Morphine Withdrawal

Once a patient is physically addicted to morphine, if they try to quit, they will go through something called morphine withdrawals.  Withdrawals are not pleasant, and no one wants to go through them, but they are a part of kicking the habit.  The reason these symptoms are felt is because the body becomes dependent on the drug, leaving it in pain and discomfort, until detoxification occurs.

There are many uncomfortable and typically painful symptoms that are associated with cessation from morphine.  All of these symptoms can be classified as morphine withdrawals.  These painful symptoms generally start within a few hours of your last use and can continue for days, until the substance is flushed from your system.  Even a reduction in dose size could cause these unpleasant and unwanted symptoms.  Everybody experiences opiate withdrawal differently, meaning they may experience some, but usually not all of the possible symptoms.

Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms

Some morphine withdrawal symptoms are much more common than others, while others are much more severe.  The symptoms of withdrawal include aches and pains, headaches, gooseflesh, watering eyes, mood swings, runny nose, profuse sweating, nausea and vomiting, sleeplessness, yawning, cold or flu symptoms, no appetite, restlessness, chills, tremor, increased heart rate, high/low blood pressure and hot flashes.

The one symptom that all patients have in common is the strong craving or desire to use.  Often, it is the fear of withdrawal that keeps a person using.  In turn, driving them to do things they would not normally do.  Morphine addicts can be just as dangerous as a heroin addict when on the verge of withdrawals.

Reducing Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms

Morphine detox should not be attempted at home, as it can be life-threatening.  Patients can develop serious complications if they try to go it alone, including things like seizures, palpitations, coma or even death.  But there are medical detox programs that can help you to safely detox from morphine.  These medical detox programs can help you safely quit and can reduce your discomfort during the process.

Medical detox cannot eliminate the symptoms of withdrawal, but they can reduce the patient’s level of discomfort, making it much more manageable.  Medical detox for morphine treats persons going through morphine withdrawals, by carefully monitoring them, as well as providing them with care throughout the process.  This system provides the patient with the utmost in safety and comfort, helping them to get clean and stay clean.

A new procedure that many morphine rehab and recovery centers have begun to offer is called rapid opiate detox.  This medical procedure is done while the patient sedated, and using intravenous medications to eradicate the morphine from the opiate receptors.  One great thing about this method is that the entire procedure can be done in just a few short hours.  Once complete, the patient is brought back to consciousness, having no memory of the procedure or the withdrawals felt while under sedation.  This method has been successful at completely eliminating a patient’s need for the drug.