Medically
Assisted
Detox

Have you heard that it takes willpower, strength and support to combat addiction? While you must have courage to initiate and undergo substance abuse treatment, you may need more than determination. Many people benefit from medically assisted detox. Medical detox enables your body to adjust to the absence of drugs and can ease withdrawal symptoms.

Medically Assisted Detox treats physical symptoms

Many drugs produce a temporary high. They change the brain and central nervous system in longer-lasting ways, though. As your body becomes accustomed to functioning with the chemicals in your system, it can have trouble feeling good on its own. This signals a dependency.

As your body gets used to operating under the influence of substances, it may not regulate on its own. Your breathing and heart rate may be affected. If you stop using drugs cold turkey, your body may not know how to manage the lack of chemicals.

This can make you feel terrible as you go through detox. Trying to do it on your own can send you back to using because you know that the chemicals will make you feel better even though they’re bad for you.

Medically assisted detox can help. The professionals that work with you during a home detox will tailor the combination of medications to your specific needs. The goal is to sustain your physical function, help your body adjust to the lack of chemicals and make home detox more comfortable.

What is Medically Assisted Detox used for?

You can put yourself in physical danger when you try to quit using some drugs cold turkey. For example, alcohol is a depressant. It slows down your central nervous system. If you have been consuming large volumes of alcohol for a significant period, your body gets used to operating on a downgraded mode.

When you stop using it, your body may quickly shift into overstimulation mode. This can be hazardous to your health. Heavy drinkers are at the greatest risk of experiencing dangerous withdrawal side effects.

It’s vital to get medical supervision to detox from a severe alcohol addiction. If you don’t, you could put your life in danger.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can also be risky. These prescription drugs are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks. Benzos are incredibly addictive and rewire your brain in a short time frame.

When you stop using benzos, you may experience all of the symptoms that you were trying to mask while using the drugs. You might feel as though you have no choice but to use again.

Experts usually recommend that you wean off of these types of drugs gradually. Doing this with medical supervision allows you to detox without the dangerous side effects. Medically assisted detox may also reduce the risk of relapse.

You may also choose medically assisted detox when you stop using opioids. Opioid detox is generally safe, but medication can make the process more comfortable. It can reduce drug cravings and help you move toward recovery faster.

Does Medically Assisted Detox ease psychological symptoms?

Drugs affect you physically. Because they also influence your brain, they cause psychological and emotional symptoms. It can take time for your central nervous system to adjust to functioning without drugs.

Medically assisted detox can improve the way that the body’s reward system responds to detox. Certain medications can even bind to receptors that were once triggered by drug use. For example, blocking your body’s ability to respond to opioids helps to flush narcotics from your system and ease cravings.

Getting through medically assisted detox is challenging. Once you have overcome that first step, you might think that you’re in the clear. However, you may continue to experience extreme highs and lows as you continue toward recovery. Even if you have stopped using for several years, you may still feel pressure to use when you’re under stress or in certain social situations.

Continuing with counseling and therapy can help you feel supported as your emotions shift and you get used to life in sobriety. You may want to continue taking medications that ease your psychological and emotional symptoms. However, you’ll need to make sure that you’re not taking medications that could be problematic or cause you to relapse.

Our professionals are compassionate and experienced. We want to make the medical detox experience as successful and comfortable as possible. Contact us to find out how we can help you get on the road to recovery by starting with medically assisted detox.