Safe, Comfortable Opiate Detox

One of the world's leading authorities on opiate detox

Dr. A.R. Mohammad is the director of operations at Malibu Horizon. He is considered to be a pioneer in the field of addiction medicine and opiate detox. Dr. Mohammad is a board certified addictionologist. He was one of the first doctors in the United States to become licensed to dispense Suboxone for detoxing from opiates. He has been specializing in opiate detox for over 10 years. He is a leading authority on helping people safely and comfortably detox from opiates. Dr. Mohammad is a professor at USC. And he also runs his own outpatient opiate detox facility. Dr. Mohammad is a very talented, compassionate man who loves his work.

 

State of the Art Opiate Detox

Malibu Horizon is one of world's leading centers for the successful detox and treatment of opiate dependency. The detox process for opiate dependency starts with a complete thorough assessment and evaluation.

Malibu Horizon has safely detoxed clients from opiates, benzodiazepine's, barbiturates and various sleep medications. Proper opiate detox is the process of making each patient as comfortable as possible, while carefully managing and monitoring the withdrawal symptoms in the most effective way.

Treatment for Opiate Dependency Starts With Detox

Today, many Americans have become dependent upon their prescription medications. In most cases, it was a part of a natural process of coping with pain or a psychological concern. In a recent study, 16.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for non-medical purposes at least once, in the year prior to being surveyed.

Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Studies have shown that properly managed use of opioid analgesic compounds is safe. Under a doctor's care, those opioids can manage pain effectively, and rarely cause addiction.

Patients who are prescribed opioids for a period of time may develop a physical dependence on them, which is not the same as addiction. Repeated exposure to opioids causes the body to adapt, sometimes resulting in tolerance i.e. more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect compared to when it was first prescribed.

Prescription medication dependency often occurs when someone has a physical issue that causes severe pain. As an example, a person experiencing pain as the result of a lower back problem. The person goes to the doctor and prescribed an opiate pain reliever. If the underlying physical problem is chronic or long standing, there is a danger of dependency on the pain relieving medication. Commonly used opioids include: oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil).

The Process of Opiate Detox

Thanks to today's technology, opiate detox can be accomplished with a minimum amount of discomfort. Detoxing off opiates is a process of closely monitoring and managing the withdrawal symptoms, in the proper manner. Using only the latest, state of the art, techniques and medications, patients are closely and carefully monitored to insure a safe and very comfortable opiate detoxification.

Opiate Detox Using "Suboxone"

The process of opiate detox can take 7 to 14 days depending upon a variety of individualized factors. Today, opiate detox consists of giving the patient the exact amount of the drug known as Suboxone. Suboxone is a safe medication which greatly eases the withdrawal symptoms and reduces the cravings.

Detoxing from opiates use to be painful. At Malibu Horizon we make the opiate detox process comfortable for our clients. Thanks to a wonderful new drug called "Suboxone". Suboxone, also known as Subutex, is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Naloxone blocks the effects of opiates and buprenorphine relieves withdrawal symptoms.

Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms During Opiate Detox

Withdrawal symptoms occur upon abrupt cessation of drug use. Thus, individuals taking prescribed opioid medications should not only be given these medications under appropriate medical supervision, but should also be medically supervised when stopping use in order to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements.

The Effects of Opiate Use As It Relates to Opiate Detox

Long-term use of opioids can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Opioids can produce drowsiness, constipation and, depending on amount taken, can depress breathing. If they are combined with other medications or alcohol, heart rate and respiration can slow down dramatically.

Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain.

In addition, opioid medications can affect regions of the brain that mediate what one perceives as pleasure, resulting in the initial euphoria or sense of well-being that many opioids produce. Repeated abuse of opioids can lead to addiction a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful consequences. The problem can often begin when the individual decides they enjoy the feeling derived, or the psychological effects, opiates have on their brain. Often they do not even realize what has or is happening to them.