Naloxone for Opioid Addiction – Is it worth it?

Everyone looking for drug rehab – from a drug rehab in London to rehab in Birmingham – everyone will be tempted by the path of least resistance. As an addict, or former addict getting off drugs, it is too easy to go back to our former habits and give in to the patterns we know are harmful to us. In fact; your body, your mind, and your emotions will all be convincing you that returning to those habits is exactly the right thing to do… It isn’t… Enter Naloxone; which is one of many drugs tried and tested with the intention of making the symptoms of substance abuse easier to cope with. Not only does Naloxone treat the symptoms of substance abuse in rehab, but it also targets any remaining drug molecules that are in your system. Naloxone helps you affect a ‘cold turkey’ approach. This might seem like the easy option but it is far from it. We took a more in-depth look at Naloxone to find out what it is, what it does, and whether or not it can help you beat mephedrone or heroin addiction.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is one of a number of drugs that are known as opioid antagonists. We cover this more extensively on another page, here. In the meantime, the shortened version of what an opioid antagonist does is that they block one or all of the three main opioid receptors in the human brain. When the receptors are blocked they are unable to produce the pain/reward influence they have previously had. An opioid antagonist also has the ability to seek out and destroy any traces of the drug that remain in your system. While this sounds like a good idea – opioid addiction, which includes heroin addiction, methadone addiction, and even addictions to prescription painkillers, is a physical addiction. This means that over time the addiction has chemically altered the make-up of the user’s body. Destroying all of the drug particles at once leads to a cold turkey effect that produces vast amounts of systemic shock. Too much of this seeming wonder drug and you may get some pretty awful side effects. If you need help with heroin addiction, we can direct you to the right places. Call us today on 0203 955 7700 or browse our pages for more information.

The Side Effects of Naloxone

Naloxone is most often injected when heroin or opioid users are in the throes of an overdose. There are a few side effects that are only to be expected from such a strong medication. Keep in mind that when this particular drug for substance abuse is administered it is done so at crucial moments. If a heroin addict can be found and brought to the hospital in time then it may potentially save their lives. This makes the side effects seem a little paltry by comparison.

Some of the known side effects of Naloxone are:

• Dizziness and nausea, possibly accompanied by vomiting.
• Nervousness, anxiety, muscle spasms and tremors as the medication takes hold on the substance.
• Irritability, a racing heart, high or low blood pressure, and hyperhidrosis.

These are all considered normal. When the opioids leave your system quickly this type of UK rehab is bound to produce visible effects on the body. While the above side effects are mild, some of the rarer ones are as follows:

• Temporary redness in the face and neck, combined with symptoms of a ‘come down’.
• Agitation and possible hallucinations.
• Fluid in the lungs, seizures, trouble breathing and lack of oxygen in the organs, tissues, or blood.
• A rapid heartbeat, a heart rhythm disorder known as ventricular fibrillation, or the complete shutdown of your heart.

So as you can see; although Naloxone might be able to solve your heroin overdoses, it cannot be used to stop your addiction. Unfortunately, this is another wonder drug that won’t work if you don’t have the willpower.

What is Naloxone Used For?

Unlike other opioid antagonist medications that will work to prevent the body from absorbing any more opioids, Naloxone should only be used in emergency situations. It is administered in the case of a Heroin overdose or opioid overdose and will work to eradicate the opioids from the system. It is only a temporary drug and will wear off after a maximum of two hours. It is most often used to save a life.

The Pros of using Naloxone for Drug Addictions

Naloxone has the capacity to save a life when the subject has taken too much of an opioid. It removes all traces of the drug from the system and makes the user instantly sober.

The Cons of using Naloxone for Heroin Addictions

The speed with which Naloxone works can cause massive stress on the internal organs, to the point that heart failure is a real possibility. We cannot tell you that the best way to deal with heroin or opioids is simply not to take them in the first place, but we can tell you that Naloxone is not the answer. If you do need help then we are able to provide serious relief that can get you off drugs for good. Whether you need drug rehab in Swindon or whether you just want to know how much drug rehab costs in the UK – we can help. Call us today for free advice and guidance. Pick up the phone and catch us on 0203 955 7700. If you are uncomfortable talking about it then you can find more help for drug addictions nestled in our pages.

Naloxone: Speedy Sobriety or another Dependency?

When it comes to treating drug withdrawal symptoms, naloxone won’t help. It also won’t do anything to prevent the user from taking it again in the future. All it will do, in fact, is flush the existing drugs out of a user’s body. This means they are clean and sober – but this does not mean that their addiction has been cured. What we do like about this particular treatment for opioid addiction is that it is non-addictive. Unlike other substances which will help wean you off the heroin (such as methadone), it won’t leave you battling a further addiction. That being said, Naloxone is for emergency use only and should never be used as a last resort to save you from addiction. After all, imagine they didn’t get to administer it in time. Death would be a real possibility. If you need help with heroin addiction we can direct you to the right places. Call us today on 0203 955 7700 or browse our pages for more information.