alcohol withdrawal insomnia

Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia: What to Expect

Insomnia and alcohol withdrawal often go hand in hand. This common and tough symptom can lead to relapses early in recovery, but medical detox professionals can provide treatment. You need not suffer from sleepless nights to achieve sobriety. Let the Kinkaid Private Care team help you overcome insomnia and alcohol withdrawal in this tough phase of recovery.

Why Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Insomnia?

Is insomnia a side effect of giving up alcohol? To see why insomnia and alcohol withdrawal are related, you need to understand how alcohol affects your brain and body first. Alcohol produces its effects by depressing the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. This can result in several effects:

  • Slower breathing
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Lower heart rate
  • Drowsiness
  • Pain relief

These effects could lead people to use alcohol as a sleep aid. Its short-term effects can bring relaxation and help them fall asleep faster.

However, as you begin to consume alcohol more often, your body begins to compensate in the other direction. Your central nervous system becomes more excitable, counteracting the effects of alcohol. The main reason for developing tolerance and experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the shift in the central nervous system.

alcohol insomniaInsomnia and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

When a heavy drinker suddenly stops, their central nervous system becomes dangerously overactive. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the opposite of the effects of alcohol, and you might experience symptoms like:

  • Insomnia
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Rapid breathing
  • Anxiety
  • Shakes
  • Muscle aches and cramps

In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can also result in life-threatening seizures and hallucinate. For this reason, medical intervention is strongly encouraged when you are attempting to stop drinking. Targeted medication can not only ease withdrawal and make you feel more comfortable but also prevent life-threatening consequences.

Prevalence of Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia

Alcohol withdrawal insomnia is prevalent in people recovering from an alcohol use disorder. Roughly half of people experiencing withdrawal will experience this symptom, though some people are at greater risk than others.

As the severity of alcohol use disorder increases, so does the risk of insomnia. People who drink alcohol, smoke, have both depression and anxiety or use alcohol as a sleep aid are much more likely to have this troublesome symptom.

The Importance of Quality Sleep During Detox

You can overcome alcohol withdrawal insomnia with at-home medical detox services. Several treatment options can help to make your detox safe, comfortable, and therapeutic.

Treating Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia

With at-home medical detox services, alcohol withdrawal insomnia can be overcome. Several treatment options can help to make your detox safe, comfortable, and refreshing.

The Medical Taper

A medical taper is the primary method of treating an alcohol use disorder. It can help to treat insomnia, prevent seizures, and eliminate many uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Essentially, the medical taper is a method of calming the central nervous system during alcohol withdrawal. The hyperactive central nervous system affected by long-term alcohol use can gradually return to its normal levels.

For most people, the medical taper is enough to help them achieve high-quality sleep during detox. But if insomnia persists, there are further options that can treat this troubling symptom.

Specific Sleep Medications

If insomnia continues to persist, we can prescribe targeted sleep medication. When used along with a gradual reduction plan, can help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling more refreshed. The sleep medications you need might be different from someone else’s. It’s smart to chat with your healthcare provider if just the tapering plan isn’t completely helping your insomnia.

Sleep Hygiene

Certain behavioral practices can aid in treating insomnia during detox as well. These include:

  • Setting a certain time to go to sleep each night
  • Avoiding stimulating activities in the hour before bed, such as television or social media
  • Not drinking caffeine in the evening
  • Avoiding napping during the day
  • Make sure your bedroom is dark and comfortable

We call this term “sleep hygiene.” When used with medical treatment for alcohol withdrawal insomnia, they can help you sleep better every night during detox.

How Long Does Insomnia Last After Quitting Drinking?

For most people, insomnia and alcohol withdrawal will end after about a week. However, some people may continue to experience insomnia related to their alcohol use disorder for weeks or months. People can enhance their sleep during recovery by using sleep medication or trying cognitive-behavioral therapies for insomnia, which are known to be effective.

People experiencing insomnia long after the acute withdrawal phase may be experiencing post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This syndrome can persist for several months because of long-term brain alterations caused by alcohol use disorder. With time, the brain will recover from this syndrome. Seeking counseling services can be helpful during this period.

In-Home Alcohol Detox with Kinkaid Private Care

Do not face severe alcohol withdrawal alone. This does not mean someone should be admitted to a hospital or detox facility. Kinkaid Private Care can send medical and mental health experts to your home so you can detox from alcohol right there.

Contact our team by calling us directly at 866-337-4596, or by filling out our confidential contact form below. Our team, led by experienced clinicians, has been helping folks beat substance use issues for years. We’re here to guide you through the initial phase of recovery. Overcoming alcoholism is possible, and the team at Kinkaid Private Care can show you the way.

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home care vs nursing home

Home Care vs Nursing Home: What’s Better for Your Loved One?

As your loved one begins to age, they may begin to need frequent medical care and support in accomplishing their daily tasks. At this stage in life, many people begin to wonder whether they should enroll their loved one in a nursing home, or instead choose the option of hiring in-home care services. Making the right choice can make all the difference in the health and wellbeing of your loved one.

When Seniors Need Care

There are a variety of reasons you may be seeking extra care for your loved one. Common reasons people begin to search for home care or nursing care include:

·       Frequent falls

·       Advanced medical needs

·       Repeated hospital visits

·       Struggling to manage daily tasks on their own

·       Progressive disease, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia

Whatever the reason is, advanced care services can help your loved one to regain their quality of life.

Home Care vs Nursing Homes: What to Expect

Home care and nursing care are two very different options for helping your loved ones with their medical needs and daily routines. They each have unique benefits and drawbacks that should be explored closely before making your decision.

Home Care

Home care services focus on bringing support and medical services into the home where your loved one already lives. This service is customizable to the needs of each patient, with a variety of care options available. People that need minimal help may only receive home care for a few days a week, while those with more substantial needs can receive frequent visits for several hours at a time.

Services offered from in-home senior care include:

·       Medication administration

·       Frequent health checkups

·       Helping your loved one with their daily routines, such as dressing, showering, cooking, or cleaning

·       Medical concierge services, such as vitamin infusions, blood draws, and EKGs

Since home care focuses on one patient at a time, the services offered can be tailored to your loved one’s specific needs, and work around their schedule.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are residential facilities, where your loved one will be watched over 24 hours a day by medical staff. A nursing home typically has dozens or hundreds of patients to care for, meaning this service will be less personal and individualized. However, nursing homes do offer the advantage of

introducing your loved one to a senior community where they can meet new people, socialize, and take part in group activities.

Why Choose Home Care Over a Nursing Home?

There are several reasons why we believe home care to be the best choice for most people. Most importantly, it allows seniors to continue to live in their own homes and communities and keep as much of their independence as possible. Our medical professionals can meet your loved ones where they’re at and work together with them to improve their health and keep them well.

It’s What Older Adults Want

Most importantly, home care is the choice that most seniors want. In a national survey from AARP, 77% of adults over 50 said that they wanted to remain in their home long-term. Nursing homes can feel sterile and impersonal, and seniors would much rather continue living in the place where they’ve made their life memories and can continue to make new ones.

At-home care means that older adults can remain in the sanctuary of home and continue to live as they see fit. If they have pets, they don’t need to rehome them. They can continue seeing their friends and family in a space that’s comfortable for them and can play an active role in their community.

Independence

Many seniors fear the loss of independence when they start to have difficulties with their daily routines. Home care services are designed to help them keep their independence, support them with their activities of daily living, and let them guide the conversation about what they need help with and what they don’t.

Empowerment

Home care is designed to be empowering. Rather than simply taking over everything that needs to be done, it supports seniors in continuing to make their own goals and achieve their own accomplishments. A home care provider is there to support your loved one however they need, not just to provide services.

Companionship

Loneliness and isolation are major problems in the senior community. Not only can this lead to feelings of despair, but it can have physical health consequences as well. Social activity has been shown to both increase cognitive functioning and extend life in older adults, making it an important component of any health plan.

In addition to providing medical care and routine support, a home care provider can offer companionship and empathy. This is particularly important for seniors who live alone.

Personalization

Compared to nursing homes, home care services provide much more personalization and customization options. You can choose just the amount of care your loved one needs and adjust the level of care accordingly. Some people simply don’t need the 24/7 monitoring of a nursing home and would be happier having health care come just a few days a week.

Why Choose Kinkaid Private Care?

Kinkaid Private Care focuses on bringing compassionate, professional, and personalized treatment plans directly to your home. Our multidisciplinary team has decades of experience in caring for older adults,

giving us the ability to deliver the best possible care plan for your loved one. And of course, you’ll always be in the loop: we make sure to deliver excellent communication with the families of those we care for.

Services Provided

Kinkaid Private Care provides a wide range of at-home medical services. Our home care services include:

·       Mental health care

·       Senior care

·       Alzheimer’s and dementia care

·       Neurological care

·       Home doctor visits

·       Hospice care

And much more. By providing extensive services through a single home care service, we ensure that everyone gets the care they need when they need it.

Contact Kinkaid Private Care Today

When you’re ready to start with home health care, call us at 866-337-4596 or fill out the contact form below. Our expert team would be happy to answer any questions you have about our home care options and can help you to make the best care plan for your loved one.

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How Long Fentanyl Stays in Your System

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?

The opioid epidemic has become even more devastating due to the increased presence of fentanyl in illicit painkillers, cocaine, and heroin. Fentanyl is a synthetic prescription-only opioid painkiller that’s 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Because of its extreme potency,  fentanyl can easily cause a fatal overdose. 

Fentanyl abuse has been on the rise over the last several years and with it has come a wave of overdoses and deaths by overdose. The difference between a safe dose of fentanyl and a fatal overdose is very small and it takes surprisingly little fentanyl to kill. Depending on a person’s tolerance, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose, compared to the 30 milligrams to 100 milligrams needed for heroin. A fentanyl overdose is fast and can start within seconds. 

Most deaths from fentanyl overdose have been caused by people taking other drugs, like heroin or cocaine that have been contaminated with fentanyl. 

What Does Fentanyl Do? 

Fentanyl is an analgesic that relieves severe, long-lasting pain. It’s also used to control breakthrough pain that accompanies cancer but can also be used to control chronic high-level debilitating pain that comes from other causes. 

Like all opioids, fentanyl works within the brain. Molecules of fentanyl attach themselves to specialized receptor sites on brain cells that control the perception of pain. When fentanyl binds to these tiny receptor sites, a person’s sense of pain is temporarily decreased or shut off entirely.  Fentanyl also causes the release of the neurochemical dopamine, the primary chemical used in the brain’s learning and reward center. Increased levels of dopamine not only reduce pain but also produce an intense feeling of well-being, even euphoria. 

Fentanyl is much more efficient and far more powerful than other opioids in two ways: it penetrates brain tissue more effectively and binds more strongly to the cells responsible for our ability to feel pain. This means it takes smaller doses of fentanyl to control pain than other opioids. It also takes effect more rapidly. 

The same qualities that make fentanyl an effective painkiller can also make it dangerous when it’s not taken in a controlled medical setting. Fentanyl affects areas of the brain that control heart rate, breathing, and consciousness. Just as fentanyl slows or halts the working of the brain cells that allow us to perceive pain, fentanyl can also slow the brain tissue that keeps us breathing and our hearts beating. 

There are numerous ways fentanyl can be delivered into a person’s system. They include: 

  • Skin patches (Duragesic®, APO-fentanyl®)
  • Lollipops and lozenges (Actiq®) 
  • Tablets 
  • Injections (Sublimaze®) 

Fentanyl purchased on the street or as a contaminant in other street drugs like cocaine is usually a powder. A minute amount of fentanyl is sufficient to kill a healthy adult, especially if that person has little tolerance to opioids.  

In recent years, many kinds of illicit drugs have been found to be contaminated with fentanyl,  including cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines purchased on the street. 

What are the Side Effects of Fentanyl? 

Fentanyl’s main effect is pain relief. However, in those who aren’t suffering intense pain,  fentanyl produces a powerful sense of euphoria and well-being. 

Typical Side Effects of Fentanyl 

• Constipation 

• Nausea, stomachache  

• Drowsiness, sleepiness 

• Problems sleeping, including insomnia 

• Headache, dizziness 

• Feeling cold 

• Excessive sweating 

Signs of Fentanyl Overdose 

Like all opioids, fentanyl has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Fentanyl is also easy to overdose on, with many overdoses leading to death. Death from a fentanyl overdose typically occurs because a person’s respiration becomes increasingly shallow, then stops altogether. 

The following are the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose: 

• Small or pinpoint pupils 

• Shallow, slow, or erratic breathing 

• Awake but unresponsive 

• Unconsciousness 

• Limp body, poor muscle tone 

• Slow or erratic heartbeat

• Choking, gasping, or rattling sounds when breathing 

• Vomiting 

• Gray, ashy or bluish skin 

• Clammy skin 

An overdose of fentanyl causes a condition called hypoxia. In hypoxia, the body’s tissues become starved of oxygen and stop working properly, then fail. However, the brain can only survive without oxygen for a couple of minutes before permanent damage is done. 

How Fentanyl Addiction Happens 

With continued use of fentanyl, over time it takes ever-increasing higher doses to get the same effect that a lower dose once delivered. As with all opioids, fentanyl abuse leads to the sophisticated pleasure, learning, and reward pathways of the brain being “re-wired,” so that only the presence of fentanyl can trigger the release of dopamine. 

Even more concerning is that with consistent abuse of fentanyl, the brain’s ability to make dopamine decreases, leading to an overall lowered ability to tolerate pain throughout the body. In turn, people end up taking more and more fentanyl to suppress pain. 

This vicious cycle can be broken through a process called recovery. Recovery from addiction is much more than simply abstaining from fentanyl. It entails a person being able to live a  satisfying life without chemical abuse. 

How Can You Safely Stop Taking Fentanyl?  

Recovery from addiction requires a process called detoxification. Detoxification is the process in which all of the drug or drugs in question and their byproducts completely leave a person’s body.  It is the first step toward recovery from addiction. 

If you’ve been taking fentanyl as prescribed by a medical professional for a couple of weeks or less, you can safely stop taking it once your prescription runs out. However, there are other safe ways to stop taking fentanyl for those who’ve been taking it over a longer period. 

One safe approach to quitting fentanyl is called a drug taper. Tapering is a lengthy process in which a person who’s been taking fentanyl over a long period slowly and incrementally decreases their levels of fentanyl intake. The end goal is to eliminate all fentanyl use. A taper needs to occur with the help of medical professionals trained in addiction detoxification.  

Reducing one’s intake of fentanyl requires daily medical support to calculate and administer the correct decreasing dosage schedule, as well as to assure that quitting fentanyl occurs with as little 

discomfort as possible. Tapering is a reliable and safe method to detoxify from fentanyl only if overseen by a medical professional.  

Medically Assisted Detox from Fentanyl 

Another approach that’s a safe method for quitting fentanyl is a medically assisted opioid detox. A  medically supported detoxification takes less time than a taper and can be carried out at home. 

