Prescription Drug Withdrawal
Prescription Drugs and Addiction
Prescription drugs, most specifically prescription painkillers can become highly addictive. With devastating social and health effects arising as a result of this addiction, it is imperative that the individual addicting to these medications get help and stop misusing them.
Withdrawal from prescription drugs
But in order to detoxify from prescription drugs, an individual will almost certainly have to endure a series of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from prescription painkillers occurs when the mind and body are looking for the drug they have become accustomed to – and are unable to find it. This manifests itself in a series of physical and psychological symptoms.
Issues with Hydrocodone and Oxyocontin
For this discussion, we will focus on two of the most addictive and abused prescription drugs: Hyrdocodone and OxyContin.
Hydrocodone (or Vicodin as it is known in brand name form) is a highly addictive pain killer. Although it is used most commonly to assist those patients who are recovering from surgery or are enduring chronic, severe pain – it-- Hydrocodone is also one of the most abused drugs on the market. Many individuals become addicted to Vicodin and will lie to their doctors, family and friends in order to get more.
One of the reasons Vicodin usage is so problematic is that as an individual develops a tolerance to the drug it takes more and more of the drug to feed the craving and attain the same opiate effect. And the more Vicodin an individual takes, the more intense the withdrawal symptoms he will experience when stopping.
OxyContin is a powerful, highly addictive opiate pain killer that, if abused, can very easily lead to addiction, overdose and in many cases, death.
The serious problems with OxyContin occurred when people began abusing the drug for non-medicinal purposes. Instead of waiting for the 12-hour time release of the medication, many individuals were chewing, snorting or injecting the OxyContin so that they could feel the entire impact of the drug at one time. This heavy dosage level lead to many emergency room visits and deaths.
Withdrawal symptoms from these prescription drugs are very similar and include:
- Exhaustion: Feeling tired or fatigued
- Sweats: Hot or cold sweating throughout the day
- Heart palpitations
- Joint or muscle ache
- Constant yawning
- Nausea: The individual may feel very queasy and even experience bouts of vomiting
- Coughing: loud, uncontrollable coughing
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia: Individual may be very restless in the days after he stops taking OxyContin.
- Depression and anxiety: The two most common psychological effects of detox from OxyContin.
Although the length and intensity of these withdrawal symptoms may vary (according to the length and level of the addiction) the symptoms most commonly begin in the 4-8 hours after the last dose of the prescription drug and last generally for about a week.
At Michael's House, we know how difficult prescription drug withdrawal can be. Our caring, trained staff can help you get clean and stay clean. Michael's House understands drug addiction – and the emotional and psychological conditions that can lead to despair, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. We are here to help you. We are experts who care. Call us at .
When you, a loved one, or a client is sick and dealing with the diseases of addiction and/or mental illness, getting help is critical. The decision about whether to seek alcohol rehab or drug rehab is very important and is an essential part of beginning recovery. Do you or a loved one need help? Our Call Center is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and help with the admissions process. You may also send a confidential e-mail or have a secure, private Live Chat with a representative.
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