According to Medline Plus, a medical information resource established by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 percent of the population is believed to misuse opiates, including illegal drugs, such as heroin and prescribed pain medications such as Oxycontin. These drugs cause the body to develop a dependency, which means the person taking the drug must keep taking it to avoid withdrawal symptoms. In addition, a patient can develop tolerance, which requires the patient to take increasingly larger doses of the drug over time to achieve the same effect, according to MayoClinic.com. Thus, the decision to stop taking the drug is necessary to prevent further complications. A patient detoxing should be aware of possible withdrawal symptoms.
Agitation
A common body detox symptom experienced with withdrawal is agitation, according to Medline Plus. This occurs because opiate drugs cause the body to be in a depressed state, or in a state of relaxation. When the drug is discontinued, the body responds by becoming overexcited. In this case, a patient should seek medical supportive care and treatment. Medications, such as clonidine, can help reduce agitation experienced while the body is detoxing.
Insomnia
A patient going through body detox might have difficulty sleeping. This occurs because continuous opiod use can cause a patient too feel excessively sleepy or fatigued. When the drug is discontinued, the body must adjust to not having external chemicals in it that cause sleepiness. A patient might have difficulty sleeping while he is withdrawing. Treatment in a detox facility can reduce insomnia with medical treatment. As the body progresses through the detox period, a patient will improve his sleeping habits and might no longer have problems with insomnia.
Stomach Problems
A patient going through detox can experience stomach problems. This occurs because the body has become used to digesting and metabolizing the opiod medication, which also slows down the function of the gastrointestinal tract. When the patient stops taking the drug, the gastrointestinal system becomes overactive, which results in stomach problems. Specifically, a patient can expect to experience diarrhea, abdominal cramping and nausea and vomiting. According to Medline Plus, these symptoms are not life-threatening, but can be quite uncomfortable for a patient. Treatment in a detox facility can help reduce these symptoms.
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