For many people struggling with opioid use disorder, methadone is life-changing. It can be the primary factor in helping them manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. On the downside, methadone also holds a high risk of abuse and addiction. If you suspect signs of methadone abuse in yourself or someone else, reach out to a trusted methadone detox center for help.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida is here to help when methadone therapy begins to lead to addiction and uncomfortable methadone withdrawal symptoms. We understand how frustrating it can be when the medication that was supposed to help you overcome an addiction sparks yet another addiction. End this cycle for good by calling us at 866.294.5306.
What Is Methadone?
Methadone is a synthetic opioid drug most often used to treat people with opioid use disorder. It is also sometimes used for the management of moderate to severe pain. Methadone interacts with opioid receptors in the brain to:
- Produce a mildly euphoric high
- Block the effects of other opioids
- Minimize cravings for opioids
- Alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms
Methadone treatment can go a long way toward helping people with opioid addiction stay on track for recovery. On the other hand, it is also a highly addictive drug and could potentially lead to a new addiction.
Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms
Since methadone is so addictive, it has a high risk for abuse, especially in people with opioid use disorder. One of the signs of methadone abuse is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the drug. Some common signs of methadone withdrawal are:
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and stomach cramping
- Anxiety
- Depression
These symptoms of methadone withdrawal will typically start within 24 to 36 hours after your last dose. Many people describe methadone withdrawal as feeling like a severe case of the flu.
How a Detox Center Can Help with Symptoms of Methadone Withdrawal
If you are nervous about stopping using methadone because of the withdrawal symptoms, you are not alone. Plenty of people delay getting treatment because they fear the severity of methadone withdrawal symptoms. However, getting help from a detox center will make quitting methadone much more comfortable than an at-home detox.
A methadone detox center can help you get through withdrawal by:
- Safely tapering you off methadone – Your addiction treatment provider will carefully arrange a tapering schedule to wean you off methadone slowly. This method helps to ease withdrawal symptoms.
- Providing you with medication to alleviate your symptoms – Your doctor will prescribe drugs such as buprenorphine to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine interacts with opioid receptors in the brain just like methadone.
- Providing peer support through group therapy – Your peers in recovery understand what you are going through and can give you support while sharing their recovery challenges and wins.
- Addressing underlying contributors to addiction through individual counseling – There are often other issues beneath the surface of addiction. Those problems need to be identified and managed to give you the best chance of staying on track. Whether it is a mental health condition, work stress, or relationship problems, your therapist can help you find more effective ways to handle them.
As you can see, a methadone detox center offers a much more thorough approach to overcoming addiction. Having the support of detox professionals and your peers in recovery can make all the difference in relapse prevention.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida: A Trusted Methadone Detox Center
Methadone has a vital role in overcoming opioid use disorder, but when it develops into an addiction of its own, it is time to call Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida. Our trusted methadone detox center will help you ease off of methadone and release the grip it has on your life. Call us today at 866.294.5306 to schedule an intake assessment.
