to help with sobriety maintenance, especially in early recovery when patient hasn't had the chance to build a loving and trusting relationship with oneself.
Insulin, sugar and cortisol cascade control is crucial for those in any stage of recovery. Micro and macronutrient modification to optimize neurotransmitter deficiencies, bringing down systemic and neuronal inflammation and optimizing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis are necessary in order for neuronal circuits to heal.
The gut is known as the "neuroenteric system" since it produces 90% of brain's neurotransmitters! Gut health is a necessity when it comes to addiction treatment. A healthy gut boosts mood, activates the healthy innate reward systems of the brain and helps repair damage done by substances of abuse.
Meditation, mindfulness techniques, stress management exercises, physical activity and optimized sleep help with normalizing the reward pathways and naturally strengthening the parts of the brain (insula) that can mitigate relapse. Solution oriented techniques guide you towards regaining control over your life and making a successful recovery. These lifestyle changes and behavioral modifications ultimately result in true health optimization and highly rewarding relationships that keep you connected to your support system and families.
Summary of addiction medicine treatments available at Preventative Medicine Inc
- Treating the root cause of addiction and compulsive behaviors
- Addressing the biopsychosocial contributors of addiction
- Optimizing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Down regulating systemic and neuronal inflammation through supplements and lifestyle behaviors
- Insulin, sugar and cortisol cascade control
- Micro and macro nutrient modification to optimize neurotransmitter deficiencies
- Weekly support group and family meetings
- Gut health and intestinal microbiome optimization to boost mood
- Mindfulness techniques, stress management exercises, physical activity and optimized sleep to normalize the reward pathways
- Meditation and Guided Imagery to strengthen the parts of the brain (insula) that can mitigate relapse
- Solution oriented techniques and behavioral modifications to create new and healthy circuits and neuronal pathways
- Pharmaceuticals to help with withdrawal and cravings when combined with above interventions
What pharmaceutical therapies are available for addiction medicine?
To address the physical components of addiction that manifest as withdrawal or tolerance, and after utilizing helpful genetic data, the Preventative Medicine Inc. team may create a pharmaceutical therapy for you so as to add support to your multipronged treatment program. These medications have been proven to mitigate relapse in the early stages of recovery when the patient is most susceptible to relapse. Comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, anhedonia, ADD, OCD and insomnia are highly prevalent in very early recovery and are the main reason so many patients relapse. The following medications are evidence based prescription adjuncts to help with craving reduction and withdrawal mitigation, especially in early recovery.
CHANTIX®
Chantix is useful for those who want to quit smoking. The medicine works by blocking nicotine from, as well as attaching itself to receptors in your brain, and helping reduce withdrawal symptoms.
VIVITROL®
Vivitrol (naltrexone) is used in the treatment of opioid addiction. This non addictive injectable creates a barrier that prevents opioids from attaching to receptors in your brain to prevent the rewarding effects of drug use. Naltrexone may also be effective in treating moderate alcohol use disorder.
SUBLOCADE™
Sublocade (buprenorphine) is an extended-release, monthly injectable that prevents opioids from attaching to receptors in your brain and supports long-term recovery from opioid addiction.
SUBOXONE®
Suboxone is a sublingual (under the tongue) medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone treats opioid addiction by blocking brain receptors activated by opioids, while buprenorphine attaches to the same brain receptors as opioids to reduce the effect of pleasurable feelings.