There’s many different reasons as to why an opioid addiction may start. However, what causes many of these addictions to continue is a worry over opioid withdrawal. Much like with alcohol, while these symptoms can be unpleasant, they are something one can overcome…
Opioid Withdrawal: Overcoming Addiction
What causes withdrawal?
To understand why symptoms can be so nasty, it helps to know how opioid withdrawal happens. Basically, it’s similar to most other drugs, like alcohol for example. As you continue to take these drugs, your body builds a tolerance to them. Over time, your body might need more of the drug to get the same effect.
Of course, this is dangerous for many reasons. Mainly, it increases the risks of an overdose. But, it also means your body has developed a dependence. Now, your body needs the drug in order to function normally. When you try and fix this, it leads to withdrawal.
Symptoms
The type of opioid withdrawal symptoms you can experience depends on just how long you’ve been using these drugs. This means that everyone’s experience might be a bit different. However, there’s a general timeline which tracks the overall progression of these symptoms.
In the first 24 hours, some common symptoms might include aches, anxiety, excessive sweating, and trouble sleeping. After that first day, the symptoms begin to ramp up. You might experience cramping, nausea, vomiting, and a high heart rate. While these may improve after 72 hours, it might take a week to fully see them decrease.
Treatment available
Due to how unpleasant opioid withdrawal symptoms are, it’s hard to detox on your own. In fact, depending on the severity of the symptoms, it could be pretty dangerous. However, there are definitely some ways you can get some help with keeping these symptoms manageable.
Checking into a rehab center will get you access to constant medical care and help. Plus, you can also learn ways to keep yourself clean once you’ve fully detoxed. That way, you not only get clean, but can stay clean. There’s also medications like methadone, which help reduce withdrawal symptoms, but need to be taken safely and properly.
