Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What Is Opiate Withdrawal?

Opiate withdrawal refers to a range of symptoms that can occur once opioid intake is interrupted or reduced. The amount, length and intensity of the symptoms vary from person to person. For some individuals, it can be a natural process, and for others, withdrawal can be severe. Opiate withdrawal occurs because it takes time for the body to regulate and adjust to no longer having the drug in the system.

An opioid is synthetic narcotic that works similarly to naturally occurring opiates. These opiate-like substances bind to the opioid receptor sites in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract. Once the drugs attach to these receptor sites, they immediately exert their effects.

The brain manufactures natural opioids, which are responsible for a host of physical responses. Some of these reactions are exhibited as a decrease in pain, a slower respiratory rate, or more-controlled anxiety or depression. The body does not produce the number of opioids needed to manage high levels of pain. Taking prescription or illicit opioids can reduce adverse effects caused by pain, but they present an array of dangerous side effects.

Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal

Opiate withdrawal symptoms can be excruciating to get through if not correctly treated. For example, in some people, withdrawal symptoms can resemble the worst imaginable flu. The fear of going through a painful withdrawal is what keeps many people dependent upon drugs like heroin and oxycodone. Symptoms also can affect the individual physically and emotionally, and there are treatments to manage all of these aspects of withdrawal.

Different opioids remain in your system for various lengths of time, and the substance or combination of substances can affect the withdrawal syndrome onset. The duration of withdrawal symptoms also depends on a combination of other factors, such as frequency and amount of the use, length of the dependence, and the person’s health and emotional status.

Opiate withdrawal symptoms can include:

In most cases, withdrawal symptoms can be managed by a specialized medical treatment facility. Opiate withdrawal can be a long and painful process that can be very hard to get through. For health-compromised patients, untreated and unmonitored withdrawal can lead to unnecessary medical complications such as nausea, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and dehydration. The consecutive loss of fluids and electrolytes can cause abnormal heart rate and low potassium levels, which can lead to blood circulation issues or even a heart attack.

Medically supervised opiate withdrawal in a controlled environment can make the withdrawal much safer and more comfortable, however. It also provides a much higher chance of successfully detoxing and avoiding relapse. In the past, opiate-dependent patients had no choice but to undergo conventional detoxification procedures in nonmedical facilities such as drug rehab centers, which caused them to suffer an unnecessary, debilitating and sometimes even dangerous withdrawal syndrome.

What Are Opiates?

People encounter three types of opiates: natural opiates, semi-synthetic opioids, and fully synthetic opioids. Some of these can be prescribed by doctors to treat conditions such as pain whereas others are obtained illegally.

Natural opiates are alkaloids found in the opium poppy plant. Examples include:

• Morphine
• Codeine
• Thebaine

Semi-synthetic opioids are created from natural opiates and include drugs such as:

• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone

Fully synthetic opioids include drugs such as:

• Fentanyl
• Methadone
• Tramadol

When Opiate Use Becomes Opiate Dependence

People who use opiates for a medical condition can also become physically dependent and require medical opiate detox. A person can take opioid medications safely over a relatively short period. Most people become dependent when long-term opioid therapy is needed, however, which is what makes pain management so tricky. Opiates are prized for their ability to defeat pain. Unfortunately, tolerance, dependence, and addiction can set in, even when the drugs are used correctly. Once this progression happens, the body needs more of the drug to experience the same effect, which increases the risk of a drug overdose.

Drug overdose is the leading cause of death in the United States. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) reports that 100 people die of a drug overdose daily, and 46 of those deaths are due to prescription opioid overdose.

How Long Does Opioid Withdrawal Last?

The length of opioid withdrawal can vary depending on the individual but typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. The most severe symptoms usually occur within the first few days and then start to taper off. However, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms for a longer period of time.

What Helps with Opioid Withdrawal?

There are a number of treatments that can help reduce the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including:

• detoxification programs
• medication-assisted treatment
• therapy and counseling

Detoxification programs provide medical supervision and support as the individual goes through the withdrawal process. Medication-assisted treatment involves the use of opioid medications, such as buprenorphine or methadone, to help avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms. Therapy and counseling can be helpful if the individual has co-occurring mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

Medical Detox for Opiate Withdrawal

Many opioid withdrawal treatment programs often rely on “replacement” or “substitution” medications such as methadone, Suboxone (buprenorphine) or Subutex. These medications are also opioids and may prolong the length of the opiate addiction. Eventually, people dependent on these drugs will require detoxification.

For some people, getting medication-assisted therapy (MAT) can be safer than allowing dependence to progress to the point where the person escalates to obtaining street drugs; for others, choosing a treatment where they become completely opioid-free is the best option. Selecting the appropriate medical detox or the best rapid detox center for you can determine the quality and efficiency of the opiate withdrawal treatment.

Waismann Method® offers rapid opiate detoxification that has demonstrated tremendous success in getting patients comfortably and safely through opiate withdrawal.  Recognized as one of the best opiate treatment centers in the world, Waismann Method® offers exceptional, responsible medical care and individualized assessment.

If you or a loved one is planning to stop taking opiates and are worried about the withdrawal symptoms and potential side effects,

call us today at 800-423-2482.

We’ll explain how we can help manage your symptoms and get you through this challenging phase safely, privately and compassionately.

Seeking medical help for opiate addiction will improve your quality of life, your overall health, reduce the risk of accidental overdose and prevent other related complications. Don’t wait another day, seek help now!