The Oramorph Detox and Withdrawal Process
Oramorph is a morphine sulfate used primarily as a treatment for moderate to severe chronic pain. Used as a recreational drug, Oramorph can become addictive when taken over a lengthy period of time.
“Oramorph can become addictive when taken over a lengthy period of time.”
Discontinuing use of Oramorph suddenly can lead to withdrawal, so an Oramorph detox center is often required to aid patients in dealing with the uncomfortable symptoms that may result.
Developing an Oramorph Addiction
Prescriptions for Oramorph are restricted to short-term usage to prevent an addiction from developing. Many abusers of the drug participate in doctor shopping in order to seek out new prescriptions when older ones are used up. This is done to extend the use of the drug over several non-refillable prescriptions. With extended use, the patient develops a tolerance to the drug. This tolerance leads to an increase in the amount of the drug taken as the effect of each dosage decreases. The higher dosage levels can be dangerous to the user though, with the possibility of an overdose increasing with heightened use.
What You Should know About Withdrawal
Oramorph withdrawal occurs when a patient stops taking Oramorph entirely or greatly reduces the amount of the drug taken on a regular basis. The extended use of the drug creates a dependency in the patient for high levels of Oramorph in the body. By reducing the drug, the patient enters into acute withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 24 hours of the last drug dosage and may include:
- Anxiety
- Leg pains
- Muscle cramping
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Restlessness
- Runny nose
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
Avoiding the discomfort of withdrawal is often the primary reason for going through an Oramorph detox program.
The Detoxification Process
An Oramorph detox center is a medical facility dedicated to helping Oramorph users through the withdrawal process. Going through withdrawal can be difficult if the patient makes an unsupported attempt at detox. With a detox program, the process of ending Oramorph use is controlled. During the detoxification process, program personnel help patients to clear their bodies of the drug through a process known as tapering.
Tapering is a method of reducing the levels of the drug within the patient’s body slowly. Instead of stopping the drug use completely, the patient is given progressively smaller amounts of the drug daily until the amount in the patient’s system is negligible. By reducing the drug levels slowly, the patient is given time to adjust to the smaller amounts of drugs within their system. This adjustment process reduces the chances of withdrawal symptoms occurring while under addiction treatment in an Oramorph detox center.
“Tapering is a method of reducing the levels of the drug within the patient’s body slowly.”
Tapering down Oramorph use may require the use of a substitute drug for safety reasons. The substitute fulfills the body’s craving for Oramorph without having the same euphoric effects on the patient as the actual drug. Determination of which drug to use for the tapering process is made through an extensive physical exam given to the patient upon checking into the Oramorph withdrawal treatment facility.
Checking into a Rehabilitation Facility
Going through an Oramorph detox program is not all that’s required for treatment of a dependence on the drug. Detox handles the physical addiction to the drug, but after completing detoxification, time spent in a drug rehabilitation facility is required to combat the mental addiction to the drug that the patient also suffers from.
The mental addiction to the drug can be as difficult to overcome as the physical cravings experienced during the dependency period. Rehab helps the patient deal with the addiction by addressing the underlying causes of the drug use through therapy. With the help of a drug counselor in both one-on-one and group therapy sessions, the patient works on determining why the drug use occurred. The patient also develops tools to help resist further drug use. While detox may last for several weeks, the rehab period of treatment can last for months.
Oramorph is one of the most commonly prescribed extended-use morphine medications on the market according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, making it readily available for abuse. Recovery from an Oramorph addiction is possible as long as the patient is willing to put in the effort required. To find out the location of a rehabilitation facility or for further information on Oramorph detox centers, call 24 hours a day.
Factoid:
- Morphine and its derivatives have been used for pain relief since 1853.
- Oramorph is usually prescribed only if you’re already using an opioid-based pain medication.
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