Jim V.
Medical detox in addiction rehabilitation marks the initial phase of recovery from substance abuse, but what happens during detox? Detox involves the removal of the substance to allow the body to expel accumulated toxins and recover. Withdrawal symptoms, resulting from this process, vary based on factors like substance type, individual health, and duration of abuse. Recognizing the difficulty of detox at the beginning of rehabilitation, it’s natural to have concerns about the experience, particularly regarding the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Considering detox for yourself or a loved one can evoke feelings of uncertainty and concern about the unknown. Withdrawal symptoms, ranging from discomfort to potential danger, underscore the importance of seeking professional assistance. At Cornerstone, our team of medical professionals specializes in addiction treatment, ensuring that individuals undergoing detox receive expert care and support to alleviate symptoms and facilitate a smoother recovery process.
The duration of medical detox varies depending on several factors, including the type of substance involved, the length of time the individual has been using, the dosage they were taking, and their overall physical health. Typically, detox from substances like opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines can last from a few days to a couple of weeks. For instance, opioid detox often lasts for approximately 5 to 7 days, while alcohol detox might extend up to two weeks in cases of severe dependency. During this period, patients are monitored 24/7 by medical professionals who manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure stability, gradually reducing the physical dependence on drugs. This phase is critical as it sets the foundation for effective rehabilitation, ensuring that the patient can safely transition to further treatment phases with a reduced risk of immediate relapse.
Medical detox in Orange County is recommended for anyone who suffers from substance or alcohol abuse. However, it can be especially helpful for those who either abuse multiple substances or drugs associated with severe withdrawal symptoms or have been using heavily or for a long time. When you stop taking substances such as opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, alcohol, or MDMA, you can experience symptoms including vomiting and an irregular heart rate.
Medical detox is also highly recommended for people who have other health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or an underlying heart condition. At an addiction treatment facility, medical professionals supervise the detox process and can provide medication to deal with withdrawal symptoms, while monitoring health conditions and providing interventions like intravenous (IV) fluid replacement.
If you are considering quitting substances, speak to a doctor to discuss your options. They can help you to understand the process and the best ways to move forward with your recovery.
Understanding Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms manifest uniquely for each individual, contingent upon various factors such as age, health status, and the nature of substance abuse. Detoxification isn’t solely a physical process but marks the pivotal first step in addressing the mental health disorder of addiction. Alcohol detox, opiate detox, and cocaine detox present distinct challenges, each necessitating specialized medical attention.
When you go through Alcohol detox, the symptoms can begin less than half a day after your last drink. You may experience the most intense detox symptoms in the first five to seven days. The length of your alcohol detox will depend on factors such as your health and how much you have been drinking. There may be additional complications if you have been taking other drugs.
Withdrawal symptoms after quitting alcohol may include the following:
In some cases, a person may experience a serious condition called delirium tremens. This requires immediate medical treatment. The symptoms of this include hallucinations and extreme mental confusion. It is advised to do an alcohol detox under medical supervision so that symptoms can be alleviated by trained staff.
Opioids are a large family of drugs. They include prescription medications such as codeine and morphine and illicit drugs such as heroin. When a person has been taking opioids, there is no quick answer to “how long does detox take?” The length of the detox process can vary depending on which drug has been taken, how much, and for how long.
When you stop taking opioid drugs, physical detox symptoms will appear within the first day. The most intense physical withdrawal symptoms occur around two to three days into the detox process and could last for two weeks. Medically-assisted detox for heroin or fentanyl detox is recommended for the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Your symptoms may include:
In the final stage of withdrawal, you are likely to experience psychological withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and depression. This stage may last for several months, and you could experience withdrawal symptoms over a year later. If you go to drug rehab, you will receive therapy to learn ways to maintain your sobriety.
Cocaine is a very addictive stimulant drug that requires medical intervention for a successful detox process. Cocaine detox, primarily psychological in nature, can extend for weeks after the last dose. Symptoms encompass extreme fatigue, mood swings, and intense cravings, necessitating comprehensive medical support.
If you have an alcohol addiction and abuse cocaine at the same time, the two drugs will create a toxic chemical called cocaethylene. When you go to alcohol rehab you should tell the staff if you have also been using cocaine.
Someone who has been taking cocaine but no other drugs may experience physical and psychological symptoms. However, they could find that their withdrawal symptoms are mostly psychological. A person going through cocaine detox may experience the following symptoms as they adjust to the drug’s absence.
The most intense cocaine withdrawal symptoms may be experienced in the first two weeks after the last dose. Other symptoms can continue for up to two months.
Medical detoxification encompasses evaluation and stabilization followed by long-term treatment and support. Expert medical professionals facilitate withdrawal management, offering tailored therapies and medications to alleviate symptoms and ensure a smoother detox experience.
At the evaluation stage, we talk to you to learn about your addiction and your state of health. This conversation gives the medical team the information it needs to make a treatment plan that works for you.
This stage may include tests to assess your current medical state both physically and mentally, looking at medical records to assess your history, and a general chat to get a better understanding of the drugs you use, why, and how they affect you as an individual.
This is the stage where detox begins. Doctors and nurses will be available to help you through the process and at the stage when symptoms peak to the highest point.
Different therapies will be assigned to you depending on the drug you are withdrawing from and how severe the symptoms are. Doctors may also prescribe medication to reduce the effects of withdrawal and help you sleep.
In detox, your body removes the toxins from its system. In the following stage, you can receive therapy to furnish you with the skills needed to quit using for good.
After detox is over, you will have the opportunity to move forward into the next stage of your recovery journey. At Cornerstone, the options include further residential treatment that is tailored to your needs and an intensive outpatient program that runs seven days a week.
Therapies for post-detox treatment at Cornerstone include:
If you are tired of drink or drugs and want to start living a sober life, you may feel tempted to try going cold turkey on your own. The physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person stops abusing substances can make withdrawal uncomfortable and risky to health. This is why it is better to receive detox treatment at a drug rehab facility.
It’s natural to have questions and to want to explore your options. At Cornerstone, we are happy to talk to you. We are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to answer your questions about drug or alcohol abuse.
You can telephone us at (714) 844-6071 or email [email protected], and one of our experts will get back to you.
Reviewed & Approved
This content has been reviewed for accuracy and comprehensiveness by Dr. Michael Stone, MD, FAAFP, ABAM, FASAM, Founder, and Phil Kosanovich, MBA, President & CEO of Cornerstone of Southern California. If you have any questions or notice any inaccuracies, please contact us at [email protected].
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