INFO FOR TRYING TO GET OFF PILLS

Opioid addiction isn't a moral or mental weakness. It's a chronic medical condition that results from changes in the brain in susceptible people. Once narcotic addiction is established, escaping the cycle of detox and relapse is typically a long-term process.

Breaking free of prescription drug abuse takes much more than willpower. Fortunately, medications and counseling can improve the chances of success. New treatments like Suboxone, and traditional therapies like methadone and 12-step programs, are helping thousands of people stay on the road to recovery.

Physical Dependence and Detox
Narcotic addiction leads to real changes in the nerves of the brain. Prescription drug addiction hijacks the circuits that deal with mood and "reward" -- feeling good for helpful behaviors and bad for harmful ones.

In addition, long-term prescription drug abuse affects virtually all the systems in the body. Cutting off the supply abruptly leads to opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

Craving for drugs
Diarrhea
Large pupils
Yawning
Belly pain
Goose pimples (the origin of the phrase "cold turkey")
Nausea and vomiting
Agitation and severe negative moods
But for someone with an established narcotic addiction, a list of symptoms doesn't capture the agony of opioid withdrawal. The syndrome is intensely unpleasant, and people will do almost anything to avoid it.

Opioid withdrawal lasts from hours to several days, depending on how long and how much a person has used their drug of choice. After the intense initial symptoms subside, some physical discomfort may persist for weeks.

Medications for Opioid Withdrawal
Opioid withdrawal is difficult to endure, and is a major reason for relapse and continued prescription drug abuse. Medications are used to prevent symptoms of opioid withdrawal during detox, easing the person out of physical dependence:

Methadone is a long-acting opioid medicine. It activates the same opioid receptors as narcotics, effectively eliminating withdrawal symptoms. Providing the correct dose of methadone prevents opioid withdrawal symptoms and eases drug craving but it does not provide the euphoria. The dose can be slowly tapered off, freeing the person from physical dependence without withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is the most effective known treatment for narcotic addiction.

Buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex) are the newest medicines for detox from prescription drug addiction. Both activate opioid receptors, reducing drug craving and preventing withdrawal. Subutex is given during the first few days of treatment, while Suboxone is used during the maintenance phase of treatment. Like methadone, Suboxone can then be gradually weaned and stopped, eliminating physical dependence on opioids.

Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine that acts on the brain. Clonidine reduces the effects of the "fight or flight" response, which is over-activated during opioid withdrawal. However, clonidine does nothing to reduce drug craving, and is mostly ineffective when used alone.

"Rapid detox" programs claim to accelerate the process of detox and opioid withdrawal by giving large doses of opioid blocking drugs. Some programs place an addict under general anesthesia during the detox process. These programs have not proven to be more effective than traditional methods of detox, and may be more dangerous.

[snowflake620]

very informative, thank you it is nice to know that that I am not just weak as so many would say.
snowflake

[merrymaria]

yes this is very good info for newcomers that do not know what to expect.   i also heard rapid detox is dangerous....i myself think the best way is ct if you can do it...thanks for posting...maria

[purgatory]

go cold turkey people. I have a friend who is now hooked on suboxone worse then opiates.

food for thought...

[Ella789]

All I do know is that after a person commits to their quit, the clonidine helps so very much!  I continue to say, clonidine keeps you "in your skin" ya know?  In that alone helps so much with the "detox" part.  I also think that a few tranzene do help, just half them or quarter them and use for the first 4 to 5 days

[kel17165]

If you are hooked on pain meds and can't stop because you don't want to go through withdrawl (withdrawal)...check into a detox hospital and you will be given meds to get you through.  It worked for me and I am clean after 5 years of oxy use everyday.  I did it and so can you.