Prescription drug detox can be safely done in a rehab setting.

Prescription medication use is on the rise and as a result, the number of people who suffer from prescription medication addiction has also increased. The result—thousands of Americans find themselves in need of prescription drug detox to safely withdraw from the prescription medications and begin the road to recovery from addiction.

Prescription drugs can be very dangerous when taken for recreational purposes or when misused and they are highly addictive. There are many different types of prescription drugs and each of them has it’s own set of withdrawal symptoms and side effects. Prescription detox methods may differ depending on the type of medication that the individual is detoxing. Prescription drug detox centers provide a safe place for addicts to withdraw from prescription drugs and transition smoothly into drug treatment.

How Long Does Prescription Drug Detox Last?

The length of time that you will spend in a prescription drug detox center is dependent on a number of factors:

• The type of prescription medication being used

• The amount of medication being used

• How long the prescription drugs have been used

• The frequency of prescription drug use

• Dual diagnosed issues or existing medical or psychiatric issues

• Other drugs that are being used

Below is a list of the anticipated detox times for some of the most commonly abused prescription medications. Although prescription drug detox times may vary based on the above factors, most people can become medically stable and free from major withdrawal symptoms, at which time they can begin drug treatment within the following time frames:

• Opiate Detox Programs usually take about around 5-7 days to complete these include most painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, Morphine and Lortab.

• Anti Anxiety medications usually take a little more than a week to detox from. These medications include Xanax, Klonopin, Valium and Ativan.

• Stimulants typically take the shortest amount of time to detox from at prescription drug detox centers. These prescription medications include Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine and usually take about 3-5 days to safely detox from.

Prescription Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms

The prescription drug detox process is often marked by pain and discomfort which is why it is advisable to seek the care and help that can be provided by prescription drug detox centers. It is never recommended that an addict attempt to go through the prescription drug detox process without proper medical attention and monitoring. The withdrawal symptoms associated with prescription drug detox include:

• Muscle and bone pain

• Sweats

• Cold Flashes

• Diarrhea or Constipation

• Fatigue

• Flu-like symptoms

• Nausea and vomiting

• Insomnia

• Dizziness

• Convulsions and Seizures

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Agitation and irritability

• Psychosis

While not all of these withdrawal symptoms can be life threatening, it is possible to die as a result of unsafe prescription drug detox. Luckily, prescription drug detox can be safely undertaken when closely monitored by doctors, nurses and trained detox center staff who understand addiction, withdrawal and the medically necessary interventions that may occur along the way throughout the prescription drug detox process.

Considering Prescription Drug Detox

Choosing a prescription drug detox program that is most suitable for you depends largely on two factors—your personal needs and the specific detox services that you require. Statistics show that individuals who attend prescription drug detox followed by long term drug treatment have a greater likelihood of recovering from prescription drug addiction without relapse. If you or someone you know suffers from prescription drug addiction, you should consider safely detoxing at a prescription drug detox center near you.