Demerol addiction occurs over time when you regularly abuse the painkiller to feel its effects more acutely. Excessive use leads to physical independence, which causes you to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you try stopping. This often leads to the development of drug-seeking behaviors such as doctor shopping.
Enrolling in treatment programs for Demerol addiction can help you achieve sobriety by going through recovery and rehabilitation options. When you reach out to the professionals at Granite Recovery Centers, we will stick with you through the detox process and therapy programs to provide quality Demerol addiction treatment.
Signs of Demerol Abuse
Demerol abuse begins when you start taking it in excess in an attempt to relieve physical or mental pain. This drug is typically available only by a doctor’s prescription for experiencing sudden pain after surgery. Its opioid content allows it to alter the brain and body to alleviate pain.
Those who misuse Demerol might consume it through chewing, snorting or injecting it into the bloodstream to relax muscles and relieve pain. Excessive intake of Demerol in the body could cause you to exhibit the following signs and symptoms.
Nausea and Vomiting
Users often feel nauseated when addicted to Demerol, and it may lead to frequent vomiting over time. The drug causes inflammation to the abdomen leading to abdominal pain, acid reflux and, in extreme situations, severe constipation.
Body Temperature
In some cases, frequent use leads to instability in the body’s heat regulation process. It causes an increased flux in body temperature. You end up sweating in excess once you consume the drug.
Lightheadedness
You may experience lightheadedness accompanied by feelings of weakness that lead to instability. This occurs due to reduced blood flow that causes low blood pressure in the body. When abusing the drug or during the detox period, you tend to experience it the most.
It is important to remain cautious whenever you feel lightheaded by seeking immediate medical attention. Do this before experiencing slowed breath, which may be detrimental to your health.
Agitation and Other Mental Symptoms
Abuse of Demerol causes agitation to your physical and emotional state. It increases anxiety and makes you become restless. In the process, you may start hallucinating due to the drug’s effect on mood, thought and behavior. The drug can also make you experience delirium and seizures that may cause loss of consciousness. You might lose focus in your surroundings or have confused thinking.
Shock
The drug causes low blood pressure in the body, which may result in fluid buildup outside the heart. It leads to pressure increase to the heart to pump more oxygen, making it life-threatening. Too much of this effect could result in cardiac arrest or lead to a coma.
These side effects can be serious. Seek help from family, friends or a trusted rehab facility like Granite Recovery Centers to avoid overuse of Demerol.
Risks of Demerol Abuse
Demerol is prone to abuse due to its pain-relieving effects on your physical and mental health. It activates opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain, ensuring that you feel pleasant and experience a rewarding sensation. However, excessive use of Demerol leads to the following.
Tolerance and Dependence
When suffering from substance use disorder, you may experience tolerance for the drug. It starts with taking small doses that have a lesser effect compared to the first use. You then opt to consume larger amounts to relieve pain or get high without noticing that you take in more each time.
This behavior leads to Demerol dependence accompanied by mild physical and mental symptoms. Once you stop using the drug, your body goes through withdrawal, making it crucial that you get help to safely quit use of this drug. It’s important to get help before experiencing relapse and getting back to your old ways.
Addiction
Demerol addiction is a disease that you cannot cure easily without seeking professional help. Addiction produces changes in the brain that make you continue using the drug despite experiencing negative consequences from its use. Continuous use often leads to brain damage, which causes loss of control and significant damaging behaviors.
Because drug addiction is complex, quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. It requires you to step up and seek professional help to guide you through the healing process. When you’re ready to accept help, Granite Recovery Centers can offer you high-quality addiction treatment.
Compulsive Drug-seeking Behaviors
It’s a sign of addiction that, whenever you run out of Demerol, you tend to devise mechanisms to get more of the drug. Doctor shopping is a common sign where you visit different doctors while explaining your pain. They end up prescribing the drug without knowledge of your addiction.
In addition, using someone else’s prescription is a clear indicator of compulsive drug abuse. Instead of practicing such behaviors, enroll in therapy or talk to your doctor about Demerol addiction. It will be the beginning of a healing journey.
Treatment Programs for Demerol Addiction
Side effects associated with Demerol abuse often require immediate medical attention depending on the type of effect. Sweating, drowsiness, vomiting and lightheadedness are less crucial, but you should see a doctor when experiencing an irregular heartbeat, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite or agitation. A doctor may refer you to one of the following treatment options.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims at changing negative thought patterns that lead to bad behavior. It guides you into learning how to identify the adverse effects of Demerol abuse and the dangers it exposes to your health. Therapy sessions help in challenging you to quit abusing the drug by suggesting a healthier option when you’re faced with triggers.
Therapy often includes relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation and deep breathing to supplement traditional 12-step programs. They help calm the body, ensuring that you experience peace and comfort. Talk therapy improves tolerance to uncomfortable feelings and sensations associated with the relapse period.
In the process, you may have to do both individual and group therapy to treat your psychological drug addiction. By the end of each session, you will have made progress along the healing process.
