Dr. Karl Spector
Addiction Medicine
Bel Air, MD
27 years experience male
Locations
Karl Spector, MD & Associates
Bel Air, MD
About
Bio
Solo Internist in suburban Baltimore. I specialize in addiction medicine--I have been treating patients with Suboxone out of my office since 2003. During this time,
I have treated well over 1000 patients with Suboxone. I am also the medical director of a methadone clinic and I am the former medical director of addiction services at the Harford County Health Department.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Addiction Medicine
Internal Medicine
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
97 Answers
6 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
2 words: oral cancer: Chewing tobacco has been definitively linked with increasing a person's incidence of developing oral or mouth cancer. It can be fatal in some cases a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Not that we know of: Actually, as drugs go, caffeine consumption seems to be relatively safe (i guess this is why so many of us use it). In some people excess caffeine (m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Scars or marks: Usuually you can suspect someone may be using drugs via injection(iv) methods when you see multiple puncture marks on their arms (usually at the fold ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
May be Rosacea: You may have something called rosacea. This is when some blood vessels are closer to the top layer of skin than usual. It usually occurs on the nose a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes: The withdrawal symptoms of a drug are often the exact opposite of what the drug does for you-- opiates usually make people feel wonderful(euphoria), i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
YES!: No matter what anyone may tell you, tramadol (ultram) can absolutely be addictive! if you are taking 15 to 20 a day, i guarantee your use has gotten ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Gamblers anonymous!: It's would suggest that you're very likely addicted to gambling . This is much more common than people think. One of the best way to see if you do,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Not sure..: We're really not sure. But, it is certainly much more likely that smoking marijuana while pregnant would cause more harm than actually help anything. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Technically, yes.: Yes, but unless you actually have a medical disorder that warrants it, it will be more risky than beneficial in the long run. Medications like amphet... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Umm...likely not.: Just in case you're in denial, 10-15 alcoholic beverages is a lot of alcohol. A lot! and because it probably did not happen overnight, you've likely... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Go online!: There are websites you can go on and ask doctors who are credentialed to prescribe Suboxone for maintenance. Most are willing to do so if you ask.
Go... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Just don't smoke!: It's one of the biggest reasons why smokers go back to smoking: weight gain. It's because you are no longer getting nicotine-- an effective appetite s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
The next day!: To be sure you're going to drive safely, just wait until the next day. No one ever lives with the regret of doing the right thing. Don't find out yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Pump 'n dump: Just to be on the safe side, you may want to "pump 'n dump" before breast feeding again (when you pump your breast milk and then throw it away). It is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Unlikely: It would be unlikely that you have true cirrhosis at the age of 21 but, of course, it is possible. However, if you are feeling so bad that it mimics ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Then don't: As we continue to figure out what the true health benefits vs risks alcohol has on the human body, I am not currently recommending to my patients who ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Not really: Drinking "too much" water, and i'm not really even sure what that means, could only potentially cause the pregnancy test to be negative if it is actua... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
I have been on suboxone for almost 8 years. what's your opinion about remaining on it indefinitely.?
