Opioids such as Heroin, Oxycontin, Vicodin and many other prescription medications are extremely addictive. As a matter of fact they are truly one of the
most addicting substances known to man. Anyone who has been caught up in an opioid addiction can tell you, opioid withdrawal symptoms can range from very uncomfortable to so intense you may need to be hospitalized for a time until you are through getting the drug out of your system. I’m sure most of us are familiar with the horror stories we have heard about heroin withdrawal. Other drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine which are often prescribed for pain by doctors can also cause addiction, often leaving ordinary people who suffer legitimate pain to face opioid withdrawal.
Understanding the addiction and what a person will face to break that addiction will be their first task, knowing what they are up against will help them to be more prepared to deal with what is to come. If the person has been using the drug for a long time or using a lot of it they may wish to talk to a doctor or a drug rehab center about helping them get through the detox period.
Opioids are among the most addictive substances on the planet and fear of opioid withdrawal symptoms can prevent many people from breaking the addiction on their own. Withdrawal symptoms may take up most of a person’s time and effort to overcome so it is important that they take them seriously
and make every effort to set aside ample time to allow their body to recover. Often taking time off work checking into a rehab or detox unit that has experience with opioid addiction can be very helpful. This experience will be to the benefit of the person going through the addiction as they already know what to expect and can help them get through the worst of it.
A person going through opioid withdrawal should make it a point to get as much rest as possible during their detox. Eating healthy meals, exercising and being gentle with themselves are all methods they can use to help them get through this period both emotionally and physically.
There are many symptoms that have been experienced with opioid withdrawal, some of the most common ones that can be expected are upset stomach, vomiting, tremors, nervousness, anxiety, or hot and cold sweats. Having a plan on how a person expects to deal with these withdrawal symptoms can help them be successful when detoxing.
If the opioid withdrawal symptoms are severe and unmanageable the addict should seek medical help immediately. While they may be reluctant to do this, this is a serious matter that will only get worse and should be intervened upon right away.
If you’re going through opiate withdrawal there are some challenges that you need to consider. It is extraordinarily difficult to make it through this detoxification phase without any help, therefore many people in this position end up relapsing and continuing their active addiction. If you’ve been hooked on pain pills or heroin there are medications available such as Suboxone will help taper you down from the opiates to limit the discomfort. Instead of going through 3 to five days of turmoil, they are going to keep you much more comfortable for the few days of your opioid detox.
The other option you have is to stay hooked on a pharmaceutical opioid for a longer term in order to avoid the potential challenges with street drugs such as heroin. Some people go on an upkeep dose of an opioid, as a safety measure until they can make the decision that abstinence is the way to go. If it can help them to remain off street drugs then it might be a more sensible choice than others. The process of opioid detox can be extremely upsetting for someone that is not prepared. Eduction about such drugs as heroin and other opioids can help in dealing with a selection of opioid withdrawal symptoms.
We believe that recovery is a wonderful way to live. However, living the recovered life is a choice!
Liam Magnuson