What Is Precipitated Withdrawal?
What is precipitated withdrawal? Is it more dangerous or otherwise significantly different than “regular” drug withdrawal?
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What Is Precipitated Withdrawal?
Withdrawal is typically described as a set of unpleasant physical and/or psychological symptoms that occur when a person’s body is deprived of a substance that it had become dependent on.
In the majority of cases, this is accurate. But sometimes the process can be quite different. Experts use the terms “spontaneous withdrawal” and “precipitated withdrawal” to differentiate between the two types.
Spontaneous Withdrawal
The definition of withdrawal in the previous section is actually a definition of spontaneous withdrawal. This is a natural process that usually begins for one of the following two reasons:
- A person makes an intentional effort to stop using a substance that they’ve become addicted to
- A person is unable to acquire and use a substance that they’ve become addicted to
Addictive drugs alter how a person’s system functions, such as by elevating or suppressing certain brain chemicals. Without a steady supply of the substance, the person’s body will have difficulty resuming its normal functioning. This struggle to reestablish internal equilibrium can cause the individual to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Precipitated Withdrawal
If spontaneous withdrawal is just another way to describe “normal” withdrawal, then what is precipitated withdrawal? Here are two key differentiators between the two:
- Spontaneous withdrawal can apply to any addictive drug. Precipitated withdrawal is limited to opioids, a category that includes heroin, fentanyl, and the primary active ingredients in many prescription painkillers.
- Spontaneous withdrawal is triggered by the absence of addictive drugs. Precipitated withdrawal is triggered by the use of certain medications.
To ease the distress of opioid withdrawal, some treatment programs use prescription medications such as buprenorphine, Suboxone (a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone), or Vivitrol (naltrexone). These medications bind to the same receptors in the central nervous system that opioids attach to, but they don’t cause the disorienting high that opioids do.
To safely start using these meds, a person must already be in the early stages of opioid withdrawal. Depending on which type of opioid they have become dependent on, this may mean waiting 12-48 hours after their last opioid use before taking their first dose.
If a person uses buprenorphine, Suboxone, or Vivitrol while they have a significant amount of opioids in their system, the interaction between the substances can cause the onset of intense withdrawal symptoms, often within an hour or two. This sudden, medication-induced development of severe symptoms is known as precipitated withdrawal.
Is Precipitated Withdrawal Painful?
No type of opioid withdrawal is pleasant. But at least spontaneous withdrawal starts with relatively minor symptoms that increase in intensity over a few days. This doesn’t necessarily minimize any distress, but it gives a person a bit of time to acclimate. With precipitated withdrawal, there’s little buildup of symptom intensity. Instead, a person is likely to experience near peak-level withdrawal pain shortly after symptom onset.
Symptoms of precipitated withdrawal from opioids can include:
- Extreme confusion and disorientation
- Powerful headache
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
- Dangerously high body temperature
- Excessive perspiration and chills
- Severe abdominal cramping
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Strong pain in muscles and bones
- Nausea and excessive vomiting
- Excessive diarrhea
- Agitation and irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
Is Precipitated Withdrawal Safe?
In addition to being quite unpleasant, precipitated withdrawal can also be dangerous for several reasons, such as:
- The severe vomiting and diarrhea that are associated with precipitated withdrawal can cause dehydration, a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Agitation, anxiety, and depression can cause people to act in ways that may endanger their health.
- The distress of precipitated withdrawal has been known to cause people to consider suicide.
- The intensity of the experience may cause a person to quickly return to active opioid use as a way to alleviate their withdrawal symptoms.
- Someone who fails to stop using opioids due to precipitated withdrawal may be hesitant to try again, thus keeping them trapped in the downward spiral of compulsive opioid use.
How Can You Avoid Precipitated Withdrawal?
Likely causes of precipitated withdrawal include:
- Physician error (administering medication too soon)
- Self-medication (using illicitly acquired medications without professional oversight)
Each of these scenarios can be avoided by choosing a reputable addiction treatment provider to help you stop using opioids.
When you enter treatment at a trusted rehab center, you’ll be cared for by detail-oriented professionals who can safeguard your health as your body adapts to the absence of opioids. This includes ensuring that you don’t take any medications that could cause precipitated withdrawal or have other negative effects.
There’s no single “perfect” way to stop using opioids, which is why it is so important to find a provider who will closely evaluate your unique needs, then develop a fully customized course of care to help you manage your symptoms and maintain your recovery.
Learn More About Opioid Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts
If you’ve become dependent on heroin, prescription painkillers, or another opioid, Lake Avenue Recovery is here to help. Our outpatient addiction rehab in Worcester, MA, is a safe and highly supportive place where you can expect to receive personalized care from a team of skilled professionals. We offer a partial hospitalization/day treatment program, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an evening IOP. If you need help getting through withdrawal first, we can refer you to a thoroughly vetted detox center in the area.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.