What can ease pain from withdrawal?

Answer 1

Depending on the drug that is causing withdrawal symptoms, many medications and therapies can be used.

FOR HEROIN WITHDRAWAL: the drug clonidine is often used to reduce the effects of heroin withdrawal, or withdrawal from opiate drugs in general, Clonodine reduces blood pressure, and takes the "edge" off . Methadone is another drug used, but only in clinical settings (a detox or hospital) as it is a controlled substance itself- a synthetic opiate. (man made as opposed to the plant "poppies" used to create heroin) It is widely used as a "taper", the patient is started off on a certain amount of methadone according to how much heroin or opiate the person was abusing, and they are brought down slowly, often with other medications such as the aforementioned clonidine to make the withdrawal tolerable.

FOR ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL: Alcohol withdrawal is incredibly dangerous as opposed to heroin or opiate withdrawal which is horrific in nature but not physically life threatening. Librium is used commonly in a clinical setting (detox or hospital) and used in large amounts if the patient has been drinking heavily and for a long time, This prevents life threatening seizures that can occur from alcohol withdrawal.

FOR BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL: benzodiazepines are a class of controlled substance. The most common are Valium, Ativan, and Klonopin. Some are long acting, some are short acting. All are physically addictive and can be life threatening when stopped without a taper.

In a clinical setting (hospital or detox) benzodiazepines such as Ativan are often used to "taper" the patient slowly , so the withdrawal is not as unpleasant as withdrawal from benzodiazepines can cause seizures, visual and auditory hallucinations, panic attacks and rapid heartbeat,

COCAINE WITHDRAWAL: most of the time a patient is simply monitored for cocaine withdrawal as it is not physical in nature, but rather psychological. The intense craving for the drug causes agitation, panic attacks, irrational thinking, and sometimes does require medication such as small amounts of a sedative to relax the patient.

SMOKING/TOBACCO WITHDRAWAL: there are many different smoking cessation aides on the market, and some are over the counter, some are by prescription only.

Transdermal nicotine patches are the most popular, and seem to help the smoker with the withdrawal effects such as irritability, intense craving for the cigarette, etc,

Other types of nicotine products such as inhalers and lozenges are also available.

Recently, the release of "electronic cigarettes" which emit a vapor that does have nicotine in it but not tobacco or real smoke in them has scores of people quitting smoking. The electronic "cigarette" mimics the process of smoking right down to the feeling of smoke going into the mouth and nose, and exhaling- but it is vapor, not smoke that is being used, E-cigarettes, as they are called, have cartridges that are refillable and contain various types of liquid that mimic the patients favorite brand of cigarette.

*drug withdrawal of any kind, including from legal, prescribed medication is a serious issue and should be discussed with one's doctor! Everyone is different in their response to withdrawal, and it's better to be informed and let your doctor know you are stopping a medication or drug- legal OR illegal. Doctors do not judge- and if they DO then it's time to find another doctor!!!!

Any hospital in your area (the ER) is absolutely responsible for finding you a treatment center if you are asking for help for your addiction. They CANNOT refuse you, no matter how long it takes or whether you have insurance or not!!!

Answer 2

Usually a buprenorphine. Such as Suboxen or Subutex. The Dr. has to have a special license for prescribing them though.

Answer 3

methodone will ease the pain from morphine withdrawel,but if you stay on you need to withdraw slowly from methodone,,