Detoxification (detox) is a medical procedure which seeks to help the patient eliminate the physical traces of Oxycodone from their body both safely and efficiently, whilst at the same time keeping the unpleasant side effects of the drug to a minimum. (9, 11)
Oxycodone detox is usually achieved by systematically decreasing the amount of Oxycodone that a person will consume over a set period of time.
Patients will follow a carefully designed programme to consume tailored doses of a substitute drug that shares similar chemical properties with Oxycodone that will lead to a reduction in the withdrawal symptoms they are experiencing until they are eradicated.
The amount of Oxycodone present in their bodies will slowly decrease throughout the detox treatment. (7)
The withdrawal symptoms from opioids are not perceived to be life threatening although they can be extremely uncomfortable.
Oxycodone addiction is a chronic condition with a high chance of relapse, so a long term approach is considered preferable. (12,13)
The approach used for Oxycodone detox is similar for all Opioid drugs, treatments overall are very successful although the first two weeks after commencing detox has been identified as a vulnerable time with a high potential for relapse. (8)
So some people therefore will tend to be placed on slower regimes which can take months, particularly if they have more complicated medical problems in addition to their substance misuse.
Oxycodone detox – A supportive environment
A solid and supportive home environment is seen as essential to aid recovery, and if someone is in an unstable environment then there is a high risk of them not successfully completing the treatment.
Good relationships and regular communication with medical staff is also associated with successful outcomes.
However when the detox process gets underway the withdrawal symptoms can be significantly reduced within a week and people can be free from withdrawal within a month in best case scenarios.
However the psychological aspect of their drug dependency can take several months if not years to disappear, depending how long someone consumed the drug for. (13)
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Oxycodone detox – Psychosocial factors
Best outcomes are seen in people who undergo psychosocial interventions as well as Oxycodone detox as part of their treatment plan.
If people attempting to detox from Oxycodone have a stable home environment, a good support network and regularly keep in touch with medical staff overseeing their treatment, then this has been known to boost their chances of having a successful outcome. (7,13)
There is also a focus on improving patients’ quality of life, to enable them to move on from the context / environment of their current substance misuse patters so that any triggers that may threaten their recovery are removed from their life and they do not slip back into old habits.
This may involve finding different friends, a new job, and engaging in hobbies and activities that are more healthy and nourishing.
So short, medium and long term goals can be set to enable people to identify the kind of life they would like to lead away from drug dependence.
Research on the importance of psychosocial factors
It has been found that people who only attempt Oxycodone detox without accessing any psychosocial interventions tend to relapse after a period of 6 months.
Following NICE guidelines and using Methadone or Buprenorphine along with psychosocial intervention has been very successful, with only 20-30% of patients relapsing or failing to respond to treatment. (8, 13)
However every individual undergoing treatment will have their own unique circumstances so very rarely do two people follow the exact treatment plan.
As well as their own individual physiology, people will differ in the duration, frequency and amount of Oxycodone they have been taking and in many other aspects of their physical and mental health as well.
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Reliable treatment options
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend that Methadone or Buprenorphine should be the two main treatment options considered for detox from any Oxycodone dependency.
The rapid detox intervention can take place with graded reductions in doses over a period of 7-21 days when all the circumstances surrounding the person are favourable. (9,13)
Methadone and Buprenorphine have proven to be the most successful approaches over the years, and both are now established as reliable and safe treatment options.
Medical practitioners have been able to standardise detox treatment plans that are regularly utilised, to ensure these methods continue to be safe and effective. (7, 11)
As the withdrawal symptoms become less severe, patients may find they are able to reduce their symptoms by using over the counter medicine for symptoms such as an upset stomach and diarrhoea.
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid and is used as a substitute drug treatment for detox, it has proved to be a reliable treatment for detox from most opioid drugs and has been used for this purpose for over 40 years, as it possesses several chemical characteristics that enable this. (6)
It has a long duration of action, so it only needs to be take once daily. Methadone is available in liquid form which makes it easier to design a dosage that will alleviate the withdrawal symptoms but not generate any feelings of euphoria.
Methadone is normally mixed with a juice and taken in liquid form. (8)
The longer a person is on methadone for, the more beneficial it will be for them. Some people who have been taking opioid drugs such as Oxycodone for a long time could be on Methadone treatment for several years.
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Why is Methadone used?
Methadone is a significant and reliable treatment option because as a long acting opioid agonist it is released slowly into the body and is able to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay for 24 hours.
This is longer than shorter, faster acting opioids like Oxycodone which they became dependent on, which only keeps withdrawal symptoms at bay for 4-6 hours. (1,12)
This means that several doses need to be taken throughout the day if people want to keep experiencing the drug’s effects, the result of this is that the body’s tolerance to the drug will quickly build up and lead to withdrawal symptoms if consumption of the drug is ceased.
Taking Methadone will prevent this from happening and enable someone to find a steady foundation to start their recovery. (7)
It is imperative to manage the detox process carefully though as an initial dose given to someone who has been physically dependent on the drug may actually be fatal to someone who has not taken the drug before.
Luckily, the research into managing opioid detox over the years has provided firm guidelines and working practice to ensure patient safety.
The dose given should be strong enough to satisfy the withdrawal symptoms but not strong enough to produce a feeling of euphoria, which is a powerful motivator to take the drug.
This means the person experiences less positive psychological rewards after taking the drug.
