When a person stops using a drug, the lack of medication can cause a person to experience significant anxiety. Sometimes, the fear of detox symptoms can be so great that a person won't even try to quit taking a drug. This is where medical detox in Mayfield Heights can help.
When a person abuses a drug or drugs, the use causes the brain to release the neurotransmitter dopamine. This neurotransmitter is responsible for creating intense, pleasurable sensations in the body. Repeated and frequent use of a drug causes the brain to become accustomed to these heightened levels of dopamine. If a person suddenly stops taking a particular drug, such as when they're trying to get sober, the brain will respond to this absence by triggering cravings for the drug. Additionally, the body may experience changes as well. For example, sedatives are responsible for helping to relieve anxiety in an individual.
Medical detox is a service where a person can detox from drugs and/or alcohol while receiving medical support. This could include medications administered to lessen withdrawal symptoms, intravenous fluids, and nutrition while a person is going through drug withdrawals. Medical drug detox has helped thousands of people start the first steps of a lifetime journey toward sobriety.
Withdrawal symptoms of the medical detox process can vary based on the drug or drugs that a person abused prior to entering the program. For example, a person's early withdrawal symptoms from opiate abuse may include anxiety, muscle aching, difficulty sleeping, sweating, and agitation. These symptoms may give way to stomach cramping, nausea, and even vomiting later in the withdrawal process.
The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can be very different from opiate withdrawal because the drugs act on different receptors in the body. Examples of cocaine withdrawal symptoms include agitation, depression, heightened appetite, nightmares or vivid dreams, and a general feeling of being unwell, which is known as malaise. In some instances, withdrawal symptoms can lead to intense feelings of depression that may cause a person to contemplate suicide.
The potential for a variety of drug withdrawal symptoms underlies the importance of medical detox for addiction. Medical professionals at a treatment facility are aware and prepared to handle the symptoms that may occur due to withdrawal. They can ease the symptoms whenever possible so a person can push forward and continue pursuing their sobriety.
While for the most part, drug withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening, there are always exceptions. One example is a person wishing to detox from alcohol. As a sedative, alcohol will slow down brain functioning. When a person quits drinking, the brain reacts in the opposite way and "speeds up" or becomes hyperactive. This can cause a serious and potentially deadly set of symptoms known as the delirium tremens or DTs. Symptoms associated with DTs include hallucinations, seizures, and rapid heart rate. For these reasons, a person should never attempt drug detox at home.
In addition to these dangerous symptoms, sometimes a person may have attempted to detox at home, but their symptoms became more severe. They may then take more of a particular substance than they usually do, which can result in overdose and potentially death. This type of response is what was responsible for the death of singer Amy Winehouse. She also had no one around her who recognized her symptoms and could have helped her seek medical attention. A person should always go through medical detox in Mayfield Heights at a drug treatment facility so trained medical staff can recognize if a person needs additional help.
A medical detox program is important in helping a person stay safe as they withdraw from drugs and/or alcohol, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Medical detox is the first stage of addiction treatment that is necessary for helping a person overcome their addiction and get sober.
A person should enter a medical detox center if they are truly ready to make changes in their life and become sober. They should especially seek medical treatment if they have undergone treatment before and relapse prevention in Mayfield Heights can give further support. or if they have a co-existing mental health disorder as the withdrawal symptoms may temporarily worsen symptoms of a mental illness. We provide dual diagnosis treatment in Mayfield Heights in this case.
Medical detox in Mayfield Heights can help a person who abuses one or many drugs, whether they are prescription or illegal. Through medical detox, they can achieve their sobriety in the safest manner possible. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.