Oxycodone Detox & Withdrawal
Oxycodone is a prescription painkiller that belongs to the opioid family of drugs. It has the chemical formula C18H21NO4, and it causes euphoric feelings for the person using it. The euphoria is the result of its effects on your dopamine levels, which become dysregulated when you stop taking it.
Oxycodone withdrawal causes a range of psychological and physical symptoms that can be painful and distressing to experience, as your brain tries to regulate itself in the absence of oxycodone, which it has become dependent upon. Quitting oxycodone causes problems for your central nervous system and can disrupt your vital processes but it is a necessary step in your journey towards long term sobriety. Our experienced team of addiction professionals is ready to help you take the first steps and support you as you enter your detox program within one of our California-based specialist addiction treatment facilities.
Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have been taking it for less than two weeks, you should be able to stop using Oxycodone without withdrawal symptoms. If you have been using it for more than six weeks you will benefit from our experience at managing moderate to severe oxycodone withdrawal in a medical environment.
Withdrawal symptoms may begin eight to 12 hours after your last dose of oxycodone, and peak about 72 hours later. They usually dissipate after about a week but they can last longer. The intensity of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on the formulation you were using: immediate-release oxycodone produces more intense withdrawal symptoms that begin earlier. Injecting, snorting and smoking produce a more rapid effect and can also cause more intense withdrawal. Your withdrawal symptoms are likely to be more pronounced if you are a chronic or heavy user.
Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms are typically referred to as flu-like and may include a combination of different symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Goosebumps
- Insomnia
- Yawning
- Restlessness
- Runny nose and watery eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating
- Body aches
- Vomiting
- Cramps
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Increased heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- High blood pressure
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Timeline of Withdrawal Symptoms
Your withdrawal timeline will depend on factors like
- How long you have been using oxycodone
- How much you have been using
- How frequently you have been dosing
- Whether you mixed other substances
- Your medical and mental health history
- Your route of administration
For most patients acute withdrawal usually lasts for around a week but some clients can experience withdrawal symptoms for 18 to 24 months. This is known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and it causes symptoms such as poor concentration, depression, anxiety, loss of pleasure, mood swings, low energy, agitation and irritability to persist for weeks or months.
Day 1 and 2 after Quitting
The first two days are very difficult in an oxycodone detox and relapse is a very present threat. You may experience joint and muscle aches, cravings, nausea, headaches, irritability, rapid breathing, restlessness and a runny nose.
Day 3 to 5
During this period, your symptoms may reach their peak. Muscle aches, vomiting and nausea are common, as are shaking and muscle cramps.
Day 6 and 7
Your physical symptoms may improve by this stage, however psychological symptoms are likely to start. Anxiety and depression are common during this stage.
Day 8 onwards
As you start to feel physically better, you may have strong emotions about your choices and behaviors as you process what has happened. It’s important to remember that you should not make any major life decisions in this window and that you still need a strong support system to help you avoid relapse.
How to Detox from Oxycodone Safely
An oxycodone detox is painful and uncomfortable and should be managed medically for the safest outcome. A gradual tapering method is the gentlest way to withdraw from oxycodone as part of an Opioid Treatment Program. Through tapering your medical practitioner will establish the correct dose that manages your withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Sometimes Medication Assisted Therapy is necessary if relapse has been a chronic problem. Comfort and symptomatic medication may be prescribed to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Trusting Your Doctors
An oxycodone detox is painful and uncomfortable and should be managed medically for the safest outcome. A gradual tapering method is the gentlest way to withdraw from oxycodone as part of an Opioid Treatment Program. Through tapering your medical practitioner will establish the correct dose that manages your withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Sometimes Medication Assisted Therapy is necessary if relapse has been a chronic problem. Comfort and symptomatic medication may be prescribed to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Oxycodone Withdrawal Risks
Oxycodone withdrawal produces symptoms that are generally flu-like and vary in their intensity, depending on the person going through withdrawal. Unmanaged vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and high sodium levels in the body, which can result in heart failure. Inhalation of vomited contents can also lead to aspiration or the development of pneumonia.
Because the withdrawal symptoms can be so unbearable, clients who try to detox unsupervised are at a high risk of relapse and of overdose. It is very difficult to establish a safe level of oxycodone use after a period of detox and using it to manage withdrawal symptoms puts you at risk of overdose death.
In a Residential Setting
Oxycodone withdrawal produces symptoms that are generally flu-like and vary in their intensity, depending on the person going through withdrawal. Unmanaged vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and high sodium levels in the body, which can result in heart failure. Inhalation of vomited contents can also lead to aspiration or the development of pneumonia.
Because the withdrawal symptoms can be so unbearable, clients who try to detox unsupervised are at a high risk of relapse and of overdose. It is very difficult to establish a safe level of oxycodone use after a period of detox and using it to manage withdrawal symptoms puts you at risk of overdose death.
Why Choose United Recovery CA for Oxycodone Detox?
United REcovery California offers fully supervised medical detox programs for our clients who are detoxing from oxycodone dependence. Our clinical team will assess your state of mental and physical health on admission so we can create a tailored plan for your needs and risks. We do this in a luxury environment so you can relax and focus on your own needs for the duration of your treatment. Our caring and friendly team of clinical professionals are well experienced at managing detoxes, as many of our staff have been through recovery themselves. In addition to their own insights and experiences, our team follows the latest evidence-based approaches to ensure your detox experience is safe and comfortable.
Why Choose United Recovery CA for Oxycodone Detox and Withdrawal?
Our medical detox and rehabilitation centre has been designed for comfort and safety. We enable our patients to retreat into a luxurious and non-judgmental space where they receive 24-hour medical supervision and clinical interventions to help them forge their long term recovery path. Once opiate detox is complete, our clients can enrol for in-patient or out-patient rehab in a familiar setting as they learn the tools and coping skills required to address the underlying triggers that resulted in Oxycodone dependency. Aftercare, support groups and sober living homes provide extended care programs that facilitate long-term sobriety in an understanding community.
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Is a Detox Enough to Tackle Addiction?
A detox is a necessary and important part of addressing your addiction, but it is only the first step in addiction treatment. By completing a detox program you will give your body a chance to break its physical dependence on oxycodone and start the process of healing. But your treatment doesn’t end there: it needs to be followed through with a comprehensive oxycodone rehab program that gives you the space to reflect inwards and consider the factors that contributed to you developing an addiction.
You will take a look at things like trauma, stress and abuse and how they have influenced your addictive patterns of behavior. You will address these factors through one-on-one counseling therapy and group therapy sessions so you understand them, and then you will learn how to respond to challenges in a healthier way. We will teach you the coping skills you need to manage unexpected challenges and to stay on a sober path as you achieve the goals you have outlined to be
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