Prescription Drug Withdrawal

What are Opioid Prescription Drugs?

Opioid prescription drugs have a long history dating back to ancient times. A number of civilizations enjoyed the euphoric effects of opium and later, in the 1800s, opium dissolved in alcohol or laudanum was used to treat a wide range of ailments. Today, opiates are a popular prescription for chronic pain management and acute pain relief after a surgical procedure or injury. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long to become physically addicted to opioid medications and breaking that addiction can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, depending on co-occurring conditions, an unsupervised abrupt cessation of opiates can result in coma or death.

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How Does Prescription Drugs Addiction Occur?

All prescription drugs that are agonist opioids are extremely effective pain relievers. Unfortunately, their chemical make-up is such that their analgesic, or pain-relieving, effect increases with increased doses. Conversely, over the counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen have a ceiling to their effectiveness, so that increased dosage will not help chronic pain when tolerance is developed. This means that those who are prescribed opioid pain relievers like OxyContin or Vicodin after an injury or surgical procedure can develop a tolerance to the initial dosage, requiring a higher dosage to achieve the same effect. When this happens, the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord come to depend upon a certain level of the prescription drug in the blood stream at all times. When the level drops, the individual experiences withdrawal symptoms that can range from uncomfortable to fatal. When more and more of the prescription medication is taken to avoid withdrawal symptoms, addiction occurs.

What are the Effects of a Prescription Drug Withdrawal?

Prescription drug withdrawal unaided by medical help can mean physical symptoms that include nausea and vomiting, muscle pain, bone pain, alternating sweating and chills, insomnia and restlessness. This can start in as few as 12 hours after the last dose is taken depending upon the prescription and will last as long as 10 days or more.

At Meditox, we provide you with the help you need to successfully detox off of your prescription medication without suffering the brunt of these symptoms. Only with help from a physician like one at Meditox who is professionally certified to treat drug addiction from an office setting can you get the prescription you need to make your withdrawal as painless as possible.

How Does Meditox Treat a Prescription Drug Withdrawal?

With a prescription for buprenorphine, a Meditox doctor can treat your prescription drug withdrawal with only one in-person meeting from you. During this meeting, you will undergo a complete evaluation and determine whether or not the Meditox Method suits your personal circumstances. If so, then you will further determine which form of buprenorphine is best for you and then create a treatment plan that you will follow to abstinence once you return home.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

National Institute on Drug Abuse InfoFacts: Prescription Medications
National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health PubMed: Outpatient treatment and outcome of prescription drug abuse

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August 11, 2006

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