Prescription drug detox
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Last Updated:
May 6th, 2024
Undergoing a prescription drug detox is vital if you are wanting to overcome prescription drug addiction. We appreciate just how tough it is to come off prescription drugs alone. Perhaps you have been thinking about quitting for a while or maybe you have attempted to quit previously. Either way, we aim to help you through the process for good. Detoxing from prescription drugs will remove any addictive chemicals from your body and introduce you to healthy coping mechanisms so you can maintain healthy behaviour in the long-term.
What is prescription drug detox?
A prescription drug detox is a type of drug detox, whereby a person stops taking a prescribed drug and thus all traces of the substance are eliminated from their system. During prescription drug withdrawal, the body tries to adjust itself back to its original state before it depended on the drug. However, this process can be unpleasant as we are essentially disrupting the chemical processes in the brain, causing withdrawal symptoms to appear. Fortunately, the most severe withdrawal symptoms don’t last too long and having health care professionals close by can make it as smooth and as hassle free as possible. Click on either link below to learn more about detox from specific types of prescription drugs:
Benzo detox
Sanctuary Lodge is a state-of-the-art addiction rehab facility providing private detoxification from benzodiazepines with withdrawal symptom management and thorough support.
Opioid detox
Sanctuary Lodge is a fully modernised addiction rehab facility offering detoxification from various substances, including opiates, as well as a personalised therapeutic programme.
What are the symptoms of prescription drug withdrawal?
The symptoms of prescription drug withdrawal will depend on the nature of the drug, how often you’ve been taking it and for how long you’ve been taking it. You may experience both physical and mental symptoms ranging from mild to extreme. Remember that to gauge the severity of your case and what you may experience, you will have to consult a medical professional. However, knowing some of the key prescription drug withdrawal symptoms can help you to get a general idea:
Physical prescription drug withdrawal symptoms
- Shivering
- Heavy sweating
- Skin irritations
- Weight loss
- Sensitivity
Mental prescription drug withdrawal symptoms
- Mood Swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep irregularities
- Poor concentration
- Confusion
The dangers of prescription drug detox
A prescription drug detox process can also be dangerous, depending on the drug of choice. Some prescription drugs contain opioids, analgesics and depressant ingredients. In that case, prescription drug detox can contain a higher degree of danger and require more effort to overcome. We strongly urge against attempting to detox from prescription drugs alone. A home detox can put you at a high risk of any number of physical and mental side effects of withdrawal, and puts you at a real risk of relapse and potential overdose.
How long does it take to detox from prescription drugs?
A prescription drug detox process can take anywhere between three days to six months. The detox timeline will depend on the nature of the drug, the frequency of use and how long it has been in your system.
Prescription drug detox at Sanctuary Lodge
Our health professionals are well versed in administering a prescription drug detox and will be able to offer you support and careful monitoring throughout the process. You may need to reduce your dosage over time as per the health professional’s advice. Medicine tapering and health guarding are some of the ways a health professional will be able to guide you through a difficult, challenging process like a prescription drug detox.
However, detoxing from prescription drugs is not always enough to help clients fully recover from a prescription drug dependency. More often than not, clients discover that their reliance on prescription drugs is provoked by deeper issues. Sanctuary Lodge understands that psychotherapy treatments aim at addressing and healing these issues. This way, clients can get the very best care which will help them sustain recovery for the long-term. If you want to know more about our therapy programmes or what prescription drug rehab entails, speak with us today.
Take the first step with us
Our Sanctuary Lodge team of health professionals is ready to help you through prescription drug detox, so you can come out of this ready to experience all the positives that life has to offer. Contact us today to get started on your recovery journey.