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Oxycontin, a brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride, is a prescription opioid medication that has been helping millions of people fight breakthrough pain. Despite its multiple benefits, the use of drugs has been largely associated with abuse and dependence. When such people ultimately try to quit using these opioids, they experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that may make their lives difficult and in danger.
Oxycontin detox is a safe way to get over this type of addiction and is available at various drug rehab across the rehab. The purpose of these rehabs is to make this process as safe and effective as possible while propelling individuals toward recovery.
An Overview of Oxycontin Addiction
Oxycontin is a semi-synthetic, powerful opioid medication prescribed to manage moderate to mild pain secondary to cancer, arthritis, and traumatic injuries. Because of its euphoric properties, many people tend to misuse it as the feelings of “high” it leads to closely resemble the effects of heroin. Oxycontin is currently a Schedule II drug and shares this category with several other drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
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Oxycodone is the active ingredient of Oxycontin, which is a full opioid antagonist. What this means is the drug works by attaching itself to the mu receptors in the brain and various parts of the body. These receptors play an important role in respiratory depression, sedation, pain control, and euphoria.
Long-term oxycontin use has been associated with a high risk of physical dependence, which typically brings on many adverse effects, such as withdrawal. It is essential to keep in mind that oxycontin is available in an extended-release form which means that it keeps releasing its opioid chemical in the body for a longer duration. As a result, the risk of overdose and death associated with this drug use is extremely high. As per the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 3.2 million people over 12 years misused oxycontin and other similar oxycodone products in 2019. These statistics reinforce the idea of providing oxycontin detox programs on a massive scale to help such people get out of their addiction cycles and live healthy life.
How to Detox from Oxycontin Naturally? Breakdown of a Withdrawal Program
Whether an individual is abusing oxycontin, they typically need to undergo a detox program to stop taking it safely. How quickly a person develops a dependence on this program depends on how much of this drug they are taking, their previous history of opioid use, and the presence of any genetic predispositions. At this point, it is also necessary to differentiate emotional dependency from physical dependency. Physical dependency may develop in anyone consuming oxycontin for a long period as the medication alters their brain chemistry. Emotional dependency, on the other hand, develops in people who take this medication in very high doses or abuse it. Physical dependency is easier to manage as it is purely a side effect of long-term oxycontin use, whereas emotional dependency may require extended care and support.
Regardless of the dependency one experiences, quitting oxycontin once it has developed requires professional support to prevent life-threatening complications. For this purpose, joining an oxycontin detox program is the best way forward. While this program varies from one rehab to another, it generally includes the following steps.
Intake Assessment
Most addiction centers dealing with oxycontin addiction begin the process of treatment with an intake assessment. As a part of this procedure, a team of skilled experts and staff members ask questions to set the stage for treatment. These intake experts also assess the current health and addiction status of each client before proceeding in the forward direction.
Slow Taper
The right speed and length for an oxycontin taper vary from one individual to another. A doctor prescribes an opioid taper schedule that properly addresses a client’s medical needs while minimizing any health hazards. As a part of the oxycontin taper, the doctor may:
- Monitor the pulse, temperature, and blood pressure
- Ask the client’s permission to liaise with their other healthcare professionals and family members to seek information that may benefit their medication taper
- Request blood or urine samples to check the amount or type of medication in the system
- Prescribe other medicines to manage their withdrawal signs and symptoms
- Introduced other types of pain therapies as required
Follow the plan closely and make sure that you are following the instructions given by the detox expert regarding tapering the medication. Some clients may feel eager to reach their goals; however, remember that the body needs time to adjust to the tapering dose of opioids. A step-by-step approach is the best way to go forward to ensure the process stays comfortable and effective. Some people may also feel tempted to take more medication than what the doctor has recommended. However, doing so is not advisable as it may put the patient’s health at risk.
Withdrawal Management
During detoxification, an individual may experience side effects that may feel similar to the ones experienced during the flu. These side effects include physical symptoms, like vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, tremors, and chills. Others may also develop psychological side effects, which can be intense enough to trigger a relapse. These side effects include anxiety, agitation, irritability, and sudden mood changes. A withdrawal from oxycontin may also make it difficult to sleep or concentrate daily. These symptoms can undoubtedly affect the daily life of an individual for which detox can prove beneficial. A doctor may prescribe different medications to control these symptoms. These medications may include the following:
- Methadone: This opioid-based medicine reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Buprenorphine: This opioid-based medicine reduces withdrawal cravings and symptoms. It works by binding to the mu-receptors and blocking oxycontin from accessing them. Moreover, buprenorphine does not lead to euphoria and produces withdrawal effects that are milder than the ones associated with Oxycontin.
