Decreasing the dosage of a drug can also cause withdrawal, but it will not be as severe compared to if the drug is completely stopped.
No, different drugs produce different withdrawal symptoms of varying severity.
A variety of factors come in to play when trying to determine how severe a withdrawal can be. A crucial factor is the amount of opioid someone was using. Larger quantities of opioid used will result in more severe withdrawals. Also, how long someone has been using a drug can play a part in severity of withdrawal symptoms. Using a drug over a longer period of time will result in more severe withdrawal symptoms when usage is stopped.
Withdrawal has 2 phases. The first phase is called the acute phase, it usually beings several hours after the opioid use is discontinued and can last several days. Symptoms of this phase are primarily physical. The second phase of withdrawal is called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and is mainly psychological and emotional symptoms. PAWS can last several weeks to a few months.
Symptoms of PAWS may include but are not limited to: insomnia, anxiety, depression, trouble thinking clearly, stress, memory problems, and difficulty coordinating movements.
This depends on the type of opioid used. Usually the acute phase lasts several hours to a few days, while the PAWS stage can last for several weeks.
Repeated opioid use changes the human brain. It takes much longer for the brain to heal compared to the rest of the body.
No, naloxone is used to reverse overdoses, and can thus save lives this way. However, naloxone used shortly after an opioid can cause severe withdrawal symptoms as it reverses the effects of the opioid. For more information regarding naloxone check out the Naloxone module.
Opioids and alcohol should NOT be mixed. The results of taking such a mixture can be fatal. Taking drugs and alcohol during withdrawal can reduce withdrawal symptoms, but when these substances are stopped, they will produce withdrawal symptoms of their own in addition to the withdrawal symptoms of the original drug.
Doctors may be able to start patients on maintenance therapy. This includes prescribing drugs which reduce some of the effects of withdrawal and make the overall process a little easier.
It depends on the type drug and the amount taken. In most cases opioid withdrawal is severe but not fatal. Withdrawal from substances such as Alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are much more likely to be fatal than compared to opioid withdrawal.
Unfortunately no, since the brain has not yet healed, long term treatment plans are needed.
After a drug is repeatedly used, there will be a reduced response to the same amount of drug. In order to achieve the same response, more drug needs to be taken. This is the concept of drug tolerance. Repeated opioid use will quickly produce tolerance. As tolerance builds, a person may take more and more drug to get the same effects as before, increasing their risk of overdose
Your tolerance will decrease, it important to remember if you start using the drug again, your body may not be able to handle the same amount you used before. This can greatly increase the risk of overdose.
There are many resources that can help you stay off opioids once you made it past withdrawal. Medication, support groups, talking to loved ones, eating healthy, and exercise can all contribute to preventing relapse.
Its best to think of relapses as learning opportunities and not failures. Study what triggered you, and think of ways you can avoid these triggers in the future. Talking to others my give you insights you had not noticed before. Learning the concepts and ideas behind positive psychology can also help with this learning process.