Recovering from drugs like oxycontin and vicodin without opiate withdrawal treatment can be devastating

Overcoming opioid’s like oxycontin or vicodin can be rather brutal without opiate withdrawal treatment. It has been my experience that it can be as devastating and painful as attempting recovery from opiate dependencies like heroin addiction.

There are many different opiate drugs used to treat moderate to severe pain is classified as an opiate antagonist. An opiate antagonist is an analgesic that changes the way the body senses pain. It gives the user the same feeling as a morphine effect. This is the feeling endorphins, natural brain compounds, create in the body.

Opiate antagonists are not only used to lessen opiate withdrawal symptoms they are also used for certain other drugs too, such as heroin, methadone and morphine addiction. In some cases the opiate agonist is used long term for chronic opiate addiction. It is extremely important for the patient to adhere to the dosage instructions. Also, tell the doctor about any other pain relievers, even herbal supplements.

Prescription painkillers like vicodin are not limited to treating pain. It is also effective in some cases to alleviate: restless leg syndrome, depression, phobias, anxiety, and fibromyalgia ailments. It is imperative to consume only the approved dosage and not to stop the medication without the doctor’s approval.

If one stops taking the drug without a doctor’s approved method of gradually decreasing the medicine the side effects of opioid withdrawal may be severe. Panic, being nervous, runny nose, unable to get to sleep or stay asleep, sweating, tingling of the hands and feet, nausea and diarrhea are a few possible side effects. In rare cases, withdrawal symptoms may include uncontrollable shaking and hallucinations.

The habit forming effects of these drugs can be psychological as well as the expected physical dependence. This can be made more difficult if one has an alcohol or other drug dependency.

If the patient exhibits a craving to take more of the drug than advised, he or she should talk to their doctor right away. The doctor can formulate a plan to gradually decrease the dosage in order to taper off the medication. If one is unable to overcome their drug dependence after following a proposed course, a rehabilitation facility may be the next step to success.

In order to choose the rehab center, it is necessary to do research and ask questions. The specialties of the facility, the options for treatment, success rate and of course, the cost are some of the essential questions one needs to make a decision. Use of a drug rehab comparison directory may offer useful information on how to get through oxy withdrawal.

Best Method for Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal can be an unbearably painful experience. There is no way to put it lightly because it is not easy. Symptoms can include things like horrible stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sweating, muscle aches, anxiety,and depression. Withdrawal from opiates is definitely not pretty but it is necessary in order to live a productive life.

The good thing about withdrawal is that it does not take forever for the body to detoxify from opiates. Typical detoxification is normally 3-5 days. Some light symptoms may still persist for days or weeks but for the most part detoxification from opiates only takes a week.

That being said, it is not advisable for a person who has a painkiller addiction to quit without doing something to relieve the pain that will be involved during detoxification process. The best method to get through opioid withdrawal is to attempt to take over the counter medications and home remedies that alleviate the worst symptoms. Try this first before getting anything prescription because you want to be as clean as possible.

For nausea, saltine crackers and sips of ginger ale have always worked well. If the nausea is very bad there is a prescription medication known as Gravol. Achy muscles and headaches can be relieved with Ibuprofen. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during the entire detoxification period to avoid dehydration.

If the pain becomes so unbearable that it seems like death is pending, the doctor can prescribe a synthetic narcotic such as Tramadol to help wean you off. However, this kind of treatment is risky because sometimes medicines used to treat an addiction are also addictive.

State and government funded drug rehabs

There are also plenty of drug rehabs out there that can help you to beat opiate addiction there are even state and government funded drug rehabs for those that can not afford to pay for it.

Like I said there are all kinds of alternatives out there but you will have to be the one that takes the action and does the leg work if you want to stop opiates.

Best Medicine for Opiate Withdrawal

Since opioid withdrawal can be so detrimental to a person’s health and mental state, doctor’s have come up with an opiate withdrawal treatment that has been quite effective over the past few years. The drug is called suboxone and it is a mixture of the drugs buprenorphine and naloxone.
Naloxone is a substance that blocks the effects of opiates and stops the person from feeling them. Buprenorphine is a synthetic narcotic. It causes a much less high and euphoric feeling than other opiates.

The way these two drugs work in conjunction is amazing. The buprenorphine is just enough of a narcotic like substance to make withdrawal symptoms cease in the patient. Because the body is still getting something similar to a narcotic, it is not reacting violently so the patient is not experiencing the nausea and headaches and muscle pains that are normally felt during detoxification.

While the buprenorphine is faking the body out and making it think it is getting its daily dose of narcotics, the naloxone is blocking the actual euphoric effect of the buprenorphine from happening. In other words the patient can not get high off of the suboxone, but his or her withdrawal symptoms will be gone.

What Are Opiate Withdrawal Forums?

Opioid withdrawal forums are important tools to have during the detoxification process. They are areas on the internet where people who are attempting to quit narcotics can speak with each other and provide experiences and support.

Many people going through withdrawal would like to know how other people felt when they were going through it. Perhaps they would like to know how long the pain lasted and what other people’s methods were in helping their pain to subside. Treatment medications are often discussed in these forums.

