Dextropropoxyphene is a type of painkiller that belongs to the opioid family. The brand names for this drug include Darvon and Darvocet. Doctors often prescribe this medication for patients who have moderate pain. Doctors generally reserve the medication for those who do not have a history of drug abuse because the risk of abusing opioids is high. According to the Institute of Addiction Medicine, Americans use 80 percent of the opioids produced in the world. A dextropropoxyphene detox center can help someone stop using the medication and overcome an addiction.
Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person takes dextropropoxyphene, he changes his body’s chemistry. The first time a user takes the medication, the body absorbs and processes the drug. Eventually, the brain determines that the body requires that drug to continue functioning properly. If the user stops taking the drug, her body reacts to the abrupt change. Most users experience one or more withdrawal symptoms, which might include:
- Anxious thoughts
- Panic attacks
- Aches in the muscles
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cold sweats
- Frequent yawning
- Restlessness
These symptoms usually present within 12 to 24 hours after the user takes a dose of the drug. Dextropropoxyphene detox centers provide support for patients exhibiting these symptoms. According to MedlinePlus, users can also experience other symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Changes to the pupils
- Cold chills
- Diarrhea
Most symptoms last for several days after the person takes his last dose. These symptoms can make a person feel uncomfortable, but dextropropoxyphene withdrawal treatment facilities can help the person feel more relaxed and comfortable. If you have trouble finding a facility that offers treatment for this addiction, give us a call at . We know that finding an addiction treatment center is often stressful, which is why we provide support for anyone who calls us for help.
Medical Treatment
When a user visits a dextropropoxyphene detox center, doctors may prescribe medications that reduce the side effects and symptoms of the withdrawal process. The doctor might prescribe clonidine, which reduces stress, anxiety and stomach cramps. If the patient presents with diarrhea or vomiting, the doctor might use another medication. These medications reduce the vomiting and diarrhea because they can lead to dehydration, which makes the patient uncomfortable.
Therapeutic Options
Treating the withdrawal symptoms does not treat the underlying condition. Dextropropoxyphene detox centers understand that those addicted to opioids need therapy to conquer the illness. Treating only the withdrawal symptoms is like putting a bandage on a broken leg. This treats the symptoms, but it does not treat the reason for the addiction. Dextropropoxyphene detox programs use a variety of different techniques that help patients stay away from the drug.
Some centers use 12-step programs that provide users with a series of steps that help them avoid using drugs. The patients also meet with other recovering addicts in meetings that facilitate the health of each patient. During the meetings, people share experiences with each other. The patients can continue attending 12-step meetings in the future, which help the people stay off the drugs.
In addition to 12-step programs, some centers offer basic group sessions. The group sessions give users the chance to hear the experiences that others had when using drugs. You might find that someone is the same age as you or has the same lifestyle that you do. You can see how dextropropoxyphene affected the lives of the other patients at the center. The center might also offer therapy with a trained drug counselor. The counselor helps you uncover why you started abusing dextropropoxyphene in the first place, and the counselor helps you learn what you need to do when you leave the center.
Finding Treatment Programs
When you need to find a treatment center, you can call us for additional assistance at . You might need a withdrawal treatment facility that offers outdoor activities and other recreational activities that keep your mind off the drug, or you might prefer a detox center that offers family events. These family events include counseling sessions that let you meet with the drug user in a safe and friendly environment. When you need a detox center or drug treatment center that specializes in the treatment of dextropropoxyphene addiction, we want to help you find the right one.
Factoids:
- According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, opioids are one of the most misused drugs in the United States. Nearly 600,000 people visited an emergency room in the United States because of abuse or misuse of prescription drugs in a single year.
- According to Streetdrugs.org, the United States is responsible for the production of more than 100 tons of the drug every year.
