Prescription Drugs
Treating Prescription Drug Addiction
Withdrawal Must Be Managed Medically There are three main classes of prescription drugs that lead to addiction:
Opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain—examples include: Codeine, Oxycodone (OxyContin® and Percocet®), and Morphine (Kadian® and Avinza®);
Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders—examples include: Benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), Nonbenzodiazepine Hypnotics (Ambien ® and Ananxyl®) and Barbiturates (Mebaral and Nembutal);
Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity—examples include: Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine® and Adderall®) and Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®).
Each of these classes of drugs requires a specific withdrawal plan as the first step in withdrawing our clients comfortably from the drug to which they have become addicted.
If these drugs are stopped abruptly, the dependent person usually goes into “withdrawal” because the body is no longer receiving the outside source of the “chemical” it has grown to expect.
Withdrawal symptoms, in the case of a stimulant such an amphetamine, will often include being groggy or even sleeping for long periods. On the other hand, someone stopping the use of valium is no longer getting the calming effects of the chemicals; accordingly, he or she may be irritable, unable to sleep, and may even develop seizures. The human brain tries to avoid these feelings by telling the body that it really needs the missing substance. These overwhelming needs are known as cravings, and that's why giving up prescription drug use can be very difficult.
On occasion when the body is deprived of the drug for a period of time the person withdrawing from the drug can have a seizure that can lead to death. That’s why we withdraw our clients from prescription drugs using 24 hour medical care under under the supervision of our medical director.
Please refer to our section “Treatment Drugs” for more information
Opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain—examples include: Codeine, Oxycodone (OxyContin® and Percocet®), and Morphine (Kadian® and Avinza®);
Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders—examples include: Benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), Nonbenzodiazepine Hypnotics (Ambien ® and Ananxyl®) and Barbiturates (Mebaral and Nembutal);
Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity—examples include: Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine® and Adderall®) and Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®).
Each of these classes of drugs requires a specific withdrawal plan as the first step in withdrawing our clients comfortably from the drug to which they have become addicted.
If these drugs are stopped abruptly, the dependent person usually goes into “withdrawal” because the body is no longer receiving the outside source of the “chemical” it has grown to expect.
Withdrawal symptoms, in the case of a stimulant such an amphetamine, will often include being groggy or even sleeping for long periods. On the other hand, someone stopping the use of valium is no longer getting the calming effects of the chemicals; accordingly, he or she may be irritable, unable to sleep, and may even develop seizures. The human brain tries to avoid these feelings by telling the body that it really needs the missing substance. These overwhelming needs are known as cravings, and that's why giving up prescription drug use can be very difficult.
On occasion when the body is deprived of the drug for a period of time the person withdrawing from the drug can have a seizure that can lead to death. That’s why we withdraw our clients from prescription drugs using 24 hour medical care under under the supervision of our medical director.
Please refer to our section “Treatment Drugs” for more information