Opioid addiction is a severe medical condition that you can put in the “chronic” category. Addiction to opioids can lead to long-term damage to the brain and can also be potentially deadly. Besides, it can cause other problems, including slowed breathing, blood pressure, disorientation, and problems with the gastrointestinal system. Read along to see how you can overcome this problem with the help of medical experts such as https://www.gallusdetox.com/ with satisfactory results.
How Do You Identify Opioid Addiction?
In some cases, qualified medical personnel may prescribe the use of an opioid to alleviate chronic pains. Some opioids help in treating insomniac conditions as well as inducing euphoria. Opioids are potent drugs that come with heavy consequences when you misuse them.
Since they create a “feel good” effect, some users get tempted to abuse them. As such, they end up with serious addiction problems. The following are some of the symptoms of addiction:
- Having a strong urge to use them at all times
• Fatigue and general sluggishness that was not there before
• Overdosing
• Experiencing problems at work, home, or schools due to inability to work properly
• Difficulty in discontinuing their use despite being aware of your obsession with them
Overreliance on opioids and addiction leads to a disorder that can get out of your control. The condition can weaken your immune system and expose you to other possible infections. For patients who use opioids intravenously, addiction may expose them to HIV and other diseases such as hepatitis.
It may also increase the risk of choking due to vomiting even when one is asleep. Other possible problems include poor blood circulation due to blocked blood vessels. The patient may even experience constant hallucinations or even go into a coma.
Withdrawing from it becomes difficult since the patient experiences many unpleasant effects whenever they attempt to stop.
Nowadays, one of the most commonly prescribed opioids for acute pain is Fentanyl. So is Fentanyl addictive? Yes, it is. Fentanyl is extremely addictive and should only be used when prescribed by a doctor.
Some users experience increased high blood pressure and fast heart pulses. Besides, problems with vision, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, among other indicators, are common occurrences. Most patients do not understand the cause or implication of these symptoms, and as such, only qualified medical personnel can help and guide them through this phase.
Diagnosis and Detoxification Process
Your doctor will help you diagnose an opioid addiction problem that exists in your system. They will ask you questions and check your medical history to determine the extent of your dependence on the drugs. After that, you will get into a suitable treatment program.
Remember, opioid addiction affects your mental faculty and social relations the most. However, these two problems can also impact your physical health as well as your surroundings. As such, the most effective treatment program must be broad enough to capture all those aspects.
In most cases, the medical expert will put you under a detoxification process that also includes medication. Due to the severe withdrawal problems, your doctor supervises the detox process that begins with the discontinuation of opioids. He or she takes you through the process while carefully addressing the adverse withdrawal symptoms through appropriate medication. The method may involve hospitalization so that the doctor can observe their patient closely.
During detoxification, the doctor may recommend regular exercises to balance your physical and mental wellness. He or she may also recommend you to professional support groups. Besides, they can also apply some specialized therapies at certain stages of the treatment process.
It is essential to acknowledge that it is difficult for opioid addicts to completely off the problem. However, it is not impossible to overcome addiction, especially with professionally guided detoxification therapy.