Addiction is filled with irony and contradiction. For instance, doctors prescribe medications to help patients with things like seizures, depression, sleep disorders, and pain. When taken properly, this medication can produce wonderful results, giving the patient a much better quality of life.
The irony and contradiction come because these very same medications can be very harmful if misused and abused. The line between good and bad results is indeed very thin. For a moment, let’s consider pain medications like morphine or Oxycontin. The proper doses of this medication can relieve a patient’s chronic pain. That’s a good thing for anyone who doesn’t have any other alternatives. However, these medications are opiates and opiates are highly addictive. Addiction to these medications can produce side effects like:
- Loss of motor function throughout the body
- Memory loss and mental lapses
- Breathing and blood pressure problems
- Sleeping issues like insomnia
- Nausea and vomiting
Even the decision to stop using these drugs after an addiction has been created can cause significant withdrawal symptoms like tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety.
The reason for this discussion is because certain medications are used in the addiction treatment process. That is ironic and definitely a contradiction. The information below will address the types of medications used during the detox process and how those drugs help as well as what risks they create.
Types of Medication an FL Heroin Rehab Center Can Prescribe to Help With Detox?
When people enter rehab with a significant addiction, their minds and bodies have an extremely high level of dependence on the drug(s) of choice. Before a patient is going to be able to focus on the rigors of therapy and counseling, they need time to wean themselves off all substances. During that process, the aforementioned withdrawal symptoms come into play. The purpose of a detox program is to get patients past their cravings and withdrawal symptoms as safely as possible.
If at all possible, it’s a good thing if the patient can detox as naturally as possible. Maybe good nutritional and exercise programs are all they will need to eliminate their issues. With that said, that’s a best-case scenario that’s usually only applicable to people with a moderate addiction. Otherwise, a medically monitored detox program is needed.
In a medically monitored detox program, patients go through detox under the watchful eye of medical professionals. If severe discomfort becomes apparent, the doctors have the ability to prescribe certain medications to help with issues like pain or sleeping issues. In the case of people with a “severe” addiction, tapering medications may be used to help the patient slowly and safely wean off drugs. Some of the common medications used in a Florida detox program include:
- Disulfiram and naltrexone for alcohol addiction
- Methadone or Suboxone for opiate addiction
- Buprenorphine for opiate addiction
- Ritalin for cocaine and meth addictions
Let’s look closer at the benefits of these drugs in the detox and addiction treatment process.
Disulfiram and Naltrexone for Alcohol Addiction
These medications are often used to decrease the cravings a patient has while going through the detox process. The effects of these drugs replace the effects of alcohol, creating less desire for booze. These drugs have proven very effective in relapse prevention.
Methadone or Suboxone for Opiate Addiction
Both of these medications are used for severe addictions to heroin and painkillers. They are tapering medications that offer the body lower doses of the active ingredients found in opiates. They are intended for long-term detox programs with diminishing doses over several weeks. They are also addictive.
Buprenorphine for Opiate Addiction
Another tapering drug for heroin addiction. The difference is this drug doesn’t contain opiates as an active ingredient. Instead, it’s considered a partial opioid agonist, which activates the same opioid receptors but produces a much safer response.
Ritalin for Cocaine and Meth Addictions
Ritalin is a stimulant drug prescribed to treat ADHD. Doctors and scientists have found that while the drug acts to stimulate the same receptors in the brain, the intake process is much slower, which results in a lower propensity for addiction. It’s good for long-term use.
If you would like more information about the medications we might use during your addiction treatment, you need to call us immediately. You can reach one of our professional staff members at 844-903-2111.