In a medically assisted detox, a person is supported with medication provided by a medical professional that reduces the symptoms of withdrawal. Other medications can alleviate the intense cravings for fentanyl that are part of detoxification. These medicines include methadone,  Suboxone, or buprenorphine, which can be given on a time-limited basis.  

Going “cold turkey,” or suddenly stopping one’s use of fentanyl without medication for withdrawal causes painful, acute fentanyl withdrawal symptoms and should never be attempted.  After using fentanyl—or any opioid for a long time, the body becomes dependent on it for its regular functions, particularly the production of the neurochemicals that the brain uses to govern every aspect of our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.  

Going cold turkey also impairs sustaining functions, like how our bodies keep our heart rate,  respiration, and blood pressure steady and healthy. This happens because fentanyl becomes the chemical “cue” that vital neurological and systemic processes rely on to work correctly. 

No one should attempt to stop taking fentanyl without help from a medical professional. 

Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms 

When a person is dependent on fentanyl, being unable to get it leads to withdrawal. Acute withdrawal from opioids is painful and can be dangerous.  

These are the most typical physical symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal: 

• Stomach cramps 

• Diarrhea  

• Muscle aches and pains, often severe 

• Involuntary leg movements  

• Tremors 

• Sweating 

• Chills 

• Problems breathing 

• Hypertension (blood pressure may become dangerously high)

• Rapid heartbeat 

• Excess sweating 

• Watery eyes, runny nose 

• Yawning 

A person’s psychological state also suffers during withdrawal from fentanyl. These symptoms  include: 

• Anxiety, panic attacks 

• Cravings for fentanyl, which may be intense or overpowering 

• Mood swings 

• Depression 

• Problems concentrating 

Note that addiction to fentanyl, like all addictions, is progressive—that is, a person will require more and more of the drug to attempt to get the same effect, but sooner or later, will be unable to do so. Eventually, no amount of fentanyl will stave off withdrawal. This leads inevitably to a  downward spiral in day-to-day functioning and increasingly impaired health. 

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System? 

Fentanyl’s acute withdrawal symptoms begin 6 to 12 hours after a person’s last dose and usually peak anywhere from 1 to 3 days. The most intense withdrawal symptoms decrease over one week to ten days. However, withdrawal from a longer-acting form of fentanyl, such as that delivered through skin patches, can take up to 36 hours to start. 

Fentanyl can be detected on a urine drug test for up to 72 hours after the last use. Blood tests will pick up fentanyl for as long as 48 hours after the final use, and fentanyl can be found in hair follicles for up to three months. 

Getting Help  

Fentanyl abuse and addiction are common conditions in the U.S., but they’re highly treatable disorders. You also don’t have to go into a hospital or clinic to detox. Kinkaid Private Care delivers top-notch care through the services of a private detox nurse, a trained medical professional under the supervision of a physician. The detox nurse is fully trained to provide medical assistance for fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, from mild to more severe. Your private detox nurse will help ease you through the detox and withdrawal process, allowing you to stay in the safe and private environment of your own home. 

Kinkaid Private Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client. Additionally, not only do we specialize in premium care, but we also practice proper management techniques to ensure your care is organized, efficient, and best for you. 

Overall, we create a concierge medical experience for each of our clients. Our approach starts with building relationships with each of our clients and their families; we get to know you in the comfort and privacy of your home to understand your exact needs. We then create a personal care team for you consisting of at least a clinical nurse specialist, clinical case manager, and care coordinator. Our compassionate teams are clinician-led and available to you 24/7 to provide unparalleled service and attention to detail.

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how to talk to a parent with dementia

How to Talk to a Parent with Dementia

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If you are a caretaker or family member of someone with dementia, communication is key. People with dementia often have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings because they may forget what they want to say mid-sentence, become agitated when frustrated, or not know the right words to use. At Kinkaid, we understand the importance of communication and offer the following guide on how to talk to a parent with dementia.

 

What Should You Not Say to Someone with Dementia?

 

There are a few cardinal rules regarding what you should not say to a person with dementia, including:

 

    • Try not to argue with a parent experiencing dementia. Telling them to calm down and raising your voice can bring unwanted energy into the situation, and only make them agitated.
    • Avoid correcting a person with dementia. They can mix up their words or get facts wrong. When they do, correcting them can lead to frustration and confusion.
    • When speaking to someone with dementia, always treat them as an equal. Nobody likes to feel infantilized, so skip the baby talk.
    • Questions like “What did you have for breakfast?” or “How are you feeling today?” can be frustrating for a person with dementia who cannot always remember the answer. Instead, focus on the present moment and what they are currently engaged in.
    • Speaking about death can be frightful for anyone. Bringing up friends who have passed away can lead to agitation.
    • Try not to tell them to stop repeating themselves. People experiencing memory loss do not recognize that they are repeating conversations, so this can seem like you are putting them down for no reason.
    • Similarly, do not ask them if they remember something. This can be a frustrating experience – they can recognize that they should remember but are incapable of doing so.

 

 

These guidelines can help to alleviate much of the frustration and arguments in speaking with a parent with dementia. Remember that their cognitive challenges are often just as frustrating for them as they are for you and try to show compassion for their position. Reducing conflict and arguments with a parent with dementia improves their quality of life as well as your own.

 

How to Talk to a Parent with Dementia

As there are things that you should not say to a person with dementia, there are also things that you should do when talking to them.

 

This includes:

 

    • Sticking to open-ended questions that give them more room to answer, like “How was your day?”
    • Being aware of your tone—it should always be gentle and patient. People with dementia often match the energy of other people in the room, so remaining calm can help them feel at ease.
    • Using short, simple words and sentences and speaking slowly and distinctively.
    • Not being afraid of silence with a person experiencing dementia. They may have trouble articulating their thoughts or might need time to think about what you have said without feeling rushed or pressured into responding right away.

 

Behaving in this manner allows people with dementia to be active participants in a conversation, minimizes the amount of time in frustrating exchanges, and can help them to adjust to their recent changes in mental health.

 

It is often beneficial to play along when people with dementia are discussing things in the past that are no longer true or are repeating things they have said multiple times already. Pointing out the inconsistencies in their speech only draws attention to their impairment and can cause them to grow frustrated. A few key guidelines include:

 

    • If a person with dementia repeats themselves, act as though they are saying it for the first time. This could include answering the same question several times over.
    • If they get their facts mixed up or are unclear about something they have said, just go with the flow and pretend you understand what they are saying.
    • Instead of asking if they remember something, speak about your memories together in more general terms without expecting a response one way or another.
    • Being agreeable if they talk about their deceased loved ones as if they are alive or are in the room with them. Ask them questions that lead them to continue believing their loved one is alive.

 

 

This should not be viewed as an act of deception. Rather, you are helping them to manage the frustration of cognitive decline that they have no control over.

 

Should You Tell a Person with Dementia That They Have Dementia?

Telling someone that they have dementia can be difficult, but it is often something that most people want to know, especially at early onset when more can be done to treat the disease. It is a good idea for their health care professional and their family to have that discussion with them if they want to know.

When you tell them, be sure to use gentle, understanding language and avoid making them feel like they are being blamed or that they are a victim. Explain what dementia is in clear, simple terms and assure them that there are treatments available that can help improve their quality of life.

 

As a general guideline, several things will need to be explained:

 

    • An explanation as to why the symptoms are occurring.
    • A discussion of the form of dementia, in terms that are appropriate to the person’s level of understanding.
    • Any possible treatment for symptoms.
    • Specialized services and support programs that are available for people with dementia.

