If someone you loved was experiencing tremors, hallucinations, a rapid heart rate, and seizures, you would probably take them to the nearest emergency room. At Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona, we think that people who experience these symptoms due to detoxing from alcohol or other drugs should also receive medical care, which is why we offer around-the-clock care at our medically supervised detox facility.
Understanding Withdrawal
Detoxing is the process of an addictive substance leaving a person’s body. Withdrawal is the set of symptoms a person experiences as a result of detoxing. These symptoms can range from mildly unpleasant to life-threatening. The substance a person has been using and the severity of their addiction can impact what withdrawal symptoms they will have and how severe their symptoms will be when they stop using them. Some common withdrawal symptoms, based on the substance being used, include:
- Anxiety
- Fever
- Sweating
- Hallucinations
- Digestive issues
- Inability to sleep
- Tremors
- Seizures
Benzodiazepines:
- Sweating
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea/vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Stomach cramping and diarrhea
- Rapid heart rate
- Digestive issues
- Trouble sleeping
- Dilated pupils
- Body pain
Amphetamines:
- Depression
- Hallucinations/psychosis
- Irritable mood
- Fatigue
- Large appetite
Supervised Detox Options
Because of the risk of medical complications, it may be preferable for a person who is detoxing to do so in a hospital or treatment program with staff who:
- Are trained to monitor vital signs.
- Able to manage withdrawal symptoms.
- Can help the patient to gradually taper off an addictive substance, instead of going cold turkey, which can reduce withdrawal symptoms.
- Can offer medications to reduce the discomfort a person experiences while detoxing in an inpatient setting, but these may not be available outpatient setting.
- Will monitor for signs of dehydration.
- May be able to get the patient started on a medication assisted treatment regimen, such as suboxone, Naltrexone, or methadone, to support their long-term recovery goals.
- Can begin to identify relapse risks and address them right away.
- Will also manage co-occurring medical issues.
- Can provide optimal nutrition to jumpstart the healing process and address nutritional deficiencies caused by substance use and resulting organ damage.
- Are licensed to provide mental health therapy to address co-occurring mental health conditions, as well as the emotional impact of getting sober and preparing for long-term recovery.
- Can connect clients with recovery groups like AA, NA, SMART Recovery, or Celebrate Recovery, so that you can have support from other people who have struggled with addiction and are now rebuilding sober lives.
At-Home Detox
Unfortunately, medical detox is not always something that clients can afford. Some patients also experience stigma against people with substance use issues when they attempt to seek care in a medical setting, such as a hospital.
If you need to detox at home, it is important to:
- Make sure that you talk to your doctor first to obtain their medical advice and to make them aware of what you’ll be doing in case you run into trouble. Ask for their opinion about taking vitamins or medications that could help to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
- Have someone you trust with you, in case of an emergency. If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures or psychosis, you may not be able to call an ambulance for yourself, so there needs to be someone with you around the clock while you are detoxing, who is capable of assessing your needs and making sure you stay safe.
Home detox is never recommended for people who:
- Have a history of seizures or delirium when detoxing
- Are suicidal
- Have a serious medical condition
- Live in an unsafe home environment
At Cottonwood, our medical detox program is offered as a standalone service or as the first step in a treatment process that then seamlessly leads to ongoing care. Our program is designed for people who are recovering from addiction to alcohol, opioids, prescription medications, benzodiazepines, methamphetamines, cocaine, or synthetic drugs. Each patient who enters treatment at Cottonwood also receives a thorough medical and psychiatric assessment to ensure that we are addressing their full range of needs through their individualized treatment plan.
