In my experience, prescription drugs have been required for the pain, ADHD and paranoia. Despite the high rates of violence with these medications, the rate of accidental deaths is extremely high. It is important to understand that most of the drugs in the market are psychoactive, which means that they cause an addiction or dependency state similar to that of prescription drugs.
Many people believe that since these medicines are being dispensed by doctors and are kept in the same place rather than provided by patients on the streets, they are safe. Prescription drugs can be abused when used for a purpose other than that prescribed for the patient.
According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, 52 million people ages 12 and up have used prescription drugs for reasons other than medical.
There are difficulties with changing the dependence pattern, and it often requires expert assistance with prescription drugs to change the dependency pattern. The first phase in several rehabilitation programs is typically detoxification. Different detoxification methods can provide a more comprehensive understanding of which procedures are considered effective at removing prescription drugs’ harmful substances. Detoxification procedures may vary from person to person, depending on the type and quantity of drugs used, the length of time the drugs were misused, and the intensity at which the addiction developed. A wide array of prescription medicines is available to patients, ranging from pain killers derived from opium to stimulants and depressants for the brain and spinal cord. There is a potential for chemical or physical dependence on each medication, along with neurological changes that occur over time with prescription drugs.
When a person stops using a drug and discontinues the other or decreases the drug quantities, the withdrawal will occur. The onset of withdrawal symptoms might take several weeks before they are no longer severe enough to harm someone without proper treatment and prescription drugs. If not treated properly and appropriately, they can be fatal.
Withdrawal from Opioids
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 2 million Americans are projected to be afflicted with a narcotic addiction due to anaesthetics made from opium products. The opium poppy medicine class consists of hydromorphone, methadone, codeine, morphine, and oxycodone, among other prescription drugs made from opium poppies. Oxypotassium binds to opioid receptors in the body and brain and produces euphoria, decreases fear, and camouflages pain and unpleasant emotions.
A neurotransmitter chemical is needed for communication in the nervous system, and it alters receptors, which stops normal neurotransmitter production from prescription drugs. There is increasing evidence that the length of time the pills have been inside the body increases the amount of inhibition they produce. When the medication is taken off the market, withdrawal symptoms occur. The neurotransmitters and receptors stop working properly because the prescription drugs have been taken off the market. Although withdrawal from opioids is rarely fatal, they often involve excruciating pain.
Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal Include:
- Vomiting and/or nausea
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Apprehension
- Muscle pain
- Sweating.
People suffering from nausea and vomiting caused by inhaling prescription drugs may experience severe withdrawals if deprived of oxygen. In addition, they can develop bronchitis in the lungs, causing them to feel ill. Along with the dehydration we normally associate with illness, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, we can also become dehydrated when taking prescription drugs. With the help of either a substance such as buprenorphine or clonidine or a lower dose of an opioid, the detoxification process for opioid addiction usually involves tapering down the number of drugs used.
Moderately agonist opioids function by making opioid receptors more sensitive in a moderately more potent manner than prescription drugs with high degrees of agonists. The pain can also be somewhat limited by its clear ceiling so that no matter how much medication you take, the results will eventually plateau. There is no standard for the amount of time an agonist or partial agonist must be taken before stopping its use. A medical professional should be consulted for prescription drugs.
A drug called naloxone can also be used in short-term withdrawal under medical supervision to block the opioid receptor sites in the brain. Opioid antagonists are used to treating a wide variety of conditions and serve as quick detoxification programs for overdosing on opioid prescription drugs. As outlined above, there is only very small relief from withdrawal symptoms when using an antagonist, and withdrawal will begin once the opioid is withdrawn from the body. There are significant health risks associated with rapid detoxification, which are not usually advised due to prescription drugs’ elevated toxicity levels.
Symptoms of Stimulant Withdrawal
Several stimulant medications treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They include Concerta, Ritalin, and Adderal, among many others. Amphetamines and methylphenidate in prescription drugs are the most common drugs consumed by children. Stimulants help with concentration and attention and promote alertness, and inhibiting appetite. Also, stimulation reduces dopamine in our brain, associated with our sense of pleasure. People commonly abuse prescription drugs for their high and individuals or groups seeking to boost or improve their reasoning abilities.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), almost 900,000 Americans use one or more of these types of medications for non-medicine purposes each month, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
A stimulant detox is very uncomfortable and even dangerous. You can develop withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, nausea, and a lack of appetite. In addition, people who take prescription drugs can experience dryness and sluggishness, sweating, and irritability. Suicidal thoughts and actions should receive immediate medical attention when they indicate a serious mental health issue. It’s most common for antidepressants to be used during withdrawal and detox to improve mood and increase tolerance to alcohol and prescription drugs. There are no medical detox guidelines for stimulants on the market covered by a licensed prescription. Detoxification should occur in a clean and healthy environment under the supervision of healthcare professionals, with the prescription drugs of one or more healthcare professionals.
