Some things, like alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids, can be very unpleasant or even dangerous if you stop using them suddenly. This is because withdrawal symptoms can be very bad or even kill you. Withdrawal should be handled in these cases with the help of medical detox and trained treatment professionals.
Drug withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, depression, irritability, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nightmares, muscle aches, back and joint pain, tremors, restlessness, cravings, depression, anxiety, agitation, seizures, irregular heart rate, high or low blood pressure, and many other problems.
You must be concerned to know about what helps with withdrawals. There are many ways to deal with withdrawal, including getting medical help, professional help, and a few home remedies that can help you to fight withdrawals.
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Home Remedies To Deal With Opiates Withdrawal Symptoms
You can have a complete urine examination test, to see if still, drugs are present in your body. Here are a few home remedies to deal with opiate withdrawal symptoms. Follow my lead.
1- Shivering And A Fever
Opiate withdrawal can cause physical symptoms that are not fun.
When you try to stop taking opioids, you might feel like you have the flu. Some of these are having a fever, chills, and sweating.
One study reveals that over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are a common way to treat a high body temperature.
Putting on loose, comfortable clothes made of materials that can soak up sweat, like cotton, can help.
If a person’s symptoms cause them to feel cold, they can wear layers of clothing that they can take off one at a time.
A person with a high body temperature can also bring it down by using cool compresses, such as washcloths soaked in cool water or ice packs wrapped in cloth. Taking baths at a cool temperature might also help.
2- Shaking
When you take opiates, your muscles and limbs can feel heavy. When people stop taking opiates, the opposite happens. They may shake and feel pain in their muscles.
3- St. John’s Wort May Help
If you don’t drink caffeine, it might help reduce shaking and trembling.
St. John’s Wort has been suggested as a way to treat shaking. One study on rats revealed that giving them the herb Hypericum perforatum, also known as St. John’s wort, helped to lessen the shaking that comes with opiate withdrawal.
4- Try Giving Up Coffee
People may shake less if they don’t drink drinks with caffeine, like coffee or soda, or if they drink decaffeinated drinks instead.
Caffeine-containing drinks can make shaking worse and may cause tremors.
5- Use Distraction Techniques
Try not to “fight” or resist the tremors that can happen during drug withdrawal. Sometimes, trying to stop tremors by thinking about them can make them feel worse.
People may be less aware of tremors when they use techniques like holding heavier objects or watching TV to keep their minds off of them.
6- Take NSAIDs
People who have tremors may want to try pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which can be bought over the counter or online, to ease the aching in their muscles. These drugs might make it easier to stop using opiates.
7- Nausea And Loose Stools
When a person stops taking opiates, they may feel sick and have diarrhea
The following are some other things a person can do to stop feeling sick:
Eating bland foods like bananas, rice, apples, toast, or crackers. This list of foods is less likely to upset your stomach.
Eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of one big meal.
Small sips of water can help you stay hydrated, which is important because diarrhea and nausea can make you lose a lot of fluids. You could also drink cooled Pedialyte or other drinks that replace electrolytes. Sports drinks are another option, but they can have a lot of sugar, which can make diarrhea worse.
Avoid fatty and greasy foods, which can irritate the lining of the stomach.
As much as possible, a person should drink fluids to keep from getting dehydrated, since dehydration can make withdrawal symptoms worse.
8- Cravings
When someone is trying to quit opioids at home, they may have strong cravings that make them want to take a pill or go back to their old ways of using drugs. Even though these cravings are unpleasant, they are a part of getting off opioids.
Some of the things a person can do to stop wanting these things are:
9- To Make A-List
If someone wants to stop using drugs, they should write down all the reasons why. It might help if they look at their list every time they feel like using drugs again.
It is important for a person to realize when they are having negative thoughts about their withdrawal period.
When a person realizes that they are having these thoughts, they can start to think in a more positive or optimistic way.
10- Using Distraction Techniques
When a person has a strong urge to do something, they may also use distraction techniques to help them get through the moment. They might want to take a short walk, listen to music, or do something else that helps them forget about the urges.
11- Trouble Sleeping
Before going to sleep, reading can help a person calm down.
Even though someone going through opioid withdrawal may feel sleepy, they may have trouble getting good sleep.
Getting a good night’s sleep can be very important because rest can help them feel stronger.
Ways to help you sleep and nap better
1- Sticking To A Plan
Having a regular bedtime and time to wake up will help the body keep its own “clock,” which can make it easier to fall asleep.
2- Considering Your Sleeping Environment
As suggested by the National Sleep Foundation, keeping the room cool or between 60 and 67 degrees can make it easier for someone to fall asleep.
Keep the bedroom dark and think about using earplugs or a white noise machine to block out noise and help you sleep.
3- Making A Relaxing Routine For Bedtime
Before going to bed, it can be a good idea to spend about an hour relaxing and winding down. This can mean not looking at screens like computers and phones.
Some ways to help you sleep are to drink warm, decaffeinated tea or milk, read a book, or listen to relaxing music.
4- Trying Melatonin
Some people may choose to take melatonin, which can be bought over-the-counter or online as a dietary supplement.
When taken as the doctor suggest, some people have said it helped them. But it’s important to remember that the FDA does not control these supplements.
Things You Should Consider
Even though opiate withdrawal is not life-threatening if it is the only drug a person is addicted to, the symptoms can be very bad and sometimes require a person to go to a medical facility.
If someone has a history of long-term health problems like heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, lung problems, or other conditions that can be made worse by withdrawal, it may be best for them to go to the nearest doctor for the process.
