Opium Side Effects

Some of the more common side effects can include vomiting, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness.

Physical and psychological side effects can present themselves when a patient takes any medication. Opium is a narcotic drug that can be used therapeutically for pain relief or recreationally for its euphoric effects. Opium is also used as a basis for prescription opiate painkillers including OxyContin, Demerol, Dilaudid, Norco and Vicodin. It’s possible that a patient may not have any side effects at all when taking opium. A patient’s experience with side effects can depend on many factors including the amount being taken and whether the person has already built up some tolerance to opiates. Side effects can be mild or severe. For some people, they are relatively short-lived, developing and passing quickly. For others, side effects can last longer.

Common and More Serious Opium Side Effects

The side effects associated with opium can include constipation. This effect is pretty common for patients on any opiate therapy and is treatable. Some of the more common side effects can include vomiting, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. An allergic reaction is also possible with opiate drugs and signs to watch for include hives, itching, rash, labored breathing, tightness in the chest and swelling of the face, tongue, throat and lips. Other serious side effects can include confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, tremors, vision changes, slowed or rapid heartbeat, problems with urination, fainting and seizures. Regular or lengthy use of opiates can cause patients to develop a tolerance, which means the drug builds up in the body, which no longer responds to effects. This can cause an escalation of use as patients need to take increasingly larger doses to experience effects. Opium abuse or misuse can lead quickly to the development of physical or psychological dependence.

Rapid Medical Detox for Opium Addiction Eases Patients Through Withdrawal

Once a dependency progresses to addiction, professional help is needed to assist patients with opium detox. A physical addiction is marked by withdrawal symptoms, which set in once prolonged use is stopped suddenly. Waismann Method offers a premium opium detoxification that manages withdrawal, which can be severe with opiates. Our detox uses intravenous medication in our hospital procedure to cleanse the opium from patients’ opiate receptors. During this, patients are sleeping lightly under general deep sedation and awaken a short time later. When they do, they aren’t consciously aware that they have already experienced withdrawal. Our procedure accelerates withdrawal and symptoms develop and pass while patients are sedated. This takes the fear and suffering out of withdrawal and gives patients the peace of mind they need to proceed with recovery. We don’t use opiate replacement drugs such as Suboxone or methadone to wean patients because we know they can also be habit-forming. Our detox relies on science and medicine and it’s quick – patients typically stay in the hospital 3 to 6 days. From there, they can return home or transition back to life in our Domus Retreat aftercare facility.

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