Opioids are the synthetic version of opium that includes fentanyl, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Across the country, people are becoming addicted to opioids at an alarming rate. This wave of opioid addiction is partly due to doctors overprescribing medication that contain opioids. People become addicted to the effects, and once the prescription runs out, people turn to illegal opioids such as heroin. Often, opioid addiction treatment is necessary to stop the influence the drug has over someone’s life and help them overcome potentially painful withdrawal symptoms.
The good news is that several medications can counteract the pain of opioid withdrawal. At Pines Recovery Life Detox, our opioid addiction treatment program includes medication for opioid withdrawal. Our team is highly qualified to administer medication for opioid withdrawal, which can ease some of the most painful symptoms. If you or a loved one may benefit from opioid addiction treatment, learn more from our team today by calling 800.263.3869 or completing our online form.
Medication for Opioid Withdrawal
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction will be used to counteract the withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping the use of opiates. Withdrawal is a much more difficult and painful process without opioid withdrawal medications. Some of the medication for opioid withdrawal that our Pines Recovery Life Detox team uses includes:
- Naltrexone – Naltrexone makes it hard to experience pleasure from using opioids. It is not addictive.
- Methadone – Methadone has been the primary drug used to treat opioid addiction for decades. Its use must be monitored to avoid an overdose. It is, however, highly addictive.
- Buprenorphine – Buprenorphine reduces the cravings for opioids without generating any high. It can be habit-forming but without any narcotic effects. You must be careful because it could lead to abuse.
- Suboxone – Suboxone is a combination of naloxone and buprenorphine. Naloxone is the drug that is used to nullify opioid overdoses.
- Clonidine – Used for over 25 years to treat addiction, clonidine has more side effects than methadone, particularly hypotension (low blood pressure), but its use is less likely to lead to post-withdrawal rebounding. It has been shown to be less effective than buprenorphine.
- Lofexidine – Working similarly to clonidine, lofexidine deals better with hypotension and sedation than clonidine. It can be combined with low-dose naloxone to effectively improve retention symptoms and relapse.
What Are Some Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms?
The withdrawal symptoms for all types of opioids are the same. But they will affect everyone differently, having some symptoms reaching extreme levels while others don’t materialize at all.
Opiate withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Elevated heart rate
- Sweating
- Chills
- Bone and muscular pain
- Disruption of sleeping habits
- Flu-like symptoms
- High blood pressure
Overcome Opioid Withdrawal at Pines Recovery Life Detox Today
Opioid withdrawal can be difficult, and it is ill-advised to try to quit on your own due to the severity of the withdrawal process. There are several medications that work alone or in concert with each other to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Some of these medications, like buprenorphine, can be addictive in their own right, while others, like naltrexone, are not habit-forming. Without medication-assisted treatment, the opioid withdrawal process can be daunting and, in some circumstances, deadly.
At Pines Recovery Life Detox, serving all of South Florida, we provide three levels of treatment: evaluation, stabilization, and aftercare. We have spared no expense in providing our patients with the best possible care and accommodations. We want you to relax and focus on your recovery without the stress of feeling like you are not in the correct environment to best achieve your goals. Everything will be taken care of for you at Pines Recovery Life Detox. We can be reached online or at 800.263.3869 for you to take the first step on your journey to wellness and recovery.
