Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Detox Guide
Published on October 11, 2012 Updated on October 11, 2012
Detoxification (“detox” for short) centers offer a safe, supportive place where you can go through withdrawal with as little discomfort and safety risk as possible.1,2 It is often the first step for treating substance use disorders. Detox centers are designed to manage the unpleasant, upsetting, and sometimes life-threatening symptoms that go along with withdrawal.2,4
Detox can happen in different types of settings with lower or higher levels of medical oversight. This article will help you learn about the different types of inpatient detox, which takes place in a residential or specialty care center, as well as what to expect during treatment and how to choose the best treatment type for your needs.
What is Inpatient Detox?
[callout position="right"] In 2019, 20.4 million people age 12 and older met the criteria for a substance use disorder.9 Research shows that addiction treatment can improve your health. Yet despite this potential for greater quality of life, only 1 in 10 people get substance abuse treatment.10
Fear about unpleasant withdrawal symptoms may keep some people from seeking treatment. But that is one area where inpatient detox and close medical care can make a difference. [/callout]
When you first stop using drugs or alcohol, you may go through a number of mental and physical symptoms such as anxiety, drug cravings, depressed mood, trouble sleeping (or sleeping too much), stomach problems, muscle aches, or bone pains.1–3 This is known as withdrawal. The goal of any detox treatment is to help keep you safe through this process and reduce symptoms as much as possible.
At inpatient detox, you live at a treatment center while you go through detox. Treatment centers could be a hospital or other setting that is able to handle severe medical issues, or it could be a standalone center with less intense medical oversight. Staff is onsite around the clock to check your progress and ensure your safety.1,5 By contrast, outpatient detox lets you live at home and attend treatment appointments at a clinic or doctor’s office while still more or less following your daily routine.1
Detox can help clear your body of drugs and alcohol, but detox alone is rarely enough to kick a substance use disorder in the long term. This is because detox doesn’t address the underlying causes of addiction—issues that are important to face to stay substance-free.6–8 Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient detox, the staff will help you find and shift to post-detox treatment for a substance use disorder.
Some things to consider as you decide the best treatment setting for you include:1,3,5
Are you willing and able to follow a treatment plan? It can be hard to detox while living at home, where you may need to face everyday triggers—the people, places, and things that make you want to use drugs or alcohol. Inpatient detox offers a safe place away from these stressors with no access to drugs or alcohol.
Do you have any other mental health issues? Mental health disorders are common among people in detox, and inpatient substance abuse treatment centers are generally able to manage people who have both mental health and substance use disorders (this is called “co-occurring disorders”). Withdrawal may worsen existing symptoms of mental health disorders or cause new symptoms to emerge.
Do you have any medical problems? Existing medical issues may have an impact on how bad withdrawal is and may need extra oversight or specialized care. Heart issues, chronic pain, diabetes, and pregnancy are all medical concerns that may show a need for more intensive care levels that an acute care inpatient setting is more likely to be able to offer.
Have you gone through medically managed withdrawal before? If you’ve tried detox in the past and relapsed (started using again), you may benefit from a more intensive care level. If you’ve been to inpatient detox before, you will most likely need to return for more treatment after detox.
If you’ve gone through withdrawal in the past, how severe were your symptoms? Those who have had severe withdrawal symptoms are more likely to have them again. Severe symptoms can include withdrawal seizures and delirium (intense confusion). Inpatient detox may be a good idea to keep you as safe as possible.
What is your living environment like? Not everyone has supportive relationships at home, or even stable, safe housing. If you live in housing that is unstable, unsupportive, or even dangerous, inpatient detox may be a better choice.
What to Expect from Inpatient Detox
Inpatient detox centers differ in location, length, cost, and treatment. The main types are:1,10
Hospital or acute care center detox: In this setting, your care team will watch over you at all times. This type of detox offers a safe place for people with long-term or severe substance use, those at risk of severe withdrawal, those with severe mental health disorders or those with co-occurring medical problems that need close or specialized care.
Standalone medical detox programs: These programs offer 24-hour medical support and, when needed, treatment medicines to help manage withdrawal symptoms. You live at the detox center during detox, after which you may enter a 30-, 60-, or 90-day addiction treatment program. Many medical detox programs are able to handle medical issues and mental health problems, so they can be a good option for people with severe substance dependence and co-occurring disorders as well.
