Opioid is a class of drugs that are medically used primarily for pain relief, and can be harvested from the opium poppy plant or manufactured artificially in labs. These substances produce a euphoric effect, which is the primary reason why users develop an addiction to it.
Overdoses and death involving opioid use are common, with an estimate of 128 people dying every day in the United States in 2018. If you are currently suffering from opioid addiction, seek medical supervision to quit the addiction safely. Opioid detox is best done with the help of professionals to ensure that the withdrawal symptoms will be addressed properly and to prevent further harm to your body.
Withdrawal symptoms
The frequency and severity of symptoms differ from patient to patient, and this mostly depends on the duration of opioid abuse. Once the patient undergoes opioid detox, the following symptoms may arise:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Muscle spasms
- Constricted pupils
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Abdominal cramps
The Process of Opioid Detox
The detoxification process typically involves three steps, albeit with varying methods to suit each patient’s case. Withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening, and performing a detox yourself without any medical expertise is dangerous.
1. The patient’s medical and drug abuse history will be evaluated. This involves asking questions such as how long they have been using opioids, what doses they are accustomed to, and if there were any attempts to sobriety before.
2. Different medical and psychological therapies will be facilitated. An abrupt abstinence to opioid use may do more harm than good, so doctors would often prescribe the use of medications with a similar effect to opioid. As the body adjusts to these new medications, the dosage will be decreased gradually until they recover from the withdrawal symptoms, a method also called tapering.
3. The patient will be subjected to a personalized program, such as an inpatient or outpatient rehab program, to further treat the addiction and help them achieve long-term sobriety.
The onset of withdrawal symptoms from opioid detox should be addressed with the right care, and our medical professionals at the Broadway Treatment Center are here to ensure your safety throughout the process. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff, and we’ll give you every information you need.