Detoxification of The Central Nervous System
Central nervous system (CNS) drugs are used to treat muscle tension, seizures, and post-traumatic stress disorder while regulating patients’ mood, appetite, and sleep patterns prescription drugs. It is common for CNS depressants, like Valium and Xanax, in addition to sleep medications such as Ambien, to be included among the more common types of depressants. CNS depressants are often prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders because of their relaxing and drowsy effect by increasing GABA.
When taking prescription drugs for CNS depressive disorders, you should seek medical attention for withdrawal symptoms. Most of these medications function by suppressing brain activity makes it very dangerous to suddenly stop them, as the brain may snap back to normal, causing coma or other side effects like seizures, death or even brain damage. It’s common for people to mistake alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as Delirium Tremens (DTs), for symptoms of withdrawal from sedative prescription drugs.
Some Signs of Withdrawal Include:
- Aches and pains
- Nausea and stomach pains
- Loss of weight
- Muscle aches
- Perspiration
- Anxiety attacks
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Disruption of sleep
- Spasms
- Depression
- Palpitations in the heart
- Nervousness
- Agitation
- Irritability
Withdrawal from CNS depressant medications can often lead to psychotic episodes, and signs can last for weeks if not treated properly. There may be no withdrawal symptoms immediately, as they depend on the medication and the amount taken, but they can become severe weeks or even months later with prescription drugs. Tapering off the medication and the severity of withdrawal symptoms is also part of the detox protocol; this step should be carefully scrutinized. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a study released in 2015 showed that prescription anesthetics, benzodiazepines, and alcohol dependence have grown in America prescription drugs. According to the study, opioid misuse and abuse are an epidemic, with opioid pain relief use outnumbering illegal substance use. Alcohol has also been a chronic problem, leading to several deaths unrelated to other drugs. When these medications are taken together, they cause a polysubstance effect, which increases central nervous system activity. It has been observed that the central nervous system is suppressed, and the risk of overdoing prescription drugs is increased in people with this drug.
Detoxing Safely
Drug abuse is a common issue in America, and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Prescription and over-the-counter substance misuse is second only to marijuana misuse in terms of prevalence. It is directly related to the intensity and duration of withdrawal symptoms during detox that prescription drugs are physically and chemically dependent.
You should not try to detox on your own because all prescription drugs have withdrawal effects and health risks. Detoxification should be done under medical supervision and should be the first phase in a recovery program. Since addiction and dependence are not only physical but also mental, detox can never be the only step in the healing process.
Remission after detox can be risky, as returning to previous levels of substance addiction when the body is no longer used to them can result in overdose and even death.
Mental illness can lead many people to turn to drugs as a form of escapism, and those who misuse prescription drugs may experience worsened symptoms. Dual diagnosis treatment is required when a person’s drug abuse and mental illness simultaneously occur. Highly trained dual diagnosis staff members are sensitive to individual needs and provide a safe and nurturing environment to recuperate from prescription drugs. Replacement medications are used to keep people relaxed and healthy during detox because sudden removal of alcohol and drugs may cause health problems, some of which can be fatal.
The drugs used during detox are designed to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. People who consider addiction treatment prescription-drugs often avoid them because of unpleasant and frequently dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Choosing a medically controlled detox eliminates the complications and allows for the most simple detox. Medical detoxification does not cure dependence; prescription drugs are required for long-term sobriety. Sole reliance on detox would almost certainly result in remission. Counselling, medication, nutrition, and aftercare programs can help people maintain long-term sobriety after their bodies have been cleansed of addictive drugs.
Dual diagnosis treatment may be the solution you”ve been looking for including controlled and secure medical detox as well as therapies and emotional support. For more questions, please contact us at 615-490-9376 to get more information about prescription drugs and more
Ben Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health, fitness and medicine. His articles impress with unique research work as well as field-tested skills. He is a freelance medical writer specializing in creating content to improve public awareness of health topics. We are honored to have Ben writing exclusively for Dualdiagnosis.org.