During the course of your opioid abuse treatment, you may receive several different medications depending on your needs. Call 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?) today to discuss the treatment options available to you and to find rehab centers that can meet your needs.
1. Naloxone
When an individual comes into the ED having overdosed on opioids, they will usually be given a naloxone injection. As stated by the National Library of Medicine, naloxone “works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.”
Receiving a naloxone injection is often painful because the analgesic effects of the opioids in your system will be immediately blocked. Still, this is done to protect an individual from experiencing severe respiratory depression, brain damage, coma, and death as a result of this high level substance abuse.
2. Clonidine
Naltrexone is a great option for those who are serious about recovering from opioid abuse.
For some individuals, clonidine is used to treat opioid withdrawal. The drug itself is an alpha-agonist hypotensive agent that is often used to treat high blood pressure. However, the drug can also reduce a number of the severe side effects of opioid withdrawal, including muscle and bone pain, sweating, anxiety, and flu-like symptoms.
The medication cannot treat––and may actually cause––nausea and vomiting so another drug may given to mediate these symptoms.
3. Methadone
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Methadone works by changing how the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It lessens the painful symptoms of opiate withdrawal and blocks the euphoric effects of opiate drugs.”
Individuals can be stabilized on the drug for several months to several years to an indefinite amount of time depending on the severity of their addiction. It is a better choice for addiction treatment for those who have severe dependencies on opioid drugs and require the use of a strong medication.
4. Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine works much in the same way that methadone does, but it is only a partial opioid agonist. This means its optimal doses may not be as intense as methadone’s, but it is much safer in the event of abuse.
It is also paired with naloxone when used as a maintenance treatment to protect it against abuse even further. Patients can receive the drug from a doctor’s office instead of having to go to a clinic.
5. Naltrexone
Naltrexone is not the best treatment for every individual, but certain people, like doctors, nurses, and professionals who are serious about wanting to end their opioid abuse, can benefit from it. It precipitates withdrawal in anyone still dependent on opioids, so many individuals refuse to take it or will stop taking it over time. However, someone who is committed to using the drug as prescribed will never relapse.
Types of Opiate Withdrawal Treatment Medications Used in Inpatient Rehab
Seek Opioid Addiction Help Now
We can help you find rehab centers that will utilize the medications, behavioral therapies, and other treatment options you need in order to recover from your opioid abuse. Call 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?) to speak to a recovery expert and to learn about your treatment options.
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