 

 

On the other hand, the rights of individuals who don’t want to know they have dementia should be respected. Doctors and caregivers should seek to understand their patients’ preferences and not make it routine to always disclose the condition to them. Instead, they should act appropriately according to their patient’s choices.

 

Can Dementia Get Worse Suddenly?

Dementia that worsens suddenly is known as a rapid decline. There are several reasons why this happens, including physical changes to the brain that get progressively worse over time.

That means that it can also get worse suddenly, depending on the type of dementia, the individual and how far the condition has progressed. However, once a certain threshold of progression is reached, there is almost always a rapid decline.

In addition, there is some evidence that hospital stays, particularly if they involve surgery, can cause a condition known as hospital delirium in patients over seventy. The American Geriatrics Society estimates that hospital delirium affects about a third of these patients, causing delirium or rapid worsening of existing delirium.

What to Do if You Suspect Your Loved One Has Dementia?

There are several ways that you can get help if you suspect your loved one has dementia.

One way is to discuss changes with your loved one about observed cognitive changes. Discuss seeing a doctor as soon as possible. Also, talk about the problem of driving and that they should always have their ID on them.

 

Another way is to see a doctor and have them do a medical assessment, which is a series of tests to diagnose the condition. This is the only way to determine the cause of cognitive challenges and provide accurate treatment.

 

Another Issue: A Parent with Dementia Refuses Help

A parent with dementia that is in denial may refuse help. A way you can help when this happens is to have a family meeting. A parent with dementia may be more open to getting help if there is consensus among the family that something is wrong, rather than a single person advising them to seek help.

During the get-together, start planning and gathering documents like the Estate Plan, Health Care Directive, and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.

 

Remember, people with dementia have the right to refuse medical care if they demonstrate they have adequate mental capacity.

 

Kinkaid Offers Specialized Care Options for Dementia

 

Kinkaid offers in-home dementia and Alzheimer’s care throughout the Los Angeles area. You should consider at-home treatment options for dementia if your loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms:

 

    • Memory loss
    • Change in thinking skills
    • Difficulty focusing
    • Low attention span
    • Lack of reasoning skills

 

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the disease, but Kinkaid Private Care can provide several specialized care options. The compassionate and professional in-home care providers at Kinkaid know how to care for a parent with dementia and can guarantee your loved one the comfort of remaining in his or her home during treatment.

We also prioritize communication with seniors and their families so that they receive everything they need in an effective and timely manner.

If you would like more information about how to talk to a parent with dementia or our specialized in-home care, please visit our website or call us at (866) 337-4596. During the consult, we can go over the many options available and determine the best course of action for your loved one.

 FAQs

What are some coping strategies for dementia?

It is important to take care of your physical and mental health by doing activities that you enjoy, staying active, getting enough rest and eating nutritious meals.

How do you calm a parent with dementia?

It is important to remain calm, patient and supportive of your parent during periods of agitation. Try to identify the trigger and use other activites to distract away from the issue like calming music, gentle talk or art therapy.

What are signs that dementia is getting worse?

Signs of worsening dementia include increased confusion and/or memory loss, needing more assistance with daily tasks like bathing and grooming and significant personality changes. Connect with one of our nurse case managers today to learn how you can keep your loved on safe at home.

Is it best to keep a dementia patient at home?

In most cases, it is possible to keep a dementia patient home and ensure their safety if you have the right team in place. Connect with one of our nurse case managers today to discuss the benefits of keeping your loved one at home!

 

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tramadol detox

Tramadol Detox: What You Need to Know

Safely Detox from Tramadol at Home with a Private Duty Nurse

The use of Tramadol has skyrocketed in recent years. It is now one of the most commonly prescribed medications for pain relief in the United States. In 2013 alone, one study found that physicians wrote nearly 44 million prescriptions for Tramadol. 

Tramadol is one of the least potent opioids, which results in it often being overlooked as addictive. However, after prolonged use of Tramadol, a dependency can form, making it difficult to stop taking. 

As with any controlled substance, if an individual has formed a dependency to a medication, it is never advised to undergo detox without medical supervision. This article covers the Tramadol detox process and how you can safely detox from your own home. 

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol (brand name: Ultram) belongs to a category of drugs known as opiates. Opiates are commonly prescribed to treat severe or chronic pain. Tramadol works by affecting the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which results in decreased pain levels. Tramadol is typically taken orally and can come as capsules, tablets and liquid drops. Tramadol can also be given via injection, however this method of administration is typically only done in a hospital setting. 

How Strong is Tramadol?

Tramadol’s strength is 1/10th that of morphine, which can mislead people into thinking it’s not as dangerous as other opiates. However, even using it as prescribed,  can lead to the development of a dependence. Tramadol, unlike other opioid medications, carries a risk of seizure particularly if it is taken with other serotonergic medication.  Once a person develops a dependence to Tramadol, ceasing the use of this medication can be just as difficult as other medications that are more well-known for having addictive qualities. 

Once an individual has developed a dependence to Tramadol, they will likely experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it. For most, the symptoms are moderate in severity. Some individuals have described the symptoms as “flu-like.” No matter the severity of the withdrawal, it is always advised to detox under medical supervision. Withdrawal can be both uncomfortable and unpredictable, having a medical professional help you through it can help prevent any adverse reactions, such as seizures or panic attacks. 

Symptoms of Tramadol Withdrawal

Tramadol tames pain in two ways: First, it inhibits the reuptake of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Second, it stimulates the brain’s opioid receptors. 

As a result, individuals may experience two forms of withdrawal, which are known as atypical and traditional opioid withdrawal. These effects are unique, meaning they do not happen when taking other opioids. It also means that an individual withdrawing from Tramadol may experience dual withdrawal symptoms that are common to the two types.

Traditional opioid withdrawal may include symptoms such as: GI problems and upset (e.g. nausea, diarrhea, vomiting), along with muscle aches and body pain. 

Atypical opioid withdrawal may present with symptoms like hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks and high anxiety. Other atypical withdrawal symptoms include depersonalization, disorientation, confusion and unusual sensory experiences. 

Tramadol Withdrawal Timeline

Depending on how long and severe the Tramadol misuse is, withdrawal symptoms will be variable. However, in most cases, withdrawal symptoms will appear within 24 hours of the last dose of the drug. 

As mentioned, the withdrawal symptoms can be highly unpleasant. The biggest challenge during detox is to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and the associated discomfort, as well as relieve any craving the individual may be feeling. Kinkaid Private Care has decades of experience and hundreds of clinical studies that have helped them build an effective treatment protocol that typically eliminates any associated discomfort. 

In most cases, detox takes about 5 days. For individuals who have been using Tramadol for a longer period of time, detox can sometimes last several weeks. The detox physician and nurse will help relieve much of this distress with a variety of medications that keep you both safe and comfortable.

What is Tramadol Detox at Home?

It is never advised to attempt a Tramadol detox at home without medical supervision. If you are interested in going through the detox phase of recovery from a Tramadol dependency in the privacy of your home, it is best to have a detox nursing team on board to monitor your symptoms and keep you comfortable. 

The Benefits of At-Home Tramadol Detox

Detoxing from home as opposed to a treatment center or facility has many benefits. The following are just a few of the most important benefits:

Always Feel Safe and Comfortable: The detox process can be uncomfortable at times, given the side effects of your body ridding itself of the toxins associated with an addiction. By detoxing at home, you can complete your detox while surrounded by a familiar setting and the people you love. This will help ease the discomfort of the process and allow you to feel safe.