Detox at the start of residential treatment: Many drug abuse rehab centers have a detox wing or a detox phase at the start of residential substance use disorder treatment. In-house detox programs offer medical support during the detox period. When detox ends, you may be moved to a different area for long-term treatment that stresses peer and social support.
Peer support detox: Not all residential drug rehab programs offer medical detox. In some cases, these programs conduct what is known as social detox. This type of detox has less medical oversight and stresses peer and counselor support. Social detox also doesn’t often include any type of prescription medicine. These programs should have clear processes in place for medical emergencies and for seeking medical referral if needed.
When you first arrive in detox, you will go through a detailed assessment to answer questions about:1
substance use
physical and mental health history
treatment history
any social, legal, employment, or other issues you may have.
Your care team will use this information to help you make the best decisions about your care and form a treatment plan. They may also ask you to follow certain rules, such as no cell phones or computers, no weapons or violence, strict schedules, and other dress code and safety rules. Rules are generally designed to help keep you safe and reduce substance use triggers.
A typical inpatient detox process for substance abuse lasts 3 to 5 days and is managed with medicines combined with vitamins, exercise, and sleep.10 How long detox lasts will depend on which substance(s) you used, how long you used, and the type and severity of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on these factors, doctors may also give you certain medicines to help ease any discomfort and control cravings.
Inpatient detox is the first step in a treatment journey.1,2 Staff can help you decide the next steps to take as you near the end of detox and refer you to other care as needed.1,2 This may include residential rehab or a step down to outpatient rehab, depending on your needs.2,7
24/7 Medical Care
A major benefit of inpatient detox is that medical staff are onsite to check your progress and ensure your safety.1,6 They can give prescription medicines, check your vital signs, assess your health, and offer other support as needed.1,6
After you finish detox, your care team may continue or shift your medicines to better support you while you are working on your recovery in treatment.
Choosing the Right Inpatient Detox Center
Which detox center you choose depends on a number of factors. Think about your unique needs and goals for treatment as well as:
Location: You may want to be near your family or workplace, or you may want to travel to a vacation-like setting (for example, the beach or countryside) where you can continue long-term treatment away from everyday triggers that can make recovery harder.
Special populations: You may feel more comfortable in a program that tailors its care to specific populations, such as women, LGBTQ, veterans, executives, or certain faiths or cultures.
The drug(s): Some detox programs may be specific to certain substances. For instance, some detox centers may have more knowledge of or be better able to manage alcohol detox than opioid detox and vice versa.
The long-term plan: Many detox centers are located within a larger treatment center. Transferring to long-term treatment after detox can greatly improve your chance of long-term recovery.
The treatments: Some centers offer medicines, 24-hour medical care, social support, counseling, behavioral health therapies, and holistic health treatment therapies. Choose one that best fits your specific needs and wants.
Insurance: Cost is often a major factor in choosing any type of medical treatment. Many drug treatment centers take insurance, including private insurance and Medicaid. Call your insurance company to find out what they will and won’t cover.
Out-of-pocket cost: If you don't have insurance or your plan only covers part of the cost, then it’s important to find out what you will owe and learn about any payment options an inpatient program offers, such as sliding scales or payment plans.
Extra costs: Different inpatient centers offer different amenities, some of which charge extra for room and board, food, or other amenities. Also, consider travel costs for you and your family if the center isn’t local.
Finding Inpatient Detox
American Addiction Centers offers complete treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. We have treatment centers across the country to help you detox safely and then transition seamlessly into inpatient or outpatient rehab. For more information about how we can help you detox, call our confidential detox helpline at [phone].
Sources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). TIP 45: Detoxification and substance abuse treatment.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug abuse treatment: A research-based guide (Third edition).
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Step by step guides to finding treatment for drug use disorders.
American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2020). The ASAM clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management.
Zhu, H., & Wu, L.T. (2018). National trends and characteristics of inpatient detoxification for drug use disorders in the United States. BMC Public Health, 18(1073).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Treatment approaches for drug addiction.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2013). Seeking drug abuse treatment: Know what to ask.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 national survey on drug use and health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general’s report on alcohol, drugs, and health.
...
