What to Expect When You Detox from Oxycodone

Detoxing from opiates like oxycodone involves a week or so of physical symptoms of a sickness.

Oxycodone is a very strong opioid narcotic drug used to relieve minor to chronic and severe pain. It is prescribed by physicians for many types of pain relief such as pain from injuries, sprains, dental pain and other pain caused by illnesses. It is much stronger than over the counter pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It works by reducing the intensity of pain signals that reach the brain. Other types of prescribed opiates are Percocet, Vicodin, Morephine, Codeine,Oxycontin. Heroin is also a member of the opioid family.

Opiates are the most widely prescribed narcotic drug by doctors for pain. It is very effective when used for treating pain relief however because of the euphoria it can cause the user, it can become highly addictive. When someone uses a drug to intentionally get high, and more of the drug is required to have the desired effect, treatment might be needed to stop.

Facing an addiction to any drug can be frightening. You may not know what to expect after you decide to get help for an addiction. Usually, the best place to start is by talking with a physician or your family doctor. They can help you to decide if help for an addiction is needed and guide you in the right direction by asking questions about your drug use and by running tests to confirm the drug use. If an addiction is indicated, your physician will then help you to decide what the best treatment will be for you.

Detox from Oxycodone

Because withdrawal symptoms can be severe when stopping opiates, medical detox is usually recommended. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe but are rarely life threatening. They can however be so unpleasant that it increases the person’s desire to use the drug again to stop the discomfort. Common drugs used to treat the symptoms of opiate withdrawal are Suboxone, Buprenorphine and Methadone. Detox alone is not a cure for Oxycodone addiction and must be followed by long term care to be an effective tool in recovery. Milder symptoms of withdrawal can include flu like symptoms such as runny eyes and nose, muscle aches, sweating and sleeplessness. More severe withdrawal symptoms to expect might be nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping and diarrhea. It also causes anxiety and agitation.

Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

Some treatment centers offer medical detoxification while the patients is under anesthesia to insulate them from the withdrawal symptoms all together. It is considered risky as there can be complications with anesthesia that can lead to respiratory failure and even death and according to NIDA, heroin-addicted patients who undergo so-called ultrarapid, anesthesia-assisted detoxification suffer withdrawal symptoms as severe as those endured by patients in detoxification by traditional methods, according to a NIDA-funded clinical trial.

Long term treatment is necessary after medical detox is complete. There are many different treatment options available ranging from very luxurious to minimal and sparse. Treatment is usually voluntary so the amount of time necessary for sustained recovery is dependent on the person. Studies show that the people who stay in treatment longer have a much better likelihood of long term success. Community programs are also available such as Narcotics Anyonymous for long term follow up treatment.