Powerful painkillers, opioids such as oxycodone often cause people to become addicted in no time. Though they are often given out as a legitimate prescription after surgery or an injury, many people find that when their pills run out, they do whatever they can to try and get their hands on more of them.
If you have found yourself addicted to oxycodone and are looking for help, you have come to the right place. We at Knoxville Recovery Center know how hard it can be to break a habit once it has been established in your life. That is why we are here to assist you in doing so. Let’s take a moment to discuss the process that is involved in ridding your life of opioids.
Why Is Detoxing Necessary?
As they say, you have got to start somewhere. If your goal is to one day be free of opioids, there is no time like the present to begin. In order to start anew and rehabilitate, your mind and body need to be cleaned out of the drugs that you have been feeding them. Detox is naturally the necessary first step in this process. However, you should also be aware that detoxing from opioids can be an arduous task indeed.
Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawals
You should expect to feel withdrawal symptoms arise around 8-12 hours after your last dose and can last anywhere from a few days to a week. They will likely feel the worst around 72 hours and will hopefully calm down after that. You will feel as if you will have come down with the flu.
Here are some common symptoms that you should expect to experience during opioid withdrawals:
- Anxiety or depression
- Nausea and vomiting
- Coughing and a runny nose
- Tearing of the eyes
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Muscle aches and pains
- Tiredness
- Elevated heart rate
- Being unable to feel pleasure
Detoxing from oxycodone can be a painful and uncomfortable experience. For this reason, your treatment plan may involve gradually reducing the drug as opposed to pulling you away from it cold turkey. During detox, you will likely be involved in a Medication Assisted Treatment program.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
When you receive Medication Assisted Treatment, this means that you will be given specific prescription medications to help ease the withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing. Here are a few common medications given during opioid detox.
Suboxone is the first medication to mention. It gives relief from opioid withdrawals, without giving you a high. It is helpful in remedying discomfort and cutting down cravings. It can be used for longer periods of time to help the patient long after their detox period is over.
Clonidine is another medication that may be utilized to make your withdrawal process more tolerable. Clonidine is helpful with soothing irritability and agitation, calming restlessness, anxiety and anger.
Naltrexone is used for both detox and maintenance. It works in a unique way, as it blocks receptors in the brain that bind to oxycodone. This basically makes it impossible for you to get high if you try and take an opioid. Taking naltrexone for up to a year also helps to bring back balance in the brain’s chemical structure.
Reach Out to Knoxville Recovery Center
If you have taken an honest look at yourself and are truly ready to let go of opioids, we at Knoxville Recovery Center will help you make it happen. Though it may be difficult, detoxing from oxycodone is something that can be done if you put your mind to it. Call us today and speak with one of our friendly and compassionate therapists to answer any questions that you might have. We look forward to speaking with you!
