Methadone Detoxification

For the last three decades methadone has been prescribed to help heroin and opiate addicts kick their deadly habit. When used as part of a monitored drug maintenance program, methadone does indeed reduce withdrawal symptoms for those who are addicted to heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco and other members of the opioid family. When administered in the proper dosage, it can curtail the cravings and withdrawal from opiates for a full 24 hours.

Unfortunately, many of these same addicts who are trying to wean themselves off opiates develop a strong mental and physical dependence on this narcotic pain-reliever. As a result, many go from being addicted to heroin to becoming addicted to methadone. And there are plenty of health care providers out there who enable addicts to continue with this expensive “treatment,” sometimes for years.

Which, of course, is just fine and dandy with the addict, who is certainly not in any big hurry to get off any opiate – synthetic or not. Many can’t say enough about their methadone maintenance program, claiming it makes them feel “normal” and doesn’t interfere with their day-to-day lives. They’ve already quit dealing, stealing and shooting up in hotel rooms. Now with methadone, they say, they’re doing well in school and managing to keep a job. On the surface, it appears they’re living normal, productive lives.

But let’s face facts. Methadone isn’t a vitamin supplement. And it shouldn’t be taken over a number of years, let alone a lifetime. It’s an extremely dangerous substance. Unlike heroin and other opiates, the narcotic effect of methadone is delayed, which makes accidental overdose a distinct possibility and addiction a probability. As long as you’re on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), you will never be free of opiates.

But there’s another factor at play here and you can call it the fear factor. It goes like this: The worse nightmare for those addicted to methadone is withdrawing from methadone. In fact, hardcore heroin users swear that detoxing from methadone is much more painful and difficult than withdrawing from heroin or other opiates.

Some of the first signs of methadone withdrawal include flu-like symptoms, pain throughout the body, a runny nose, sneezing, fever, insomnia, diarrhea, lack of concentration, restlessness, anxiety and a short temper. By the second or third day without treatment or opiates, things get even worse. You can experience extreme muscle spasms, nausea, increased diarrhea, vomiting, severe backache, hot and cold flashes, intestinal spasms, repetitive sneezing, bone and muscle pain, high blood pressure and a high heart rate. Life becomes intolerable and you want to jump out of your skin. You might even begin to have thoughts of taking your own life.

Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, California, can help you avoid the brunt of these symptoms. We don’t think for a moment that methadone maintenance is a way of life for opiate addicts. Morningside has a methadone detoxification program that is operated by a professional staff that understands your very real fear of withdrawal. A major goal of the medical staff and counselors at Morningside is to make detox from methadone as comfortable and pain-free as possible. They will walk you through each step in the process to alleviate your concerns. And they’ll show you exactly how a successful methadone withdrawal program is operated – all in the comfort of Morningside’s in-patient facilities on a quiet residential street in Costa Mesa, California.

One of the biggest components of our detox plan is the use of pharmacology to ease the discomfort of withdrawal. At Morningside Recovery, our health care providers assess each new patient before recommending a personalized detox program. Why an individual plan of action? Because every opiate addict is different. What will work for an 18-year-old female high school dropout who injects $100 worth of heroin every day may not work for a 36-year-old salesman who’s been on methadone maintenance for the past three years.

A major component of this plan is a short-term Suboxone detox to get off of methadone as quickly and as comfortably as possible. Administered under the supervision of a medical professional, Suboxone reduces many of the withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate detoxification. And we ease you into the Suboxone regimen, making sure you get plenty of rest the first week or so, assisted with supportive medications such as Valium until our medical care providers say you’re ready for the Suboxone.

Morningside Recovery does not believe that maintaining you on Suboxone is in your best interest. The treatment normally takes from 10 to 21 days. The goal, after all, is to get you completely drug free.

To learn more about Morningside Recovery’s methadone detoxification program, call (866) 725-8565.