Have you ever suffered from chronic pain or had your leg broken? Most of us went through several medical conditions for which a doctor visit is required. Several pains are very common, and pain due to injuries and surgeries requires painkiller medications.
But do you know that many painkiller medicines, too, have habit-forming tendencies? They affect the central nervous system so that you feel relaxed and there is relief from pain as well.
One such class of painkillers that has addictive tendencies is Opioid. Doctors prescribe opioids for pain treatment, and prolonged use can make you develop tolerance and dependency on them.
One of the worst scenarios is when you want to stop the addiction and undergo detoxification. During this process, you will have to suffer many painkiller withdrawal symptoms that will leave you in a devastating position.
Opioids are painkillers. It is a combination of opiates drugs and synthetic opioids. Some opiates are heroin, opium, morphine, and opium poppy, and varieties of synthetic drugs are oxycodone, methadone, and hydrocodone.
According to the study, more than two million people are addicted to opioids. One of the most dangerous forms that are easily illegally available is heroin. Many drug sellers mix it with the more dangerous drug fentanyl, the most deadly combination among drugs.
People take opioids in different forms, and each state has its other period to create an impact on people. Some of the various administration forms are injection, nasal insufflation, and oral ingestion.
Injections take roughly ten minutes to reach the effect; nasal insufflations take 10 to 15 minutes to get the results, whereas oral ingestion takes 90 to 120 minutes to impact an individual.
Opioids have therapeutic uses; it has three receptors – delta, kappa, and mu. Unlike other drugs, Opioids have repercussions on the brain receptors. Your brain naturally produces the opioid, but not in quantity to suffice the pain conditions.
So, the healthcare professional prescribes these medicines for a limited time. Opioids attach themselves to the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. The excess use of opioids can interfere with the brain's normal functioning.
Opioid withdrawal occurs when you take high doses of the drug for a long duration. Your body learns to adjust without medication, and it takes time for the brain to come back to its normal function.
Detoxification is a crucial step; you may suffer painkiller withdrawal symptoms. It is better if you see the withdrawal specialist before going for detoxification.
Withdrawals have different phases, and it solely depends upon the level of addiction. Know about the status of withdrawal symptoms and what can happen to you during this phase.
As soon as you stop taking the drug, the body and brain start returning to their routine. But it is the struggling phase where you will feel many unpleasant problems halting your everyday routine.
The first phase starts after 24 hours of stopping using the drugs. At this point, you will have the following symptoms:
With time, the symptoms start to exaggerate. In some cases, many people may require close monitoring. However, the opioid symptoms in rare cases may be life-threatening if not cared for.
The symptoms may start to subside after 72 hours. You will see a drastic improvement in your overall well-being. Within a week, your worst phase is over. But some symptoms may continue for many months. Indeed, those may be milder than the initial stage, but it still requires attention.
The last phase, where symptoms remain long, is called the protracted phase. But you can easily manage these symptoms. You have to stay in touch with specialists who can, along with medicines, guide you in different ways like meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga to deal with daily stress.
The followings are the protracted withdrawal symptoms
Many complications arise from the painkiller withdrawal symptoms. It is better to find a rehabilitation facility according to your needs.
Several symptoms can lead to severe health problems. For example, during the nausea and vomiting phase, the vomiting can reach your lungs, amplify the situation, and lead to pneumonia.
Another example is when you have excessive diarrhea. In this case, you will lose all the body fluid, which leads to abnormal heart rhythm. If you do not approach the right specialist, it may also lead to a heart attack.
So for a safe journey towards sobriety, seek medical advice.