Reduce Your Overall Stress: While detoxing can be stressful, completing the process at home can help relieve the stress of having to travel to a facility and interact with people you don’t know. Staying at home with your loved ones will help you reduce your stress levels during this crucial and fragile step of your recovery.

Receive Personalized Treatment: Facilities consist of far more patients than doctors and nurses, so it is more difficult to receive personalized treatment based on your specific needs. If you detox from home, however, you are the only patient, so doctors and nurses can tailor their treatment toward your specific goals and needs.

Enjoy Complete Privacy: When you detox from home, you enjoy complete privacy, as you do not have to interact with anyone you don’t know or trust.

Please also keep in mind that no case is too serious for home detox. So, we recommend looking into detoxing from home regardless of your addiction or the severity of your case. 

Holistic Therapies to Help with Tramadol Withdrawals

When it comes to detoxing from Tramadol, the foremost goal is to alleviate the suffering associated with withdrawal. When undergoing a medically supervised detox at home, there is the added benefit of the availability of certain concierge services. 

These services consist of things like massage therapy, acupuncture, guided meditation, IV vitamin therapy, yoga, etc. – which can greatly enhance relaxation and help minimize any discomfort. These holistic therapies help soothe the mind and spirit of our clients that are going through the detox phase of recovery.

Kinkaid Private Care Coordinates Tramadol Detox at Home

If you or your loved one is in need of in-home opioid detox, please reach out to us to see how we can help. Kinkaid Private Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client. Kinkaid Private Care is a leading home detox service provider, offering expert detox professionals to help individuals begin recovery in the privacy of their own homes. Kinkaid Private Care detox nurses work closely with a physician who is an addiction specialist. The physician guides the client through the process, and oversees the detox from start to finish. For more information about completing Tramadol detox at home, please contact us today. (877) 388-5942

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ldn for alcoholism

LDN For Alcoholism: What You Should Know

What is Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)?

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has no narcotic effect and has a chemical structure that is nearly identical to an endorphin that the body makes naturally, known as Opioid Growth Factor (OGF). Endorphins are neurotransmitters the body produces to increase feelings of pleasure and well-being, as well as reduce pain and discomfort. LDN is considered a competitive opioid receptor antagonist, meaning it binds to the OGF receptors in the body, without activating them. LDN is known to reduce pain and fight inflammation. It has been useful in treating a variety of health issues, such as cancer, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders and more. It has also been seen to increase the production of your own endorphins, helping your immune system and body combat disease and pain. 

What’s the Difference Between LDN and Naltrexone?

Low Dose Naltrexone is very similar to Naltrexone itself, with the exception that LDN is administered at a 10th or less of the standard dose of Naltrexone. LDN comes in many forms, depending on the need for use, LDN is administered as a  liquid, capsule, sublingual drops, eye drops, tablets, and cream and topical lotion.

Several research studies conducted on the effectiveness of LDN as a successful treatment for chronic pain have noted that administering Naltrexone at a lower dose, results in pain relief for many patients. Naltrexone at the standard dose (50mg), theoretically creates a complete blockage of the opioid systems that occur within the body naturally. As the endogenous opioid systems within the human body play a crucial role in pain management, resilience to stress and more, this would not be a desirable effect for a chronic pain patient. 

There is a plethora of scientific evidence that supports the concept that low- and high-dose opioid antagonists can have very different impacts on the body. For example, morphine at the standard dose produces an analgesic effect, meaning it results in pain relief for the patient. In contrast, when Morphine is administered at 1/10th of the standard dose, it creates a hyper-analgesic effect, meaning that the patient develops increased sensitivity to pain and an extreme response to pain. Several studies have found that there is a small window where opioid pain medications produce the opposite effect than what would typically be expected. 

Naltrexone has been seen to produce similar results as morphine. When Naltrexone is administered at the standard dose, 50mg, it has been proven to be very successful in substance abuse treatment. However, at the standard dose, Naltrexone does not relieve pain for chronic pain patients, rather it creates more pain due to a complete blockage of the opioid system within the body. On the other hand, LDN is administered at approximately 1/10th of the dose used for substance abuse treatment and has been noted by several studies, to greatly reduce pain for chronic pain patients. 

So, What Is Naltrexone? 

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, initially used to treat opioid addiction. Because the brain interacts similarly to alcohol as it does opioids, there has been a lot of success in treating alcohol dependency with Naltrexone. 

Naltrexone works by blocking the body’s receptors that produce the “good feelings” an individual experiences when they consume alcohol. As a result, individuals taking Naltrexone no longer experience the “reward” from alcohol consumption and are in turn less likely to continue drinking. Naltrexone is a non-addictive, non-narcotic medication, meaning an individual will not develop a dependence on Naltrexone while taking it. Even if an individual were to relapse, Naltrexone prevents the individual from achieving the same feeling they were used to with prior alcohol consumption. Over time, Naltrexone helps an individual disassociate happiness and alcohol, helping them remain sober.

Naltrexone can be very beneficial in the alcohol addiction recovery process. Naltrexone is most effective when used in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan, such as therapy, counseling, 12-step programs and other medications.

Side Effects of LDN

Along with any medication, there can be side effects that can occur as a result of taking LDN. Some mild side effects may occur that do not require medical attention. These side effects often go away as your body adjusts to the medication. While not all of the following side effects may occur, some side effects require attention from a medical professional.  If you experience any serious side effects of LDN, please check with your physician immediately. 

The following side effects have been reported with use of LDN:

More Common Side Effects: 

  • Mild to moderate abdominal cramping or pain
  • Anxiety, Nervousness, Restlessness or difficulty sleeping
  • Headache
  • Muscle or Joint pain
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Unusual Tiredness 

Less common

  • Chills
  • Constipation
  • Cough or Congestion
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Fast or Pounding Heartbeat
  • Increased Thirst
  • Irritability
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sexual problems in males

Less common

  • Skin rash

Rare

  • Severe Abdominal pain
  • Blurred Vision, Aching, Burning or Swollen eyes
  • Chest Pain
  • Confusion
  • Frequent urination or discomfort while urinating 
  • Fever
  • Hallucinations
  • Itching
  • Depression or other mood or mental changes
  • Ringing or Buzzing in the Ears 
  • Shortness of Breath 
  • Swelling of the face, feet or lower legs 
  • Weight Gain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other side effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Can LDN Be Used for Alcoholism? 

While there have been various clinical trials on the effectiveness of LDN for alcoholism, the majority of research on Naltrexone and its effectiveness in treating alcoholism has been evaluated at 50mg doses, the standard dose. That said, there is not yet sufficient evidence to conclude that LDN is effective in treating alcoholism. However, several studies have yielded promising results. A study conducted in 2011 looked at the effects of Very Low-Dose Naltrexone (VLDN) on individuals detoxing from opioids who were also heavy alcohol users. The research concluded that individuals who were taking VLDN experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms than those individuals who did not. The individuals taking VLDN were also more likely to drink less after treatment and more likely to continue with treatment after the initial detox period. 

Kinkaid Private Care Coordinates Medical Detox For Alcohol and Opiates

If you or your loved one is in need of help with in-home alcohol and/or opioid detox, please reach out to us to see how we can help. Kinkaid Private Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client.

For more information, please visit our homepage and learn about the array of services we provide. These services include home detox throughout California, as well as in-home nursing care and the coordination of a variety of at-home medical services in the Los Angeles area. We also offer at-home Covid-19 testing.

FAQs

What drug is commonly used to treat alcoholics?

Only three medications have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Of these, naltrexone and acamprosate have the highest quality evidence supporting their effectiveness in decreasing alcohol consumption.

