I’ve become seriously ill
Unfortunately I’ve had to close my practice
Welcome to Jim Gagné, M.D.’s website
I’m board certified in internal medicine, addiction medicine, and pain medicine. I’m a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. I have specialized in treating patients with chronic pain and addiction. As of 1 November 2020 I closed my office due to illness. I will not respond to requests for care. But please feel free to peruse the information on this site.
Important Announcement: I’ve become seriously ill and can no longer practice medicine. I’ve completely stopped seeing patients or refilling prescriptions.
Please fax any medical records requests to (818) 790-4301. Please note that requests for medical records must be legible and signed by the patient. Include where you’d like records sent. The first copy is free; additional copies are $75 each.
Expertise
Learn more about my private practice in addiction medicine.
Patients with chronic pain get no respect.
I’m not a psychiatrist but have always been interested in helping people with emotional healing.
Though I’ve closed my internal medicine practice, you’ll find some useful health tips here: caring for a cold, all about hypertension, preventing heart disease, and more.
However we express it, the potential for spiritual experience lies within each of us. It can be more than a helpful adjunct to healing, at times essential. Click for more…
I’ve long wanted to be able to take note of interesting medical news and updates. Here’s my blog.
Awards
Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
In recognition of my training and experience in addiction medicine, I was named a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM) in 2015.
Pasadena Magazine's Top Doctors, 2013
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America's Top Physicians, 2013
In 2013, I was also selected as one of America’s Top Physicians.
Recent posts
A comprehensive guide to the new science of treating lower back pain
In August 2017 vox.com published the best article I've ever seen on current science for treating chronic low back pain. If you're not familiar with what's new, it will stun you. The article reviews in great detail each type of treatment. Bottom line: [...]
A new study showed opioids are no better than Tylenol for some chronic pain
A new study shows opioids are no better than Tylenol for some chronic pain. A recent article in vox.com discusses a new study done on 240 patients in the Veterans Administration who had chronic pain. They compared using potent opioid pain [...]
Experts correct Secretary Tom Price on addiction treatment
On May 9, 2017, then-Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price gave a speech on opioid addiction to a group in West Virginia. He decried the use of Medication Assisted Treatment with methadone maintenance or ongoing Suboxone as "just substituting one opioid for another." But [...]
Adopting five healthy lifestyle habits increases longevity by more than a decade
Adopting five healthy lifestyle habits increases longevity by more than a decade A major free article in Circulation shows that by avoiding smoking or excessive drinking, maintaining a normal weight, exercising at least half an hour a day, and eating a healthy [...]
Major New York Times article on heart infections from injecting drugs
Today's New York Times has a vital article about heart infections ("endocarditis") caused by injecting drugs intravenously. In the area of Tennessee discussed in the article, some addicts return to the hospital two or more times with new infections. They are deadly. But they [...]
Heavy metals and other toxins found in popular protein powders
A report in Consumer Reports describes a new study shows that many of the top-selling powders and drinks may contain concerning levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, and toxins like bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found [...]