Read moreInpatient Detox for Drugs and Alcohol
Published on October 11, 2012 Updated on May 13, 2022
Detoxification (“detox” for short) centers offer a safe, supportive place where you can go through withdrawal with as little discomfort and safety risk as possible.1,2 It is often the first step for treating substance use disorders. Detox centers are designed to manage the unpleasant, upsetting, and sometimes life-threatening symptoms that go along with withdrawal.2,4
Detox can happen in different types of settings with lower or higher levels of medical oversight. This article will help you learn about the different types of inpatient detox, which takes place in a residential or specialty care center, as well as what to expect during treatment and how to choose the best treatment type for your needs.
What Is Inpatient Detox?
[callout position="right"] In 2019, 20.4 million people age 12 and older met the criteria for a substance use disorder.9 Research shows that addiction treatment can improve your health. Yet despite this potential for greater quality of life, only 1 in 10 people get substance abuse treatment.10
Fear about unpleasant withdrawal symptoms may keep some people from seeking treatment. But that is one area where inpatient detox and close medical care can make a difference. [/callout]
When you first stop using drugs or alcohol, you may go through a number of mental and physical symptoms such as anxiety, drug cravings, depressed mood, trouble sleeping (or sleeping too much), stomach problems, muscle aches, or bone pains.1–3 This is known as withdrawal. The goal of any detox program is to help keep you safe through this process and reduce symptoms as much as possible.
During inpatient detox, you live at a treatment center while you go through detox. Treatment centers could be a hospital or other setting that is able to handle severe medical issues, or it could be a standalone center with less intense medical oversight. Staff is onsite around the clock to check your progress and ensure your safety.1,5 By contrast, outpatient detox lets you live at home and attend treatment appointments at a clinic or doctor’s office while still more or less following your daily routine.1
Detox can help clear your body of drugs and alcohol, but detox alone is rarely enough to kick a substance use disorder in the long term. This is because detox doesn’t address the underlying causes of addiction—issues that are important to face to stay substance-free.6–8 Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient detox, the staff will help you find and shift to post-detox treatment for a substance use disorder.
Should I Choose Inpatient Detox?
Some things to consider as you decide the right type of detox treatment setting for you include:1,3,5
[accordion title="Are you willing and able to follow a treatment plan?"] It can be hard to detox while living at home, where you may need to face everyday triggers—the people, places, and things that make you want to use drugs or alcohol. Inpatient detox offers a safe place away from these stressors with no access to drugs or alcohol. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Do you have any other mental health issues?"] Mental health disorders are common among people in detox, and inpatient substance abuse treatment centers are generally able to manage people who have both mental health and substance use disorders (this is called “co-occurring disorders”). Withdrawal may worsen existing symptoms of mental health disorders or cause new symptoms to emerge. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Do you have any medical problems?"] Existing medical issues may have an impact on how bad withdrawal is and may need extra oversight or specialized care. Heart issues, chronic pain, diabetes, and pregnancy are all medical concerns that may show a need for more intensive care levels that an acute care inpatient setting is more likely to be able to offer. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Have you gone through medically managed withdrawal before?"] If you’ve tried detox in the past and relapsed (started using again), you may benefit from a more intensive care level. If you’ve been to inpatient detox before, you will most likely need to return for more treatment after detox. [/accordion]
[accordion title="If you’ve gone through withdrawal in the past, how severe were your symptoms?"] Those who have had severe withdrawal symptoms are more likely to have them again. Severe symptoms can include withdrawal seizures and delirium (intense confusion). Inpatient detox may be a good idea to keep you as safe as possible. [/accordion]
[accordion title="What is your living environment like?"] Not everyone has supportive relationships at home, or even stable, safe housing. If you live in housing that is unstable, unsupportive, or even dangerous, inpatient detox may be a better choice. [/accordion]
[self-assessment]
What Happens During Inpatient Detox
When you first arrive for inpatient detox, you will go through a detailed assessment to answer questions about:1
substance use
physical and mental health history
treatment history
any social, legal, employment, or other issues you may have.
Your care team will use this information to help you make the best decisions about your care and form a treatment plan for both your initial detox and what form of rehab should follow. They may also ask you to follow certain rules, such as no cell phones or computers, no weapons or violence, strict schedules, and other dress code and safety rules. Rules are generally designed to help keep you safe and reduce substance use triggers.
