People who abuse their opioid pain medication can experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms if they quit suddenly. What does opioid withdrawal feel like? Opioid withdrawals come with a host of physical and psychological symptoms that include anxiety, muscle aches, diarrhea, and intense drug cravings. People who are abusing opioids and want to stop can find support through an accredited opioid addiction treatment facility.

BRC Healthcare is just east of Austin and welcomes people who are struggling with an addiction to opioid pain medication. Our therapists have years of experience treating addiction and the underlying reasons behind the abuse. Treatment programs combine medication-assisted treatment with behavioral and holistic therapies to create a whole-person recovery experience. To learn more about our opioid addiction treatment programs, call today to speak with our knowledgeable team and discover the benefits of addiction recovery.

Recognizing Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioids come from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum—the main ingredient in opioid pain medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone. They are used to treat severe and chronic pain and have a high rate of abuse due to the euphoric sensations it creates. Many people will take more than prescribed or combine them with alcohol or other drugs to heighten the effects with little thought to the harm they are causing.

When the prescription runs out and they cannot refill it, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as eight hours from their last dose. During the withdrawal period, which can last for several weeks, individuals will experience a number of withdrawal symptoms that include:

• Runny nose
• Muscle aches and pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Teary eyes
• Heavy sweating
• Stomach cramping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• High blood pressure

If you know someone who is taking opioids, you should familiarize yourself with these symptoms and what can happen if they don’t seek help. If left untreated, some people will try to refill the prescription from other doctors, buy other people’s opioids, or switch to harder drugs like heroin and develop a severe addiction.

At BRC Healthcare, our team is well aware of the signs of opioid withdrawals and knows what it takes to recover safely. We use FDA-approved medications that have a proven track record for reducing opioid withdrawals, along with behavioral and holistic therapy to treat all aspects of the addiction.

What Does Opioid Withdrawal Feel Like?

Opioid withdrawals are unique for each person and depend on several factors. There are short and long-lasting opioids that affect the withdrawal process differently. Other factors include the amounts taken, the length of abuse, and whether they took other drugs or alcohol with their prescription. Here is a breakdown of the withdrawal timeline and the opioid withdrawal symptoms you can experience during each stage:

Early Stage of Withdrawals

Signs of opioid withdrawal can begin after 8-12 hours for short-acting opioids and 24-72 hours for long-acting opioids. During this stage, cravings will begin to intensify, and patients will begin to feel several withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Increasing anxiety and frustration
• Obsessing over when they can take more opioids
• Worsening muscle aches and pains
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

The risk of relapse is relatively low during the first stages of opioid withdrawals, but cravings will increase the longer you go without opioids or receive medical support through an accredited addiction treatment facility.

Peak Stage of Withdrawals

The greatest risk of relapse occurs when symptoms peak. Short-acting opioid withdrawal will peak between 48-72 hours, with long-acting opioid withdrawal symptoms peaking around days 3-8. During this time, clients will experience a number of intense withdrawal symptoms that can include:

• Intensifying drug cravings
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Severe constipation
• Rapid heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Heavy sweating
• Flu-like symptoms

What does opioid withdrawal feel like? Opioid withdrawals can be painful and very uncomfortable but are generally not life-threatening. The dangers of opioid withdrawals come from relapsing or switching to harder drugs if they can no longer fill the prescription. Enrolling in a treatment facility can greatly reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and the risk of relapse and help people reach their goals of long-lasting sobriety.

BRC Healthcare Offers Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs

At BRC Healthcare, we support the recovery efforts of people from all walks of life who want help breaking their opioid addictions. We are a full-service addiction treatment facility with drug and alcohol detox, residential help, and outpatient treatment programs that support every stage of the recovery journey. Patients will work with a certified therapist in group and private therapy sessions while receiving medication to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

If you or a loved one needs help breaking an opioid addiction, call or send us a message online today, and we will get back to you promptly.