Medication-assisted detox sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? You’re sending yourself or someone you love there to stop relying on drugs, so why would the center give them more?

Well, for one, there’s a difference between detox medication and drugs. One is prescribed by a doctor for a health problem and the other is done recreationally. Second, detoxing from drugs is a uniquely uncomfortable, and sometimes deadly, process.

People will be much more likely to agree to a detox and rehabilitation program if they know they’re not going to be in pain and discomfort the whole time.

Need more information? An idea of what kind of symptoms and treatments to expect? We’ve got your guide, below.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Like we said, getting clean from drugs and/or alcohol isn’t pleasant. The addict’s body has become dependent on those substances for neurological processes (like feeling happy) and the body has to re-learn how to function without that substance.

And the body is a lot smarter than we think. It’s dependent on those substances and it wants them again – ASAP. So, it’s going to make the person feel a whole range of symptoms while it passes through cravings, then detox, and finally regulating to life without drugs.

Those symptoms are what medication-assisted treatment can help with. But what kind of medications do they use? Well, it depends on the detox type or the substance the person is trying to get out of their body.

When it comes to drug detox, there are three main categories. First, we have alcohol detox, which can be one of the deadliest substances to stop cold turkey. Then there’s stimulant detox, from drugs like cocaine and speed. Finally, there are specific medications to help ease the process of detoxing from sedatives, like pain pills or heroin.

Alcohol Detox

Detoxing from alcohol is something you should never do cold turkey unless you’re under the care of a medical team. Why? Because of delirium tremens. These are reactions of the nervous system that can happen anywhere between 12 and 48 hours after the last drink, and they have up to a 35% mortality rate.

That’s not to say everyone gets DTs, doctors don’t 100% understand why some people experience them and some don’t. Having comorbidities, family members who were addicts and experienced DTs, and a history of seizures all contribute to a higher risk of someone developing the sensation.

Anticonvulsants and medications like benzodiazepines that keep the body calm can help prevent this sometimes-deadly tremens, or treat them if a staff member suspects they’re coming on.

Another side effect of alcohol detox is nausea, as your body works to expel the alcohol out of your body. Anti-nausea medications help queasiness and with withdrawal dizziness, which many people experience during extreme hangovers.

Finally, alcohol is a depressant, and the long-term use of alcohol can severely impair an addict’s production of neurotransmitters. Many clinics will prescribe an antidepressant to help the addict manage their state of mind while they face the journey towards recovery.

Stimulant Detox Medications

Coming off stimulants, like methamphetamine and prescription medications like those for ADHD is a different experience than detoxing from alcohol. While the addict doesn’t have to worry about delirium tremens, that doesn’t mean their first few days will be pleasant.

Psychotic episodes are common when detoxing from these types of drugs, especially methamphetamine. Those episodes can lead to the addict trying to hurt themselves or others, as it takes time for the drug to get out of their system, and the body is desperate for more.

Olanzapine and brand names like Abilify are common antipsychotics that can prevent or reduce psychotic episodes.

Antidepressants are a common medication used to treat stimulant detox as well. A good way to think about neurotransmitter damage from drugs is: if it made you feel high, it probably altered your natural neurotransmitter pattern, at least temporarily.

Since this class of drugs are stimulants, they affect the sleep schedule of addicts. One reason people describe drug addicts who do stimulants as looking “strung out” is because the drugs are robbing them of their ability to sleep. Modafinil is a drug that helps regulate sleep schedule, to get the addict back on track.

Benzodiazepines are only sometimes used in drug detox, as they can be habit-forming themselves. They’d be used, for example, if someone was detoxing from cocaine, as they slow down the central nervous system, which cocaine speeds up. Diazepam is the most commonly used benzodiazepine and is only prescribed short-term, under doctors’ supervision.

Sedative or Opioid Detox

The US is facing an opioid crisis, which means detox centers are seeing an influx of Opioid addicts. Many of their addictions start innocently, with pain pills prescribed by a doctor following a surgery or injury.

However, opioids are so addictive that short courses can become a lifelong problem. Especially with deadly Fentanyl on the market.

There are a handful of medications to treat opioid addictions. One choice that’s highly debated is methadone. Methadone is a long-acting opioid that can help the addict detox more safely. Methadone is only used under doctor supervision in a medical detox center or to save the life of an addict suffering from intense withdrawal.

Buprenorphine is another option, similar to methadone, that can be used for the same effect.

Given our example above, since Opioids get you high, they mess with your neurotransmitters. And such, antidepressants are often prescribed for those recovering from sedative addictions.

Detox Medications: Only Under Professional Supervision

Do not attempt to self-administer these medications to help with at-home drug detox. These detox medications are only to be used under medical care when there is a treatment plan in place.

If you or someone you love is looking for a medical detox center, give our counselors a call. They’ll answer whatever questions you still have about the process and can even help you start the admittance process.