Opiate withdrawal forums allow for open communication between people who are all going through similar pains. It is always better to have support when quitting any dangerous substance than to not have support. Even if the people in the forum are strangers they might be able to give some information that was not known before.

How to Survive Vicodin Withdrawal

Vicodin withdrawal is a difficult process where the body must adjust to the absence of a strong pain medication. Vicodin is a popular narcotic prescribed to many people. If taken for a prolonged period of time, it may be difficult to adjust when the medicine is stopped.

Vicodin withdrawal symptoms

Symptoms of vicodin withdrawal can begin within hours and vary between people. Some experience symptoms that become intense for several days, then lessen as the weeks progress. People may have aches, pains, loss of appetite, fever, chills, nervousness, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and even depression. All of the symptoms add discomfort, yet are rarely life-threatening.

It is wise to never stop Vicodin suddenly or all at one time. It is better to consult a doctor and establish a plan to wean off of the medication. There is no reason to feel like a drug addict because a person is suffering from Vicodin withdrawal symptoms. As with any narcotic, it is easy for the body to become used to the drug effects and withdrawal is a normal response to ending the medication. The correct help can help a person kick the drug and return to a pain-free and medication free life.

Safely Avoiding Oxycontin Withdrawal

Oxycontin withdrawal can be a very serious condition. This occurs when a patient suddenly stops taking Oxycontin. Luckily, this can often be avoided very easily by gradually decreasing the dose given to the patient. This is recommended as it allows the body to reduce its physical dependence on the drug over a longer period of time.

If a patient immediately discontinues use of Oxycontin, there is a definite risk that oxy withdrawal symptoms may occur. These symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, panic, and flu-like symptoms such as nausea, muscle pain and fever. If the patient has been taking high doses or has been using the drug for a long time these may increase in severity, and may become dangerous. Those who use Oxycontin should consult a doctor before discontinuing use, and anyone experiencing withdrawal symptoms should see a doctor immediately.

Withdrawal from Oxycontin can be avoided safely and easily most of the time, especially for those who are using the drug exactly as stated by the prescription. Those abusing the drug or taking it other than as directed may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms. As long as special care is taken, these individuals should still be able to discontinue use of Oxycontin safely.

Suboxone: An Alternative to Methadone

Suboxone, combinations of buprenorphine and naloxone, is proving quite useful in drug treatment plans for patients battling opioid addiction who have trouble with the side effects of methadone. The drug is an opioid itself. That means it can cause side effects, including physical dependence. Properly used, though, it can help patients control their addictions.

Suboxone comes as a pill. Patients put it under their tongues and allow it to dissolve. It relieves the overwhelming craving for opioid drugs and prevents withdrawal symptoms, but does not produce the same level of euphoria as street drugs.

Not all patients tolerate suboxone well. Someone who gets sweating, vomiting, headaches, sleep problems or digestive trouble after beginning treatment should contact their doctors. Most patients find suboxone to be a useful tool in their fight against addiction.

Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms Unveiled

Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually vary from slight problems such as headaches, to major complications, some which may cause hospitalization. The scale of the symptoms usually depends on the length of time the opiate was used by the addict. The symptoms, whether minor or major, can be very uncomfortable and may give the person flu-like symptoms (such as runny nose and chills), cramps, as well as mental health problems.

One of the most common telltale signs is excessive sweating that is usually experienced throughout the night. Other symptoms include anxiety, agitation, insomnia and muscle aches. However, the worst withdrawal side-effects are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting which may last for three to seven days. Though the severe symptoms are not life-threatening, they may discourage the addict from quitting.

Opiate detox

One thing that you may want to know about opiate detox is that many people that are struggling with an opioid addiction want to know how they can stop using opiates about the best suggestion that I can give anyone who has this problem would be to find an opiate addiction rehab in the area of where they live. This is important so friends and family members can come to the rehab to support your decision to go through an opiate detox.

If you do locate one and decide to go you will be looked after by a trained staff of medical assistants who will be there to look after you 24/7 to make sure everything is going according to plan. They will also see to your needs and also administer prescription medications to ease any pain associated with opiate withdrawal. This process can take up to one week. After you have successfully completed your detox from opiates you will move over to the residential units.

In residential treatment you will attend lectures, 12 step meetings, group, and drug addiction therapy. This type of treatment is designed to help assist you with learning some addiction recovery tools that will help you to stay clean and sober when you leave opiate addiction rehab.

Here is another tip for you before you get ready to leave substance abuse rehab have a talk with your therapist about an aftercare recovery program. It has been my experience that those who leave drug rehab without one will lose what they have learned in a relapse. This drug addiction recovery plan does not have to be anything elaborate or anything you can add to it when you get out and I am pretty sure most of you who are serious about your recovery will do just that.

My aftercare plan included attending NA meetings every day and going to addiction therapy once per week. And this was enough to keep me clean in the beginning but like I said I did add a lot to it.

OK there is plenty of information here for any addict who really desires to stop using opiates and find a new way to live. Why not make the decision right now to kick opiates and do what ever it takes to do it.

Good luck

Opiate withdrawal video