Prescription drug addiction is an unfortunate problem in America; roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescripted opioids for chronic pain misuse them. The good news is that it’s easier now more than ever for you or a loved one to get the help necessary. The first step to beating an addiction is to go through drug detoxification.
During prescription drug detox, you may experience the unpleasant side effects of withdrawal. Understanding these concepts can be confusing and overwhelming, so this guide is here to break it down.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is a Prescription Drug Detox?
Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to get rid of any drugs in it. During the process of detox, the goal is to safely manage the symptoms of withdrawal that occur when someone stops taking prescription drugs. Your experience with drug detoxification depends on how long you’ve been using prescription drugs and if they’ve been combined with anything else.
Usually, drug detoxification is done in either inpatient or outpatient programs. This means that a facility will help you during the process of detox. An inpatient program requires you to reside in the facility while an outpatient program allows you to live at your home while getting part-time treatment at a facility.
Doing a detox at home is highly discouraged because quitting “cold turkey” can lead to some severe side effects. These side effects are called withdrawals and dealing with them on your own is not recommended.
Process of Drug Detox
Now that you know what a prescription drug detox is, you might be curious to know what it involves. Sure, there may be different facilities that range in the way they do things, but this is just the general way it’s done.
Evaluation
The first thing that will happen is that you’ll get evaluated. This means a medical team will screen you for both physical and health issues. It’ll involve blood tests to see the amount of drug in your system.
Once the medical team determines how much is in your system, they’ll be able to create a personalized treatment plan. They’ll also determine how much medication you’ll need.
Stabilization
After having a long-term treatment plan created, the next step is to stabilize you. This involves using both medical and psychological therapy.
While it may seem counterproductive, you might be prescribed addiction treatment medication to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications. Don’t worry about these, causing your addiction to worsen; professionals administer them and do not cause addiction.
Preparation for Treatment
Once you’ve been evaluated and stabilized, it’s time to prepare for a treatment program. By this point, doctors are familiar with their patients and what to expect. Now it’s about participating in different therapies and staying clean.
Inpatient programs are the best way to detox and ensure that you don’t relapse. This is because you can completely focus on rehabilitation without any temptation.
What is Withdrawal?
When you’re addicted to drugs and alcohol, your brain grows dependent on the chemicals it produces. When you abruptly stop, it can cause mental and physical stress as your body tries to restore equilibrium. The intensity and duration of these symptoms vary depending on the type of drug you are addicted to and the way your body functions.
Not only can withdrawal be unpleasant, but it can also be dangerous. That’s why you must talk to a medical professional before you stop taking an addictive drug immediately. Being in a controlled facility with staff who can take care of you is essential.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity depending on the type of drug used, how often you used it, any additional substances that are abused, and how dependent you are on these drugs. Each type of prescription drug has common withdrawal symptoms; these include:
Anti-Anxiety Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Tachycardia
Stimulant Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Intense dreams
Prescription Painkillers Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Dilated pupils
- Muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Nausea and vomiting
It’s important to remember that different types of drugs stay in your system for different periods of time. You’re likely to feel the withdrawal symptoms after around 48 hours, peak during day 3 and it may take up to 21 days for it to diminish. While this may seem discouraging, remember that going through this process at a treatment center will ensure you’re as safe as possible.
Prescription Drug Safety
To help combat the growing issue of prescription drug abuse, we must begin with prevention. Doctors, pharmacists, and patients can all take the necessary precaution to identify the nonmedical use of prescription drugs and take measures to prevent escalation. Physicians can help their patients recognize if a problem exists and also help them get the appropriate treatment.
Patients can avoid prescription drug abuse by ensuring they’re using medications appropriately. This means following the label’s directions, being aware of how the drug interacts with other substances, and not changing regimen without discussing it with a doctor first.
Since opioid misuse and overdose became too common, the federal government launched an initiative in 2015 that promoted more responsible prescribing of opioid medication. With everyone’s efforts, the opioid epidemic can be under control.
Prescription Drug Detox and Withdrawal
The odds of dying in an accidental opioid overdose are higher than dying in a car accident. This is a grim fact, but it’s a necessary reminder that if you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, you aren’t alone. One of the best options is prescription drug detox.
You can browse through various treatment centers that will create a personalized plan to help you combat your addiction. You’ll receive medical help as well as therapeutic sessions to ensure you don’t relapse.
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