This will slowly help decrease their psychological dependence towards the drug and their physical withdrawal symptoms will be reduced over time so any cravings will start to disappear. (8)
Methadone Treatment Location
People starting the detox treatment are required to go to a pharmacy or medical establishment to take the drug under observation until they are assessed to be on a more stable footing.
When a person appears to be more stable then there are options for them to be able to continue the treatment at home.
This will be evident when they are able to demonstrate that they can function adequately by exhibiting a healthier way of dealing with stress, having good relationships, showing high levels of self-care and that they have ceased taking Oxycodone. (13)
Regular doses of the substitute drug to stave off the withdrawal symptoms will allow the person to live a normal life without it being interrupted by cravings for Oxycodone
It is also advised to avoid taking benzodiazepines or drink alcohol whilst going through detox due to potential interaction effects between them and Oxycodone which can lead to overdose. (13)
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is another substitute drug option for treating Oxycodone dependence.
It can also be taken once a day and is reasonably long acting as it allows the withdrawal symptoms to be kept at bay for 24 hours.
It has been known for some people to take it every other day in some cases. (6)
It has also been reported that people taking Buprenorphine instead of Methadone experience less intense withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing the drug.
Buprenorphine is taken as a tablet that is placed under the tongue and absorbed rather than swallowed. (13)
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Buprenorphine is considered a safer detox option
Buprenorphine is considered a safer for detox from Oxycodone as the risk of overdose is much lower mainly because of its chemical characteristics as a partial agonist.
This means it doesn’t fully attach to opioid receptors in the brain and cause the same strong sense of euphoria that is provided by Oxycodone. (8,13)
Buprenorphine is not quite the same as Methadone as it is only a partial opioid agonist.
If Oxycodone is taken is taken as well as Buprenorphine, the latter will act by rendering the potential effects of Oxycodone redundant as it firmly attaches to opioid receptors preventing Oxycodone from having any effect.
This means that the chances of an overdose are drastically reduced.
If Buprenorphine is taken at higher doses, it acts as an antagonist and stops other opioid drugs like Oxycodone from having an effect when taken. (8,13)
Another advantage of Buprenorphine is that it does not reduce the respiratory process in the human body as much as other opioids tend to. (6)
Relapse Prevention
Someone who has completed the detox process is still very much at risk of relapsing if they haven’t worked on the skills needed to maintain recovery.
Some of the key skills needed to maintain recovery include developing self-care, managing stress effectively, recognising and avoiding potential triggers, looking after your physical and mental health and having healthy, fulfilling relationships in your life. (13)
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
Naltrexone
Taking Naltrexone is an option open to someone who has been physically dependent on Oxycodone to help them avoid relapsing in the future.
Naltrexone is a powerful opioid antagonist, which means it possesses chemical characteristics that bind to compatible receptors in the brain but do not actually activate the neuron.
However, they do prevent other opioid drugs (agonists) from activating the neuron.
This means that if any other opioid drug like Oxycodone is taken then Naltrexone will block its effects. (6,11)
Naltrexone is a potentially an important resource to avoid relapse prevention, but should only be used for people who have successfully completed Oxycodone detox and stopped taking the drug.
A patient who is still addicted will probably experience some withdrawal symptoms for a period of time.
Naltrexone therefore is an excellent treatment option open to someone to help them avoid relapsing in the future.
Because Naltrexone acts as a blocking agent and prevents the effects of the drug, the person will not be able to experience the positive effects of taking the drug such as relaxation and pleasure which will lessen their psychological motivation for consuming the drug and enhance the chances of recovery. (13)
At OK Rehab, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
To find out more about Oxycodone detox, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 326 5559.
References
(1) DrugAbuse.gov (2021) Prescription Opioids Drug Facts. Available (online) @Prescription Opioids DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
(2) National Health Service (2021) Oxycodone: Strong painkillers to treat severe pain. Available (online) @Oxycodone: strong painkiller to treat severe pain – NHS (www.nhs.uk) Caution: These are the most
(3) Harvard Health Publishing (2013) Caution: These are the Most Addictive Pain Meds. Available
(online)@addictive pain meds – Harvard Health
(4) Harvard Health Publishing (2019) Treating Opiate Addiction.
Available (online)@Treating opiate addiction, Part I: Detoxification and maintenance – Harvard Health
(5) McBride, A. (2003) Some Drugs of Misuse in Peterson, T. & McBride, A. (ed) Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice London. Routledge.
(6) Merrill, J. (2003) Medical Approaches and Prescribing: Drugs in Peterson, T. & McBride, A. (ed) Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice London. Routledge.
(7) Morse, G. (2007) Care of Opiate Users: Detoxification in Beaumont, B. (ed) Care of Drug Users in General Practice Radcliffe Publishing. Oxford
(8) Moss, A, Dyer, K (2010) The Psychology of Addictive Behaviour. Palgrave McMillan. New York
(9) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2007) Drug Misuse in Over 16s: Opioid Detoxification
(10) Newton, D.E. (2016) Prescription Drug Abuse. ABC-CLIO California
(11) Rassool, G.H. (2011) Understanding Addictive Behaviours. Palgrave MacMillan
(12) Wills, S. (2005) Drugs of Abuse. Pharmaceutical Press. London
(13) Yoon, R. (2014)Opioid Addiction In Herie, M. & Skinner, W. (ed) Fundamentals of Addiction: A Practical Guide for Counsellors. CAMH. Canada