Inpatient detox is the first step in a treatment journey.1,2 Staff can help you decide the next steps to take as you near the end of detox and refer you to other care as needed.1,2 This may include residential rehab or a step down to outpatient rehab, depending on your needs.2,7
Types of Inpatient Detox Centers
Inpatient detox centers differ in location, length, cost, and treatment. The main types are:1,10
[accordion title="Hospital or acute care center detox"] In this setting, your care team will watch over you at all times. This type of detox offers a safe place for people with long-term or severe substance use, those at risk of severe withdrawal, those with severe mental health disorders or those with co-occurring medical problems that need close or specialized care. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Standalone medical detox programs"] Medical detox centers offer 24-hour medical support and, when needed, treatment medicines to help manage withdrawal symptoms. You live at the detox center during detox, after which you may enter a 30-, 60-, or 90-day addiction treatment program. Many medical detox programs are able to handle medical issues and mental health problems, so they can be a good option for people with severe substance dependence and co-occurring disorders as well. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Detox at the start of residential treatment"] Many drug abuse rehab centers have a detox wing or a detox phase at the start of residential substance use disorder treatment. In-house detox programs offer medical support during the detox period. When detox ends, you may be moved to a different area for long-term treatment that stresses peer and social support. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Peer support detox"] Not all residential drug rehab programs offer medical detox. In some cases, these programs conduct what is known as social detox. This type of detox has less medical oversight and stresses peer and counselor support. Social detox also doesn’t often include any type of prescription medicine. These programs should have clear processes in place for medical emergencies and for seeking medical referral if needed. [/accordion]
How Long Is Inpatient Detox?
A typical inpatient detox process for substance abuse lasts 3 to 5 days and is managed with medicines combined with vitamins, exercise, and sleep.10 How long detox lasts will depend on which substance(s) you used, how long you used, and the type and severity of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on these factors, doctors may also give you certain medicines to help ease any discomfort and control cravings.
Benefits of Inpatient Medical Detox
A major benefit of inpatient detox is that medical staff are onsite to check your progress and ensure your safety.1,6 They can give prescription medicines, check your vital signs, assess your health, and offer other support as needed throughout the detoxification process.1,6
After you finish detox, your care team may continue or shift your medicines to better support you while you are working on your recovery in either inpatient or outpatient rehab.
?
How to Choose the Right Inpatient Detox Center
Which detox center you choose depends on a number of factors. Think about your unique needs and goals for treatment as well as:
[accordion title="Location"] You may want to be near your family or workplace, or you may want to travel to a vacation-like setting (for example, the beach or countryside) where you can continue long-term treatment away from everyday triggers that can make recovery harder. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Special populations"] You may feel more comfortable in a program that tailors its care to specific populations, such as:
Men
Women
LGBTQ
Veterans
First Responders
Teens
Seniors [/accordion]
[accordion title="The drug(s)"] Some detox programs may be specific to certain substances. For instance, some detox centers may have more knowledge of or be better able to manage alcohol detox than opioid detox and vice versa. [/accordion]
[accordion title="The long-term plan"] Many detox centers are located within a larger treatment center. Transferring to long-term rehab after detox can greatly improve your chance of long-term recovery. [/accordion]
[accordion title="The treatments"] Some centers offer medicines, 24-hour medical care, social support groups, counseling, behavioral health therapies, and holistic health treatment therapies. Choose one that best fits your specific needs and wants. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Insurance"] Cost is often a major factor in choosing any an inpatient detox center. Many detox centers accept insurance, including private insurance and Medicaid or Medicare. To find out more details about your coverage, you can call your provider directly. An alternative way to check your insurance coverage is by doing so with a detox center directly. Most detox centers can check your coverage over the phone while some will allow you to check your insurance online before you call, like American Addiction Centers (AAC) [/accordion]
[accordion title="Out-of-pocket cost"] If you don't have insurance or your plan only covers part of the cost, then it’s important to find out what you will owe and learn about any payment options an inpatient detox program offers, such as sliding scales or payment plans. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Extra costs"] Amenities provided during inpatient detox are likely to vary based on a variety of factors. Some detox centers charge extra for room and board, food, or other amenities. Also, consider travel costs for you and your family if the detox center isn’t local. [/accordion]
Does your insurance cover inpatient detox?
We can help - check your coverage instantly or text us your questions to find out more.
[vob-aktify-cta]
How to Find Inpatient Detox Near Me
American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers complete treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. We have treatment centers across the country to help you detox safely and then transition seamlessly into inpatient or outpatient rehab. For more information about how we can help you detox, call our confidential detox helpline at [phone] or text us.
