We know that your medical needs don't stop when office hours are over. Using our help line and our email service, you can get a message to your health team when it is convenient for you. Don't hesitate to call us now at (725)232-8303.
Our team here at Total Health & Wellness Medical Center will support you in building a healthier you. No matter what your health needs are, having a team support you will keep you on the path to meeting them. We work together to connect you with the services you need.
When you choose us, you join a community. We work not just with you but with other members of our community to build a network of people working together for a healthier world.
Total Health & Wellness Medical Center provides a wide range of services including primary care, urgent care, addiction treatment, immigration physicals, disability evaluations and mental health treatment. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, we also provide routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization, screening tests, and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We welcome new patients and look forward to providing for your personal health care needs. Our commitment to your health and wellness is paramount.
Addiction Medications
Several medications have been found to be effective in treating addiction to opioids, alcohol, or nicotine in adults, although none of these medications have been approved by the FDA to treat adolescents. In most cases, only preliminary evidence exists for the effectiveness and safety of these medications in people under 18, and there is no evidence on the neurobiological impact of these medications on the developing brain. However, despite the relative lack of evidence, some health care providers do use medications “off-label” when treating adolescents (especially older adolescents) who are addicted to opioids, nicotine, or (less commonly) alcohol. Newer compounds continue to be studied for possibly treating substance use disorders in adults and adolescents, but none other than those listed here have shown conclusive results.
Note that there are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to cannabis, cocaine, or methamphetamine in any age group.
Opioid Use Disorders
Buprenorphine reduces or eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms, including drug cravings, without producing the “high” or dangerous side effects of heroin and other opioids. It does this by both activating and blocking opioid receptors in the brain (i.e., it is what is known as a partial opioid agonist). It is available for sublingual (under-the-tongue) administration both in a stand-alone formulation (called Subutex®) and in combination with another agent called naloxone. The naloxone in the combined formulation (marketed as Suboxone®) is included to deter diversion or abuse of the medication by causing a withdrawal reaction if it is intravenously injected.65Physicians with special certification may provide office-based buprenorphine treatment for detoxification and/or maintenance therapy.66 It is sometimes prescribed to older adolescents on the basis of two research studies indicating its efficacy for this population,67,68 even though it is not approved by the FDA for pediatric use.*
Naltrexone is approved for the prevention of relapse in adult patients following complete detoxification from opioids. It acts by blocking the brain’s opioid receptors (i.e., an opioid antagonist), preventing opioid drugs from acting on them and thus blocking the high the user would normally feel and/or causing withdrawal if recent opioid use has occurred. It can be taken orally in tablets or as a once-monthly injection given in a doctor’s office (a preparation called Vivitrol®).70
Alcohol Use Disorders‡
Acamprosate (Campral®) reduces withdrawal symptoms by normalizing brain systems disrupted by chronic alcohol consumption in adults.
Disulfiram (Antabuse®) inhibits an enzyme involved in the metabolism of alcohol, causing an unpleasant reaction if alcohol is consumed after taking the medication.71
Naltrexone decreases alcohol-induced euphoria and is available in both oral tablets and long-acting injectable preparations (as in its use for the treatment of opioid addiction, above).
Nicotine Use Disorders
Bupropion, commonly prescribed for depression, also reduces nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms in adult smokers.72
Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) help smokers wean off cigarettes by activating nicotine receptors in the brain. They are available in the form of a patch, gum, lozenge, nasal spray, or inhaler.73
Varenicline reduces nicotine cravings and withdrawal in adult smokers by mildly stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain.74
Disorders Treated
Anxiety Behavioral Disorders Depression Mood Disorders Other Disorders Personality Disorders Substance Abuse Dependent Depression Generalized Anxiety Disorder Grief and Loss Personality Disorder Psychosis Psychotic Episodes Substance Abuse
Whether you’re native to Las Vegas, recently moved or are just ready for a change, selecting a primary care physician is an important first step toward managing your healthcare. Your primary care doctor is your medical “home.” It’s the doctor you visit for most medical needs, including wellness visits and routine screenings, non-emergency illnesses like earaches and sore throats, and the person you speak to about your health questions and concerns. If you have insurance, your primary care physician will also be the person who refers you to see a specialist.
