Prescription Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
Prescription drug abuse impacts the lives of millions of Americans each day. While your use of prescription drugs often began as a method to treat an ongoing medical, behavioral, or mental health concern, the addictive nature of prescription medications can easily take over a person’s life and wellbeing without intention of doing so. Similar to other substance abuse disorders, when an individual has begun abusing prescription drugs, your body will become physically dependent on the prescription drugs to function throughout the day. When you attempt to quit your use of prescription drugs, your body and brain will begin to attempt to readjust the chemical and physical responses within your brain and body without the influence of prescription drugs which can often lead to you experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Prescription drug withdrawal symptoms can range from mild, moderate or severe depending on the severity of your drug abuse history. Common prescription drug withdrawal symptoms are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle or bone aches and pains
- Body and hand shakes or tremors
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hunger or loss of appetite
- Confusion or delirium
- Insomnia
- Mood swings including irritability or agitation
- Seizures
Individuals that are experiencing prescription painkiller withdrawal, stimulant withdrawal, benzodiazepine withdrawal, or sleeping pills withdrawal, will all have unique withdrawal symptoms that are based on your history with prescription drug abuse and types of prescription drugs that you are using.
Prescription Drug Detox Timeline
Depending on which prescription drug you are taking and withdrawing from, your timeline in prescription drug detox may vary.
- For individuals going through an opioid withdrawal, you will begin to experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms within 8-10 hours after you last used prescription opioids. Withdrawal symptoms will typically last from 4-10 days depending on your history of drug abuse.
- Benzodiazepine withdrawal will typically begin between 1-4 days after your last used benzodiazepine medication. Your benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms will tend to peak within the first week and then begin to subside from there.
- Stimulant withdrawal symptoms will begin within the first 8-12 hours after you last used stimulant prescription drugs. Your symptoms will peak within days 3-7 and begin to reduce in severity from there. There are some cases where psychological withdrawal symptoms can last for a period of weeks to months and will need to be continually monitored and assessed by medical professionals.
Can You Stop Taking Prescription Drugs Without Drug Detox?
Before you begin any drug detox process, it is recommended that you consult with a medical professional first who can gain an understanding of your specific history of drug abuse and guide you to a plan that will best suit your physiological and psychological health entering into a drug detox program. Most medical professionals will often recommend a medical detox program to ensure your health and safety and being monitored throughout your detox program. A medical detox will provide you with the assurance that your vitals and overall health are being monitored and maintained while also having access to medical treatment plans including a medication assisted treatment program that will help to reduce the severity of your prescription drug withdrawal symptoms and mitigate any severe prescription drug cravings.
Serenity Oaks Prescription Drug Detox and Rehab
At Serenity Oaks, we offer a continuum of care to support patients in overcoming your addiction to drugs and alcohol including prescription drug abuse. Within our medical detox program, patients will be able to move through the withdrawal and detox portion of your drug rehab program with comfort and ease. Our team of medical professionals and addiction counselors will support you every step of the way as you rid your body and mind of the harmful toxins and influences of substance abuse, After you have successfully completed your detox program, you will be able to transition into an inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab program that will support you in healing from the emotions, traumas, and behaviors that have influenced your addictive behaviors. Our compassionate team will work with you to create new lifestyle routines and habits that will foster your newfound life of sobriety.
Contact Serenity Oaks today at (833) 720-0708 to hear more about the comprehensive drugs and alcohol treatment programs that are offered within our addiction treatment centers and get yourself on the road to recovery.
