The medication OxyContin is a well-known potential source of opioid addiction. If you’re affected by addiction, one common issue is the development of withdrawal symptoms. At full strength, these symptoms can deter you from any attempt to halt your medication abuse. For this reason, proper management of withdrawal is crucial to effective OxyContin treatment plans. Doctors and addiction specialists use various methods to ease the impact of withdrawal.
What Happens During OxyContin Withdrawal?
Withdrawal occurs when a person struggling with addiction stops using OxyContin or quickly cuts back on its use. Why do these actions lead to withdrawal? If you’re addicted, your brain expects you to keep up a certain level of OxyContin intake. It’s the failure to meet this expectation that triggers the onset of withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Loose stools
- Muscle aches
- Clammy or pale skin
- Dilated pupils
- Unusual anxiousness or agitation
- Excessive production of tears, mucus, and sweat
You may or may not experience a specific symptom on this list. In addition, you may be affected to varying degrees by any given symptom.
Factors Affecting How Long OxyContin Withdrawal Is
As you might expect, many people wonder how long it takes to withdraw from OxyContin. It’s possible to give a general answer to this question. However, the specific answer can vary substantially from person to person.
Why? Not everyone is affected by addiction in exactly the same way. Things that may have an impact include:
- How long you’ve been taking OxyContin
- The methods you use to get the medication into your system
- The amount of OxyContin you typically take
The specific details of your medical history and personal background may also be important.
General Timeframe for How Long It Takes to Withdraw from OxyContin
On average, how long do withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin last? Generally speaking, OxyContin withdrawal starts within eight hours to a day after your last medication dose. In another day or two, most people reach the peak of withdrawal. During this peak is the time when symptoms are most intense. Over a period of four to 10 days after you stop using OxyContin, your withdrawal symptoms will start to fade.
Easing OxyContin Withdrawal
Without proper support, withdrawal from OxyContin is a daunting task. That’s true because there’s a good chance you’ll find it extremely hard to tolerate full-bore withdrawal symptoms. With proper support from an OxyContin addiction treatment program, the situation changes. Why? This support specifically helps to ease the effects of OxyContin withdrawal.
Medication is common when treating OxyContin withdrawal. This medication provides a temporary, controlled dose of a substitute opioid. It allows you to halt your OxyContin abuse while keeping your withdrawal symptoms within a tolerable range. As withdrawal proceeds, you take smaller and smaller doses of your medication from a medical professional. When the process ends, you won’t need it at all.
Basic body support is also crucial to easing OxyContin withdrawal. Your treatment team will monitor your health in a comfortable setting. They will also provide any required nutrient supplements or IV fluids. In addition, your team will address any specific health issues that arise during withdrawal.
Get Help Managing OxyContin Withdrawal at Northpoint Colorado
How long is OxyContin withdrawal? The answer to that question varies from person to person. But regardless of how long withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin last, you need proper support to cope with them. Otherwise, you may find it hard, or even impossible, to quit abusing this powerful opioid medication.
At Northpoint Colorado, we specialize in supervised care for all forms of opioid withdrawal. Our customized approach helps ensure that your treatment plan meets your unique needs. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at 888.231.1281 or fill out our online form.