Some patient-primary care relationships can span decades, while others will be short-lived because you change insurance or move. No matter how long you plan to see your primary care physician, the relationship is an important one. You’ll want to select someone you feel comfortable having honest conversations with, someone with expertise in the areas that meet your health needs, and someone who is “in-network” for your health insurance plan.
Here are five tips for choosing a new primary care physician:
1. Determine Which Doctors Are “In-Network”
Most health plans have negotiated special, discounted rates with certain doctors and hospitals in your area, and you will pay less out of pocket for visiting those doctors, who are called “in-network” for insurance purposes. Ensuring that you select an “in-network” doctor will help you avoid a surprise “out-of-network” charge or having to pay in full out of pocket because the doctor you’ve selected doesn’t accept your insurance plan.
2. Find a Doctor with Expertise that Meets Your Health Needs
Now that you have the list of in-network doctors, you can begin narrowing it down. There are several different types of doctor that will be identified as a primary care physician – typically Family Practice is the most comprehensive physician you will encounter to best take care of all your needs.
Family Practice – Family practice physicians are able to treat patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. They are generalists who can treat a wide variety of conditions, and often can also treat ailments you’d normally see a specialist for, like sports injuries or some women’s health needs.
Nurse Practitioners – Advanced Family Practice Nurse Practitioners are like family practice physicians and can treat patients of any gender or age. This category is one area where you might also find excellent care providers that work along side an experienced physician
3. Ask for Referrals
Many people feel most comfortable visiting a physician who is recommended by someone they know, like a family member, co-worker or friend. Ask around and see what doctor your friends and family visit. You can also ask another healthcare professional with whom you have a relationship, like a women’s primary care physician, a pharmacist, or even your dentist for a recommendation. If you’re moving, ask your current doctor if they have a recommendation for your new location.
4. Think About Logistics
Do you want a doctor located close to your home or office? Use your insurance carrier’s doctor directory or “provider finder” to search for doctors with an office location that is convenient for you to visit. You’ll also want to consider office hours – what days and times does the doctor see patients? Will you need to take time off work to visit the office, or can you go after work or on weekends? It’s also a good idea to check what hospital the doctor admits patients to.
Language is another important factor to check. You need to be able to communicate clearly with your doctor, so check which languages he or she speaks to be sure you’ll be able to understand each other. Many doctors now use email or an online portal to communicate with patients, which may be another item of importance to tech-savvy communicators when selecting a physician.
5. Visit the Doctor
Nothing can really give you a feel for whether you’ve selected the right doctor like an office visit and a face-to-face meeting. Be sure you feel comfortable in the office and with the physician and nurses. Your primary care physician should be someone you trust and can rely on to help manage your healthcare. Talk with him or her about any current medications you are taking and your medical history to be sure you are on the same page when it comes to managing any chronic conditions.
When in the office, you should evaluate other environmental factors. Take into account the demeanor of the people who answer the phone and greet you when you walk in – are they efficient and friendly? The most critical issue is do they take walk-in patients each day they are open, when you need to see your provider, can you! Are the phones answered in a timely manner? How far in advance do you need to schedule an appointment? And how long is the wait to see the doctor after you arrive for your appointment?
If for any reason you are not happy with your choice, most insurance plans allow for you to change your primary care physician anytime during the plan year.
Where can I get more information about weight loss?
Ask about our weight loss program in this office at Total Health &Wellness Medical Center
National Institutes of Health
Eating Healthy When Dining Out
Website: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/dine_out.htm
Healthier Eating While Saving Money
Website:http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/tip_saving.pdf
Weight-control Information Network
Website: http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/index.htm
High risk
Coronary artery disease
Type 2 diabetes
Sleep apnea
Other risk factors
Age > 45 in men
Age > 55 or postmenopausal in women
Hypertension
LDL > 160 mg per dL (4.14 mmol per L)
HDL < 35 mg per dL (0.91 mmol per L)
Impaired fasting glucose
Family history of premature coronary artery disease
Osteoarthritis
Gallstones
Stress incontinence
Cigarette smoking
Medications: Phentermine, Adipex, Orlistat, Meridia, diethylpropion (Tenuate), mazindol (Sanorex), phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim), phendimetrazine (Bontril)
There's much to see here. Feel free to give us a call now and book an appointment at (725)232-8303.
Total Health & Wellness Medical Center
1516 East Tropicana Ste #130 Las Vegas, NV 89119
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