Motivational Interviewing
Behavioral therapy helps you maintain desirable habits by identifying and discarding undesirable ones. Undergoing these sessions ensures that you understand the dangers of Demerol abuse, its adverse effects on your life and ways to stop your addiction.
Group therapy lets you learn from your surrounding environment, especially from former users. You get to express your feelings about addiction and tell your story in a safe space.
Others in the program can express their thoughts aimed at increasing the healing process. You end up learning how to balance life skills associated with handling stress apart from ignoring drug cravings.
Contingency management sessions reward you for exhibiting positive behavior of abstinence from drug abuse. They build responsibility in you to increase your motivation for continuing treatment.
Detox and Withdrawal From Demerol Abuse
Medical detox is the safest and most reliable way to stop Demerol abuse. Seek your doctor’s advice on the best way to begin Demerol treatment to ensure that you avoid suffering from adverse withdrawal symptoms. Failure to consult a doctor often leads to anxiety and agitating effects that you may feel to be life-threatening. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Some users try to lower their Demerol dosage levels themselves in an attempt to feel better. Doing this without seeking medical advice leads to severe withdrawal symptoms associated with Demerol abuse, however. It is crucial to see a doctor who will prescribe a lowered dosage to help in healing.
Your doctor might advise you to enroll in a detox program if you are a serious or long-term Demerol user. A drug detox center allows you to have all your withdrawal symptoms addressed by a qualified medical team. At Granite Recovery Centers, our professional team knows how to handle the following withdrawal symptoms.
Loss of Appetite
Individuals with addictions often make poor dieting options, and substance abuse can prevent the body from receiving proper nutrients. It is crucial to eat a nutritious diet during detox to recover lost nutrients. However, most recovering users are prone to experience loss of appetite accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
It is crucial to consume the required amount of food to help you stay nourished and get healthy again. This will help you remain energized through the detox journey.
Dizziness
Dizziness often occurs because the body fails to experience the pain-relieving effects of Demerol. It leads to a lack of stability and clear perception due to pupil dilation or the blurry effect of having watery eyes.
Insomnia
In extreme situations, withdrawal causes insomnia caused by the body’s reaction to healing. Brain cells tend to rejuvenate during this period, so it is crucial to have adequate rest when experiencing detox.
Muscle Pain
Muscle pain often occurs a few hours after you stop taking the drug. The pain can change from mild to severe by the day when you do not seek help. A doctor may prescribe pain-relieving medication, or they can advise on an alternative option.
Joint pains often accompany muscle pain and are more painful when not treated. For this reason, it is better to have professional assistance from a detox program rather than try to go through withdrawal alone.
Rehabilitation Options for Demerol Abuse
Rehabilitation centers come with different options to suit your recovery needs. Some offer strict outpatient or residential treatments while others partial hospitalization programs or aftercare programs. It is crucial to research the facilities before opting to enroll in one.
You can search the internet, ask family members and friends who may have experienced addiction or ask your doctor. In the process, consult a medical professional about your period of Demerol abuse and the Demerol dosage you have consumed. A doctor’s recommendations can be very helpful in when you are ready to enroll in a rehab program like those offered by Granite Recovery Centers. At our facilities, we provide patients with quality addiction treatment that meets the following requirements.
Specialized Care
Specialized care offers you the opportunity to recover from Demerol addiction while receiving personalized treatment. At Granite Recovery Centers, you can choose a treatment program exclusive to men or women. This ensures that you remain in the company of your fellow recovering drug or alcohol users to support each other and feel safe to face your addiction.
Our specialized treatments help improve the mental, emotional, physical and developmental aspects of your recovery. We want to help you remain confident and focused on healing from drug abuse.
Inpatient Rehab
An inpatient treatment program helps you be fully immersed in the recovery process. This type of treatment confines you to a structured environment that is safe and offers daily care. It helps build discipline in you as you go through different therapy sessions while treating your withdrawal symptoms.
Therapy builds resilience in the early recovery process by building endurance and commitment to the healing process. You can enjoy physical activities whenever you need recreational time and can engage with fellow recovering individuals also staying at the facility.
Outpatient Rehab
After successful completion of an inpatient rehabilitation program, it is advisable to start an outpatient program. If you want to skip inpatient treatment, the requirements for jumping into outpatient rehab include having less severe Demerol addiction symptoms and having a supportive home environment.
Outpatient rehab allows you to live at home with your loved ones while attending scheduled visits at rehab clinics. Each visit results in treatment through therapy or via prescribed medication.
The Journey to Recovery
The journey to recovery from Demerol addiction is not easy, but getting support from family and friends and enrolling in a rehab center helps in hastening the recovery process. Your support system can encourage you while dealing with withdrawal side effects that may affect your physical and emotional state.
Enrolling in treatment programs may take up much of your time, but treatment is worth it for your health. Beginning the recovery process as soon as you notice that Demerol use affects your life negatively can give you the best possible chance at long-lasting sobriety.
