Medical Detox - Lansdale

Drug and alcohol detox is the process of removing traces of a harmful substance from the body to break a physical addiction to the substance. Medical detox is a medically supervised method of detox that's widely used and highly successful. During medical detox, drugs are administered to the patient as needed to help alleviate intense cravings and other uncomfortable symptoms that are associated with withdrawal.

Why Medical Detox is Essential

Detoxing from certain drugs without supervision can cause serious medical complications. Alcohol and sedative withdrawal may cause the onset of dangerous increases in blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate. About five percent of those who experience these symptoms during alcohol withdrawal will die from it if they don't seek immediate medical attention.

But safety isn't the only reason medical detox is the best way to go through withdrawal. The majority of those who try to quit "cold turkey" on their own will give up very quickly and turn back to drugs or alcohol to make the excruciating symptoms stop. If you or someone you love has attempted to quit drugs or alcohol, and has been unsuccessful, get help finding the right treatment and rehab centers in Lansdale.

Types of Detox Programs

Inpatient detox is always the best route to take for the detoxification process. Although it requires an extended stay at a residential treatment facility, inpatient detox features around-the-clock supervision, a strong community of supportive peers and treatment teams, and typically offers a number of alternative therapies like yoga or acupuncture to help alleviate both physical and psychological discomforts of withdrawal. Those who have a long history of abuse and addiction, a co-occurring mental illness, a secondary addiction, or ambivalence toward recovery should choose inpatient detox and treatment.

Outpatient detox programs can also be successful as long as the patient has a strong personal commitment to recovery and a solid system of support at home. Outpatient detox allows patients to continue working or meeting responsibilities at home, and it precludes the need to explain an extended absence, which allows for more privacy.

Medical opiate detox is a controversial method of medical detox from drugs like heroin and opiate painkillers like OxyContin and Fentanyl. During medical opiate detox, which must take place at a residential facility or hospital, the patient is put under general anesthesia for the duration of the detox process. Patients wake up clean, with dummy drugs blocking any cravings.

Withdrawal Symptoms and the Drugs Used to Treat Them

Different substances have different withdrawal symptoms, but one symptom they all have in common is intense cravings. Not all patients will experience all of the symptoms of withdrawal, which may range in intensity from mild to severe.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol detox include anxiety, agitation, insomnia, hallucinations, tremors, seizures, and a condition known as delirium tremens, which can be fatal.

Drugs used during medical alcohol detox include Paxil to alleviate insomnia and symptoms of depression and neurotonin to prevent or treat seizures and help restore normal body processes.

Opiate Withdrawal

Withdrawing from opiates, which include heroin and the prescription medications Vicodin and OxyContin, can be excruciating, causing body aches, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and agitation, and hot and cold sweats.

Medications used during medical opiate detox include methadone to suppress withdrawal symptoms and cravings, Clonidine to alleviate body aches and reduce anxiety, and Subutex to shorten the duration of detox.

To find out more about the withdrawal process and different treatment programs and facilities for you offered Drug Treatment Centers Lansdale, can help you do just that, 215-383-2672 today.

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