Dr. James Rotchford

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It's possible: It can happen when one is not properly hydrated or with the use of certain meds.

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2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old male asked:

Do cigarettes diminish the effects of clonazepam?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Stimulants like nicotine can help some relax. Others can be agitated by nicotine. Dose can make a difference.

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2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. John Feola agrees1 doctor agrees

A 24-year-old female asked:

Only happened twice now but when i drink liquor within 10 mins my body starts to ache like my bones hurt n lil bit of chest pain ?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Hard to be sure: I advise a medical exam, particularly if you are being prescribed any medications or taking supplements. Also, if your liver was inflamed for any re... Read More

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2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old male asked:

I have splinter haemorrhages. i have been to the doctor before but was told there is nothing to worry about. i am a 24 year old male, ex-smoker.

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Consider alternative: Often there is no apparent reason for splinter hemorrhages. Perhaps get a second opinion from someone skilled in chinese medicine or another model th... Read More

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4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old male asked:

I take .25mg of clonazepam every night. i take 50mg atenolol split dose daily. i feel lightheaded at times. bp normal hr normal. why??

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Hyperventilating?: If the lightheadedness improves with breathing into a paper bag for about 10 minutes then it is very likely because of anxiety causing you to breathe ... Read More

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2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old female asked:

Took my normal dose of hydrocodone at 7pm & 2am (10mg per dose) having sever panic attack. safe to take my 1mg klonopin (clonazepam)? it's now 4:15am.

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

In the future..: The physician who is prescribing these medications is best to talk to about this. I do not like to combine opioids and benzodiazepines chronically, ... Read More

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2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 39-year-old member asked:

My mom is a smoker. and i sometimes get scared, so i throw away her cigarettes. do you think that's helpful?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Generally not: Consider going to an alanon meeting to learn more about helping a family member with an addiction problem. It is scary to see a loved one "killing"... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 35-year-old member asked:

How much caffeine does it take to produce an irregular heart-beat or other caffeine related illnesses?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Drinking coffee can actually help some relax, particularly if they are in some sort of withdrawal from caffeine which is a real issue for some. So i... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 33-year-old member asked:

I have diabetes and i just bought a low carb monster energy drink, is it ok for me to drink?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Most of the problems from diabetes come from long term poor control. An occasional boost of blood sugars is probably not going to do one that much ... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 40-year-old member asked:

Is it possible that a high tolerance for alcohol will cause prescription pain killers to not be very effective?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Tolerance to alcohol and opioids don't overlap. I would wonder if you have something like sleep apnea, which made worse by alcohol, would contribute... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 38-year-old member asked:

I have two buddies of mine who drink 3-5 alcoholic beverages a day, is that a clinical alcoholic?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: How much one drinks indicates if one is a light, moderate, or heavy drinker. Other criteria like craving and continued use despite harm are used to ... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old member asked:

What to do if i have recently quit smoking. what are the fruits you should be eating to help cleanse your heart/body?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

That's a start: While diet is important to look at when promoting healing i would also consider other proven effective treatments for recovering from tobacco dependen... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old member asked:

Why do i throw up the next day after drinking?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Alcohol can be toxic: There are reasons why alcohol withdrawal or other after-effects of drinking alcohol including irritation of you stomach's lining may result in one "th... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A female asked:

There's some blood in my urine. is it from falling on my back or a uti of some sort from having sex? ... i slipped and fell on my back on an icy sidewalk and then had unprotected sex, during which we were both drunk and there was slight discomfort because

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Check it out: The possibilities here are such that without an exam and even some lab data it would be tough to be sure what's going on. Blood in the urine in a mal... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 22-year-old male asked:

Will poppy seeds show up on a routine drug test i ate poppy seeds for lunch then i had a drug test later on that day. now i am worried that i might fail it because of the poppy seeds.

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Yes: Depends, however, on the cut off level used for opiates in the urine and of course how dilute the urine was.

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A male asked:

Treatment of compulsive disorders hello: is naltrexone used to treat compulsive sexual disorders when they are non-responsive to ssri's? how long does it take for the medication to work? how long are patienst kept on this medication before they are weane

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Experimental: Since i haven't heard of this treatment i would assume it is experimental. Most compulsive disorders wax and wane and are not entirely cured but mana... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

What is wrong with me? last night i went to the er because both of my feet and legs are swollen and i have a dull achy pain that has moved up to the back of my thighs and lower back the doctor said i have celutitus in my toe on my left foot it doesn't and

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

I : I would rather think the blood pressure elevation is secondary to the pain and anxiety from having your condition and having no good explanation. I ... Read More

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Richard Mallia agrees1 doctor agrees

A 28-year-old male asked:

Is it a yeast infection and does it affect to get pregnant everytime i drink alcohol the next morning my pee is burning and my vagina is itchiing can you tell me why is this happening i had kidney and yeast infection problems in the past and my doctor sai

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Get it checked out.: This warrants further investigation. I would want to see if you have other reasons for being susceptible to vaginitis. At the very least get your ... Read More

