The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine Blog

Deciding to seek help for alcohol dependence or addiction can be a difficult process. If you are struggling with excessive alcohol use, you are likely already aware of how it can negatively affect your life, relationships, and health. However, acknowledging the problem and deciding to make a change is often the hardest part of getting into detox and recovery. (more…)

New opioid detox patients at the Coleman Institute sometimes ask us the question, "What is the difference between Oxycontin and oxycodone?" Understanding the differences between oxycodone and Oxycontin is important for determining the right course of treatment during detox. Both have significantly contributed to the opioid crisis and the rise of overdose deaths across the United States in recent years, and both pose a significant risk of dependence and addiction.

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Embarking on a journey of recovery from opioids or alcohol is a pivotal step, one that often requires not only medical intervention but also the support of a caring network. At the Coleman Institute, we understand the profound importance of having a solid support system during the detox process. Selecting the right support person can significantly impact your detox efforts, providing emotional grounding and practical assistance during challenging times. Here are a few tips on how to select your support person.

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Many of our patients who have stopped using opioids and gone through detox often wonder why their energy levels are so low. A common question we’re asked is how to boost energy after opioid detox.

Long-term opioid use can have life-threatening side effects that range far beyond the difficulty of withdrawal symptoms. Such long-term consequences include increased risk of cardiovascular complications, hyperalgesia, cognitive deficits, and more. After extended use of opioids, stopping will be difficult. So will the first several weeks after stopping opioid use. Cessation of opioids leaves the brain with a deficit of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

Not only is there a lack of dopamine to contend with, but those who have been using opioids for an extended time have not focused on other important aspects of their health. Eating, sleeping, and moving have often been neglected.

 

Getting Your Energy Back After Opioid Withdrawal

There are no magic pills or shortcuts, but people absolutely can restore their brains and bodies, leading to improved energy levels.

1. Be Kind To Your Mind

In the early days following an opioid detox, patients routinely plague themselves with energy-draining thoughts such as:

• I had more energy on pills.
• I’ll never feel better.
• I can’t function like this.
• I always relapse; this time will be no different.
• I can’t bear the physical sensations.

The recovery community refers to these negative thoughts as Stinking Thinking. Fighting, resisting, or suppressing these thoughts saps unnecessary energy.

Without the awareness of these negative thought patterns, it becomes all too easy to spiral and believe one’s own thoughts.

Remember, the brain has developed neural pathways reinforcing thoughts and behaviors supporting opioid use. The goal now is to create new pathways of thinking and action. This can only happen when we can slow down enough to notice the thoughts. A major key to lasting sobriety is learning how to change these deeply rooted thoughts and behaviors.

Great amounts of energy can be reclaimed when increasing awareness of any repetitive, harmful thoughts.

This step is essential for learning that we are people who have thoughts, but we are not inherently our thoughts. After experiencing opioid withdrawal, the skill of separating ourselves from our thoughts and a positive focus on mental health is critical.

2. Practice Sleep Hygiene

Trouble sleeping is the most common concern we hear from patients who have been treated at The Coleman Institute. According to the National Institutes of Health, 3 out of 4 people suffering from an opioid use disorder have sleep problems. You just can’t ignore the importance of sleep when restoring energy levels, particularly after going through the process of stopping opioids. Although we offer medications to help with this in the short term following the opioid detox process, creating habits that support quality rest is key.

Popular sleep hygiene tips include:

• Avoid caffeine. The energy-enhancing effects of caffeine are well known and may provide a temporary ‘buzz’, but this may come back to bite. Some people are more susceptible to caffeine's negative effects than others.
• Go dark. When it’s time to sleep, turn off anything that makes light. The blue light emitted by our electronics interferes with melatonin production and stimulates the alert centers in the brain, a survival benefit that keeps us awake and aware during daylight. Using an eye mask can be incredibly helpful if you can’t completely darken a room.
• Time your naps. The National Sleep Foundation suggests limiting daytime naps to 30 minutes.  Napping can’t replace poor nighttime sleep, but a short half-hour nap can help improve mood, alertness, energy levels, and performance.
• Move your body.  Just a few minutes of exercise can improve the quality of sleep. Those who engage in exercise daily report better sleep quality. But avoid strenuous workouts close to bedtime.
• Have a consistent bedtime. Figure out a good 8-hour chunk of time for sleep that works with your life, and try to honor these hours, even on the weekends. Have your phone remind you when bedtime is nearing and when it’s time to rise and shine.
• Avoid midnight snacks. It’s typically recommended to allow 3 hours between your bedtime and your last time eating.

3. Eat Healthy & Prioritize Nutrition

Good eating habits have often been compromised in people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Many also suffer from chronic constipation. They have likely forgotten the energy that comes with a healthy appetite and diet.

There are so many recommendations for the best diet out there, it can be mind-boggling. Vegan? Vegetarian? Pescatarian? Paleo? Mediterranean?

Although all of these diets differ in some way, with different pros and cons, there seems to be agreement about a few things:

• Avoid processed food as much as possible. These are foods that generally come in boxes or packages and have long ingredient lists. If a product has a shelf life that keeps it intact long after it’s made, it’s probably not a great thing for the body. Especially a body that has just gone through opioid withdrawal. Why put more toxins in?
• Eat food that looks as much like it did when it came out of the ground or dropped off a tree. Think about it; our bodies are not so different now than when we first evolved. But the foods that are so readily available for consumption often look nothing like the original fruit, grain, vegetable, or nut that was their origin.
• As the science of nutrition continues to evolve, it seems the trend is going back to basics. Healthy fats, such as those found in olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, avocados, and certain types of fish, are heart-healthy and non-inflammatory. As much as possible, stick to these fats.
• Watch out for hidden sugars. Sugar causes a quick insulin release from the pancreas, which can then drop blood sugar so low that energy levels plummet. This low energy causes people to eat more sugary products to try to restore their energy, which creates a vicious cycle.

