Withdrawal

GUIDING PATIENTS SAFELY THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS

Withdrawal is one the most commonly cited causes of relapse in recovery from any form of chemical dependency. Whether they choose to detox on their own or let haste and/or misinformation lead them to a poor-quality facility, patients are seldom ready for the severe physical, and often emotional, impact that the withdrawal process yields. One of the services that distinguish Behavioral Health from other facilities is our ability to offer comprehensive medical withdrawal management to our patients.

Most treatment centers find it too expensive to keep a medical professional on-staff, and thus end up farming out detox to a separate facility. Depending upon a patient’s level of addiction, withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Patients who are looking to begin the treatment process and need help for their withdrawal symptoms are encouraged to have a loved one help them locate a suitable program, as an ill-advised choice can leave patients open to a mismanaged detox process and cause them to unnecessarily relapse and form a negative perception of the validity of inpatient treatment. Our doctors and nurses are trained to successfully relieve withdrawal symptoms that manifest in all types of chemical dependency and are ready to put their expertise to work so that your loved one can get the care you need.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL

Helping Patients Clear the Hurdle of Alcohol Dependency

In most cases of drug and alcohol addiction, withdrawal can be regarded as one of the most difficult and taxing parts of the recovery process. The pain and illness associated with alcohol withdrawal is difficult for patients to handle under the best of circumstances; which means they will have significantly diminished chances of success, should they choose to try and manage their symptoms on their own. It’s critical for the sake of patients’ immediate health, as well as their long-term success, that they seek experienced, professional alcohol withdrawal management from a medical expert. The Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches offers patients compassionate and effective withdrawal symptom relief through a variety of traditional and modern avenues. Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Patients will experience different types and degrees of symptoms, depending upon their level of addiction. It’s important for loved ones of alcoholics or potential alcoholics to be able to spot signs of withdrawal. This helps to ensure proper and timely intervention in a loved one’s alcohol abuse, and can also help save the life of someone who is experiencing severe symptoms that require professional management. Some of the more common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

• Tremors and Shaking Anxiety and Irritability Perspiration
• Upset Stomach (Nausea, vomiting, etc.)
• Insomnia or Disrupted Sleep Patterns
• Frequent Headaches and Sensitivity to Light

In the more extreme cases, patients can also experience bizarre hallucinations and a sensation that mirrors the feeling of insects crawling on their bodies. The onset of alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occurs between 12 and 24 hours after alcohol consumption has ceased. Duration is often contingent upon the level and frequency of alcohol abuse. Behavioral changes experienced during alcohol withdrawal-anxiety, irritability, aggression, etc.-are the result of previously inhibited neurotransmitters returning to normal function.

Alcohol Withdrawal Management at the The Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches

Our patients have the benefit of compassionate, effective and medically supervised alcohol withdrawal management. We offer expert doctors and nurses, a sterile and supportive environment and medication assistance to make patients as comfortable as possible. The long-term benefits of our professional withdrawal management services include renewed energy and a heightened willingness to embrace the next stage of treatment and the recovery process.

BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL

Compassionate and Effective Management of Benzo Withdrawal

Benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as “benzos” are a family of depressant, psychoactive drugs used to treat legitimate conditions such as insomnia and anxiety. They are also used to manage alcohol withdrawal and help prevent seizure-prone patients from having an episode. Taken in sensible doses, benzodiazepines are powerful and effective sedatives that help patients relieve stress, sleep better, and improve their quality of life. However, as with any other powerful group of prescriptions, they can also be extremely addictive; when mixed with alcohol, they can be downright deadly. Some of the most commonly abused benzos include:

• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Temazepam (Restoril)

Recreational use of these drugs can lead to a variety of short and long-term effects, including memory-loss, nausea, blurry vision, slurred speech, hostility, vivid and frightening dreams and irritability. Benzo withdrawal is a physically and emotionally taxing ordeal, the management of which is best left to qualified medical experts, like those at the Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches. Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Withdrawal from benzos often lasts much longer than those of other prescriptions. Like in most cases of chemical dependency, the length and scope of a patients withdrawal period will fall upon how the level and frequency of abuse.