What medications stop you from drinking?

No medication is able to stop people from drinking entirely. All of the FDA-approved medications have been shown to increase abstinence rates and reduce drinking quantities, but they are not a quick-fix solution for alcohol use disorders.

What is the most effective treatment for alcohol dependence?

The first step in treating alcohol dependence is always medical detoxification. This step is necessary to ensure your safety through alcohol withdrawals, and to help you reach the next steps in recovery. After detox, the best treatment for alcohol dependence is combining medications, therapy, and support groups. Together, these treatments can have an additive effect: increasing the overall likelihood that you can remain abstinent and overcome the symptoms of alcohol use disorder.

Is Naltrexone available over the counter?

Naltrexone is not available over the counter – a prescription from a medical provider is needed.

Does naltrexone make you happy?

Most people who take naltrexone won’t be able to perceive its effects. As an opioid blocker, it can discourage addictive behaviors and reduce cravings but doesn’t provide a sense of euphoria or pleasure.

Can you take LDN long-term?

Naltrexone is safe to be taken by most patients long-term. There are no known problems associated with long-term naltrexone use.

Does LDN cause weight gain?

Weight gain is a very rare side effect of naltrexone use. Most people will not gain weight as a result of taking low-dose naltrexone.

Can LDN cause liver damage?

Naltrexone has not been definitively linked to liver damage in clinical studies. While naltrexone is processed in the liver, it is broken down into inert compounds quickly, and even high-dose naltrexone is considered relatively safe in terms of hepatoxicity. Part of the confusion about naltrexone’s effects on the liver is its use in treating people with high levels of liver disease – such as hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis. Even for people who have pre-existing liver damage, naltrexone is often recommended – as continuing to drink causes more damage to the liver than taking naltrexone.

How long does it take for LDN to start working?

Naltrexone absorbs quickly into the body and starts to work within an hour. The effects of low-dose naltrexone can last for between 4 and 6 hours.

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benefits of hospice facility vs home

The Benefits of Hospice at Home vs a Facility

Considering Home Hospice Care?

Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

When someone you love is facing a terminal illness, there are some important decisions to be made. One of those regards hospice care. Hospice care is recommended to family members when the physician determines a patient has six months or less to live. Read on to learn about the benefits of hospice at home compared to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care offers comprehensive comfort and support to patients who are facing the final stage of life. This type of care is different than medical care, as it suspends treatment or any hope of curing the patient. The primary goal of hospice is to minimize pain and discomfort and to provide the highest quality of life possible.

What is At-Home Hospice?

Increasingly, patients who are facing end of life express a desire to pass away at home. This has made hospice home care a popular option for family members wanting to honor their loved one’s wishes. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that in 2021, 47.3% of Medicare patients who passed away were enrolled in hospice. This equates to 1.71 million hospice patients.

When an elderly patient elects in-home hospice, their doctor arranges for a local Medicare-certified hospice provider. A doctor then initiates the hospice care plan based on the patient’s needs and assigns them a care team. 

Hospice nurses initially visit the patient about twice a week, but are on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week. As their condition declines and patients require more care, the hospice nurse then increases their time with the patient.

What are the Advantages of At-Home Hospice Care?

When a family is facing the difficult reality that a loved one’s health is failing they will be offered some hospice options. Generally, there are two settings in which to receive hospice care, either an inpatient facility or at home. Inpatient hospice care might include a nursing home, a hospice center, or an assisted living facility. While those are viable options for end of life care, there are several benefits for receiving hospice care at home. These include:

  • Comfort at home. Patients who are in the final phase of life prefer to be in their familiar surroundings with their loved ones present. The home setting provides comfort and is less stressful than an inpatient setting. 
  • Relief for caregivers. In-home hospice relieves stress on the family. When hospice services are provided in the home, family members who had shouldered most of the caregiving now have support.
  • Conducive to visitors. Home hospice offers a more flexible environment than an inpatient setting. This allows for close friends and relatives to visit their loved one in the final days.
  • Personal care team. Home hospice providers typically assign a specific care team to that patient. This allows a relationship and trust bond to develop between the patient and the hospice care providers. Contrast this with inpatient settings where staff changes regularly.
  • Flexibility for family. Hospice at home allows for normalcy in the family routine. The patient’s spouse or primary caregiver may continue to work and engage in their daily routine to some extent.
  • Peace of mind. Home hospice offers an extra layer of security and peace of mind for both the patient and family members. There is knowledge that their loved one is being cared for and is safe.
  • Personal attention. Hospice at home provides more individualized attention to the patient and family members. As the patient declines, the hospice staff then provides continuous care around the clock.

What to Expect from Home Hospice Care

Hospice care services are multifold. There are several members that make up the hospice team, each providing different types of care. They include a physician, nurses, a social worker, and a spiritual care provider. The hospice team provides a variety of supportive functions:

  • Provides medical equipment and medications.
  • Dispenses medication for relief of symptoms and pain management.
  • Monitors the patient’s vital signs, weight, muscle mass, and demeanor.
  • Assists the patient and the family with the psychosocial, emotional and spiritual aspects of dying.
  • Instructs the family about how to best care for their loved one.
  • Coordinates special services, such as physical therapy or speech therapy.
  • Provides grief support and bereavement counseling to the family.

Kinkaid Private Nursing Care Coordinates Quality Home Hospice Care

Kinkaid Private Care is a private nursing care provider. Our expert hospice home nurses provide comfort and nurturing for loved ones who are facing the end of life. We provide nursing support, comfort care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support. In addition, we offer concierge holistic therapies that can provide added physical and emotional comfort and wellbeing. For more information about the benefits of home hospice care, please contact Kinkaid Private Care today at (866) 337-4596

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regeneron infusions

Fighting COVID-19 With Regeneron Infusions

What is Regeneron?

Regeneron is a monoclonal antibody treatment, a combination of two antibodies called casirivimab and imdevimab, that has been shown, in recent clinical trials, to reduce COVID-19 related hospitalization or deaths in high-risk patients by approximately 70%. When Regeneron is administered to an exposed individual, such as someone living with a person who is infected, Regeneron reduced their risk of developing an infection with symptoms by 80%. 

How Does Regeneron Work?

Regeneron consists of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are like the antibodies that your body makes to fight against infections, however, they are made in the labs of pharmaceutical companies, like Regeneron. These antibodies are specially designed to target the coronavirus spike protein. When the antibodies bind to the spike protein, they work by blocking the virus from entering your body’s cells. By preventing the virus from entering the cells of the body, it is unable to make copies of itself and spread. 

What if I Am Already Sick?

If you are already infected with COVID-19, monoclonal antibodies can prevent the development of severe symptoms that require hospitalization. 

If you have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, monoclonal antibodies can fend off the virus to prevent you from becoming sick.

Does Regeneron Work Against the Delta Variant?

Yes.

When Should You Receive a Regeneron Infusion? 

Timing is a critical component of Regeneron treatment. The earlier you receive Regeneron, the more effective it is at treating or preventing COVID-19. Studies have shown that Regeneron is most effective within the first 4 to 5 days of symptoms. Monoclonal antibodies cannot be given after 10 days of symptoms.

How is Regeneron Different From The COVID-19 Vaccine?

The purpose of a vaccine is to help stimulate and prepare your immune system to respond if or when you are exposed to the virus. A vaccine prepares your immune system to create all these antibodies before they are needed.