- Lofexidine: This non-opioid medication reduces physical withdrawal symptoms.
- Clonidine: Although clonidine is not an FDA-approved medicine, its off-label use can significantly reduce oxycontin detox withdrawal symptoms
How Long Does it Take to Detox From Oxycontin?
The length of the detox process may differ depending on various factors, such as how long a person has been using the drug, how much they are taking, and their previous opioid use history. For most people, the process’s intense part is over 5 to 10 days. In many cases, long-term replacement medications are available to make the oxycontin withdrawal symptoms better.
Early-Stage Detox
The early-stage symptoms of detoxification generally peak within the first five days of entering detox. These symptoms begin as early as 8 hours following the last dose. The common symptoms of the early stage include insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, agitation, runny nose, fever, sweating, irregular heart rate, and high blood pressure.
Late-Stage Detox
After the first five days, an individual goes into a late-stage detox which includes additional symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, drug cravings, depression, chills, trouble concentrating, and cramping. These symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. The psychological side effects of this oxycontin detox process may last for a longer time. The personalized treatment plan depends entirely on each client and how they respond to treatment.
Oxycontin Recovery: What Happens After Detox?
Once a person completes the detox process, they may participate in different treatments and therapies as a part of their comprehensive recovery plan. As mentioned before, it may be necessary to enter a rehabilitation center for a long-term follow-up. Rehabilitation for oxycontin may involve the following steps:
Inpatient Rehab
During inpatient or residential rehab, patients live onsite for the entire duration of treatment. They receive round-the-clock treatment and care and get a chance to participate in various therapies. It may also be beneficial for people who prefer living with a high level of support, such as those who do not have supportive environments or with severe addictions.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehabilitation for oxycontin involves traveling to the rehab daily to participate in treatment followed by returning home or a sober living arrangement every night. This type of rehabilitative treatment can be a suitable option for people having a highly supportive environment and only require constant support to keep the recovery process going. As a part of outpatient rehab, clients may participate in recovery therapies and medication-assisted treatments to minimize or prevent relapses.
Following are some elements of the multifaceted approach that may prove beneficial for treating oxycontin addiction:
Counseling
Counseling helps people identify the root causes behind their addictive patterns and help them break them.
Behavioral Therapies
Some behavioral therapies, such as motivational interviewing, contingency management, and cognitive behavioral therapy, can help patients learn how to make positive behavioral changes in their lives.
Family Therapy
Family therapy aims to improve or repair family relationships affected by the disease of addiction. In this respect, the family members and other loved ones of the addict participate in group sessions and talk about their issues to overcome them.
Vocational Training
The purpose of vocational training is to help recovering oxycontin addicts find employment after rehab.
Case Management
Case management assists with social services, such as helping clients secure shelter, food, support, legal aid, or income. As the case managers sort out these issues, clients can thoroughly focus on recovery.
Aftercare
Recovery from oxycontin is a lifelong process and may require clients to participate in ongoing treatment to stay committed to recovery. An aftercare plan helps them engage in this long-term recovery plan by providing opportunities to participate in counseling, relapse prevention courses, and support groups. Some rehabs also arrange recovery management checkups to ensure that these individuals are on the right track.
FAQs
Why should I detox from oxy?
As per the data compiled and released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 46 people die due to opioid abuse every day. Due to these alarming statistics, it is necessary to address this issue, and the only way to help people fight oxy abuse is by helping them through a medical detox. The process of oxycontin detox involves the help of various specialists who respond to the immediate needs of each individual. Depending on individual circumstances, some people may also get medications to ease this process of transition and as painless as possible.
When should I go for oxycontin detox?
If you have a reason to believe that someone around you is abusing oxycontin and require a detox, there are specific signs to look for. These signs include nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, slowed breathing, constricted pupils, slurry speech, and profuse sweating. In addition to these medical signs, some people also develop behavioral signs like making appointments with multiple doctors to get more oxycontin supply, forging prescriptions, or stealing the medication to fulfill cravings.
