Medical Drug Detox in Missouri

Detox is the first step in the first step in the recovery process from drug or alcohol addiction. For some substances, withdrawal symptoms associated with detox can be severe. This is what makes medical drug detox necessary to keep the person safe and comfortable.

Sana Lake Recovery Center provides its members with a comprehensive treatment plan that starts with medical drug detox. It formally runs numerous drug and alcohol detox programs and provides a range of interventions for the member’s assistance. Our team of compassionate medical professionals helps people:

  • Safely clear their body from unwanted and harmful substances
  • Manage acute withdrawal symptoms
  • Offer ongoing substance disorder treatment for individuals who have opted for detoxification

The best treatment option depends on the type of substance a person has been using and their current physical dependence level.

What Does a Detox Mean in Medicine

What Does a Detox Mean in Medicine?

Generally, detox or detoxification refers to a process in which toxins are removed from the human body. In the case of addiction treatment, the term “detoxification” refers to the specific period that the human body is given to metabolize and process any alcohol and drugs in the system. The process aims to remove the toxic influence that drugs can have on those who are struggling with the misuse of substances.

Here at Sana Lake, we take pride in our medical detox and personalized approach that employs several licensed and professional team members with different areas of expertise. Our medical staff of doctors, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners will ensure a medically safe and comfortable environment for withdrawal management. Additionally, they will put a focus on general physical and mental health to ensure the well-rounded health of each member.

Medical Detoxification

alone is not always enough for addiction treatment. Members should attend an inpatient or outpatient program once detox is complete.

At Sana Lake, we offer a medically supervised drug detox treatment plan to help members boost their recovery. Medical detoxification also prevents relapses in the future. Our highly effective treatment follows three steps:

  1. Evaluation – To screen a member’s mental and physical health issues through blood tests and psychiatric history.
  2. Stabilization – Doctors offer psychological and medical therapies to stabilize the person.
  3. Preparation for Entering Addiction Treatment– Doctors familiarize the individuals with process and inpatient treatment programs.
Medical Detoxification

Why is Medical Drug Detox Necessary?

When a person is physically dependent on a substance, then they should be considering a medical detox. Physical dependence is highly likely if you display any of the following behaviors:

  • Suffer from regular drug cravings
  • An extended period of substance misuse
  • Misuse large quantities of the substance at a time
  • Consistent increase in the amount of the substance to achieve the same effects
  • Misusing the substance at inappropriate times (like at work)
  • Difficulty quitting “cold turkey,” alone or without help

Each addictive substance has a distinctive set of withdrawal symptoms that are caused by the chemical effects in the body when someone limits using the substance or stops taking it altogether. These symptoms of withdrawal can be dangerously severe. Medical drug detox can offset these symptoms through prescribed medications. The medical team will also monitor the individual to make sure the medications are working as expected. Medical detox is a 24/7 monitored process.

What Substances Require a Medical Drug Detox?

Suffering from an addiction to any of the below substances will require our medical team to perform a thorough evaluation prior to submitting medical detox and addiction treatment recommendations. These substances often create deadly withdrawal symptoms in those suffering from substance use disorder.

Alcohol detox is a preparatory step for treating alcoholism. During this phase, medical professionals completely flush out alcohol from the body. The withdrawal symptoms of this phase typically subside within two weeks once the treatment starts.

However, this period may vary from member to member depending on AUD‘s (alcohol use disorder) severity. At Sana Lake Recovery Center, we offer a range of recovery processes that includes counseling sessions, support options, therapies, and activities.

During this phase, members may go through several withdrawal symptoms that may involve life-threatening or mildly intense symptoms. Plus, the severity and longevity of AUD play an important role in the way members may experience withdrawal symptoms. Some of the common symptoms are:

  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Sweating

Amphetamine is a powerful stimulant that has a high potential for people who struggle with drug dependency. Prolonged use of this stimulant may result in chemical and psychological dependence on this drug. Amphetamines can be legally prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Once amphetamine dependence takes over, struggling individuals may find it hard to cut back on it and face various withdrawal symptoms. It occurs when the body becomes accustomed to amphetamine presence and is unable to perform routine tasks normally. The nervous system re-calibrates and struggles to regain its chemical balance.

Following are the physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms of amphetamine addiction:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Tremors
  • Headaches
  • Oversleeping
  • Excessive sweating
  • Blurry vision
  • Strong cravings
  • Paranoia
  • Mood swings
  • Loss of concentration

Benzodiazepines are a habit-forming prescription drug that medical professionals prescribe to treat numerous stressed-related conditions that includes insomnia, epilepsy, and anxiety disorder. Doctors often prescribe this stimulant for alcohol withdrawal. Thus, benzos are highly addictive if the member doesn’t use them properly. Following are some of the common benzodiazepine drugs:

  • Ativan (lorazepam)
  • Xanax (alprazolam)
  • Valium (diazepam)
  • Klonopin (clonazepam)

Even if you take this drug for a short period, it may lead to dependence and tolerance. When you stop taking the drug, you may suffer from benzo withdrawal symptoms as your brain attempts to regain its natural balance. Meanwhile, going through the following withdrawal symptoms is common.

