Medical Detox for Morphine Addiction and Withdrawal

Morphine quickly binds to receptors in the brain that are responsible for regulating mood, well-being, and pain sensations. Without the drug, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as six hours after the last dose of morphine was taken.

Within the first five days, symptoms of morphine withdrawal will peak, and for most people, symptoms begin to gradually ease up within two weeks after cessation. However, some people will experience lingering depression after quitting morphine, and it is critical for these people to get help from medical professionals. Without it, the risk of suicide, self-harm, and addiction relapse is high. Also, most people who’ve quit using an opioid will experience long-lasting cravings for the drug. Ongoing maintenance is a must for any recovering opioid addict.

Within the first 24 hours, people who are in the withdrawal phase will experience the following physical symptoms:

• Sweating
• A runny nose and sinus issues
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle cramps and twitches
• Involuntary muscle and limb movement
• High blood pressure and changes in respiratory rate

Because morphine and its opioid cousins suppress breathing and blood pressure, once the drug is ceased, these functions will go into overdrive. Problems with blood pressure can cause serious health consequences if left unmonitored and untreated.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Lingering, intermittent drug cravings

Cold-turkey indicates a sudden, at-home cessation of morphine. This isn’t recommended. Long-term addicts have become physically dependent on the drug, and without it, can experience dangerous and sudden changes in blood pressure and breathing rate. Also, a lack of gradual cessation in a medical detox can cause depression and make any symptoms of withdrawal much worse. In medical detox, doctors can prescribe replacement drugs or gradually taper patients off morphine to lessen withdrawal symptoms.

Replacement medications such as Buprenorphine/Naltrexone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine are safe for morphine detox. Also, with doctor supervision and approval, patients in a detox center can start taking ever-decreasing doses of morphine to safely and gradually detox. In some cases, patients may need an antidepressant or anxiety medication to help alleviate the emotional withdrawal symptoms. Blood pressure medication can also be administered.

It is not safe for someone to quit cold turkey or without support and supervision. If someone attempts to stop on their own, they are putting their health at risk. Also, quitting without medical supervision can make relapse or self-medicating with other drugs a factor. When someone tries to quit by themselves, they are surrounded by negative influences and people and places that remind them of their past drug use. It is all too easy for someone to go back to drugs when painful withdrawal symptoms kick-in while they are attempting to quit at home.

In a detox center, patients are given a thorough examination of any underlying physical or mental health problems. They are put on tapering off schedule and also kept in a safe and serene environment where doctors are on call 24/7 to help patients through the withdrawal phase. Therapists and social workers are also there to formulate and execute effective and customized treatment methods so people who are in recovery can stay drug-free.

The brain processes morphine in substantially the same way as other opioid drugs. Symptoms of withdrawal are similar across the opioid spectrum. Unfortunately, opioid drugs tend to leave the user with lingering addictions long after cessation, which is why maintenance and replacement drugs like Buprenorphine/Naltrexone are incredibly useful for treating opiate addictions.

A person’s height, weight, metabolism, and overall health can affect the withdrawal process. Also, how long someone has been using and if they are a polydrug user can make symptoms last longer or feel more intense. If someone has an underlying, comorbid mental health condition, that can also affect their outcomes. Furthermore, the more support people have, the more likely they are to stay clean. Going to medical detox and rehab for morphine withdrawal and addiction keeps people safe, lessens withdrawal symptoms, and prevents relapse.