Medications That Make Opioid Detox Easier

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

If you’ve fallen into the trap of developing an addiction to opiate and opioid addiction and abuse, it’s imperative that you seek medical professional assistance to work through this condition. Addiction and abuse is something that is potentially fatal. Before you can address this disease, there is a strong possibility that you may experience symptoms of withdrawal which can make it all but impossible for you to care for yourself. During this period of time, you will experience opioid withdrawal symptoms which can be severe at times. Severe withdrawal is something that no person should ever go through alone. Therefore, when you’re ready to address your opiate addiction and face the withdrawal from opiates, you should never go through the process alone. 

Here are some common examples of opioid withdrawal symptoms that you will experience during the time that you’re in detox: 

There is always the possibility that any one of the symptoms, or a combination of them, could lead to your death. This is the leading reason why you should never be alone during the time that you’re going through withdrawal. Although begin home during this stretch of time is something that may seem appealing, it’s something that could be potentially dangerous. 

Drug Detox for Opioids

Detox for opioid use disorders is something that can be incredibly challenging, which is why you should always partner with a medical professional in a luxury rehab which will help you through the process. There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration while preparing to address your opioid use disorders which is one of the reasons why you need to be completely transparent with your luxury rehab regarding the extent of your opioid addiction. It’s key that you disclose if you have used these medications for pain management or if you have been using opioids as sleeping pills. Although it may feel awkward or uncomfortable disclosing the extent of your opioid abuse, it’s imperative that you speak to your treatment team about the extent of it so that they can develop a plan for you while you’re withdrawing from opioids. Once your treatment team has all of this information, they can begin to help you in the process of withdrawing from opioids. 

Medications Used During Drug Detox

It’s important to remember that there are several medications that can be used in treating opioid withdrawal. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception when it comes to utilizing this medication for opiate withdrawal that taking this step is akin to “taking the easy way out”. However, when you’re struggling with opioid dependence, the medical addiction community believes that you should have every opportunity to receive the support that you need during the time that you’re going through opioid dependence withdrawal. Here are a few examples of opiate withdrawal medications that can help to make this process go smoother. 

1. Suboxone

Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Similar to any other type of medications, your doctor will speak to you in great detail regarding the pros and cons of taking this medication. There are certain potential side effects to it, however, the end result is something that can help you to feel more confident in the steps that you’re taking to overcome your addiction without feeling the severe impact of withdrawal symptoms. 

2. Clonidine

Clonidine is a substance that is used to treat more than just opioid withdrawal symptoms. In fact, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for a doctor to prescribe clonidine to a person that has high blood pressure. It’s important for you to remember to not miss a dose in order for the results to last. If you do forget to take a dose, it’s key that you take the next dose as soon as possible. 

3.Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is another example of a prescription medication that has shown to be incredibly beneficial to a person that is going through opiate withdrawal. It’s imperative that your dosage and consumption of this medication is closely monitored by a medical professional to ensure that you don’t substitute one addiction for another. 

How Long Does Opioid Detox Take?

One of the frequently asked questions that a drug rehab will often receive revolves around how long a person will need to spend in a drug and alcohol detox program. On average, regardless of your drug and alcohol substance of choice, you can expect to spend at least seven days in a detox program. You can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms within the first few hours from the time that you last took your opiate and opioid of choice with the peak of your withdrawal from opiates coming within the first 72 hours. After that three-day period, your drug withdrawal symptoms will begin to lessen, and you will begin to feel more like yourself. Toward the end of the week, you will be in a better place to start treating opioid addiction in a meaningful way. 

Throughout the course of your time in drug rehab, you will also gain additional information regarding your withdrawal symptoms. For example, there is always the possibility that you could experience a condition known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome, commonly known as PAWS. This is something that can take place months or even years into your addiction recovery. PAWS happens when you begin to experience withdrawal symptoms in a milder manner even though you have been clean and sober. It’s important that you know the warning signs of PAWS so that you can address them immediately and so that they do not trigger your opioid addiction. During the time that you’re in drug rehab, you will learn more about post-acute withdrawal symptoms and what you can do to stay away from other triggers. 

Medically Assisted Detox for Opioids at Resurgence Behavioral Health

Opioid addiction is never something that should be taken lightly. When you’re ready to commit to being on the road to recovery, the drug and alcohol treatment team at Resurgence Behavioral Health are here to help you. We have helped people from all over the country to overcome their addiction to prescription opioids and provide them with the guidance and medical advice that they need to tackle their addiction. While it’s true that detox for prescription opioids is critical, it’s important to remember that medicationassisted treatment is something that can last far beyond just detox. 

When you partner with our team to address your addiction to opioid medications, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of addiction treatment programs which can help you to overcome your prescription drug abuse. The first addiction treatment option that you have is to work through an inpatient treatment or a residential treatment program. Although you have stopped taking prescription drugs, it’s imperative that you come to the understanding of what led you to that addiction in the first place. Inpatient treatment for physical dependence can provide you with the safe environment that you need to begin to address your addiction issues. 

If you’re unable to commit to an inpatient treatment plan, you can always opt to work through an outpatient treatment program. An outpatient treatment program is something that a person who has full time or even part time work or school responsibilities can take advantage of. Outpatient treatment offers a level of flexibility that is not seen in an inpatient treatment program. For instance, you will have the option to live at home during the time that you’re in treatment and your recovery team will work with you to put together a plan that doesn’t make you feel as though you need to choose between your recovery and the important responsibilities that you need to manage day in and day out. 

Regardless of whether you need to decide to work through an inpatient or an outpatient program, it’s key that you determine the root cause of your addiction. Addiction can manifest itself for numerous reasons. For example, it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility for a person to develop an addiction due to a traumatic event that they experienced during their life. Whether this happened in childhood or later on in life, these issues are something that need to be addressed in order for you to move forward with your life and leave your problems with addiction in the past. 

The main way that you will work through these events is by openly and honestly participating in different forms of addiction therapy. Therapy is something that comes in many different forms. From group therapy to individual therapy, to family therapy, these different forms of counseling can help you to grow in ways that you may not have thought were possible. When you initially reach out to our intake team, we will be able to address any questions or concerns that you have regarding treatment. 

To learn more about the opioid recovery and detox programs that we offer at Resurgence Behavioral Health, we encourage you to get in touch with our addiction experts today at (855) 458-0050 and learn more about your treatment options. 

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

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