Common Items for Detox

Detoxifying from a drug addiction is a physically and mentally draining experience. Many addicts enter rehabilitation centers so they can receive professional assistance as they attempt to wean themselves off an abused substance. There are medications that can help ease withdrawal symptoms, but some of these items carry the risk of abuse themselves, so they must be dispensed under professional supervision. Others can be used safely at home without the need to commit to a stay in a detox center.

Methadone

• For individuals who are detoxing from opiates or related drugs such as heroin, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone, the initial period of withdrawal can be extremely difficult. Common symptoms includes anxiety, irritability, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hot and cold flashes, and muscle aches. As result, many treatment programs use methadone, a synthetic opiate, to ease addicts off of their drug of choice.

  Methadone is longer acting than most opiates, so individuals can feel relief from withdrawal symptoms for approximately 24 to 36 hours from a single dose, according to the Harvard Medical School. The drug can be injected or taken orally, and it is often used in combination with clonidine, a drug that helps lower blood pressure and can help shorten the withdrawal period.

  Methadone dosage is gradually reduced over the course of the detox period to wean patients off of it as well. In some cases, detoxing patients might become addicted to methadone. As a result, methadone is only used in specialized in-patient clinics that often provide addicts with additional support services as well.

Buprenorphine

• Buprenorphine is an alternative to methadone for patients detoxing from opiates and related drugs. It comes in tablet form and is taken three times weekly by dissolving it under the tongue. Buprenoprhine produces a weak opiate-like effect, and the tablets can be dissolved and injected into the body, so there is some risk of abuse. As a result, it is typically used in conjunction with naloxone, a drug that helps neutralize the effects of injected opiates. When used in this combination with naloxone, buprenorphine can be taken at home.

Disulfiram

• For patients detoxing from alcohol, the oral medication disulfiram is often used. It does not cure alcoholism, but it aids in detox by discouraging people from drinking by making them more sensitive to alcohol. While on disulfiram, individuals who consume alcohol will experience nausea, vomiting, flushing and headaches. Other oral medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate can be used to reduce alcohol cravings, but they do not cause ill effects after drinking.