Should You Detox From Painkillers?

Should you detox from painkillers? Are you currently misusing painkillers? Have you increased your dosage to experience the full effects of painkillers?

Painkiller abuse is very common. Many individuals will in fact have little knowledge of their habitual behaviours. They will view painkillers as a safe coping mechanism to maintain a pain disorder or control symptoms of further physical and psychological illnesses.

However, by doing so, they are substituting one illness for another, with high probabilities of developing an addiction to painkillers. Although they are viewed as safe to consume, they are safe when prescribed and consumed accurately. By consuming unprescribed painkillers, by going above and beyond the recommended doses, a reliance on painkillers can show up.

Through an increase of encounters with painkillers, we receive many questions from users here at Addiction Advocates. One of the most common questions we are asked surrounds withdrawing from painkillers. If you’re wondering should you detox from painkillers, here is our full overview on how to withdraw safely while also treating the multiple impacts of addiction.

 

The dangers of a painkiller addiction

As touched on above, painkillers are commonly prescribed by medical professionals to manage pain disorders. When they are used correctly, they are a safe method to motivate respite.

Commonly, painkillers will usually consist of opioids, those of which are also found in stronger drugs, such as heroin. As opioids cause chemical adaptations in the brain, they can result in high addictive tendencies. Here is where the risk of a painkiller addiction can develop, down to their highly addictive recognition.

Initially, painkillers will likely be used correctly. However, over time, the body will build up a tolerance. Initial consumption levels will in fact have little effects. This, alongside the cognitive adaptations, can motivate higher doses, with the aim to reach those similar effects.

Here is where users will misuse painkillers to treat an acknowledged illness. Yet, in doing so, they will also enable an unacknowledged illness, known as addiction.

Abusing painkillers over a long period of time can result in significant health problems, along with carrying the negative associations of addiction. With this in mind, if you’re abusing them, considering a detox from painkillers will be recommended. However, only through safe and controlled environments.

 

Should you detox from painkillers alone?

If you’re wondering should you detox from painkillers alone, through home kits or a cold turkey approach, it is advised that you avoid independent withdrawal attempts. Although this is a sign that you’re hoping to reduce or stop your painkiller intake, withdrawing from addictive substances can be dangerous.

As the body has built up a tolerance on painkillers, it will crave a certain level of consumption. By reducing this independently, you’ll likely experience challenging withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can result in further substance abuse, along with health concerns.

Although you may hope to reduce your painkiller consumption alone, you’ll likely experience more harm than good. To detox from painkillers effectively, opting for professional care will be encouraged.

 

How to detox from painkillers safely

To detox from painkillers safely, visiting a drug rehab clinic will be advised. Although this may feel like a big step, if you are addicted to painkillers, it will offer you the safest and most effective recovery probabilities.

Through a medical detox programme, you will have the opportunity to withdraw physically and psychologically from painkillers. Over a structured detox programme, your intake will slowly be reduced, helping your body and mind adjust to new doses. It is important that this process is completed slowly, as following a cold turkey approach can lead to many chronic withdrawal symptoms.

Opting for a medically supervised detox should also be the case. In order to uphold your health, safety and recovery probabilities, your greatest chance at detoxing from painkillers will be through a rehab facility. Here you will be provided with additional coping strategies and natural substances, such as Vitamin B, to work through withdrawal.

Through the stages of a painkiller detox, you’ll soon be able to cope without consumption, helping you overcome the initial phase of addiction. However, should you detox from painkillers with the aim to recover for the long-term, this, unfortunately, isn’t possible. Additional treatment, alongside a detox, will be required to withdraw sustainably from painkillers.

 

Painkiller withdrawal symptoms

Common withdrawal symptoms associated with a painkiller detox include:

• Nausea
• anxiety
• Irritability
• Migraines
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Sweating
• Tremors

Should you detox from painkillers, independently, these withdrawal symptoms can become unbearable, usually influencing further misuse. In order to fully treat an addiction, opting for a controlled and comfortable detox from painkillers will be advocated, available through rehab.

 

Additional treatment options

Completing a detox programme will provide the opportunity for users to withdraw from painkillers. This is a very proactive starting point when considering recovery. However, if an addiction is present, there will likely be a psychological fixation on painkillers.

With this in mind, withdrawing psychologically from their effects will also be required through additional treatment options. Through therapy sessions, cognitive behavioural therapy and support groups, you will have the chance to deal with the impacts of your painkiller addiction.

Your underlying causation can be worked through, commonly identified as a coping strategy to overcome pain. To help you avoid this strategy moving forward, you will also be provided with healthy and positive coping techniques to manage your pain disorder moving forward.

By combining a detox programme and talking therapies, you will stand at a greater chance of avoiding future painkiller misuse. This is very important, as, for many individuals who begin with painkiller misuse, further chronic addictions and mental health issues can develop, resulting in a dual diagnosis.

If you’re wondering should you detox from painkillers, yes you should. However, only when you’re ready to do so, through medically supervised programmes. Alongside a detox from painkillers, you should also be open to additional treatments to avoid a future of addiction.

If you’re hoping to detox from painkillers for the long-term, reach out for our professional support here at Addiction Advocates. We can help you find an appropriate rehab to recover from and to begin your detox programme.