Some of the more common benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Severe Tension and/or Anxiety
• Heart Palpitations
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Mild to Severe Joint and Muscle Pain

In more severe cases, benzodiazepine withdrawal can also include different levels of psychotic episodes, seizure and hallucinations. Customized and Targeted Relief Benzo withdrawal is a particularly delicate process due to its variability. The time it takes to overcome withdrawal will differ greatly from patient to patient. Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches works with each individual patient to provide a customized course of medically supervised benzo withdrawal that effectively meets their specific care needs.

COCAINE WITHDRAWAL

Breaking the Cycle of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine withdrawal yields a number of unpleasant symptoms and, while not usually life-threatening, can be incredibly painful and emotionally exhausting. The extreme highs and lows one experiences during cocaine abuse and withdrawal can cause them to engage in drastic and dangerous behavior. TBehavioral Health of the Palm Beaches provides expert and compassionate cocaine withdrawal management to help our patients successfully combat their cocaine dependency. One of the most dangerous aspects of cocaine withdrawal is how long it can last. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant, the highs of which cause patients to experience euphoric highs. After an untreated course of cocaine abuse, sudden cessation can lead severe depression, the duration of which can span months. During this time, patients are vulnerable to multiple emotional pit-falls including, suicide attempts. In addition to expert care for the immediate physical symptoms of cocaine abuse, it’s imperative that patients experiencing cocaine withdrawal seek psychiatric care to mitigate the possibility of a destructive long-term depressive disorder.

Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal

The strength, severity and duration of cocaine withdrawal symptoms will depend upon the level and frequency of cocaine abuse, however they often include:

• Extreme restlessness
• Mild to Severe Depression Fatigue
• Lethargy Increased Appetite
• Troubling Dreams
• Insomnia or Disrupted Sleep
• Slowed Breathing

Although cocaine withdrawal tends not to yield debilitating physical symptoms, such as extreme muscle pain or upset stomach, the behavioral liabilities must be treated in a professional inpatient facility to ensure lasting success and balanced mental health.

HEROIN WITHDRAWAL

Helping Patients Overcome Heroin with Expert Sensitivity

Heroin addiction has been accurately cited as one of the most dangerous forms of chemical dependency due to the rapid onset of addiction and the harrowing withdrawal period that comes with detox. The severity of symptoms and the rapidity with which they manifest makes heroin withdrawal comparatively more dangerous than that of other illicit substances. Heroin withdrawal is not a process you can simply “ride out” or sleep through until it passes. It requires expert management by medical professionals who are trained to effectively intervene in the event of an emergency and offer informed medication assistance. Patients who have been battling prolonged heroin addiction are risking their long-term health by attempting to manage their heroin withdrawal on their own. Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches has the facilities, personnel, experience and resources to help you or your loved one effectively, and safely, work through heroin withdrawal.

Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal

In the case of heroin addiction, withdrawal is not simply confined to the detoxification period that precedes rehab. Most patients actually experience heroin withdrawal even as they’re “coming down” from their high. This type of withdrawal can occur toward the end or shortly after the last heroin dose. Some patients may require extended withdrawal management assistance due to the lingering symptoms they experience. Common symptoms of heroin abuse include:

• Extreme Intestinal Distress
• Insomnia or Disrupted Sleep Patterns
• Anxiety or Agitation
• Increased Perspiration
• Stomach Cramps
• Goosebumps
• Vomiting
• Mild to Severe Muscle and Joint
• Pain Flu-Like Symptoms (Runny Nose, Fever, Etc.)

In more severe cases, withdrawal can include respiratory distress and hallucinations. Behavioral Health offers medication assistance and various other pain relief methods to help guide patients through their heroin withdrawal and move to the next phase of their treatment.

