Medical Detoxification Programs in Nashville, TN

Medical detox is a program of medically supervised care to the patient during the detox and withdrawal process. In medical detox, the body is flushed of toxic substances in a slow and safe manner. The body begins to detox within 6-30 hours of the patient's discontinuance of the controlled substance.

The medical detox may include the administration of medications to taper the drug at controlled intervals in order to control the pace of detox and manage the withdrawal symptoms. Tapering is essential in reducing the symptoms of withdrawal and easing the physical strain of detoxification. To learn more about this call Nashville Drug Treatment Centers, at (877) 804-1531.

Detoxing in a home environment "cold turkey" is very dangerous. The detox process should be completed under medical supervision with trained staff. Withdrawal symptoms can be very serious, and any resulting emergency cannot be properly anticipated and relived at home. Chances of a successful outcome are diminished without the aid of medical supervision.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Meth (methamphetamine) - Withdrawal symptoms are primarily mental or psychological. Symptoms include anxiety, agitation, insomnia, severe drug cravings, and at times, psychotic behavior.
OxyContin (oxycodone) - OxyContin effects the pleasure centers of the brain. Addiction to an opiate is a result of tolerance. Withdrawal symptoms include sedative/hypnotic effects, headache, rash, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, sweating, nausea/vomiting, and seizures.
Alcohol withdrawal - Symptoms tend to appear that are opposite in nature to the depressant effect of alcohol. Common symptoms are anxiety, agitation, seizures, tremors, and irritability. Less common and more dangerous is DT's (delirium tremens). These symptoms are severe, and can be life-threatening.
Heroin - Heroin is an opiate. Opiates block the sensation of pain and produce a depressant effect. Withdrawal symptoms noted are: cravings, sweating, fever, leg cramps, muscle aches, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, and insomnia.

Medications Used for Detox

Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) - A partial opioid agonist indicated for treatment of opioid dependence.
Methadone - An opioid, methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms and is used as a replacement drug for heroin during detoxification. It is also used during detox for other opiate drugs.
Naltrexone (Naltrexone hydrochloride) - Naltrexone is a pure opioid antagonist. It works by blocking the effects of opioids.
Antabuse (disulfiram) - Is used in cases of chronic alcohol abuse. Antabuse disrupts an enzyme that works with metabolizing alcohol. It is used to keep alcoholics from drinking by creating unpleasant side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, cramping, and more.

Relapse May be Triggered without Treatment

Detoxification is very strenuous, and a difficult process to withstand. Discontinuance of use and detoxification does not rid the body of cravings, urges, and physical symptoms. Treatment is a complete program that addresses all of the elements of addiction. Aspects of addiction such as the behavioral, psychological, and emotional components are not addressed in detox.

Without treatment, the addict is unprepared to withstand detox, withdrawal, and the mental and emotional issues they will face. Daily living will expose environmental and social triggers that can hamper recovery without the tools, education, support, and guidance gained through treatment and relapse prevention.

Residential Treatment is Best

Residential drug treatment options offer the recovering addict supervised living accommodations that give the patient further opportunity to assimilate into normal environments gradually and build a network of resources that they can use in their recovery.

Patients live in a community atmosphere with other recovering addicts and gain the social skills and develop through growth and change before they move back into the environments where they will be faced with stressors, triggers, and temptations. This type of program is especially useful for heroin and other opiate addicts due to the long-term emotional and psychological effects of those drug types.

To find treatment centers for your alcohol or drug addiction, call Nashville Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531.