Methadone is often used to help treat opioid and opiate addictions as part of a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. However, methadone is an opioid and therefore has a high risk of addiction, especially when taken in large doses.
If you or a loved one finds yourself suffering from a methadone dependency or addiction in Anaheim or the greater Southern California area, the first step in the treatment process is to undergo methadone detox.
Schedule an appointment with our care team.
What is Methadone Detox?
Detoxification is a crucial part of the overall addiction treatment and recovery process. Detox must be completed before entering into a treatment program.
Methadone detox is done in order to naturally rid the body of the methadone that is in it, as well as any other harmful or illicit substances that might be in it as well. This allows the body and brain to being the healing process.
Detoxing should always be done under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals, such as the ones we have on staff here at Restorations Health Care in Anaheim, California, due to the withdrawal symptoms that are commonly associated with the detox process.
When detoxing from methadone, you may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms in as little as 24 hours after the last dose was taken. Attempting to self-detox during this time can not only be dangerous, but it can also lead to an increased risk of relapse.
Symptoms of Methadone Withdrawal
Methadone dependency and addiction can lead to extreme withdrawal symptoms when the methadone leaves the body. These withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and even deadly when not properly monitored and treated.
Some common side effects and symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:
- Chills
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Muscle aches and pains
- Anxiety
- Cravings
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Rapid heart rate
- Restlessness
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever and runny nose
- Goosebumps
- Cravings
If you or a loved one is suffering from methadone addiction in and around Anaheim, or the greater California area, contact us today to learn about our medical detox services.
Schedule an appointment today.
Methadone Detox Timeline
The amount of time needed to successfully complete a detox program can vary based on a variety of factors including:
- Age
- If you are suffering from any underlying health conditions
- The severity of the addiction
- Dosage amount
- Taking multiple substances at once (polydrug use)
- Length of time you were taking methadone
- Your mental health
While the average length of time for a detox program is 1 week, methadone withdrawal symptoms can continue to linger for weeks or even months after you have finished detoxing.
Below is a timeline of the withdrawal process that you can expect during methadone detox.
Day 1 (Admission)
Methadone withdrawal symptoms can begin to appear as soon as 24 hours after the last dose was taken. That’s why important to begin a supervised, medical detox program as soon as you decide to stop taking methadone.
Once you have picked a Southern California detox facility, you will meet with a treatment professional who will evaluate you and determine how long you will need to detox.
During those first 24 hours after withdrawal symptoms have started, you will begin to experience extreme cravings for methadone. Since you won’t be able to fulfill these cravings you will likely experience feelings of depression, anxiety, agitation, and irritability.
Days 2-4
As the days progress, you will start to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms before they ultimately peak. In the lead-up to symptoms peaking, you will be under constant medical monitoring and supervision.
During this time, you may be given certain over-the-counter or prescription medications in order to help alleviate and treat some of the more unpleasant and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Days 5-7 (Discharge)
Once your withdrawal symptoms have peaked, they will slowly start to subside. Depending on the severity of your methadone addiction, it could take weeks or even months before you no longer experience any withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms that continue to linger well after detox has been completed are a common sign of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
Once our medical and treatment professionals have deemed that you have successfully completed detox, you will be discharged. At that time you will then be able to enter into one of our many treatment programs including inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and partial hospitalization.
At Restorations Health Care in Anaheim, California, we want to make the entire treatment process as easy and as comfortable for you as possible. That’s why we offer detox in addition to a variety of treatment options including inpatient and outpatient rehab.
Contact us today if you or a loved one is looking to stop taking methadone or other types of opioids and needs substance abuse treatment.
Medications for Methadone Detox
While undergoing methadone detox, you might be given medications in order to alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms.
Schedule an appointment today.
Medications that may be administered under medical supervision during methadone detox include:
- Clonidine
- Over-the-counter painkillers such as Tylenol, aspirin, and ibuprofen
- Anti-diarrheal medications such as Pepto Bismol
Detox from Methadone at Our Anaheim Detox
Attempting to self-detox or quit “cold turkey” can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It can also greatly increase the chances of a relapse.
At Restorations Healthcare in Anaheim, CA we provide a safe environment for you to undergo detox surrounded by trained medical professionals, all of whom are there to help make the detox process as comfortable as possible.
If you or someone you know is in need of treatment for opioid addiction in Anaheim or the greater Southern California area, you can call us at 877-578-0708, fill out a contact form on our website, or speak to one of our live chat representatives.
Sources
Mat medications, counseling, and related conditions. SAMHSA. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions
Methadone. SAMHSA. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/methadone
WebMD. (2022, March 17). Methadone: Purpose, uses, side effects, and risks. WebMD. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-is-methadone#1
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Methadone: Medlineplus drug information. MedlinePlus. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682134.html
4 withdrawal management – NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/