Heroin Withdrawal and Relapse

The emotional impact incurred by patients and their loved ones upon relapse can quickly derail any progress made by the patient during their initial attempt at recovery. Contrary to what many believe, relapse is not an inevitability. By choosing a program that can adequately cater to your withdrawal management needs, you’re exponentially increasing your chances of long-term success in recovery.

METHADONE WITHDRAWAL

Helping You through Methadone Withdrawal

Since its introduction into the addiction treatment landscape, methadone has been a powerful weapon in the treatment of heroin addiction, as well as that of other opioids. However, like any other powerful prescription drug, the dangers of both methadone addiction and withdrawal are very real and should be monitored by an experienced medical professional whenever methadone is used for clinical purposes. It is also true that many who abuse methadone recreationally, often end up switching over from pre-existing heroin dependence. Methadone is a synthetic opioid and often causes patients to become just as dependent on it as they were on other opioids, such as heroin, OxyContin or Vicodin. Ideally, methadone is administered in a controlled environment to help patients overcome their addiction; however even under the best of circumstances, methadone will likely produce a difficult withdrawal period.

Symptoms of Methadone Withdrawal

Methadone symptoms typically last one to three weeks; however in more extreme cases, they could last longer. Some of the more common symptoms of methadone withdrawal are listed below:

• Fever and Flu-like Symptoms
• Upset Stomach (Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea)
• Rhinorrhea (Excessive Mucous in the Nasal Cavity)
• Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
• Prolonged Insomnia
• Visual and Auditory Hallucinations
• Anxiety and Paranoia
• Joint and Muscle Aches
• Heightened Sensitivity to Pain
• High Blood Pressure
• Tremors and Shaking Tachycardia (Heart Arrhythmia)

These are just a few of the symptoms associated with methadone withdrawal. Very often, the best patients can hope for when experiencing this process is to keep symptoms at a manageable level. This will likely be extremely difficult without the assistance of a qualified professional.

Don’t Let Fear Keep You from Getting Help

Many patients elect to take methadone long past the point where it is needed in an effort to avoid withdrawal symptoms for either methadone itself or other opiates. If you or a loved one is afraid of experiencing methadone withdrawal, The Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches can help take the fear out of the process by providing expert, supportive methadone withdrawal management. Recovering heroin addicts don’t have to embrace methadone as a post-recovery way of life. We’re here to help.

OPIATE WITHDRAWAL

Safe and Expert Management of Opiate Withdrawal

Commonly used for clinical pain relief, opiates include heroin, oxycodone, morphine, codeine and methadone, as well as others. Opiate withdrawal is usually extremely stressful, both physically and emotionally, and is regarded as one of the more difficult endeavors in addiction recovery. Individuals who attempt to manage their withdrawal symptoms on their own are rarely successful and almost always wind up relapsing. Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches specializes in the management of opiate withdrawal, and can help you or your loved one effectively overcome dependency. No two opiate withdrawal periods are identical. While all medications may yield similar withdrawal symptoms, a number of variables factor into what each patient will experience, such as their medical history and level of abuse. In any case, the dangers associated with opiate withdrawal mandate professional assistance in managing symptoms and ensuring safety.

Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal

The onset of withdrawal symptoms will depend on what particular opiate the individual has been using. Heroin withdrawal symptoms may develop within just a few hours, while opiates like methadone may take longer to manifest. Some of the general opiate withdrawal symptoms include:

• Stomach Cramps
• Muscle Aches
• Restlessness
• Tearing Eyes
• Insomnia
• Yawning and Fatigue
• Excessive Perspiration
• Increased Heartbeat
• Intestinal Distress (Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea)
• Elevated Blood Pressure

Duration of symptoms will vary, but often start to lessen after three days to one week. It is not uncommon, however, for patients to experience extended symptoms which may require additional medical assistance. Individuals who are taking opiate-derivative drugs as part of a pain management routine should be mindful of these symptoms, as well.

