Prescription drugs refer to a variety of medications prescribed to patients by healthcare professionals. Common types of prescription drugs include narcotics, stimulants, and depressants. These medications may be used to treat a wide range of ailments and conditions, each producing varying side effects. Unfortunately, many prescribed medications come with the potential for abuse and addiction, which often leaves patients battling physical dependence and withdrawals. If you or someone you care about is battling an addiction or physical dependence on medication, our Florida prescription drug detox can help them recover.
Common Types of Prescription Drugs
While there are a variety of drug classes and medications, there are three main types of drugs that are most commonly prescribed and abused: depressants, stimulants, and opioid narcotics. Below is more information about these substances, specific brand names, and how they impact the body.
Depressants
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants include medications that suppress or reduce certain functions in the brain and body. These drugs usually target neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin to produce side effects like sedation, pain relief, and relaxation. There are different kinds of commonly prescribed depressants, including:
- Benzodiazepines: Also known as benzos, these medications are commonly used to treat panic disorders, muscle pain, seizures, and sometimes alcohol detox symptoms. Common benzos include Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin.
- Barbiturates: This classification of depressants includes the medications Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal, some of which can be taken orally or intravenously. Barbiturates are normally prescribed to treat migraines, insomnia, and seizures.
- Sleep medications: Commonly used sleep aid medications include Lunesta, Ambien, and Sonata. These are normally taken to treat sleep-related disorders like insomnia or night terrors.
Opioids/Narcotics
Opioids, or narcotics, are among the most potent, addictive, and commonly used drugs in the medical field. These are powerful medications used to treat moderate to severe or chronic pain. Below are common types of opioids and their uses.
- Fentanyl: Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that’s used to treat severe chronic pain. Unfortunately, it’s responsible for a great number of overdose deaths in the U.S. and is often used for lacing other illicit substances.
- Codeine: Codeine is a pain medication often used to treat mild to moderate pain. It’s among the more common opioids and is often taken in the form of cough syrup.
- Methadone: This opioid is used to treat moderate pain as well as the symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
- Morphine: Morphine is generally used to treat severe pain in a hospital setting or used during hospice to make the patient more comfortable. Like other opioids, morphine is addictive and can be life-threatening if taken with other depressants.
- OxyContin: OxyContin is the brand name for the opioid oxycodone, which is commonly used in combination formulations to treat moderate to severe pain. This is another highly addictive opioid and is recognized for its strong association with heroin abuse.
- Hydrocodone: Hydrocodone is another commonly misused opioid and one that, like others mentioned above, is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain.
Stimulants
CNS stimulants have the opposite effects on the brain as depressants and opioids. Rather than depress or sedate the brain and other functions in the body, stimulants excite them. Common effects include increased energy, improved mood, and a sensation of well-being.
- Amphetamines: Amphetamines include medications like Adderall, Dexedrine, and Biphetamine, which can be taken intravenously or orally. Most prescription amphetamines are used to treat disorders related to focus and concentration, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Methylphenidate: Commonly used methylphenidate medications include Ritalin and Concerta, which can also be taken orally or injected and are normally prescribed to treat ADHD.
Despite the common belief that these medications are safe to take because they’re prescribed, misusing any of the above prescription drugs can lead to a host of mental and physical consequences. Our luxury drug and alcohol rehab in South Florida offers a variety of addiction treatment programs, including prescription drug addiction treatment, that are specified to the individual’s needs. We can help you recover from addiction and regain your health.
What Is Prescription Drug Withdrawal?
Prescription drug detox and withdrawal are undergone to break physical dependence on a substance. Dependence occurs when the person is unable to feel “normal” or “good” without the substance. Detox and withdrawal can be an extremely uncomfortable and even painful process that can lead to serious health complications if not done with medical care.
The nature and severity of symptoms depend on various factors, starting with the kind of drug you’re withdrawing from. Normally, people who are detoxing from prescription drugs will experience withdrawals that are opposite to the effects the drug would produce.
For instance, since stimulants normally produce excitability, increased energy, and improved mood, the opposite will occur during detox. Thus, the individual may experience stimulant withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, depressed mood, and poor concentration. The same logic can be applied to those withdrawing from depressants.
Generally, common withdrawal symptoms of prescription drugs include:
- Anxiety
- Cravings for the drug
- Depression
- Fever
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions
- Profuse sweating, chills
- Tremors
- Very low or high blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate
Since these substances sedate or slow down certain functions, the detoxing individual will experience opposite withdrawals, such as irregular heart rate and sometimes seizures. Due to the complexity of prescription drug detox, receiving medical support ensures not only your safety but also the success of treatment.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Prescription Drugs?
It can take anywhere from 7 days to several months for a person to fully detox from prescription drugs. Again, the duration of prescription pill detox depends on several factors, including the type of drug, how long the person was using, how much they used, and whether they have underlying medical conditions. Age, gender, and even metabolic rate can also impact how long it takes for a person to detox from prescription medications.
Finding Prescription Drug Detox Near Me
As we previously mentioned, prescription drug detox can be a highly uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes life-threatening process that shouldn’t be done at home or cold turkey. For the best chances of getting and staying clean and avoiding relapse and other health complications, medically supervised detox is recommended.
Our luxury drug and alcohol rehab in Palm Beach is one of the few Florida prescription drug detox centers that offer high-end care for withdrawal. Our state-of-the-art facility offers patients comfort, safety, cleanliness, and continuous support, along with other amenities designed to make them feel as at home and taken care of as possible.
