Methadone Detox
Methadone is the most common method used by Community Drug Teams (CDTs) funded by the NHS to assist a user to attempt to control their addiction to opiates such as heroin. Sadly, methadone is (even more) highly addictive and causes more deaths than heroin. Therefore it is considered dangerous. The withdrawal process and detoxification is very uncomfortable and unless it is very well supervised, the patient is very likely to return to other opiates such as heroin almost immediately. Full methadone detoxification would be expected to be followed up by residential treatment.
What is Methadone Detox?
Methadone is physically addictive. This means that if you should abruptly cease or significantly decrease your dose, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can be debilitating and, in some cases, fatal. Unfortunately, even when taken exactly as prescribed, regular use of methadone can be uncomfortable with many patients complaining of excessive sweating and intense fatigue.
The methadone withdrawal can cause both physical and emotional trauma, which is why it can be so difficult and why the user will continuously return to the drug without having fully completed the detoxification – it feels easier to remain intoxicated than to continue to experience the pain of withdrawal.
Withdrawal during the Methadone Detox Process
Simply stopping your methadone dependency use immediately may be dangerous and certainly unpleasant. One of the goals of any inpatient medically based methadone detox centre will be to minimise all the risks associated with this withdrawal and to ensure that the client is as comfortable as possible during the detoxification experience. These are some of the symptoms associated with the detox process:
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Sweats
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Seizures
- Convulsions
- Insomnia and restlessness
- Muscular spasms
- Bone and muscle pain
- Vomiting and nausea
- Irritability, agitation and panic
- Diarrhoea
- Goose bumps (hence the term Cold Turkey)
Inpatient methadone detox programmes are fully prepared to manage these problems as well as to dispense safe and appropriate medications at a moment's notice.
Find the right methadone detox for you, today...
There are so many methadone detoxification facilities operating that finding the right one for you can seem overwhelming. Well, we're here to help!
Methadone Detoxification Units are where the recovery process has to begin.
Start your journey to a happier and healthier life by calling our completely confidential helpline service on 0845 686 0337.
Our professional team can answer your questions and refer you to the most effective methadone detoxification unit nationwide and even around the world.
We're on standby every day of the week and available to chat throughout the evening.
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