Prescription Drug Detox

Many prescription drugs cause tolerance quickly. In other words, a user needs to take higher doses of the substance more frequently in order to recreate the feeling they had with their first use. Some addicts may take as much as 20 times the original dose of certain drugs. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can begin as quickly as 6 hours after the most recent dose and may be fatal. Because many prescription drugs are associated with dangerous and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, the addict should be part of a medically managed prescription drug detox program in order to safely and effectively stop using the drug. If the addiction is to an opiate like Oxycontin, Vicodin, Heroin, or others, the doctor may choose to treat the patient with suboxone. Withdrawal symptoms vary by drug and can include nausea, vomiting, seizures, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. If the addict has been snorting or injecting the substance, they may also have HIV, Hepatitis C, destruction of the septum (cartilage in the nose), endocarditis (heart problems), lung diseases, and skin lesions.