The First Step to Taking Your Life Back

Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches is here to help patients safely manage their opiate withdrawal symptoms so they can focus on getting the treatment they need and improving their lives. We understand the prospect of withdrawal might seem scary, however effective symptom management is a necessary part of the recovery process, and can mean the difference between comfort and pain.

OXYCODONE WITHDRAWAL

Compassionate and Supportive Management of Oxycodone Withdrawal

Most commonly administered in its brand-name form, OxyContin, oxycodone is an extremely effective means of moderate to severe pain relief. Unfortunately it has also become one of the most dominant addiction threats of the last 30 years. Withdrawal from oxycodone yields a variety of painful and emotionally disturbing symptoms. Its alteration of brain chemistry and manipulation of pain receptors can cause patients to experience extreme physical and psychiatric distress after abrupt cessation. The Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches is well-versed in the bio-chemistry of oxycodone withdrawal, and is ready to provide compassionate and effective symptom relief to you or your loved one. The oxycodone withdrawal period can range from mildly unpleasant to severe and debilitating. In either scenario, it’s best that patients seek help for their withdrawal from a qualified addiction care expert. The duration and variety of withdrawal symptoms will be different for each patient depending upon their level of use. Withdrawal symptoms can also occur for patients decreasing the dosages that they’ve been taking for a legitimate pain injury. Before adjusting their oxycodone regiment in any way, patients need to consult their prescribing physician and prepare for any symptoms that may follow.

Symptoms of Oxycodone Withdrawal

The symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal often occur in stages. Loved ones of patients who have been prescribed oxycodone for a diagnosed pain-related condition should look out for early warning signs, such as:

• Increased Anxiety
• Excessive Sweating
• Tearing of the eyes
• Fatigue
• Restlessness Irritability and Hostility
• Dilated Pupils

By the time addiction has taken hold, patients usually experience more severe symptoms, including but not limited to: Insomnia Severe Intestinal Distress Extreme Weakness Severe Stomach Cramps Increased Heart Rate Hypertension The Cottages of the Palm Beaches specializes in providing patients with the support and care they need to successfully manage their oxycodone withdrawal. Don’t let fear of pain and illness become a roadblock to recovery. We’re ready to help.

SUBOXONE WITHDRAWAL

Helping Patients Overcome Suboxone Withdrawal

Suboxone (Buprenorphine and Naloxone) is a commonly used medication in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is also administered in lower doses to alleviate chronic and acute pain in qualifying patients. Although it is regarded as an effective and powerful weapon in addiction treatment, many patients tragically wind up becoming addicted to Suboxone, itself. Taken recreationally, Suboxone can slow (or stop) breathing and heart rate and quickly result in addiction. Even at regular doses, patients sometimes have a difficult time ceasing their intake. Patients taking Suoxone as part of an addiction treatment or pain management regimen should never take their medication in a manner inconsistent with their doctors’ orders. The Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches provides compassionate and customized Suboxone withdrawal management, and recognizes the difficulty that patients face when trying to stop their use. If you or your loved one have been taking Suboxone, for any reason, and are experiencing acute and prolonged withdrawal symptoms, it is advised that you seek professional help from a qualified medical expert.

Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal

Patients withdrawing from Suboxone have reported feeling symptoms even months after they stopped their use. Some of these symptoms can lead to serious medical complications. This is why it’s critical that patients receive long-term, targeted withdrawal management assistance. Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal often mirror those of opioid withdrawal and include:

• Yawning and Fatigue
• Sweating Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea
• Mild to Severe Pain Anxiety
• Spasm in the Leg Muscles
• Flu-Like Symptoms
• Insomnia or Disrupted Sleep Patterns

Any changes in an established Suboxone regimen can produce some level of withdrawal. Patients who continue to take Suboxone must consult their physician before increasing or decreasing their dosage. In many cases, an extremely slow decrease (over the course of 30 weeks or more) is recommended to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Let Us Help At the Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, we’re committed to giving patients every available resource in their recovery. Whether they’re taking Suboxone recreationally or as part of treatment program, patients will experience some level of withdrawal from Suboxone—we’re here to help them through it.