Generic Name: oxymorphone
Brand Names: Opana, Opana ER
Opana, the brand name for oxymorphone, is an opioid agonist drug indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain. It is also used as a pre-operative medication than can reduce anxiety and maintain the effects of anesthesia.
Oxymorphone has been in use in the US since the 1960s and is has been classified as a centrally acting analgesic because of its effects directly on the central nervous system. Prolonged use of Opana can cause tolerance, physical dependence and eventually addiction.
Opana is a derivative of morphine and acts directly on the opioid receptors throughout specific areas of the brain & spinal cord. Its effects disrupt normal brain function by interfering with the neurotransmitters. Once the brain adjusts to a new chemical level due to the presence of the drug, discontinuation of the dosage will create a withdrawal syndrome.
Opana Withdrawal
Opana withdrawal refers to the wide range of symptoms that can occur once a patient stops or reduces the dosage of the drug after prolonged use. Opana contains oxymorphone, a highly potent and addictive narcotic drug. Because of its potency, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and risky in some cases. Symptoms usually start within hours of usage and can last for days.
Facing a withdrawal from opiate painkillers can be daunting and may lead some to hold off on seeking help. Symptoms associated with Withdrawal can be brutal if not properly managed by a doctor. Not every person dependent on Opana experiences symptoms in the same way. For some lucky ones, it might be relatively mild, while, for others, especially long-term users or abusers, it can be extremely difficult not just physically but emotionally as well.
Opana Withdrawal Symptoms
If you suddenly stop using Opana or any form of oxymorphone, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:
- agitation
- restlessness
- runny nose
- sweat
- chills
- muscle and joint pain
- anxiety
- stomach cramps
- sleeplessness
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fast heartbeat and fast breathing
Some Opana withdrawal symptoms can be serious or even life-threatening. Please consult a doctor if you’re planning to stop or decrease your dosage.
Opana Detox
Opana Detox is the first step necessary to achieve success in a recovery program. It can be an intense process but one that can be medically managed by professionals. This helps to ensure safety and maximize your chance of long-term recovery. When choosing an Opana detox center for yourself or a loved one, it’s important first to understand the drug and its effects, as well as what options, are the most efficient for each particular patient. It is important to allow time for research, so you can find a specialized treatment center that concentrates its efforts on that type of addiction.
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Opana Detox Options
Outpatient Programs
Outpatient treatment is more flexible, less costly than other options. Patients are allowed to keep their usual routine and live at home while regularly returning to the treatment center for meetings with medical professionals and counselors. Group therapy and meeting are usually also incorporated in outpatient treatment. The downside of outpatient care is they also have a lower average success rate and the chance of an immediate relapse is higher should the symptoms of withdrawal or cravings become too severe.
Inpatient Drug Rehab
Inpatient rehab centers are restrictive and structured. They require the patient to live on site for the duration of their treatment. Most facilities offer group meetings throughout the day and counselors for additional assistance. Medical professionals are available, usually off site, to prescribe medications to ease the withdrawal symptoms throughout the detox period. Inpatient drug rehabs offer a host of extracurricular activities based on cost and economic level of the population served.
Inpatient rehab centers are restrictive and structured. They require the patient to live on site for the duration of their treatment. Most facilities offer group meetings throughout the day and counselors for additional assistance. Medical professionals are available, usually off site, to prescribe medications to ease the withdrawal symptoms throughout the detox period. Inpatient drug rehabs offer a host of extracurricular activities based on cost and economic level of the population served.
Inpatient drug rehabs are usually best suited for those whose surrounding environment places them at higher risk or is simply not supportive. At rehabs, patients may receive constant supervision and some repeatedly drug test throughout their stay. There is typically less privacy in these facilities, and in many patients can interact 24 hours a day. Interaction between patients can create relationships that are beneficial or detrimental to the recovery process.
Rapid Detox and Medical Detox
Medical detoxification protocols for opiate addiction have evolved immensely since the 1950s when methadone was first used to help people through the pains of withdrawal. The process of detoxification, completely clearing the body of the drug, is a necessary factor to achieve abstinence. Methadone and other similar treatments often fail because it replaces one opioid for another.
Various forms of anesthesia-assisted detoxification had been developed since 1988 when Dr. Loimer first reported his ultra-rapid technique to induce rapidly detoxification while blocking the severe opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Opana rapid detox under anesthesia is a medical procedure created to eliminate most withdrawal symptoms. The procedure involves an infusion of intravenous medications which quickly remove the opioids from the receptor sites. Using the rapid detox procedure eliminates the extreme pain and suffering associated with Opana withdrawal while completely detoxifying the body of opioids, thus allowing for a greater chance of recovery.
Rapid detox is a safe and efficient option when done correctly and responsibly. When choosing this option, it is important that patients choose a treatment center located within a full-service hospital where he or she can be monitor and adequately assessed in a safe setting. Additionally, it is wise for patients to ensure that they sedated or anesthetized in an ICU and by an experienced anesthesiologist.
Opana rapid detox is not for everyone, and a treating physician should be able to offer alternative medical detox options, that will best suit the medical need of each patient