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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Ali and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

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A member asked:

Why am i vomiting after drinking only a few alcoholic drinks? for the past year and half i have not been able to hold my alcohol very well...when i was younger i could drink and even over drink with out vomiting and now a days i can have 3 or 4 drinks an

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Be evaluated soon: With age tolerance goes down. It is very important you be evaluated, however, for these symptoms reflect your liver not working well. Alcohol can d... Read More

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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Evan Altman and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A member asked:

What could be the cause of a 45 year old alcoholic vomiting blood? my dad's girlfriend has been an alcoholic for 17 years. he walked in on her in the bathroom and saw blood in the commode. she says it has been happening since saturday. what can be the cau

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Yes, : Yes, i agree this is not a time to wonder why but to assure safety that only comes from proper medical attention. This situation, as already been st... Read More

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ed Kaplan agrees1 doctor agrees

A 45-year-old member asked:

How dangerous is smoking?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Depends on a number of variables: what? How much? How long? And of course it is more dangerous for patients with lung disease or a strong family h... Read More

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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Yash Khanna agrees1 doctor agrees

A 41-year-old member asked:

What is the difference between viral and alcoholic hepatitis?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Answer is in quest.: Hepatitis means inflammation of liver. This can be caused by viruses, chemicals such as alcohol, too much fat, etc..

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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Michael Sparacino agrees1 doctor agrees

4 thanks

A 46-year-old female asked:

Allergy, intolerance, or viral? i get vertigo when i eat nuts, chocolate and caffeine, and basic dizziness from other foods. started after shingles.

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Inner ear issues?: If the nerves related to your inner ear get swollen they could easily result in feelings of vertigo/dizziness. Perhaps the foods are causing the ner... Read More

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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Kenny Chuu agrees1 doctor agrees

A 36-year-old member asked:

What's a good nicorette (nicotine gum) schedule?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Try to establish a routine that helps you avoid cravings or symptoms of withdrawal. Every 2-4 hours while awake should do it. Some patients benefit ... Read More

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5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

6 thanks

A female asked:

Why does my back hurt when i drink? i don't drink alcohol often, but when i drink certain drinks, the middle of my back hurts so badly that i am sometime paralyzed in pain. i can drink beer, wine, and most liquirs fine. i cannot drink any pre-mixed drink

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

That's a curious one: I've never heard of this so i can only make conjectures...Could it be gall bladder pain coming from mixed drinks with milk or fat products? Perhaps ... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

What is the best way to calm down? i am suffering from major stress and want to find a healthier way to manage it. what is the best way to calm down? i am suffering from major stress and want to find a healthier way to manage it. should i look at medicati

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

First : First and foremost honor the feeling of stress. Your body and mind are telling you to do just like you have done. Ask for outside help. As alrea... Read More

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5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

5 thanks

A 19-year-old female asked:

Whats wrong can't get thc out of body i am 37 a slighty overweight woman haven't smoked marijuana in about 72 days my thc levels are 71 it was 78 , two weeks ago what's happening why wont my body expel it

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Stored in the Fat: Cannabis is stored in the fat and so tends to linger around longer in patients with more fat. Also the testing we do on cannabis levels is not always... Read More

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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 62-year-old female asked:

Can 5http be addictive?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Basically No: Substances that can be shown to be addictive iare associated with increases of Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens when consumed. I really doubt this ... Read More

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5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old male asked:

Companies market light alcohol drinks as a healthier alternative. is this true and do low alcohol calorie drinks slow down your metabolism.?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Alcohol has about 8 kcal of energy compared to sugar with about 4kcal of energy. So it could be that a drink with lower alcohol could be considered ... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old female asked:

Tetrahydrocanabinol what causes for false negative and false positive?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Great question: I think dilute urine is the most likely source for false negatives. I am not familiar with other substances outside of the cannabinoid class of comp... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Pamela Pappas agrees1 doctor agrees

A 29-year-old female asked:

Im vocalist in a band and working in clubs with a lot of smoke.im not smoker and im lloosing every night my voice. what to do to protect my voice?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

There are medicines: I suspect the topical corticosteriods one uses to help asthma patients would help. Lots of water makes sense. I wonder if an "ionizer" or somethin... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 50-year-old male asked:

Why my ability to smell has reduced after giving up smoking? thanks

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Good question: One hypothesis is that extra secretions from the goblet cells that line your airway are now interfering with your smell by obstructing the olfactory n... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Dean Giannone agrees1 doctor agrees

A 32-year-old female asked:

My teenage son gets diarrhea every time he runs long distance. what should he do is he drinking too much or too little? is he over working himself? this is the first time he has run cross country. fyi

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Hard to say: Not a common problem so i can only conjecture. I would suspect the vigorous exercise is disrupting his autonomic system enough that it causes diarrhe... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 35-year-old member asked:

