How to Stop Taking Morphine

How to Stop Taking Morphine Safely – Medical Detox

Opioids such as morphine have become a major problem in the United States. Opioids are highly effective at treating moderate to severe pain but not without risk. Data collected by the CDC revealed the scope of opioid abuse in the country with as many as 115 people dying each day that the opioid crisis continues. How to stop taking morphine can be challenging because the substance is both mentally and physically addictive.

In this article, we will explore how to safely stop taking morphine with the help of professional rehab centers.

Is it Okay to Stop Morphine Cold Turkey?

For someone who has become dependent on morphine due to continued use over time, how to stop taking morphine becomes very difficult. Your body begins to rely on morphine being a regular part of your system. When the person tries to stop using the drug, they are met with severe withdrawal symptoms that can not only be difficult to deal with cold turkey, but they can also be dangerous.

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It is therefore advised that for a person’s safety, how to stop taking morphine should not be attempted alone. One of the withdrawal symptoms of opioid abuse is an intense craving too, and when attempting to stop alone, relapse is highly likely. Relapse after a person’s tolerance has dropped is also a cause for concern due to a higher chance of overdose.

Morphine Detox – Withdrawal Symptoms

Detoxing from opioids such as morphine causes the person to go through a series of withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms can be more severe if the drug abuse was severe, and the duration of the morphine abuse can also impact the symptoms of withdrawal. The common symptoms are as follows:

• Stage one (6-14 hours): Irritability, cravings, sweating, anxiety and depression.
• Stage two (14-18 hours): Crying or tearing, headaches, sweating, runny nose and yawning.
• Stage three (16-24 hours): Muscle twitches, loss of appetite, and aches in the muscles and bones.
• Stage four (24-36 hours): Insomnia, stomach cramps, high blood pressure, nausea and excessive tearing.
• Stage five (36-72 hours): Diarrhea, vomiting, changes in blood cell counts and sudden weight loss.
• Stage six (72+ hours): Hypertension, weight problems, hypersensitivity to pain and mood disturbances.

Withdrawals from opioids are often referred to as intense flu-like symptoms, the worst that many people have experienced. Stopping morphine withdrawal symptoms is the best way to get through a successful detox, and it is achieved through a medical detox.

Stopping Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms

How to safely stop taking morphine can be done through the use of a medical detox offered by a reputable rehab center. Due to the severity of most opioid withdrawals and the high risk of relapse, a medical detox is usually performed under 24/7 supervision. The process is also accompanied by research-based medications that are able to effectively reduce the symptoms, cravings and help with the overall success of the detox.

Along with over-the-counter medications to control symptoms such as stomach cramps, prescribed medications are also given. They include the use of methadone, a drug that reduces the symptoms of detox, buprenorphine, which helps to lessen the symptoms as well as the length of detox, clonidine, which helps to reduce some of the flu-like symptoms, and naltrexone, which is used to prevent relapse from occurring.

How to stop taking morphine can be a safe and effective process if a reputable rehab center is used to perform the detox, and to help with the subsequent therapy.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.