Medical science has improved greatly over the last few decades. Today, men and women struggling to quit drugs or alcohol can benefit from FDA-approved medications that can reduce withdrawal symptoms. As a result, it becomes easier to detox from drugs and alcohol. Medication for detox is a proven method of treating patients with moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms. A drug and alcohol detox center will use medication-assisted detox to help patients with their addiction recovery.
At Arkview Recovery Center, our detox medication can help reduce your withdrawal symptoms and allow you to focus on your recovery. You will receive behavioral therapy alongside your medication detox to give you the best chances at genuine, long-lasting recovery. If you or someone you care for is struggling with addiction, call 717.744.0756 today to learn more about our medication-assisted detox program.
How Medication-Assisted Detox Works
When therapists or medical professionals start talking about medication-assisted detox, they use terms like partial and full agonist or antagonist. However, what does that mean? The cells in your body all have neurotransmitters that send electronic signals throughout your body. These cells have unique receptors that attract different signals to make you feel happy or sad or feel pain. These cells also have opioid receptors.
Agonist means to initiate a physiological response when attaching to a cell receptor. A full agonist will block withdrawal symptoms and cravings. At the same time, a partial agonist will partially activate the opioid receptors to produce a lower euphoric response.
Antagonists interfere with or interrupt the physiological response completely. It fully blocks the effects of opioids and stops other opioids from binding with the cells. Medical staff may administer a combination of drugs to produce the best results. They will continue to update your medication as you improve.
Through medication-assisted detox, patients can slowly ween off the effects of drugs and alcohol with fewer withdrawal symptoms and give the brain time to begin normal brain chemistry activity. The severity of your addiction will determine how long you may need to continue medication-assisted treatment.
Common Detox Medications for Drug Addiction
Currently, the FDA has identified the following drugs as useful in treating the effects of drug and alcohol withdrawal:
- Methadone – An opioid agonist to treat heroin and other opioid addiction. It can also help save a patient who is experiencing an opioid overdose.
- Naltrexone – An opioid antagonist that blocks the euphoric effects of opioids and alcohol. It is available through an injection or pill and should not be taken by patients who have used opioids within the last seven days.
- Buprenorphine – A partial agonist that blocks other full agonist opioids from attaching to the opioid receptors. It eliminates the euphoric effect while still reducing some of the painful withdrawal symptoms.
- Naloxone – An opioid antagonist that is used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose and significantly increase a patient’s survival rate.
- Lofexidine – A class of central alpha-adrenergic agonists that relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. This medication is useful in treating the physical side effects of withdrawal.
Since some of these drugs are a form of opioids, there is a slight risk of abuse or addiction. Therefore, medical staff will continuously monitor your progress and update your medication accordingly to prevent this from happening.
Arkview Recovery Center Uses Medication for Detox to Help You with Your Recovery
At Arkview Recovery Center, we use medication for detox to help men and women with the painful side effects that happen during detox. These medications can give patients the help they need to break free from their addiction and begin working toward a genuine, long-lasting recovery. Through behavioral therapy and medication-assisted detox, you will have a better chance at maintaining your sobriety for life.
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction and would like more information on our medication-assisted detox, call 717.744.0756 today to speak with our caring support staff about our drug and alcohol detox center.
Kyle is Lead Therapist at Arkview Recovery Center. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has years of experience working directly with individuals who suffer from addiction and mental health disorders. Being in long term recovery himself, Kyle is very passionate about the recovery process. He is heavily involved in the local recovery community in which he enjoys his commitments to service and giving back. His specialty is in group therapy and developing clinical staff. Kyle brings to Arkview a holistic approach to recovery, specializing in mindfulness, reality therapy, and solution-focused therapy.
