Opioid Drug Detox in Clearwater: What to Expect

What Are Opioids?

If you or a loved one struggles with drug addiction to opioids, you may wonder what to expect from the opioid withdrawal timeline during opioid drug detox in Clearwater. But first, we must understand what opioids are.

When used as your doctor directs, opioid drugs can safely help control acute pain. However, there are risks when the medication is used incorrectly. Opioids are a wide range of pain-relieving drugs that work by interacting with opioid receptors in your brain. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin and the legally prescribed drugs oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. When these types of drugs travel through your blood and attach to opioid receptors in the brain, the cells release signals that blur your perception of pain and boost feelings of pleasure.

They also produce a feeling of euphoria, which can lead to their abuse. Although prescribed opioids are intended to be used briefly to manage pain, they are often misused and can lead to addiction. Common opioids in the U.S. include

• Actiq
• Duragesic
• OxyContin
• Fentanyl
• Dilaudid
• Sublimaze
• Percocet
• Percodan
• Hydrocodone
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Demerol

Street names for these opioids drugs may include:

• Oxycat
• Tango and cash
• Apache
• Chine girl
• Goodfella
• Percs
• Hillbilly heroin
• Demmies
• Cody or captain Cody
• Schoolboy
• TNT

The opioid epidemic is a growing public health crisis in the United States. Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50, and opioids (including prescription painkillers and heroin) are responsible for more than 65% of all drug overdoses. The U.S. government is working to address the opioid epidemic through increased regulation, education, and treatment.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at (877) 640-7820 to learn how we can help.

15 Signs of Opioid Withdrawal

After a long period of drug use, the body becomes accustomed to certain chemicals and begins to rely on them for normal functioning. When the drug intake stops abruptly, the body is in a state of shock, no longer knowing how to produce these chemicals on its own. Opioid withdrawal occurs when a person stops using opioids after using them for a long time. It includes both physical and emotional symptoms, which may begin as soon as four hours after the last use and can last up to a week or longer. The severity of the symptoms during opioid drug detox in Clearwater usually depends upon how much and how long a person has been using opioids, but all addicts will experience some of these dangerous effects:

1. Increased agitation
2. Anxiety
3. Depression
4. Muscle aches
5. Increased tearing
6. Insomnia
7. Runny nose
8. Sweating
9. Yawning
10. Abdominal cramping
11. Diarrhea
12. Dilated pupils
13. Goosebumps
14. Vomiting
15. Nausea

Opioid addiction is a serious problem. When you are addicted to opioids, you not only risk the physical dangers of taking drugs but also the unwanted side effects like being unable to concentrate. The severity of opioid withdrawal varies from person to person and depends on the length of time you were on opioids and other factors. Your body will start to recover after a couple of weeks, but it might take six months or longer before you’re completely drug-free. To get treatment, addicts need to detox from opioids. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately for professional medical help. Sometimes, a medically-assisted detox can help ease the symptoms of withdrawal.

Opioid withdrawal during opioid drug detox in Clearwater is a complicated and uncomfortable process. Medically assisted treatment (MAT) can help patients detox safely by taking off opioids slowly, preventing painful symptoms. Patients who complete this withdrawal method are generally healthier than those who try to go cold turkey, in which symptoms can be very dangerous.

Opioid Withdrawal Timeline: What to Expect

Opioid withdrawal and detox are unfortunate side effects of abusing opioid drugs. It isn’t life-threatening but can be very uncomfortable for anyone trying to quit. Here’s what to expect from the opioid withdrawal timeline.

It’s important to note that withdrawal will depend on the type of opioid taken, including heroin, short-acting prescription opioids, or long-acting prescription drugs, as well as the severity of symptoms, the time of onset and duration of symptoms, how long opioids were misused, the dose taken, and the time between doses.

When it comes to short-acting opioid withdrawal symptoms, they can typically see within the first eight to 12 hours after the drug was last used. Then, the withdrawal will peak one to three days in and continue for up to seven days. Short-acting opioids can include morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.

Long-acting opioids, such as methadone or extended-release versions of morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl will result in first withdrawal symptoms showing up approximately 36 hours after the last use and can continue for up to two weeks or longer.

Regardless of the drug of choice, early withdrawal symptoms can occur six to 12 hours after the last dose. During detox, you may experience anxiety, teary eyes, nausea, excessive sweating, muscle aches, fever, trouble sleeping, runny nose, and yawning. Next comes peak withdrawal, which occurs about 36 to 48 hours after the last dose. Typically, this is the most uncomfortable stage of withdrawal. During this stage, symptoms to watch out for include depression, diarrhea, dilated pupils, goosebumps, intense drug cravings, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Last is a late withdrawal, which is when symptoms start to subside.

While opioid withdrawal timelines can vary, medically-assisted treatment (MAT) can help ease withdrawal symptoms. To receive MAT, seek help from an addiction treatment center like WhiteSands Treatment. Medications that can help the opioid withdrawal timeline include buprenorphine and methadone.

Learn about the most common opioids here:

Common Opioids

Opioid Drug Detox in Clearwater: Overcome Opioid Addiction at WhiteSands

If you or someone you love use opioids regularly, you know the dangers of opioid addictions. WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab is here to help. We provide opioid drug detox in Clearwater for those seeking help with their opioid addiction.

No matter what kind of treatment services you need, WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab has you covered. The first step to opioid addiction treatment is detox. At WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, patients can undergo medically-assisted treatment to relieve pain and restlessness as the drugs leave the body’s system. Additionally, patients participate in therapy and counseling during this part of treatment.

The next course of opioid withdrawal timeline treatment is residential rehab. At WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, 30 to 90 days of inpatient treatment is the next recommended step to recovery. Patients stay in a comfortable, safe, 100% sober environment with a fully structured group and individual therapy programs, doctor’s appointments, and psychiatric care.

After residential treatment, many patients choose to enroll in some outpatient treatment program. From an intensive outpatient program to partial hospitalization to aftercare, WhiteSands Treatment has options to help reduce the risk of relapse after treatment.

Regardless of the type of treatment you choose, WhiteSands Treatment center includes therapeutic methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), experiential therapy, group therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), family therapy, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, educational programs,s life skills programs, job coaching, and relapse prevention programs.

If you or a loved one struggles with opioid drug addiction, don’t wait to get help. Instead, seek addiction help from WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.