Whether they’re prescribed or illicitly obtained, opioids and opiates can cause changes in brain chemistry, making it difficult for those who have become dependent to quit using them. Moreover, withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable and sometimes even life-threatening. That’s why it is important to seek detoxification and treatment as soon as possible.

In a medical detox program, you will be given medication to ease the process and make you comfortable as you move through detox and into ongoing addiction treatment. During this phase, it is important to be under constant supervision and support from a medical professional. This is because withdrawal from opiate drugs is dangerous, especially when trying to detox on your own at home.

The medical detox program usually takes a few days to a week to complete. This is because opiates bind to opioid receptors in your brain and make you feel euphoric when taking them, so once they are no longer in your body, your brain will experience a volatile reaction that creates the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal.

Some of these symptoms are very severe and can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea. Others can be less intense, but are more psychological and may include mood swings, anxiety and different levels of energy. Some of these symptoms can last for weeks and months, but it is crucial that you work with a team of professionals to help you overcome them and stay drug-free.

During the medical detox program, you will also likely be given a prescription for an opioid agonist like methadone or buprenorphine. These are medications that can be taken daily and work to reduce cravings for heroin or opiates by not stimulating the opioid receptors in your brain as completely as heroin or other opiate drugs do. They are a vital part of opiate detox and rehab and are commonly used in MAT programs.

You will also be prescribed anti-depressants or other prescriptions to manage your emotional and psychological symptoms during the detox and rehab process. These will usually be taken alongside the opioid agonist and will often help to alleviate some of the most difficult symptoms, such as cravings. During this phase, it is also important to get social and emotional support from family and friends so that you have a network of people to turn to once you are in recovery.

The most important thing to remember when you’re going through opiate detox and rehab is that you will need long-term treatment to maintain your sobriety. Most successful, lasting recovery programmes involve long-term opiate medication and cognitive therapy or talk therapy to address the underlying issues that lead to drug use in the first place. This could be stress, relationships, a lack of confidence or even past criminal behavior. By following a long-term recovery plan, you can build a strong foundation to prevent relapse and continue your recovery for a lifetime.