Detox is a necessary step on the journey to overcoming opiate addiction. Before you begin opiate detox, it helps to understand what the process entails. With this opiate detox timeline, you’ll be better prepared to fight back against opiates and embrace a lifetime of health and sobriety at a Texas opiate rehab.
Commitment to Detox
The timeline officially begins when someone decides to stop using opiates. At that moment, after the last dose of opiates, the timeline starts at zero hours. At this time, clients will still have opioids in their system. In most cases, they will still also be under the influence of the drug.
Committing to the recovery process might sound easy, but it is often the hardest step in the entire timeline. Ideally, a client would be ready to make the change of their own accord. However, those who participate in interventions can also make incredible progress on the road to recovery.
Initial Withdrawal Symptoms Begin
Just 12 hours after taking the last dose of opioids, clients will begin to experience the first withdrawal symptoms. By this point, it is best if clients are already in a professional detox program. This ensures that clients stay on track to recovery and don’t get swayed by cravings or temptations.
You may already be familiar with these first mild withdrawal symptoms. Typically, they include anxiety, agitation, an increased heart rate, sweating and an inability to fall asleep. At this stage, withdrawal symptoms can be classified as slightly uncomfortable rather than painful.
The Opiate Detox Timeline Reaches a Climax
About 30 hours after detox begins, you will experience a range of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms will increase in intensity until they reach a peak. This is known as the climax of detox, and it is often the toughest part of the opiate detox timeline.
The peak of an opiate detox happens about 72 hours into the process. Some of the most common opiate withdrawal symptoms at this time will include vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Also likely are symptoms such as goosebumps, muscle aches and a lack of appetite.
Withdrawal Symptoms Taper Off
The good news is that after the peak of withdrawal, symptoms will begin to lessen in intensity. A day or two after the peak, some clients won’t feel any lingering symptoms at all.
What to Expect From an Opiate Detox Program
Whether you’re looking for a Houston Texas opiate rehab program or a rehab program anywhere else in the country, there are a few key factors to look for. While there are plenty of detox facilities to choose from, they aren’t all the same. Some attributes found in quality detox programs include the following:
- 24/7 sober environment
- Medical monitoring and supervision
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Holistic recovery options
- Individual and group therapy sessions
Getting familiar with the opiate detox timeline is encouraging. When you know what to expect, it is easier to make the decision to check into a Texas opiate rehab center and commit to a lifetime of sobriety.