Monoclonal antibodies boost the immune system after you are already sick, speeding up your immune response to prevent COVID-19 from getting worse. Monoclonal antibodies can be thought of as guided missiles that target and neutralize the virus. While effective for about a month, monoclonal antibodies are not a long-term solution. A vaccine offers significant protection for a much longer period of time. 

Who’s eligible for monoclonal antibodies?

There are two authorized uses for monoclonal antibodies: 

   1. To treat or stop COVID-19’s progression in a high-risk person who tests positive, 

   2. And to prevent COVID-19 in a high-risk person who’s been exposed.

To qualify for the treatment of mild or moderate disease, a person must test positive for COVID-19, have had symptoms for fewer than 10 days, not be hospitalized or on oxygen because of COVID-19, and be at high risk for the disease to get worse.

The FDA has recently expanded what it means to be high-risk for severe COVID-19. A much great number of people now may qualify for monoclonal antibodies, including those with:

  • high blood pressure
  • heart disease
  • a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30
  • an autoimmune disorder
  • people taking immunosuppressant drugs
  • people who are pregnant.

The same groups of high-risk people can get monoclonal antibodies to prevent COVID-19 if they have been exposed. If you or a loved one is immunocompromised, based on CDC guidelines, and spent 15 minutes or longer within 6 feet of someone who tested positive, you likely qualify for a preventive monoclonal antibodies infusion.

As for vaccinated folks, there’s no evidence that the treatment doesn’t work or is harmful to them, but vaccinated people have a lower risk of getting COVID-19 when exposed, and of developing severe COVID-19 if they do become infected, so they don’t generally qualify for monoclonal antibodies for prevention. 

What Are The Possible Side Effects of Regeneron? 

Allergic Reactions:

Allergic reactions can happen during and after infusion of Regeneron. The symptoms of an allergic reaction can consists of but are not limited to the following: 

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Low or high blood pressure
  • Rapid or slow heart rate
  • Chest discomfort or pain
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Feeling tired
  • Wheezing
  • Swelling of your lips, face or throat
  • Rash including hives
  • Itching
  • Muscle aches
  • Feeling faint and/or dizzy
  • Sweating 

Worsening Symptoms After Treatment:

You may experience new or worsening symptoms after infusion. These symptoms include but are not limited to:

  • Fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapid or slow heart rate 
  • Tiredness
  • Weakness 
  • Confusion 

The side effects of getting any medication by vein may include brief pain, bleeding, bruising of the skin, soreness, swelling and possible infection at the infusion site. 

How Long Does A Regeneron Infusion Take?

If you are receiving a Regeneron infusion, the infusion will take approximately 20 to 50 minutes or longer. 

After the initial dose, if your healthcare provider determines that you need to receive additional doses of Regeneron for ongoing protection, the additional infusion doses would be administered monthly. 

How Can I Receive a Regeneron Infusion at Home? 

Someone interested in receiving a Regeneron Infusion has options to consider. While most will receive the treatment in a medical setting, an increasing number of people are opting for in-home treatment. The comfort and convenience of receiving a Regeneron Infusion in the privacy of your home cannot be overstated. 

Kinkaid Private Care coordinates the highest quality in-home Regeneron Infusion therapy throughout the Los Angeles area. This includes Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, and surrounding cities. The compassionate professional nursing staff at Kinkaid Private Care will connect you to expert home care nurses who can administer a Regeneron Infusion in the comfort of your private residence. Call Kinkaid Private Care today at (866) 573-1542.

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IV Vitamin Therapy Benefits

IV Vitamin Therapy Benefits

Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

Are you feeling fatigued or run down lately? The cause can be chalked up to several reasons, the most common of which is poor nutrition. That’s an easy fix, right? Just read a few articles online about the most nutritious foods to eat and pop a few multivitamins, right? WRONG! Unfortunately, most people do not maintain a regular dietary intake that provides adequate essential vitamins and minerals. So, what’s the best solution for people who aren’t getting enough? Often referred to as a Myers’ Cocktail or IV Nutrient Infusion, Intravenous Vitamin (IV) Therapy could be the answer.

We encourage you to read on because IV Vitamin Therapy is here to help you.

What is IV Vitamin Therapy?

Nutrients contained in food and dietary supplements can be poorly digested and absorbed by the body. This issue of your body not absorbing nutrients properly can also be exacerbated with age or by certain chronic health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which directly interferes with nutrient absorption. 

IV Vitamin Therapy infuses essential vitamins and minerals directly into the body so that they bypass digestive processes, going straight to work where they are needed most. 

This Micronutrition Intravenous Therapy guarantees a high absorption rate, which means a more effective vitamin and mineral delivery with fewer side effects! In a nutshell, IV Nutrient Infusion has many health benefits that most foods and oral supplements don’t. 

What’s in a Myers’ Cocktail? 

Dubbed the Myers’ Cocktail, in honor of its inventor, Dr. John Myers of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, the recipe of nutrients in the cocktail is attributed to successfully treating many health conditions as well as promoting overall wellness for over forty years. 

So, what is in a Myers’ Cocktail? The cocktail is a mix of essential vitamins and minerals in a saline solution. Ingredients include calcium, vitamin C, B complex and magnesium, all formulated as an intravenous infusion. Here is a snapshot of each ingredient and how they help keep your body functioning properly: 

  • B vitamins: B complex vitamins play vital roles in maintaining good health and wellness. They have a direct impact on brain function, energy levels, and even help to fight infection. B vitamins also help your cells function properly. Without enough B vitamins, your digestion, skin integrity and cell production can suffer.
  • Calcium: This mineral supports normal heart and muscle function and helps your blood clot. If your body doesn’t get enough calcium, the heart can have abnormal rhythms. In addition, calcium deficiency can lead to early bone loss and diminished bone density over time, which leads to an increased risk of fractures.
  • Magnesium: Did you know that magnesium is responsible for 300 enzyme reactions in your body? It is! It is also responsible for important functions such as keeping your muscles and nerves working properly and maintaining appropriate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. In short, you really need it, and in extreme cases of magnesium deficiency, you can experience seizures and impaired cardiac rhythms.
  • Vitamin C: This essential vitamin works as an antioxidant, and is also needed to repair and grow tissue. It also factors into wound healing and building a strong immune system. Not getting enough vitamin C can cause depression and connective tissue defects such as gingivitis, internal bleeding and impaired wound healing.

How Your Body Processes Nutrients

With oral supplementation or food, nutrients have to go through multiple steps to be absorbed by the body, including being digested by your stomach. Later,  nutrients are passed into the bloodstream from the small intestines, where the organ absorbs most of the nutrients from food. Finally, the nutrients absorbed in the intestines pass into your bloodstream through the intestinal lining with the assistance of specialized cells. The circulatory system then transports and gives these nutrients to various parts of your body, where they are used or stored for later. 

How is Receiving a Myers’ Cocktail Better? 

Have you ever heard of cutting out the middleman? Well, a Myers’ Cocktail does this very action by bypassing your digestive tract and delivering vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream. Then, the nutrients can be delivered directly into your bloodstream at a high dose. 

The higher doses of vitamins and minerals help your cells receive them faster than food or oral supplements, which can take hours to days for complete absorption in the body, depending on how well they digest. 

Do You Have Chronic Digestive Issues? IV Vitamin Therapy Can Help 

In hospitals and nursing homes, Myers’ Cocktail therapy is used to help patients who can’t eat, or are too unwell to eat. With increasing digestive issues among the population that impede the absorption of nutrients—such as Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), gluten intolerance, and lactose intolerance—Myers’ Cocktail IV vitamin therapy can help. The treatment bypasses the digestive tract, thereby preventing flare-ups and delivering relief and cessation of digestive issues.

