Precautions should always be taken when beginning a new prescription for any opioid medication. Opioids should be prescribed and taken with caution due to their potency and the potential that exists for problems such as side effects, interactions, allergic reaction, tolerance, physical and psychological dependence, withdrawal and overdose. Opioids such as OxyContin , Vicodin, Norco and Dilaudid are most often prescribed for pain relief.
Some are prescribed for short-term use while others have been approved for chronic pain. All prescription opioids have an accompanying label and insert that spell out the specifics on how to take the medication and how patients can avoid risks and serious complications. It’s imperative that patients take opioids exactly as they’re prescribed in order to avoid serious health problems and development of a dependency.
Opioid Precautions: Deciding Whether Benefits Outweigh Risks
Opioids depress the central nervous system so taking them with other substances that have this effect can cause serious, even fatal, problems. Opioids should not be combined with alcohol, other narcotics, tranquilizers and some sleeping medications. It’s important for patients to check their food and beverage labels to make sure alcohol is not an ingredient.
Allergic reaction is also possible with narcotic painkillers. Patients should not take them if they’ve had an allergic reaction to another opioid in the past. Response and reaction times can be affected with opioid use so it’s advised that people avoid operating heavy machinery or driving until they know how they’ll respond to the medication. Pregnant women may be advised to avoid prescription painkillers because of possible complications.
Opioids may also pass through breast milk so breastfeeding women should talk to their doctors before taking any medication. Doctors can help higher risk patients decide whether the benefits of taking opioids outweigh the risks.
Waismann Method: Safe, Quick and Compassionate Opioid Detox
The use of opioids brings with it risks that patients need to be aware of. One of the more serious risks is addiction. The Waismann Method offers safe, quick medical detox for opioids that doesn’t reply on opiate replacements such as Suboxone to wean patients.
Our program includes an in-hospital procedure that uses medication to cleanse the drugs from patients’ receptors. They sleep lightly under deep sedation for a short time and awake without the conscious awareness of the withdrawal symptoms that occurred while they were out. We manage the accelerated withdrawal phase so effectively that patients can recover more quickly and thoroughly.
Opioid addiction can be treated in a matter of days with our program, which requires a total commitment of 2 to 4 days. Our program is also compassionate and discreet. We never compromise privacy and refuse to use guilt, shame or blame in our recovery process. Once discharged by medical staff, patients can return to their lives or transition at our Domus Retreat aftercare facility where holistic and therapeutic offerings help patients regroup and recover.
