10 Signs Your Liver Needs Detoxing
The journey toward recovery from opioids typically starts with detox. You have to eliminate the drugs from your body to initiate the healing process.
The journey toward recovery from opioids typically starts with detox. You have to eliminate the drugs from your body to initiate the healing process.
It is no surprise that standard detox can be a long, arduous process. Some people never try to detox because they are afraid that they won’t have the patience to make it to the other side. Fortunately, rapid detox is an option. Rapid detox flushes drugs out of your system while you sleep, so you can wake up on the road to recovery.
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When you take opioids, they bind to receptors in your brain. The drugs tell your body to stop feeling pain and to start feeling good. Over time, your body will require more and more opioids to achieve the same euphoric feeling.
If you use opioids for a long period of time, your brain stops making its own feel-good neurotransmitters. After a while — even just a short period of time — your body develops a tolerance for opioids.Your body becomes used to having drugs in its system, requiring more and more just to feel normal and balanced.
When you stop using narcotics after you have become physically and psychologically dependent on them, your body can feel as though it is in shock. Your body has learned to compensate for the effects of the drugs. Much like a car moving down hill, when your body has been working overtime to function, it no longer knows how to “pump the breaks.” This effect is felt as withdrawal symptoms.
When you detox from opioids, you will probably experience opioid withdrawal symptoms such as:
• Muscle pain
• Digestive distress
• Anxiety and irritability
• Tremors
• Depression
• Fever
Because symptoms are intense, usually peaking around 72 hours and can last for more than a week, it is no wonder that getting clean seems daunting. Detoxing on your own can be dangerous and even life-threatening. This is why most people who are detoxing from opioids — especially long-time users — should be monitored. An experienced medical professional knows what signs and symptoms to look for, and can keep an eye on the patient’s blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate and respiration.
Psychological support is also essential during this tough time. When you are going through detox, it may feel like the withdrawal symptoms aren’t worth going through just to get sober. This is why medically assisted detox is an important part of treatment. It helps rid the body of opioids safely, so that you can begin the psychological work of recovery without the distraction of cravings.
Rapid detox may sound too good to be true. However, it is an effective option for people who may believe that standard detox options aren’t the right choice for them. The treatment involves giving an individual a medication called naloxone while the patient is sedated or under general anesthesia.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. Opioid antagonists work by blocking the opioid receptors in the brain from activating. Naloxone binds to the opioid receptors, preventing the body from responding to the drugs that it has become accustomed to. This essentially flushes the opioids from your system, forcing your body through a rapid detox process.
Rapid detox takes an average of four days. It’s ideal for people who need to eliminate drugs from their system quickly and reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. Because patients are sedated during the process, they remain as comfortable as possible as their body goes through withdrawal.
No matter what type of detox you choose, it can always take a toll on your body. Because rapid detox involves the use of general anesthesia, it should only be attempted under the supervision of a medical professional. There is a risk of reaction to the medications used during the rapid detox process. Even though you are sedated, your body may also experience an intense physical response to the withdrawal symptoms.
When you go through the process in a matter of days, you increase the risk of negative outcomes. People whose health is impaired from drug use may not be able to handle the stress that anesthesia and rapid detox treatment put on the body. It always recommended that you consult with your physician or qualified addiction specialist before undergoing rapid detox.
Some of the risks of rapid detox include:
• Deterioration of mental illness
• Lung problems
• Pulmonary distress
• Irregular cardiac function
• Increased sympathetic nervous system response
• Problems regulating blood sugar
• Complications from anesthesia
Many people have a mental health disorder that underlies the addiction. It is worth noting that going through detox rapidly can worsen some psychological symptoms. It may also trigger psychosis in some people. Therefore, it’s important to work with experienced professionals if you choose this course of treatment.
Because of the inherent risk of side effects from rapid detox, some people want to go through the process in the comfort of their own home. Rapid detox at home gives you the opportunity to stay in familiar surroundings and remain as comfortable as possible. However, you should not ever attempt to complete a rapid detox on your own. Rapid detox at home should only be performed under the supervision of a qualified addiction specialist and medical care team, who can monitor you for side effects and other potential issues.
Because you may sleep through the rapid detox procedure, you’re less likely to be impacted by severe withdrawal symptoms. However, you’ll still have some physical and psychological symptoms to deal with when you wake up.
Some people feel extremely achy and tired after they go through rapid detox. Additionally, side effects from anesthesia or sedation may be present. It is vitally important to continue to be monitored by a healthcare professional to ensure there are no adverse physical side effects.
If you have co-occurring mental health issues, symptoms may have been exacerbated as a result of the treatment. In order to manage your symptoms and mitigate potential mental health crisis, patients should have a plan in place with their mental healthcare provider.
It is important to note that rapid detox is the beginning of addiction therapy. It should not be the only course of treatment. It’s vital to continue attending counseling, group sessions, and working with your care team as you move through the recovery process.
Beating addiction isn’t always a linear process. While you are trying to overcome addiction, you will go through many ups and downs. In fact up to sixty-percent of people who seek addiction treatment end up relapsing. However, this does not mean you should give up hope for recovery. Rapid home detox with naltrexone has been shown to reduce relapse rates.
Getting the support that you need at each level of recovery can help you move through it successfully. If you do relapse, knowing that you have a safe place to turn can give you the hope that you need to start anew and stay the course. For more information about rapid home detox please contact us today.