4. Move Your Body

When you get off drugs, you ‘return to your body’. Without being under the influence, they may be intimidated by physical sensations they haven’t felt for some time and be guarded about making any moves that could potentially cause pain.

Start slowly. Gentle stretching and walking are one of the best formulas out there. Many of our patients who have been treated with opioids are stunned at the minimal discomfort they experience without their meds, and they start to move again.

Not only do people benefit physically from moving, but also psychologically. Both walking and being out in nature have been shown to reduce depression and improve mental health. Exercise naturally releases endorphins, which can improve mood, boost energy levels, and promote more restful sleep. Increased feelings of wellness play an important role in preventing the return to substance use.

Another great option to help move the body is yoga. It’s a wonderful addition to a comprehensive recovery plan. Yoga connects the body and mind. The things we do with our minds affect the body and vice versa. There’s a wide variety of yogas, so finding which one resonates is key. The goal is to allow your brain to take a break, and subsequently your body.

 

5. Track Progress After Treatment

Patients who come to The Coleman Institute have follow-up appointments. Therefore, it is easy for us to see the progress patients have made in restoring energy levels, sleep, and mood.

One of the most beneficial practices for our patients is to keep a journal. Writing in it each day is a powerful motivator as people see the progress they are steadily making. There is nothing as satisfying as reading back on the first low-energy, foggy days post-detox, and realizing how far one has come.

Realistically, it will likely take the body time to begin to rebuild dopamine after detoxing from opioids. These first few weeks are a great opportunity to start to incorporate healthy habits.

 

Opioid Detox & Withdrawal Timeline

The amount of time it takes to detox off opioids can vary significantly based on individual factors, including the type of opioid used, duration of use, personal health, and whether the person has tapered their use or stopped abruptly.

6 - 12 Hours After Last Dose: Withdrawal Begins

Onset of initial symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Increased tearing
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Excessive sweating
• Frequent yawning

 

24 - 48 Hours After Last Dose: Peak of Early Withdrawal

Intensification of early symptoms and possible appearance of additional symptoms, such as:

• Agitation
• Diarrhea
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Fever

 

72 Hours After Last Dose: Peak of Acute Withdrawal

Typically, symptoms reach their peak in intensity and discomfort and can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal cramping
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Blurred vision
• Rapid heartbeat

 

1 Week After Last Dose: Symptoms Begin to Subside

At this time there is typically a gradual reduction in the intensity of physical symptoms, while psychological symptoms may persist or become more pronounced, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Cravings for opioids

 

1 - 2 Weeks After Last Dose: Decrease in Physical Symptoms

Most physical symptoms significantly diminish, while ongoing psychological and emotional challenges and the potential for continued cravings remain.

 

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

This stage occurs in some individuals and lasts for months. Symptoms can include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Anxiety
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood swings
• Reduced concentration
• Periodic cravings

Again, this timeline will vary due to various influencing factors. It's important to approach this under proper medical supervision, as withdrawal can be both physically and emotionally challenging.

 

The Best Way To Detox From Opioids

For those looking to detox from opioids, reach out to The Coleman Institute; we specialize in removing opioids from the brain in the fastest, most comfortable way possible, followed by Naltrexone Therapy to reduce cravings and help patients maintain their sobriety.

Our Accelerated Opioid Detox

Day 1: Our medical provider will advise you when to stop using opioids (this can vary from person to person) before your first appointment. You will arrive for your appointment on day one already in mild withdrawal. We give you a microdose of naltrexone and then a customized set of comfort medications to address symptoms that may start to emerge.

Intermediate Days: Comfort medications continue and are adjusted to manage withdrawal. The naltrexone helps accelerate the detox process.

Final Day: The remaining opioids are gently removed from your brain, typically over 6 to 8 hours, while you relax in a comfortable bed in our office. Then we administer Vivitrol, and you can return home knowing that all of the opioids are out of your system.

With the right support, anyone facing dependency or addiction can find the path to recovery from opioids through an effective detox program and by implementing evidence-based methods to get their energy back.

 

Opioid Detox at the Coleman Institute

With thousands of patients treated nationwide using our unique approach, you can feel confident that our process will deliver the best possible detox experience and help you jumpstart your recovery journey.

The Coleman Institute is dedicated to making getting off opioids safe, gentle, and effective. We’ve been the leaders in Medication-Assisted Treatment using Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder for over 25 years. We pride ourselves on our abstinence-based approach, with non-addictive medications.

Learn more about our Accelerated Opioid Detox. Contact our team of compassionate addiction treatment specialists to take the first step in your journey toward lasting sobriety!

In an effort to help curb the opioid crisis in our country, more and more doctors are refusing to prescribe necessary opiate-based pain medication for patients suffering from chronic pain. In fact, a recent study found that approximately 40 percent of primary care doctors are now refusing to accept new patients who require a prescription for opioid-based pain medication. For many patients with chronic pain issues, this could lead to a situation where they cannot get the pain relief they need from proven, effective painkillers. (more…)