Are there any withdrawal symptoms after stopping mobic (meloxicam)?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Perhaps: For susceptible individuals many medications can cause some tolerance and withdrawal. The medicine does not have to be "addictive" for this to occur... Read More

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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

6 thanks

A male asked:

My friends took 16 paracetamols (500mg) at once 4d ago and felt headache so he took 10 in course of three days , sporty non alcoholic. is he ok?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

No: Someone who is ok would not take this quantity of paracetamol. Most likely toxic effects of paracetamol will be limited but for sure he needs to be ... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

3 or 4 years white heavy sometimes chunky vaginal discharge? white/crusty on underwear. no itching or redness, sometimes fishy smelling. (female)

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Unlikely one thing: My guess is that you have both vaginal candida and an overgrowth of bacteria. Both are quite common and it is not rare to have them both. The trea... Read More

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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Catherine Shaw agrees1 doctor agrees

5 thanks

A 56-year-old male asked:

Hi i always feel tired during sleep age 57?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Complex question: In my experience the first thing to rule out is sleep apnea particularly with your symptoms. Anything which interferes with proper brain function ca... Read More

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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Weisman agrees1 doctor agrees

A 37-year-old member asked:

Is it possible to become addicted to solpadol 30/500 after just a week of taking them?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Yes: Some people are genetically susceptible to opiate addiction. If one has been addicted to another substance this adds to the risk. While it would n... Read More

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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Killian agrees1 doctor agrees

A 30-year-old male asked:

Smoker with newly evolved sudden exhaustion after climbing just a few steps.. whats more likely, heart or lungs?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: Most people it takes time to develop consequences from smoking, whether from emphysema or hardening of the arteries. Best predictions depend upon th... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 19-year-old female asked:

Extreme stomach pains under my ribs. i did endoscopy. turns out i have h-pylori. i treated it 2 months ago and now i have the same pain. why?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Good question: A lot of people have h. Pylori and are symptom free so one can never be sure that it is causing the symptoms. Also, many common treatments fail to... Read More

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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Weisman agrees1 doctor agrees

A 42-year-old female asked:

Hi i have grade 3-4 arthritis in my right knee an im 44 yrs old is it advisable to have microfracture surgery?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

It depends: There's a lot to try prior to surgery. If you go to a surgeon that's the option, however, you are likely get. It's not that surgery might not help i... Read More

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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Weisman agrees1 doctor agrees

A 42-year-old male asked:

My age is approx. 42 & i have stammering problem. it is in also in my maternal uncle & now in my son. is this a hereditary problem & any solution ?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Yes: I am not an expert on stammering but I am confident there is a genetic component. There are speech therapists who specialize in this. Given what i... Read More

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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Weisman and 2 doctors agree3 doctors agree

A 22-year-old female asked:

Is gabapentin addicting?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Good Question: Most substances to be addictive must be shown to be associated with a Dopamine release in the brain's reward centers. I'm not aware of evidence for ... Read More

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4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

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A 23-year-old female asked:

Severe pain in left stomach from ribs right down to bottom of torso and nausea.can last between 5 mins to an hour.been diagnosed with ibs before

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Get extra help: If IBS is the proper diagnosis and it may well be I would expect improvements with proper care. If not a new plan or fresh evaluation is in order. ... Read More

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2.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 27-year-old male asked:

Both ant. knees + post. lower legs get ice cold when sitting for 30 mins. takes 1hr walking to warm up. arteriovenous us, d-dimer, abi norm. what now?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Not common : It sounds like a form of autonomic dysfunction such as chronic regional pain syndrome. I can only guess because the symptoms are not commonly encoun... Read More

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3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Sari Nabulsi agrees1 doctor agrees

A 32-year-old member asked:

Is it okay to smoke one cigarette a month at most?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

A reasonable risk?: A lot of people have avoided the serious complications of smoking tobacco. Less use does mean less risk! It is as simple as that. The risk of on... Read More

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2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 48-year-old male asked:

Can antidepressants make it more difficult to lose weight? on pristiq 50mg and been walking briskly with basically minimal weight loss.

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Probably not: It is more likely in my opinion that inadequately managed depression and sleep issues are interfering with weight loss.

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130 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Stuart Hickerson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 30-year-old female asked:

Does a butrans patch slow gastric emptying like taking a narcotic pain med would?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

Yes: All opioids can cause constipation and slow down the digestive tract. Some people more sensitive and some opioids more likely than others. Simple m... Read More

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2.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old male asked:

Can moderate to severe calcium deficiency cause intestinal issues over time? if so, what kind of issues?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

First things first: My response is another question. Why the low calcium? The answer to this question is more likely related to the GI symptoms.

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3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 20-year-old female asked:

No nausea in weeks.. and i threw up today.. alot of blood.. i went to the er weeks fir the same problem.. they said its my throat. . i feel otherwise?

Addiction Medicine 43 years experience

I agree with you: It is time to have a formal evaluation. Most likely if available someone should look down your throat and into your stomach with a scope. You deser... Read More

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3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago