Methadone Detox

Methadone detox is a very painful and difficult undertaking. Methadone detox is needed to stop the abuse of this substance. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that, ironically, was developed to help those with opioid dependencies, as well as pain for decades. It was viewed as a cheaper, safer alternative to morphine. However, it is an addictive substance and sometimes users seeking help for addiction to one drug become methadone addicts. Methadone can be helpful for addicts if used with care but if not carefully monitored drug users may simply end up trading one bad habit for another one. Initially, methadone provides users with a sense of calm and wellbeing but people normally adapt quickly to methadone, requiring frequent dosage increases to maintain this calm feeling, sometimes described as a “glow”. This euphoric sensation is due to the releasing of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins exist naturally in the brain but are released naturally in higher amounts when people do things such as exercise. After a while, the brain of a methadone user becomes dependent on the mass amounts of this “happy” brain chemical. Finding a good methadone detox center is the safest way to stop drug abuse and also the route of treatment that is most likely to be successful.

Methadone detox is the hardest process that a methadone detox patient may undergo. The methadone detox patient will have withdrawal symptoms. In this case, the patient needs extra nutrients to suppress the withdrawal effects. Methadone detox is frightening to the abuser because of the withdrawal symptoms during the methadone detox process. This is the most difficult phase of the methadone detox experience. Withdrawal symptoms during methadone detox are similar to those of other opiates and include nausea, vomiting, extreme irritability, diarrhea, insomnia, chills, sneezing, runny nose, anxiety, depression and convulsions. The withdrawal symptoms of a methadone detox may be present from one to three weeks after the last drug use. In methadone detox, the methadone detox patient is not required to the use drugs during a methadone detox especially since using methadone to detox from other drugs was the cause of the patient’s addiction. Many methadone detox centers provide high quality nutrition, plenty of sleep, and therapies to ease discomfort during methadone detox. This process of undergoing methadone detox in a more natural way is not the only methadone detox option, however. Medications can be administered during methadone detox to help suppress the symptoms of withdrawal and to lessen the cravings.

Methadone Detoxing

Addiction to methadone is one of the hardest things to overcome. The withdrawal symptoms are agonizing, and the fear of methadone detox often keeps addicts using even if they want to quit. It is impossible to begin the path to recovery in methadone detox without first addressing the intense physical addiction that comes with methadone abuse. It is paramount that someone wanting to do a methadone detox finds a safe, controlled environment in which to undergo the methadone detox.

Without the comforts of receiving medications dispersed by a medical professional, the proper nutrients, and also adequate moral support, the temptation to use narcotics after methadone detox is far too great. Many methadone addicts have acquired a tolerance from continuous use which causes them to increase usage in order to avoid going into withdrawal. Breaking the cycle of using must be conquered in a facility where the methadone detox patient feels safe and confident that he or she will be comfortable during the methadone detox.

Methadone Detox Center

After completing methadone detox, the methadone detox center provides follow-up therapies for the patient. Individual and group therapies are provided for full recovery. After the traumatic experiences that they may experience during the methadone detox process, the abuser needs therapies to cope. There may be mental and emotional issues that exist because of the stressful nature of methadone detox. The therapy sessions help to get to the root of the patient’s problem, understand it and come up with plans to avoid using methadone again. In many cases, people use methadone as a way of coping with their problems. If they still have the original problems and refuse to change, then their desire to return to drugs may win out. If previous drug users do not undergo a methadone detox they are likely to return to another narcotic, since many methadone detox patients become addicted to methadone while trying to detox from another drug. When someone suffers from an addiction they do not feel as if they have a choice when it comes to using. Enduring a methadone detox may seem impossible may seem impossible because a methadone detox patient’s nervous system becomes accustomed to chronic exposure to the opioid. Therefore, during methadone detox withdrawal symptoms are inevitable. Even though there have been improvements in medically supervised methadone detox, patient discomfort and high dropout rates during methadone detox still exist today. This has led to the rising popularity of rapid, anesthesia-assisted opioid withdrawal procedures, which have been publicized as a fast, painless way to undergo methadone detox. Studies also show however, that the this methadone detox procedure can lead to risk of death, psychosis, increased stress, delirium, attempted suicide, abnormal heart rhythm and kidney failure.

Methadone detox requires admitting that there is a problem, getting professional help, keeping focus on the recovery goal and continuing rehabilitating treatments after methadone detox. All facts conclude that there is no easy solutions and no certainties that a relapse after methadone detox will not occur. The commitment of the methadone detox patient and support through family, friends, doctors or other sources must help the patients through the methadone detox process. Information on detox centers can be easily obtained online or from a phonebook. Most areas have at least one detox center nearby but, even if someone’s area does not, seeking out a methadone detox center with a good inpatient care facility is a worthwhile pursuit. Any addiction is beatable with the right help and with the right attitude. Methadone detox does work and there are detox centers are ready to help.