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Drug Withdrawal Discharge Instructions


About this topic


Drug withdrawal happens if you all of a sudden stop taking certain drugs. Your body has become dependent on the effects of the drugs because you have taken them for a long time. Without the drugs, your body tries to adjust. It becomes overstimulated and shows signs of withdrawal. The signs will depend on the drug you have been taking. Most common are upset stomach, throwing up, sweating, belly pain, low mood, and worry or fears. ‚  
After your initial withdrawal, you will still need more care. This may be finished in a rehab program. Some rehab programs are inpatient, where you stay overnight. Others are outpatient programs where you must keep all scheduled visits. The goal is to help you learn how to live without the use of drugs. ‚  

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Make family and friends aware of your condition. Talk to them about how to help. Try to reach out to other people. It is important to have someone who will support your recovery.
  • Deal with your feelings.
    • Learn to handle anxiety, anger, conflict, and feeling alone in healthier ways. Your doctor, support group, and sponsor can help with this.
    • Learn how to cope with stress without the use of drugs. Some people enjoy exercise and meditation. Others like to play with pets. Try listening to music or having a massage. Go for a walk or a drive. Find out what works best for you.
    • Avoid places, people, or situations that would trigger your cravings. Do not hang out with old friends who are still abusing drugs. Interact with people who can support your recovery. Avoid going to bars and clubs. Do not drink alcohol. Use caution with prescription drugs. Some of them have a high potential for abuse and addiction. These include sleeping pills, painkillers, and antianxiety drugs.
  • Avoid having beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) at your home.
  • Be honest with yourself. Admit to yourself that you have a problem. Do not be ashamed that you are doing something to recover from addiction. Being honest may help you do well and feel much better.
  • Find ways to cope with cravings:
    • Talk with family or friends. This often helps to ease and relieve the feeling of cravings. They may also help you do things to distract your attention.
    • Distract yourself with some activities. Get yourself interested in something to make your urges go away. Read a book, watch a movie, ride a bike, or take a walk.
    • Challenge yourself to change the way you think. When cravings happen, you may remember the good feelings only and tend to forget the bad effects. Remind yourself that you will not really feel good if you return to drug use.
    • Take time to relax. When you are relaxed, you feel much better and are able to think positive things. It may also help you not go back to using drugs again.

What follow-up care is needed?


  • Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
  • Join a support group. Spend time with people who understand the things you are going through. They may help you know what to do. Share ideas and thoughts with them. You will also learn what others may have done to deal with certain situations.

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order medicines to: ‚  
  • Ease signs of withdrawal
  • Help block urges of drug use

Will physical activity be limited?


  • Physical activity may not be limited. Doing certain activities may greatly help you avoid returning to the drug addiction.
  • Take good care of your health. Get regular exercise, enough sleep, and keep your energy up. When you feel good, drug use may tend to be less tempting.

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Attend your regular support group.
  • Tell your doctor about your history of drug use.

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of a very bad reaction if drug is taken. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.
  • You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
  • You have any concerns about your condition

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you how I will deal with my feelings and cravings.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have an upset stomach, throwing up, sweating, belly pain, low mood, worry, or fears.

Where can I learn more?


National Institute on Drug Abuse ‚  
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/treatment-recovery ‚  
Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration ‚  
http://kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/WhatIsTx.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
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