For more options, use the tool below to find your local inpatient detox center.
[samhsa-data type="rd" heading="Inpatient detox centers by state"/]
[accordion title ="Other Forms of Addiction Treatment"]
Rehab Treatment
Detoxification
Aftercare
Sober Living
Support Groups
[/accordion]
[accordion title ="Insurance and Payment Resources"]
Aetna
Ambetter
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bright Health
Humana
Kaiser Permanente
Medicaid
Medicare
State-Funded
Tricare
Without Insurance
[/accordion]
[accordion title="AAC Treatment Center Locations"]
Laguna Treatment Hospital
Adcare - Rhode Island
Adcare - Boston
Sunrise House
Desert Hope
Greenhouse
Oxford Treatment Center
Recovery First
River Oaks
[/accordion]
[accordion title="AAC Immediate Service Area"]
Aliso Viejo, CA
Kingstown, RI
Worcester, MA
Lafayette, NJ
Las Vegas, NV
Grand Prairie, TX
Etta, MS
Hollywood, FL
Riverview, FL
[/accordion]
[accordion title="National Detox Center Directory"]
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
[/accordion]
[sources]
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). TIP 45: Detoxification and substance abuse treatment.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug abuse treatment: A research-based guide (Third edition).
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Step by step guides to finding treatment for drug use disorders.
American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2020). The ASAM clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management.
Zhu, H., & Wu, L.T. (2018). National trends and characteristics of inpatient detoxification for drug use disorders in the United States. BMC Public Health, 18(1073).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Treatment approaches for drug addiction.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2013). Seeking drug abuse treatment: Know what to ask.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 national survey on drug use and health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general’s report on alcohol, drugs, and health.
[/sources] ...
Read moreOpioid Withdrawal Treatment Medications
Published on February 14, 2017 Updated on May 10, 2022
Opioid withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and hard to overcome, but there are many treatment medicines that can make the withdrawal process easier. This article will help you understand the medications used to treat opioid addiction, including those that relieve withdrawal symptoms and those that can be used for maintenance to help in long-term recovery.
Medicines Used During Opioid Withdrawal
Opioid treatment medicines can be used for different purposes. Some ease distressing withdrawal symptoms, so you feel more comfortable during the detox process.1–3 Others, such as methadone and buprenorphine, can be started during detox but are also geared for long-term treatment beyond the detox phase in hopes to reduce relapse risk (return to drug use after a period of not using) and overdose.1–3 This long-term treatment approach is often called “maintenance treatment.”3
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), people with opioid use disorder (OUD) have a higher risk of relapse after detox if they stop using treatment medicines.1 When you relapse after going through detox, you are at a higher risk of a fatal opioid overdose because your body is no longer used to (tolerant) opioids.1 This lower tolerance means that you can easily overdose on even smaller opioid doses than you took before.1 Maintenance medicines help reduce cravings, which can give you the time you need to address your triggers (the people, places, and things that make you want to use) and manage your life while in treatment.3,4
Methadone
Methadone is the longest-used and most-studied opioid treatment medicine.1,3 It is an opioid agonist, meaning that it attaches (binds) to and activates the same nerve cells in the brain as other opioids do.1,5 These nerve cells are called opioid receptors, and when opioids bind to and activate them, they send signals to the body that cause feelings of pleasure, or a “high.” When methadone binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain of an opioid-dependent person, it does so more slowly than other opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl. As a result, treatment doses of methadone ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings without the high.1,5
Methadone also blocks the effects of any other opioids and is safe to use for extended periods, making it one of the most common maintenance medicines for opioid addiction.4,6 It helps people stay in treatment, reduces the risk of relapse and overdose, and improves treatment results.1,3
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is another common opioid treatment drug. It is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it binds to opioid receptors the same way methadone does, but activates them more slowly.1,7 Like methadone, buprenorphine also reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings, making it easier to detox from opioids without causing a high.1,3 It also blocks the rewarding effects of any other opioids used, making it a safe and effective maintenance medicine that can help support long-term recovery.8
Buprenorphine can also be combined with naloxone (Suboxone) to prevent opioid misuse.1,8 If Suboxone is crushed and snorted or injected, the naloxone blocks the effects of the buprenorphine, causing withdrawal symptoms in people who are physically dependent on opioids.3,4