How is it Administered? 

Here at Kinkaid Private Care, we offer Vitamin Therapy as part of our IV infusion services. With this procedure, vitamins are delivered intravenously into a vein near or within a muscle (intramuscular). With this method, a more accurate dose can be given to the client. In addition, if you have low pain tolerance, fear needles, or have any other reason you cannot receive an injection, this method is perfect for you. 

Do I Have to Visit the Office to Receive IV Nutrient Infusion?

Traditionally, infusion therapy took place in a medical office under medical supervision, but today, you can receive IV therapy without leaving the comfort of your home. In addition, there are several types of therapies that can be performed in your residence, including those for allergies or sinusitis. 

IV Vitamin Therapy Benefits

IV Vitamin Therapy enhances the healing process, alleviates many physical maladies, and helps restore energy and stamina. It also has a long track record of healing a myriad of medical conditions. 

Some of the illnesses and health conditions that are treated with IV Therapy include:

  • Fatigue, both chronic and acute: Vitamin deficiency is well known for contributing to long-term and sudden fatigue and listlessness. IV Therapy can help correct these deficiencies.
  • Athletic performance and recovery: Exercise causes the body to crave nutrients and fluids to replenish its supply. IV therapy boosts energy levels, which improves the performance and stamina for professional athletes.
  • Migraines: Studies indicate that magnesium blocks signals in the brain that lead to migraines that have auras or cause changes in vision or other senses. Because of this, IV Nutrient Infusion is widely used to relieve magnesium deficiencies in your body and relieve the agony of migraines.  
  • Fibromyalgia: Pain from fibromyalgia is often compared to that of the muscle soreness you get when exercising. The calcium and magnesium in a Myers’ Cocktail can help the cells in your body get oxygen more efficiently, which may also relax your muscles and alleviate the dull pain from fibromyalgia. 
  • Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis: Many components of IV Therapy are anti-inflammatory, which means that the treatment can assist in reducing the swelling that leads to the congestion and postnasal drip caused by rhinitis. 
  • Muscle spasms: Fatigue and overuse can contribute to muscle spasms, but nutrition can also play a huge role. In particular, not getting enough calcium and magnesium can cause acute muscle contractions. Administering the two minerals intravenously has been shown to greatly help with these spasms.
  • Depression: Depression and diet may be linked. And if you are eating junk food and processed foods, they are likely giving you the blues. Your body relies on adequate vitamins and mineral absorption to manufacture the hormones needed to promote and regulate balanced moods. IV therapy can replenish many of these missing nutrients. 
  • Hangover aid: Multivitamin infusion benefits you gain from the Myers’ Cocktail may aid in the relief of hangover symptoms, such as dehydration, headaches, or muscle aches, as well as promote a healthy, glowing appearance. In much the same way, the treatment can be used as a preventative measure before traveling abroad.  

Receiving IV Vitamin Therapy at Home

If you are interested in receiving IV Vitamin Therapy, you have options. While most will receive the treatment in a medical setting, an increasing number of people are opting for in-home treatment. 

Likewise, the elevated experience of receiving the Myers Cocktail in the comfort and convenience of your private residence cannot be overstated. Additionally, Kinkaid Private Care’s In-Home IV Vitamin Therapy promotes relaxation, with no scurrying in traffic, trying to find parking at a busy medical center, or wasted time. 

Your in-home care provider simply seats you comfortably in a quiet space within the comfort of your home. They will then gently insert the catheter for the IV infusion. The process typically takes 20-30 minutes altogether, and then you are free to resume your daily activities with no downtime.

How Often Will I Receive Treatment?

If you are wondering about the frequency of receiving IV vitamin therapy, it is typically administered once or twice a week for the first four weeks — then, it tapers off to one treatment per month. Your specific health needs will determine the actual treatment schedule, which will be determined by a medical professional. The positive effect of the Myers’ Cocktail can last a few days or up to a few weeks. Also important, it is very well tolerated.

How Safe Is Myers’ Cocktail Therapy?

If you aren’t familiar with Myers’ Cocktail Therapy, then you may wonder about its safety. The vitamins and minerals contained in the cocktail pose minimal or non-existent side effects for most. However, bear in mind that ingredients, such as magnesium, can cause side effects in some individuals.

For instance, if the magnesium were administered too quickly, you could experience some light-headedness. That’s why it is important to get the vitamin and mineral infusions from professional medical providers who will administer the treatment properly.

Feel Better Sooner with Kinkaid Private Care

The fatigue, chronic conditions and mood disorders you’re experiencing could be your body’s way of telling you that you have a vitamin and mineral deficiency. Therefore, give your body the nutrients it’s begging for to feel better sooner! At Kinkaid Private Care, we’re here to provide you with the benefits of IV Vitamin Therapy and ease your path to better health. We will connect you to our expert home care nurses who can administer you a Myers’ Cocktail in the comfort and privacy of your residence. Also, you can contact Kinkaid Private Care at (866) 573-1542 to learn more about IV Vitamin Therapy and find out if it is the right choice for you.

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symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

Exploring The Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

There is simply no way to sugarcoat it:  Detoxing from alcohol dependency is unpleasant at the least and horrible at the worst.  As the body attempts to rid itself from the toxins associated with alcohol abuse, it will rebel.  It is the necessary evil involved in beginning the recovery process from addiction, so take the long view when beginning detox and gut it out with a medically supervised detox.

For those individuals who do not wish to uproot and go to an inpatient facility to undergo the detox process, knowing a bit about alcohol withdrawal symptoms at home is useful information.  First and foremost, alcohol detox should not be attempted without medical monitoring.  This is because there may be serious withdrawal symptoms that must be managed by the intervention of a medical professional. 

What are Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Embarking on the path to recovery for an alcohol use disorder is not easy.  Many who sincerely want to break free of the addiction don’t follow through for various reasons, one of them being the anticipation of the nasty detox and withdrawal phase of recovery. 

Withdrawal symptoms while detoxing from alcohol addiction will vary according to several factors, including the length of the history of alcohol abuse, the amount of alcohol consumed on a regular basis, the person’s general state of health, gender, and age.  Depending on these factors, the withdrawal phase experienced will be one of three levels of severity: mild, moderate, or severe.

Withdrawal symptoms will begin to emerge about 6-12 hours following the last drink consumed.  Symptoms will peak on days 2 and 3, and then begin to subside gradually over the next several days.  Psychological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, may persist for weeks.

Mild Withdrawal Symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal Distress
  • Agitation
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
  • Heart Palpitations
  • Tremors
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Mood Swings

Moderate Withdrawal Symptoms:

  • Sweating
  • Irregular Heart Rate
  • Irritability
  • Mood Disturbances
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Increased Body Temperature
  • Heightened Respiration Rate
  • Confusion

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms: Delirium Tremens (DTs)

  • Fever
  • Hallucinations
  • Extreme Confusion
  • Agitation
  • Seizures

Depression and Insomnia are commonly experienced at all levels of withdrawals from alcohol detox.

Detoxing from alcohol, can pose serious, even life-threatening risks if undertaken without medical supervision.  Alcohol withdrawal and detox from alcohol should involve a trained in-home detox nurse who can monitor vitals and administer medications as needed.

Kinkaid Private Nursing Care Coordinates Professional Alcohol Detox at Home

Kinkaid Private Care will connect you to a qualified and trained in-home detox nurse who will provide supervised detox and withdrawal services, as well as holistic therapies, within the privacy of your home.  For more information about private alcohol detox at home, please call Kinkaid Private Nursing Care today at (866) 573-1542.

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