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
I support it!: That's truly one of the best parts of suboxone-- there is no medical reason that you have to taper or come off suboxone. Of course, it goes without s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Most likely.: Smoking marijuana after having surgery is generally a bad idea. Even if you weren't on coumadin (warfarin). Smoking (cigarettes or marijuana) will i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Not really known way: Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), there really isn't any way to speed up the end of a marijuana high. Some patients hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
If we only knew,: That is one of the most important questions in addiction medicine--how long until i feel good again? I think that if we knew the answer to this quest... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Don't drink alcohol!: It may be that you are having a "reaction" to what's in the alcoholic drink (preservatives, sulfur dioxide) , rather than the alcohol itself, which is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Absolutely!: Suboxone is fda approved for just your situation. Just remember, despite what you hear from others, Suboxone is not necessarily easier to detox or ta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
YES!: Because tramadol is an opiate-like substance, many people are using it to try and taper themselves off the "hard" opiates. I believe this is a mistak... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
We're not sure: The jury's still out on this very good question but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that 2nd hand smoke cannot be good for anyone! a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Probably: Smoking only one cigarette a day typically does not lead to addiction but ask every addict and they will tell you that's usually how they started. Ju... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Hang in there: You probably haven't evacuated your bowels in a few days because there is nothing there to evacuate! after people have "heavy" diarrhea, they can cle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Doubtful: Although it is still extremely important you quit smoking, after 10 years its not likely effecting you circulation to cause fatigue. It doesn't reall... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Both!: It actually depends on the fraternity, but many of them are "clubs" that pressure young adults into excess. Drugs, alcohol, partying, dangerous/risky... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes, among others: Abusing alcohol for a long period of time has many serious consequences. One of them, in fact, is the effect it has on a person's immune system. By ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Very unlikely: Even at this late stage in your pregnancy, only taking the diluadid for 5 days should not cause any problems or make your baby go through any withdraw... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Erectile dysfunction: If you are a male smoker, then one of the biggest risks to your sex life is erectile dysfunction. An erection is a result of blood being able to prop... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Then quit smoking!: A high hemoglobin level is usually from smoking. A person's hemoglobin level is essentially the amount of red blood cells. A low hemoglobin is referre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
No!!: I assume that you have actually read the warnings that are on each pack of cigarettes-- especially the one that says that smoking cigarettes while pre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Short answer: YES: The fact is that all patients who take narcotic or opiate pain medications are at risk for addiction. That said, studies suggest that only between 5-... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Depends: It depends on the antidepressant--some do give people feelings of euphoria that is strong enough for a patient to develop an "addiction"--to make some... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Varies: Most patients tell me it is anywhere between 3 and 7 days. This, however, refers to mostly physical symptoms - not the mental or emotional ones like... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Wish I knew!!: That's the "holy grail" of addiction medicine: how to make withdrawal more tolerable to allow people to actually stop using. Withdrawal symptoms are t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes!: It is a complicated explanation but when someone takes too many opiates (and each person's level is different depending on their tolerance) it basical... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Wow, tough question!: That is a very difficult question to answer as drug abuse can vary on so many different levels with so many different drugs. Abuse of caffeine (yes, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Whatever it takes!!: I would bet that your mom and sister are actually jealous of you! certainly, their doctor may be able help them quit-- especially with new treatments ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Depends: Drinking alcohol is not recommended while taking most blood thinners. Coumadin, (warfarin) the most frequently prescribed one, has a very narrow ther... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Live healthy!: Not exactly sure what you mean by "stout and strong as a teen boy" but i'm guessing you mean something along the lines of energetic and healthy. If s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Probably not: Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally found in your brain which we believe helps us regulate our sleep cycle. It is not known what happens if a per... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes: Taking Suboxone does not interfere with taking thyroid medication or a thyroid condition.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Avoid alcohol!!: Avoiding alcohol is the most important thing for you to do. Doing so, while eating a bland diet and avoiding high fat foods can certainly help allow ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
See a psychiatrist. : I'm really not sure exactly what you mean by this but if you are talking about the sudden loss of the concept of money- i would certainly see your pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Doubtful: Unless you have a legitimate medical condition, it would be unlikely that you could get a prescription for marinol. This, of course, is if you go to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Few days: It will likely only test positive in your saliva for a few days as long as it is only a "low amount." and it was a one time thing. The longer you us... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Karl Spectoranswered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Not enough: Most likely you are not on enough Suboxone and should be on a higher dose. The symptoms you describe are likely withdrawal symptoms so i would ask yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
229
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Spector is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Spector is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I finally had my first bowel movement last night. Quite thin.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much for your time, you have helped me so much.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! thank you. i will stop smoking before the damage starts
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada
Graduated 1996MD
Residency
Franklin Square Hospital Center
Awards
Resident of the year, Outpatient Medicine 1998
Affiliations
ACP
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