[callout] Although methadone and buprenorphine are both opioids, they should not be viewed as substitutes for opioids that are misused.1,4 Rather, they are safe and effective evidence-based treatments that help people recover from OUD and regain control over their lives.3,4 [/callout]
Clonidine
Though clonidine isn’t specifically an opioid addiction treatment medication, it has been used off-label (in other words, a different way than intended) during opioid detox since 1978.2,9 It is a blood pressure medicine that relieves many of the more troublesome withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, anxiety, and irritability.2,9 Opioid withdrawal causes overactivity in certain parts of the brain, and clonidine reduces this activity.2
Since clonidine is not an opioid, it is easier to get by prescription, more affordable, and is less likely to be misused.9 Clonidine doesn’t work well for insomnia, opioid cravings, or muscle pain, so your care team may give you other medicines to treat those symptoms.2,9
Lofexidine
In 2018, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new opioid treatment drug called lofexidine (Lucemyra).11 Lofexidine is a non-opioid medicine that helps ease withdrawal symptoms such as racing heart, muscle twitching, and stomach pain.1,10 It helps blood move more freely through your body by relaxing your blood vessels.10 Lofexidine doesn’t address any mental health symptoms that often go along with opioid withdrawal, such as anxiety, so it may be combined with other medicines.11
Supporting Medicines
Some opioid treatment medicines do not fully manage all symptoms. So your care team may also use some supporting medicines to treat specific lingering symptoms.2,9 The most common supporting medicines include:3,9
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help treat aches and pains.
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril) to help treat anxiety.
Milk of magnesia to help with constipation (a side effect of taking methadone).
Loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can treat diarrhea.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), or trazodone (Desyrel) to treat insomnia.
Ondansetron (Zofran) or metoclopramide (Reglan) to help treat nausea.
Dicyclomine (Bentyl, Maalox, or Mylanta) can help with other stomach issues.
Does your insurance cover medication-assisted-treatment?
We can help - check your coverage instantly or text us your questions to find out more.
[vob-aktify-cta]
Finding Opioid Withdrawal Treatment
Supervised medical detox is a highly effective way to manage opioid withdrawal.4 It helps you stay as safe and comfortable as possible during the earliest stages of recovery.9 Detox can also help ease your transition into further treatment where you’ll learn how to address the underlying causes of your addiction.9 In addition, some opioid addiction treatment medications started during detox (buprenorphine and methadone) can be continued throughout treatment and during ongoing recovery.1 Your care team can work with you to choose the right medicine to meet your needs.
American Addiction Centers (AAC) is one of the country’s leading providers of detox and addiction treatment. With treatment centers located across the country, we make it easier to find treatment no matter where you are. Contact us any time at [phone]. Alternatively, if you would like to get started online, start the process by checking your insurance coverage instantly or texting our team. Our caring and knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you have about detox and addiction treatment. Recovery from addiction is possible, and we can help.
[cta]
[accordion title="Detox at American Addiction Centers (AAC)"]
Detox Centers:
Laguna Treatment Hospital
Adcare - Rhode Island
Adcare - Boston
Sunrise House
Desert Hope
Greenhouse
Oxford Treatment Center
Recovery First
River Oaks
Immediate Service Areas:
Aliso Viejo, CA
Kingstown, RI
Worcester, MA
Lafayette, NJ
Las Vegas, NV
Grand Prairie, TX
Etta, MS
Hollywood, FL
Riverview, FL
[/accordion][accordion title="Detox centers by state"]
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
[/accordion][accordion title ="Detox insurance coverage"]
Aetna
Ambetter
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bright Health
Humana
Kaiser Permanente
Medicaid
Medicare
Tricare
Without Insurance
Veterans Insurance
[/accordion][accordion title ="Treatment articles"]
Detox services:
Inpatient detox
Outpatient detox
Medical detox
Rehab services:
Rehab
Inpatient rehab
Outpatient rehab
Same-day rehab
State-funded rehab
30-60-90 day rehab
Free rehab
Choosing rehab
Aftercare services:
Aftercare
Sober Living
Support Groups
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
[/accordion]
[sources]
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, June). Medications to treat opioid use disorder research report.
American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2015). The ASAM national practice guideline for the use of medications in the treatment of addiction involving opioid use.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 63 Publication No. PEP21-02-01-002. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, January). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (Third edition).
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