How To Deal with Methadone Addiction

 

Methadone Addiction

Methadone is a prescription drug used for severe pain management. It is also used to treat addiction to opioid drugs like heroin. While methadone works as an effective treatment for those who are struggling with addiction to opioid drugs, it is addictive too, being an opioid itself. People tend to get addicted to methadone while using it to wean themselves off of another prescription painkiller.

When one stops taking methadone after consuming it for a while, they are bound to experience withdrawal symptoms. Dealing with methadone addiction and withdrawal symptoms can be challenging and painful. Therefore, one should take the assistance of health care professionals at the methadone rehab in Blacksburg. Individuals struggling with methadone addiction should talk to their doctor to decide therapy plan and other management measures to combat methadone addiction.

How to know if someone has methadone addiction?

Symptoms of methadone withdrawal are also referred to as methadone detox. Its symptoms appear in methadone-addicted individuals after approximately 24-36 hours since they last consumed the drug. A detox plan should be supervised by a physician. They can help in determining the detox plan and duration. Following are the symptoms of methadone addiction:

• Tiredness
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Yawning
• Trouble sleeping
• Muscle ache
• Goosebumps
• severe nausea
• Vomiting
• Cramps
• diarrhea
• depression
• drug craving

The symptoms of methadone detox may feel like flu at the initial stages. But unlike flu, they can remain severe for several days, making it unbearable for the addicted individual. Some of the symptoms mentioned in the list above get worse after about three days. The detox symptoms are worse during the first week. The individual may experience low energy levels, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and depression, among other symptoms.

The withdrawal stage can be very challenging and tempting for methadone-addicted individuals to return to using other opiates. Therefore, the best thing would be to sign up for methadone treatment at a rehab under specialized supervision. Some physicians even discuss keeping the individual on methadone treatment but at lower doses to maintain stability in the detox procedure.

What to expect from methadone addiction treatment?

Methadone detox is difficult, therefore specialized supervision is advised. One must not attempt to go on methadone detox on their own. The specialists at methadone rehab in Blacksburg can help you manage the situation with the most practical strategies. These rehab centers also have support groups that help individuals suffering from the same health condition open up in a secure environment.

The doctor provides customized treatment depending on the patient’s condition to ease detox symptoms. It ensures that you will recover fully without having to suffer a lot. Buprenorphine, naloxone, and clonidine are some of the drugs that physicians use to shorten the detox process. It helps in relieving detox symptoms.

The specialists also monitor the methadone intake and response of addicted individuals to ensure that the withdrawal process is safe and effective. They continue the therapy until they are sure that the patient’s body does not need methadone anymore. It is the most effective and practical way to treat methadone addiction.