Opioid Withdrawal

A withdrawal from opioids can be difficult physically and psychologically. The process begins once patients stop taking the drugs and the body begins to detox. Opioid medications, available by prescription, include Percocet, Percodan, Demerol, Vicodin and OxyContin. Heroin is also an opioid but has no accepted medical use and is illegal.

Opioids are known to be habit-forming and can lead to problems including tolerance, physical and psychological dependence, withdrawal once use is stopped and overdose which can be fatal. Most often, opioids are prescribed for pain relief but have other purposes as well.

Because of the potency of the drugs, opioid withdrawal is best managed professionally to make sure patients are safe and comfortable. Withdrawal can be painful and degrading mentally and physically, causing patients anguish. This keeps so many people from getting help with prescription painkiller addiction.

Waismann Method offers safe, quick opioid detox that manages withdrawal and essentially eliminates a painful experience.

Hospital-Based Opioid Detox Can Be Accomplished Quickly and Safely

Our confidential and medically-based detox for opioids has helped thousands of people from across the world become free from opioid dependence. Most people develop a problem accidentally after their prescription becomes ineffective at relieving pain. This tolerance to opioids can lead to escalation of use or other forms of misuse.

Waismann Method is completely humane and compassionate. We never make patients feel guilty or shameful for their problem. Our main goal is to provide a thorough detox and supportive care. Our procedure occurs in the hospital where doctors monitor every step. We begin with the administration of intravenous medication to cleanse opioids from patients’ systems.

This happens while patients sleep lightly under anesthesia and takes less than two hours. We don’t use opioid replacement drugs including Suboxone and methadone to wean patients. They awake from our procedure opioid-free without the awareness of the accelerated withdrawal symptoms that occurred while they were sedated. Our total hospital stay is 2 to 4 days.

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms to Watch For

Signs of withdrawal include strong drug cravings that don’t let up until patients take more. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may begin within hours of last use. They can persist for weeks or months, leaving patients feeling sick and often flu-like.

Symptoms include:

• Mood changes
• Agitation
• Tremors
• Runny nose
• Chills
• Sneezing
• Yawning
• Sleeplessness
• Anxiousness
• Restlessness
• Weakness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Depression
• Hallucination
• Delirium
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Muscle and bone pain
• Confusion
• Extreme irritability
• Muscle spasms.

Patients are strongly discouraged from trying to detox on their own. This “cold turkey” method can be dangerous, leading to seizures, spikes in blood pressure and convulsions. Withdrawal symptoms can be more intense among those who’ve taken opioids long term and for those who’ve abused the drugs. Waismann Method’s medical management of withdrawal helps patients recover quickly and comfortably, giving them the chance to focus on long-term abstinence.