  • Restlessness
  • Aching muscles
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Blurred vision
  • Sweating
  • Trouble concentrating

Being a morphine derivative, heroin is an opioid drug that is manufactured illicitly. The drug has both pleasurable and pain-relieving properties as it interacts with opioid receptors in the brain. The drug is powerful enough to make the body and brain dependent on it.

Once those who are struggling with the misuse of heroin stop taking the drug, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. The severity of symptoms depends on factors, like frequency of intake and potency of heroin, and the average amount taken regularly. Withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Agitation
  • Aching muscles
  • Anxiety
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramping

Morphine and other prescribed painkillers, which include Vicodin, OxyContin, and Fentanyl are all opioids. Overconsumption of these drugs and substances leads to addiction and lethal chemical dependency. It is difficult to quit opiates as they reduce pain and produce euphoric feelings.

When someone takes opiates for a long time, their body develops tolerance. That means the person requires a higher dosage every time they use it to relieve pain. Opioid withdrawal may cause the following symptoms:

  • Vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Dilated pupils
  • Diarrhea
  • Tremors or convulsions

What Medications are Used During Medical Detox?

Methadone treats opioid withdrawal and has been used to do so since the 1950s. It’s considered a staple in drug addiction treatment, even though it is an opioid itself. Methadone is much milder than most other prescription opioid medications and is used to taper members off of stronger opioids. When used as part of monitored drug detox, methadone is very effective.

Treatment professionals use Naltrexone for both the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders. This blocks the effect of opioid receptors and decreases the urge to use alcohol or opioids. For this reason, it can cause opioid withdrawal symptoms in someone who has recently used opioids. Due to this interaction, a member must be abstinent from opioids for a seven-day period.

Antidepressants are a class of medication that can help relieve symptoms of depression, social anxiety, and other disorders. They aim to correct chemical balances in the brain through neurotransmitters responsible for changes in mood or behavior change. Some examples of antidepressant drugs include Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Antidepressants are commonly used in amphetamine detox as well as alcohol detox.

A number of anticonvulsant drugs can help manage symptoms or side effects during medical detox. One example is Depakote, which interferes with the brain’s ability for seizure activity and prevents convulsions by controlling nerve cells from transmitting electric signals too quickly. It also helps regulate mood swings as some people who have taken this medication seem less anxious than before. These can be used during benzo, amphetamine, opioid, and alcohol detox.

Buprenorphine has been found to be safe for long-term use and can help people experiencing physical dependence on opioids, such as reducing withdrawal symptoms or cravings. It also helps with the risk of overdose because it reduces that person’s desire for euphoria-inducing drugs like heroin while still providing pain relief when needed.

The medication itself is approved by the FDA specifically so individuals do not need a prescription. Buprenorphine can alleviate any negative side effects during the detoxification process. When entering addiction treatment it will provide advantages as part of a medication-assisted treatment program.

Suboxone is a medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It’s available as both an oral tablet and film that you place under your tongue or inside the cheek. Suboxone contains buprenorphine combined with naloxone- two drugs that help lessen withdrawal symptoms from heroin/opiates such as oxycodone and Percocet.

Antipsychotic medications can be a great option for members in detox who have certain co-occurring or psychiatric issues. These drugs are prescribed by doctors to help them to alleviate symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and hearing voices that often come with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dementia. These medications can also help treat anxiety and extreme agitation in members.

Doctors and nurses often prescribe anti-nausea medications as nausea is a common withdrawal symptom associated with detox. Zofran is one such medicine that’s used during detox. Patients experience nausea as their body adjusts from no longer having drugs or alcohol in their system.

At Sana Lake Recovery Center, we offer a complete medical drug detox plan under the supervision of our mental and medical health professionals. Members remain in the observation of medical professionals which increases their comfort level and safety when they undergo potential medical complications and painful symptoms that are the result of substance use disorder.

Are You Ready For Treatment at Sana Lake?

If you are dealing with addiction, you may feel like you’re struggling alone.

At Sana Lake, we understand how difficult it can be to overcome the disease of addiction. Once your mind and body become dependent on a substance, it feels nearly impossible to live without it. But, you can.

Our dedicated team is here to help! You don’t need to go through this alone. You can end addiction in your life. Just contact us today to learn how we can help!