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What Are the Signs of Opioid Withdrawal?

What Are the Signs of Opioid Withdrawal?

Opioids are highly addictive substances that can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Intense signs of opioid withdrawal can make it extremely difficult for an addict to quit using all on their own. Not only is detoxing all on your own dangerous, but you’ll likely be unsuccessful in withdrawal from opioids long-term.

That’s why going to a comprehensive addiction treatment center that offers detox programs is essential for addicts to safely overcome their withdrawal symptoms. At Pathways Recovery, we provide various treatments to effectively treat the mind, body, and spirit so you can live a long-lasting life of sobriety. We understand how difficult and unsafe it can be to detox on your own, and that’s why we provide a medical detoxification treatment to help you safely overcome your withdrawal symptoms.

Pathways Recovery is a top-rated drug rehab in Sacramento. Contact us today to learn more about available treatment options.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are substances that resemble opium in their addictive and psychological effects. Additionally, opioids are a class of drugs that include various illegal drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and more. 

Opioids can be highly addictive and cause varying signs of opioid withdrawal if an addict doesn’t take a certain amount of the drug their body is dependent on.

How Do Opioids Impact the Body?

Opioids are highly addictive substances because when they are consumed by the body, they target the reward system of the brain that makes you feel satisfied and motivated. Specifically, opioids trigger an influx of the neurotransmitter called dopamine to the brain, which is responsible for feeling pleasure and satisfaction.

Therefore, as the body consumes more and more of a certain kind of opioid, it is rather easy to become dependent and get addicted to the substance. This is because the body will expect the opioid to provide them with a certain desired effect that, if not achieved, can lead to feelings of withdrawal. This makes quitting opioids difficult because of the body’s ease of becoming addicted and the negative withdrawal symptoms experienced if an addict doesn’t take a certain amount of the drug.

Do Opioids Require Detox Before Treatment?

Yes, addicts who are addicted to opioids will need to undergo detox before treatment. This is because withdrawal symptoms are nearly inevitable for any addict addicted to opioids. Again, this is because the body becomes dependent upon the drug to give the body a certain feeling of pleasurable experience. Therefore, if the body stops receiving opioids, the body will undergo withdrawal symptoms that can sometimes be dangerous.

This is why seeking professional help first to detox if you have an opioid addiction is critical. Detoxing from any addictive substance, especially opioids, can be extremely dangerous to the body, especially if you try to detox all on your own. 

An addiction treatment center with a detox program will be able to support and care for the individual throughout their detoxification period. While withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to overcome and endure all on your own, with a team of experienced addiction specialists by your side, they can help walk you through every step of your detox program to overcome withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively.

The specific drug you are addicted to, your age, your physical health, and how long you have been using are all factors that can influence your detox journey and how severe your withdrawal symptoms are. Most addicts can detox and overcome withdrawal symptoms within a week; however, in more severe addiction cases, it may take some addicts up to two weeks to fully detox and overcome their withdrawal symptoms.

What Are the Signs of Opioid Withdrawal?

Opioids are strong drugs that can be highly addictive. While signs of opioid withdrawal symptoms can vary slightly depending on the individual and the specific type of drug they are addicted to, the majority of people experience similar withdrawal symptoms.

Common opioid withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue

Depending on the severity of the addiction, severe withdrawal signs/ symptoms may include:

  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Tremors
  • Paranoia

Most addicts experience the worst peak severity of their withdrawal symptoms within the first 2-3 days of not using opioids. Medical supervision is essential to safely and effectively detox to ensure an individual not only is safe during the entire detox process, but they are successfully able to quit using without relapsing.

How to Find Opioid Detox Programs in Sacramento

If you struggling with addiction and how to overcome signs of opioid withdrawal, you should consider going to an opioid detox program to experience a safe withdrawal from opioids. 

Pathways Recovery uses a holistic addiction recovery approach to focus on healing the whole person so you can live a lasting life of sobriety. We understand how difficult and dangerous withdrawal symptoms can be, that’s why we provide a detox treatment program to help you safely overcome your withdrawal symptoms.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact us to discover how you can take the first steps on your journey to addiction recovery.