Author: James Anderson

Prescription Drug Detox & Withdrawal Treatment How To Detox

This option might also seem preferable if you don’t have insurance and can’t pay for a treatment program. Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers. She has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, Shannon’s experience ranges from critical care to flight nursing, medical detox, sexual assault exams, and SWAT nursing. Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization. Fear of withdrawal symptoms is one of the major reasons you may opt to continue misusing prescription medication, despite the potential for negative consequences. We are here to provide assistance in locating an Ark Behavioral Health treatment center that may meet your treatment needs.

IV detox therapy with amino acids or vitamins is also helpful in reducing the symptoms and making an addict feel better. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist medication that prevents neurotransmitter stimulation and blocks the drug’s euphoric effect, thereby, the recovering addict’s ability to get high. Thus, it essentially decreases cravings for the drug and prevents relapse as part of the long-term treatment plan for opioid addiction.

Prescription Drug Detox & Withdrawal

If you are addicted to alcohol, pills, or illegal drugs, the first step toward recovery is detox. Also called detoxification or withdrawal treatment, detox is the process of clearing the substance from your body. Chronic abuse of prescription drugs can result in potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal during prescription medication detox. If you use a prescription drug other than medically intended, you are in danger of developing a dependence or addiction to the medication.

That is why, no, one cannot detox using these medications independently. Specific withdrawal symptoms and their severity vary depending on the class of drug used and other factors; however, some symptoms can be highly uncomfortable or even dangerous. Even if you take a prescription drug as ordered by your doctor, you may still develop a dependence on it.

If you’re quitting alcohol, you might get anti-seizure medication or benzodiazepines to help with the withdrawal, and naltrexone or other medications to help you stop drinking. Some people who don’t require a lot of supervision might simply check in with their regular doctor’s office or a home health agency at scheduled intervals during their detox. Some people attend a daytime program at a hospital or substance abuse treatment facility but go home at night. Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a mental health problem. For that reason, detoxing on your own, without any guidance or supervision, is generally not wise.

Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders. Our addiction treatment specialists are here to assist you in verifying your insurance coverage. There are some effective cures for addictions, but treatment always starts with detoxification. Even the best rehabs in the U.S. believe that detox is the initial and one of the most critical stages of rehabilitation. Benzodiazepines used for alcohol treatment include such medications as Valium, Librium, Oxazepam, Ativan, etc.

Adrenergic Medications

Taking it for some time and stopping it suddenly may result in side effects such as anxiety, agitation, and insomnia. Therefore, Imodium is not considered an effective medication for opioid detox. We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies.

Symptoms become less intense after roughly one week of abstinence from opioids. Psychological withdrawal symptoms may persist for weeks or months after discontinuing use. PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome) is much more likely to manifest if you detox without medical supervision.

1. Drinking lots of water and other fluids will help flush all toxins from the body and prevent dehydration, streamlining the withdrawal process.
2. Fear of withdrawal symptoms is one of the major reasons you may opt to continue misusing prescription medication, despite the potential for negative consequences.
3. We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies.
4. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
5. If you’re quitting alcohol, you might get anti-seizure medication or benzodiazepines to help with the withdrawal, and naltrexone or other medications to help you stop drinking.

This detox process causes withdrawal symptoms, which may occur even if you begin a tapering protocol rather than quitting cold turkey. You may experience physical, mental, and emotional withdrawal effects as your body and brain seek to adjust to the drug’s absence. You should certainly go to the emergency room (ER) anytime you’re having serious withdrawal symptoms like difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, or seizures. If you simply show up and you’re not having a medical emergency, they might just refer you to a local substance abuse treatment center. You also may not have the option of using medication to make the process easier.

How Can Prescription Drug Use Lead to Addiction?

Which is why whether you’re dealing with Klonopin withdrawal, Hydrocodone withdrawal, OxyContin withdrawal, or something else, it is vital to seeek the help of a medical detox. Prescription drug withdrawal occurs when someone who is physically dependent on medication attempts to moderate or discontinue use of specific drug. As your system struggles to cope in the absence of a substance to which it is accustomed, withdrawal symptoms are a physical and psychological response from the system. Drug withdrawal can look and feel different for each person, depending in part on the type of drug you’re detoxing from. Prescription drug detox is the first step for getting off a prescription drug of abuse. The safest way to detox from a prescription drug is to begin a drug detox program.

Drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, depending on the severity of the addiction. During a prescription drug detox program, medical professionals will monitor your vital signs and administer medication as needed to manage drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Consult with a healthcare provider who can provide guidance on the safest and most effective way to detox from prescription drugs. A medical detox program may be recommended for those who have developed a physical dependence on prescription medications like opioids or benzos. Professionals monitor your vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature 24/7 and can administer medication to ease anxiety and other withdrawal symptoms.

Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. Loperamide is sometimes used during detoxification and withdrawal to treat diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and nausea. However, Imodium does not help with symptoms such as cravings, flu-like symptoms, depression, irritability, etc. In addition, loperamide will not grant relief from severe pain, muscle aches, and psychological dependence on the drug abused. The withdrawal timeline from prescription opioids like morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and fentanyl, lasts for a week or two.

Prescription Drugs May Have Dangerous Effects

This may include a physical exam, lab tests, and a review of your medical and addiction history. Rapid detox programs are a form of inpatient detox that uses anesthesia and medication to speed up the withdrawal process. This type of program is controversial and not recommended by most addiction treatment experts.

The medication is helpful in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms because it addresses the pain and may help manage seizures that can result from detoxing. The exact gabapentin for alcohol withdrawal dosage will depend on the severity of the addiction and if the user is addicted to substances besides alcohol. Detox is the first step of your recovery journey and addresses the issue of physical dependence. While Renaissance does not offer detox programs, we can help find the best facility for you and get you set up for treatment post-detox.