The Ins and Outs of Opiate Detoxification  

Opiate addiction is a common problem that affects people of all backgrounds. When battling an opiate addiction, it is essential to seek treatment at a drug treatment center in Palm Beach to help you combat the withdrawal symptoms and address the root of your addiction to get the best possible outcome. To better understand the opiate detoxification process it is vital to understand the withdrawal symptoms that you can expect to experience during the process.

Early Withdrawl Symptoms

Though the early symptoms of opiate withdrawals are not as severe they can often be uncomfortable and preparing yourself for them will make them pass easier. These symptoms will often present themselves anywhere from 6 to 30 hours after stopping depending on the strength and dose you were taking.

  • Tearing up
  • Muscle aches
  • Irritability and agitation
  • Insomnia
  • A runny nose
  • Sweating
  • Fever
  • Rapid heart rate

Later Withdrawl Symptoms

Later withdrawal symptoms will be at there most severe about 72 hours after your last dose and will usually last a little over a week. Some of the symptoms you can expect to encounter during the later stage of opiate withdrawal include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Goosebumps
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Depression
  • Cravings
  • Stomach cramping

Psychological symptoms can occur after a couple of weeks especially repeated cravings.

Treatment Options for Detoxification

There are multiple treatment options to help ease withdrawal symptoms and aid you through the detoxification process.

Medical Detoxification

Medical detoxification treatments are often used for opiate addiction. Opiates can be complicated to come off of and often require medical supervision and intervention, in the beginning, to prevent the physical withdrawals from becoming severe complications. During a medical detox, one of the first steps is to slowly taper you off of the larger dosage onto a smaller one so that side effects are not as bad. This usually involves weaning those taking shorter acting opiates such as heroin with longer acting ones like methadone. Your doctor may also prescribe partial opioids which can stave off cravings longer at a lower dosage. In addition to using drugs to wean down the dosage, you may be treated with other medications that can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

Other Detoxification Methods

In addition to medical detoxification, the drug treatment center in Palm Beach will utilize other means to help you get through the detoxification process safely and allow you to have the tools to best fight ongoing cravings and relapse. Some of the other treatment methods include counseling session and other psychological treatments to help determine the root of the addicition, provide more beneficial coping methods, and create a foundation for a support system you will need.

Opiate detoxification is difficult and should not be done alone. Choosing the best drug treatment center in Palm Beach is one of the most important decisions you will make when deciding to rid yourself of your opiate addiction for good. The right center can provide you with the tools you need to stop your addiction, get through your withdrawal and avoid relapse.