While opioid withdrawal can feel unbearable, effective treatment programs can help keep withdrawal symptoms controlled and can help people reduce or discontinue using opioids. If you or someone close to you needs help for a substance use disorder, talk to your doctor or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or go to SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator at
I thought i was going to die every cell in my body hurt i don’t think i’ve ever felt so sick in my whole life i would have done anything to make it stop so i took more oxys and it did these are the voices of people who have used opioids and have felt the pain of withdrawal opioids are powerful medication people either take medication prescribed for pain or use
Illegal versions like heroin not only to opioids blocked pain but they provide a wave of pleasant feelings known as a rush these two benefits combined make people want to take them and keep taking them withdrawal is the process of a substance leaving the body when a drug has been used a long time or in greater amounts to get the same result the feelings you have
When you stop taking it also become stronger it’s like your body is wondering where the drug went and it complains for some drugs like alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be deadly in the case of opioids they’re not life-threatening but they can be very hard to tolerate so what does opioid withdrawal feel like it can feel a lot like a bad case of the flu and if you
Think about that it makes sense opioids make you feel relaxed comfortable mellow and pain-free withdrawal symptoms feel entirely opposite you might feel agitated and short-tempered or anxious and worried your sleep can be messed up with trouble falling asleep or staying asleep you might start sweating and trembling with goosebumps and your muscles may egg all over
The pain that the opioid helped take away might come back but worse than you remember it your stomach may feel unsettled and you might have diarrhea or even vomit people hate it they crave the opioid and they find themselves taking it again to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms people can easily begin to rely on opioids and keep taking them many people start taking
Opioids to take away their pains and that can spiral into a real problem when they try to take more opioids to stop the withdrawal symptoms this can lead to opioid use disorder if you or someone you love needs more of an opioid for the same effect on your pain or if you have had withdrawal symptoms and have taken a medicine again to feel better please be careful
And ask for help talk to your provider there is a lot of evidence that effective treatment programs can help keep withdrawal symptoms control and can help people reduce or discontinue using opioids even though difficult withdrawal symptoms can be the sign of a problem it can also be the start of adjusting treatment for stopping use altogether recovery is possible for everyone
Transcribed from video
Opioid Withdrawal By Psych Hub
