Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal

Most people think that they’ll only experience opiate withdrawal when they have an addiction. However, withdrawal can develop after building a tolerance to the drugs. Even following a prescription can lead to tolerance and mild withdrawal without addiction. Those who notice symptoms of opiate withdrawal should seek medical attention to avoid complications. With opiates drug rehab, you can overcome addiction safely. This is best served by traveling for treatment, such as a remote location like Hawaii.

Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal

No two people have the exact same experience with opiate withdrawal. This is why opiate rehab Hawaii offers can make a difference. Each individual can develop different physical, mental and emotional symptoms depending on the severity of their drug problem. Their age, weight and overall health also affect the symptoms and their severity. These factors and others impact the duration of withdrawal as well.

However, many people become anxious about the oncoming effects just three to four hours after they stop opiate use. They develop cravings for more opiates, which is their bodies’ defense against the symptoms. A few hours later, they experience more anxiety and cravings, and they become restless and have trouble sleeping. Muscle pain, nausea, runny nose, sweating, watery eyes and vomiting are also common early symptoms of opiate withdrawal. However, an opiate addiction treatment center can help minimize these symptoms.

Withdrawal fully develops in the first to third days after quitting, and the symptoms peak during that time. The above effects intensify, and new ones develop. Some of the new symptoms include chills, cramping, diarrhea, shaking, and increased heartbeat and blood pressure. Muscle spasms and insomnia are possible too.

On average, these withdrawal symptoms can last four to 10 days. However, people who heavily use long-acting opiates could experience withdrawal for up to three weeks.

In addition, some people experience symptoms of opiate withdrawal for months. Doctors refer to these persistent effects as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). It’s most common in people who have severe opiate addiction, but other factors affect who develops it. Some PAWS symptoms include declined decision-making skills, anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and irritability.

The Dangers of Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

While the above symptoms themselves don’t have life-threatening effects, complications can occur. Strong cravings, for instance, can make people relapse in the middle of withdrawal. If their tolerance has decreased, however, they could take too high of a dose and overdose. Opiate overdose can cause serious health problems, including coma and death.

Diarrhea and vomiting may lead to significant fluid loss that causes dehydration. People could suffer kidney damage or failure if they don’t drink plenty of water to replenish those fluids. Dehydration can cause abnormal heartbeat, circulatory problems and heart attack as well.

With vomiting, there’s also the risk of inhaling it by accident. When vomit enters the lungs, it can cause pneumonia. Without proper treatment, a more serious infection could develop and lead to death.

As one of the later symptoms of opiate withdrawal, depression doesn’t usually pose a danger. When people don’t get help for it, however, the condition can become severe. Those with severe depression are at risk of harming themselves or committing suicide. For these reasons, medical detox is the safest solution for quitting opiates.

Quality Opiate Detox

If you experience withdrawal symptoms, an opiate detox program can provide comfort and relief. Most programs include medical monitoring to control the symptoms. They also offer massage and yoga to ease your pain and help you relax.

Beyond detox, facilities can provide drug rehab to help you overcome opiate tolerance or addiction. They customize every aspect of your care to address your specific needs. You can enroll in one of their many treatment programs, including: