Oxycontin detox is the first step in the recovery process.

Oxycontin is an opioid that is generally prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. This prescription drug is highly dangerous due to its addictive qualities. Many users who are prescribed Oxycontin for pain quickly realize that they have become addicted to this painkiller and need the help of an Oxycontin detox center to stop using the drug. Oxycontin detox centers provide a safe place for individuals who suffer from Oxycontin or opiate addiction to recover from addiction to prescription medications.

Dangers of Oxycontin

Oxycontin use results in a number of physically dangerous situations including damage to the organ systems and risk of overdose. If a large amount of Oxycontin is taken the user may experience close to overdose side effects such as wheezing and troubled breathing, confusion, dilated pupils and feelings of weakness or severe fatigue. Oxycontin withdrawal symptoms typically occur within a few hours or so from the last dose of the Oxycontin.

Depending on the amount of the drug that is typically used, how frequently Oxycontin was used and also the user, Oxycontin detox and withdrawal symptoms may last a few days to a few weeks. The withdrawal symptoms will usually peak around the second or third day following the last dose of Oxycontin. This is the vital time when an addict must be under the care of an Oxycontin detox center in order to assure complete safety during the detox process.

During Oxycontin withdrawal the following symptoms may arise:

• Pain in the muscles and bones

• Sleeplessness

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Chills

• Goosebumps

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Restlessness

There are various medications that can be administered under the care of an Oxycontin detox center to help reduce or eliminate any dangerous or painful withdrawal symptoms that are felt as a result of Oxycontin detox.

Medications Used During Oxycontin Detox

Certain medications can help to alleviate the pains and discomforts associated with an Oxycontin detox. It’s important to note that if medications are used to help treat or alleviate the pains or discomforts that are felt during Oxycontin detox there is a risk of additional addiction to a new medication and the user should be aware of this before beginning any type of medication based detox program. The following medications are commonly used at Oxycontin detox centers:

• Buprenorphine which is a synthetic opioid that works to “trick” the body into thinking that it is still getting the Oxycontin.

• Naltrexone which is a long lasting opioid receptor blocker that works to block the opioids so that if an individual used Oxycontin during detox they will not feel the results of the drug.

• Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naltrexone that works to block the opioid receptors and to administer a small dose of medication that also helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Oxycontin Detox the Beginning of Addiction Treatment

Long term use of Oxycontin can lead to a physical dependence on the drug which is known as addiction. The effects of Oxycontin addiction may not be immediately recognizable but in time may be overwhelming. Oxycontin detox is the very first step of the addiction treatment process. It is here that the addict will undergo the treatment necessary to overcome the physical dependence on the drug.

The Oxycontin detox process may last anywhere from 5-7 days depending on the user and the program chosen but in some cases the detox may last up to 2 months or more. For long time Oxycontin users, or for Oxycontin detox that involves medications such as those listed above there is a need to detox from those medications as well which can cause the entire process to last longer than a natural Oxycontin detox.

Types of Oxycontin Detox

Oxycontin detox can be done in a number of ways depending on the choice of the patient and the detox center. The most common types of Oxycontin detox include medical detox, rapid detox and natural detox.

• Medical detox from Oxycontin involves the use of medications to help the individual safely detox from Oxycontin. Medications such as Suboxone, Naltrexone and Buprenorphine are commonly used to treat the withdrawal symptoms associated with Oxycontin detox and can help the individual to recover from the addiction. Suboxone is widely used as a method of Oxycontin addiction treatment today.

• Rapid detox from Oxycontin involves placing the individual into a medically induced coma for the duration of the Oxycontin detox process so that they do not feel any withdrawal symptoms or pains. This type of Oxycontin detox is always done in a physician supervised facility that is under the direction and care of an anesthesiologist.

• Natural Oxycontin detox is the process of safely detoxing from Oxycontin without the use of medications or drugs. In this type of detox program, acupuncture or other holistic treatments may be used to help alleviate or reduce the symptoms of Oxycontin withdrawal. Natural Oxycontin detox has the benefit of assuring that there will not be any new addictions created as a result of medications being used during the detox process.