Even if you’re working in the medical field, you’ve probably still heard of the term “detox” at least once in your lifetime. It’s a way of cleansing your body from toxins or unhealthy food that you’ve been consuming.
But, what is medical detox? How does it work? Is it efficient enough to take care of your addiction-related problems and complications?
In this article, we will answer all of the aforementioned questions altogether. Besides, you’ll also get some more information regarding the topic.
So, what are you waiting for?
Let’s keep reading to find out more about it.
Table of Contents
Medical Detox – An Introduction To Start With
A medical detox procedure is all about getting rid of the toxins in your body.
But, instead of performing it alone, you will have to undergo the same under the supervision of a specialist and their team. Besides, the procedure of medical detoxification is pretty tricky. Hence, you may require some sort of assistance during the process.
If you have opted for the best detox center, you will receive various other benefits too. For instance, they will offer you an inpatient procedure where you will have to stay in the facility for a prolonged period.
Getting meals, drinks, and everything else will be the responsibility of the center. Make sure to get more info on the best detox center in Austin by clicking on the hyperlinked text!
When Is Medical Detox Necessary?
As mentioned before, medical detox is an acute treatment procedure. Therefore, it’s generally only used for people who are suffering from chronic substance abuse. Here’s how you can diagnose if you’re physically dependent on drugs or not.
- You have been consuming substances in substantial amounts for some time.
- Experienced a diminished sense of effect over time when using the same drug.
- Having headaches or mood swings, mainly when you don’t take drugs.
- Tried to quit your addiction but failed miserably.
- Craving for substances regularly, especially when you don’t have access to it.
- Keep increasing the number of drugs you consume every year.
If you are suffering from a substance usage disorder, going through a medical detoxification procedure will be beneficial for you. It’ll help in improving the overall effect of the inpatient process and ensure that you’re not experiencing withdrawals too!
Medical Detoxification – What To Expect?
Before you opt for medical detox, your doctor will perform a full-fledged checkup on you. It will help them learn about your current health condition and how much the habit of drug abuse has affected you.
Aside from this, they’ll also talk to you to learn more about other co-occurring disorders and to contribute psychological factors. Finally, if you’ve any other medical condition, like heart disease, make sure to let your doctor know about it too.
Once the evaluation is complete, the medical detoxification procedure will begin!
Medicines Used In The Detox Procedure
During the detox process, your doctor will suggest you take some medicines depending on your health condition. This, in turn, can help you decrease cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms to some extent.
However, before we begin, there’s something you need to keep in mind. The administration of the medications will be done on a patient-by-patient status. Hence, whatever you are using might not be similar to someone else at all.
Anyway, getting back to the topic, here’s what you need to know about medicines you may have to use during the detox.
Option – 1: Methadone
Made from opioids, methadone has been a staple in the addiction-care industry for decades due to its unparalleled efficiency. This medication primarily focuses on treating withdrawal symptoms in an individual. However, in some cases, it might also be registered for people with a higher risk of relapse or someone suffering from a severe disorder.
Option – 2: Vivitrol
An injectable form of a drug called naltrexone, Vivitrol, is generally used while treating an individual with alcohol or opioid disorder. When it comes to the core element, naltrexone, you have to take it regularly. However, a single injection of Vivitrol can last for around thirty days. Besides, it’s also much more effective in terms of treating addiction.
Option – 3: Suboxone
Suboxone addiction is usually used to cure heroin addiction in most people. However, if you have mild to moderate alcohol addiction, your doctor may ask you to take it as well. As an opioid-made product, it can help you get enough sleep and offer clarity while thinking. Besides, it’s also ideal for improving the condition of your GI tract to some extent.
How Long Will The Results From A Medical Detox Last?
The intensity and length of detox will depend on various factors. For example, if you are treating your alcohol addiction, the effect will last for a few days at most.
In severe cases, the duration might decrease even more. Besides, it will also depend on the treatment option you have opted for to take care of your alcohol addiction.
Besides, some of the factors that may affect the result of a detoxification procedure are –
- The number of substances you have used during the detox.
- Frequency and the duration of usage.
- The overall health condition of the patient.
In any case, if you’re looking at it from a general viewpoint, the treatment procedure will last for around five days to a week.
Final Say
As we have said before, a medical detox procedure, in essence, is pretty complicated. But, if your doctor is efficient enough, it will be safe and effective for your health. Thus, it’s always essential to choose an experienced and knowledgeable individual as your therapist.
Anyways, we will be finishing up our article now. If you have any other queries or want to know about something else, make sure to hit us up in the comment section. We will try our best to help you in any possible manner.