Medical Detox in Nacogdoches, TX
Medical detox is a process through which you allow substances such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin or other substances (including prescription medications and household chemicals) to leave your body. Doctors, nurses or other qualified professionals assist you through medical detox in Nacogdoches by giving you medications.
The medications reduce withdrawal symptoms so that you are more comfortable and safer as you get clean. You are closely supervised through the entire process. If you are detoxing in an inpatient facility, you might be monitored 24 hours a day.
The medications you receive during medical detox vary considerably depending on the drugs you have been abusing, as well as other health factors, such as diabetes, that might require other medications to control. Even so, commonly used medications include
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
- LAAM
- Naltrexone
Importantly, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes, medical detox in Nacogdoches is only the first stage of addiction treatment, lasting about a week in most cases. By itself, it does very little to change long-term drug use. For this reason, medical detox generally precedes other rehabilitation services, including group, individual, family and other types of therapies.
These rehab services usually last anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months, depending on your circumstances, and they can be done either on an inpatient or outpatient basis as circumstances and preferences require.
Some rehab facilities are equipped to do both medical detox and continued alcohol rehab or drug rehab therapies. Other organizations have you detox in hospitals or clinics and then, if you are working on an inpatient basis, transfer you to a different building to complete your recovery.
If you choose outpatient care, you might be able to continue to live at home through the rest of rehab once your medical detox is complete. You'll want to understand what the procedure is at the medical detox treatment center you're considering before you enter a program.
Withdrawal Symptoms Associated with Medical Detox
Every drug acts on the body slightly differently, and if you are abusing more than one drug at a time, the interactions of those drugs also can affect what you psychologically and physically experience during detox. Common withdrawal symptoms experienced in medical detox in Nacogdoches include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Poor concentration
- Depression
- Social isolation
- Sweating
- Racing heart
- Palpitations
- Muscle tension
- Tightness in the chest
- Trouble breathing
- Tremors
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
Some side effects can be extremely dangerous and life threatening. These include
- Grand mal seizures
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Hallucinations
- Delirium tremens
These side effects are most often seen in alcohol and tranquilizer withdrawal.
Why Is It Dangerous to Detox at Home?
As mentioned above, withdrawal can produce serious side effects. If you try to detox alone and you experience a medical emergency, you will not have immediate access to care the way you would in a detox center. The risk of fatality is higher for at-home detox, which is why it's best to enter treatment at our drug and alcohol rehab in Nacogdoches.
Why Should I Enter a Medical Detox Center?
Medical detox centers are able to provide careful monitoring of your psychological and physical status as drugs clear from your system. This is essential for your safety. But as with any illness, you likely will not have a lot of energy or feel up to taking care of yourself as your body adjusts. The people who provide medical detox in Nacogdoches can provide basic care, such as making sure you have meals or a shower or help cleaning up if you vomit.
The professionals at a medical detox treatment center also provide incredible encouragement. They have seen the detox process many times and can tell you what is or is not normal, and they can be your cheerleaders through every step of the process. At the same time, they are neutral outside parties who won't judge you.
Lastly, workers at a center for medical detox are closely connected to other professionals who can help you on your recovery journey. They can help you transition to the second phase of rehab and put you in touch with other individuals who can support you, such as nutritionists or social workers. They have an understanding of medicine and the body that can make it easier to deal with co-occurring conditions (e.g., bipolar) or pre-existing conditions (e.g., diabetes) during the treatment of dual diagnosis in Nacogdoches.
Detoxing from alcohol or drug abuse is a serious but necessary business that ultimately saves lives. A center for medical detox is designed to protect you and move you forward to therapy. If you are struggling with addiction, don't wait. Make the call to arrange for your medical detox right now (877) 804-1531.