Pain Pill Withdrawal: Symptoms and Detoxification

Some of the prescribed pain medications are also known as narcotics or opioids. Names called for these drugs include morphine (brand names Avinza, Duramorph, etc.), tramadol, oxycodone (brand names Percocet, OxyContin, etc.), hydrocodone (brand names Vicodin, Lortab, etc.) and fentanyl (brand names Duragesic, Actiq, Fentora, etc.), among others. All opioid drugs have the strong ability to become addictive, even when these opioids taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Addiction to painkillers becomes apparent when the drugs no longer have the desired effect at low doses. Thus, higher doses are required in order to feel the same level of relief in pain.

SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS OF PAINKILLER ADDICTION
Opioid receptors are located along the digestive tract as well as in the brain and spinal column. Thus, pain pill withdrawal symptoms often affect the gastrointestinal tract and cause psychological symptoms as well.
Early symptoms are usually psychological in nature and include:
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Agitation
Physical early withdrawal symptoms of pain pills include:
• Runny nose
• Sweating
• Muscle aches
• Yawning
Later the withdrawal symptoms associated with painkillers tend to mimic flu symptoms, and include:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping
• Feeling chilled or having goosebumps
• Low energy
• Tremors or shaking
• Headache
• Confusion
The early symptoms of pain pill addiction can begin as early as someone skips a regular dose or when the time to take a regular dose draws near. The more intense withdrawal symptoms typically last for at least three days before easing up, and the effects of withdrawal can be felt for a week or more after that. Everyone experiences detox a little differently, but the counsel to reach for pain pills to get relief from withdrawal symptoms can be very powerful, confine people in a cycle of addiction

DETOXING FROM AN ADDICTION TO PAINKILLERS
It is unadvisable to try to quit painkillers cold turkey when experiencing signs of addiction. With other medications, it is common for doctors to write a prescription for a reduced dose to help patients comes out from the effect of the drug safely. Regarding a pain pill addiction, this method is not as effective.
Instead, doctors may prescribe a semi-opioid or synthetic opioid antagonist. These medications work by blocking the opioid receptors in the body. The antagonist binds to the opioid receptor but does not activate it in doing so.
There are several different opioid antagonists or partial agonists available to help people struggling with painkiller addiction, and each one works in a slightly different way. Such drugs include buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone and methadone. While these are technically classified as opioids, they do not produce the same addictive effects. These medications are also used to treat what is known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia, a condition in which people experience even more pain because of taking the medication.

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE ADDICTED TO PAINKILLERS
If you suspect a loved one may be becoming or is already addicted to prescription painkillers, don’t stand by and do nothing. Remember, opioid addiction isn’t a moral failure or mental weakness. It’s a chronic disease of the brain. The good news is that the disease can be effectively treated.
Reach out for help as soon as you begin to see the signs of addiction. It’s much easier to treat an opioid dependence in its early stages than when it becomes a fully entrenched addiction. It is not unloving to show concern over the misuse of prescription pain medication. In fact, ignoring the problem is just the opposite.