Medications Used in Detox

The most difficult part of recovering from a substance abuse problem, addiction or alcoholism is detox. When you are physically addicted to drugs or alcohol, you experience painful, uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using. Drugs and alcohol cause different withdrawal symptoms but are serious enough to make it hard to complete detox without assistance. Detox medications are used in Florida medication assisted treatment to diminish and reduce the severity of your withdrawal symptoms.

During early recovery, cravings for your substance of choice magnify because of changes addiction causes to your brain’s pleasure and reward center. Complex changes to your brain chemistry make it very difficult to quit using drugs or alcohol without treatment.

Addiction Medications Used in Detox

Drugs and alcohol can be both physically and psychologically addicting. In both cases, you can deal with withdrawal symptoms when you immediately stop using your substance of choice. Whenever you use drugs or alcohol, your brain releases an intense and pleasurable rush of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. These neurotransmitters are responsible for the euphoric feeling you experience during intoxication. Once the effects wear off, you experience a comedown which causes depressed moods and cravings.

These cravings and mood changes occur because your brain is low on neurotransmitters. This occurs once the effects of your substance of choice cease. Over time, your brain can become completely dependent on drugs and alcohol in order to release the proper amounts of neurotransmitters.

When you immediately stop using your substance of choice after becoming addicted to it, you can experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Anxiety, restless and depression
• Vomiting, nausea and bowel problems
• Malaise
• Sweats, tremors, insomnia, and exhaustion
• Disorientation, confusion, and drowsiness

Detox and Detox Medications

You can begin to experience withdrawal symptoms within hours of your last use. The severity of your addiction and your substance of choice are the two most important factors in determining the intensity of your withdrawal symptoms. Since some withdrawal symptoms, like delirium tremors, can be fatal, detox medications are utilized by drug and alcohol rehab centers to prevent complications. Medications used in detox can include:

• Suboxone and methadone
• Benzodiazepines
• Sleeping medications
• Gabapentin

Florida medication assisted treatment can offer longer-term tapering programs which can decrease your cravings and improve your ability to remain clean and sober. Suboxone and methadone are commonly used during medication assisted treatment for opiate addictions.

Treatment Options Following Detox

Following detox, you can enter into an inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment program. Inpatient and residential treatment programs provide a higher level of care, supervision, and structure than outpatient programs. Inpatient treatment is ideal if you have a severe addiction, co-occurring conditions or multiple attempts at treatment. Outpatient programs offer great follow-up care once you complete inpatient treatment.

Finding Help Today

Don’t let addiction control your life. Even if withdrawal seems like a significant barrier to your recovery, detox medications can greatly alleviate your symptoms and make it easier to begin recovery. Reach out to Beaches Recovery today at 866.605.0532 in order to evaluate your treatment options to ensure you find the help you need to achieve recovery.