Experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD) can affect your physical and mental health in a variety of ways. It can cause drowsiness, nausea, anxiety, and depression, just to name a few.
If you’ve decided to start treatment for OUD, knowing what to expect can help you focus on your recovery. Your mind and body may try to fight against you because they’ve become dependent on opioids. That means there may be a few health care needs that require proper monitoring and treatment as you kick off your journey.
Read on to learn about health care needs to keep your eye on as you start your recovery. Then we’ll discuss what to do going forward to minimize these concerns and how Groups can help.
6 health care concerns that can occur at the start of your recovery journey
If you’re starting your OUD treatment, it’s important to collaborate with your providers. They can discuss with you the safest and most effective courses of action, such as proper tapering. They can also help to monitor and treat potential health care needs that can impact your overall quality of life. Many of the concerns are withdrawal symptoms, while others are a result of opioid dependence.
The severity and duration of these issues can vary from person to person. They can be affected by time since the last opioid dose and the type of opioid taken.
Here are six common health care needs for those in early recovery:
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Monitoring stomach issues
When you reduce or quit using opioids after your body becomes dependent on them, you’ll likely experience issues with your gastrointestinal system that can be uncomfortable. This is likely due to how opioid use disorder can interfere with your digestive system functions. When you stop using opioids, your body may try to overcompensate to try to fix the functions, which can lead to issues.
A few of the stomach issues that can come from opioid withdrawal include:
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Severe diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is why monitoring them is essential. Dehydration can cause or worsen dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. In severe cases, it may also lead to organ failure, which can be fatal.
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Tracking heart rate
A common opioid withdrawal symptom is a rapid heart rate, known as tachycardia. It means that while resting, your heart is going 100 or more beats per minute. Your heart may speed up during withdrawal because it’s used to the slowed-down pace that comes from opioids. When it’s no longer affected by the opioids, it may try to return to its normal rate too quickly. That may lead to a faster rate than intended.
If your heart rate stays high for an extended period of time, it can increase the risk of having an irregular heartbeat, stroke, or heart attack if you have pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Your heart rate should be regularly tracked throughout your withdrawal and recovery by a provider.
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Alleviating muscle aches and pains
Muscle aches are common experiences. Every once in a while, you might sleep in an awkward position or move something heavy. However, having persistent muscle aches and pains while going through opioid withdrawal can hinder your ability to comfortably move throughout the day. It’s possible to feel heightened pain sensitivity as your body’s neurotransmitters go through changes as a result of withdrawal.
Alleviating muscle pain can improve your productivity and reduce discomfort as your body starts to recover from OUD. Depending on the severity of the pain, your provider may prescribe over-the-counter pain medications or recommend exercise.
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Resisting cravings
When you start your OUD recovery journey, cravings may be the hardest challenge at the beginning of your recovery. With medication and support, you’re strengthening your ability to resist using again.
Even though a medication for opioid use disorder (e.g., Suboxone) lowers the risk of overdose, it’s still possible if large amounts of opioids are used on top of buprenorphine. .
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Addressing vitamin deficiencies
It’s not uncommon for people with OUD to have nutritional deficiencies. There are several reasons for this. Opioids can suppress your appetite and change how your body absorbs vitamins.
Vitamin D deficiency is often observed in people experiencing OUD. Vitamin D helps with bone health and regulates the calcium in the body. If you don’t have enough of it, you may experience increased cravings and increase the risk of dependence.
At the start of your recovery journey, your provider may recommend that you take certain supplements. The goal is to give your body the nutrients it needs to work through withdrawal and combat uncomfortable symptoms.
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Working through anxiety and depression
OUD can affect your emotional and mental health. It often causes feelings of anxiety and depression that affect your everyday routines, your relationships with others, and your self-esteem. When you start your recovery journey, those symptoms don’t quickly go away. In fact, the stress that comes from recovery can contribute to those negative feelings.
Medication, therapy, and a reliable support system can help to reduce the impact of anxiety and depression on your well-being and can help you stay focused and motivated for your recovery.
Note that self-harm and suicidal behaviors are also possible when experiencing anxiety and depression, and require professional care. If you’re at risk of a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
How Groups can help you manage health care concerns as you start recovery
There are many possible reasons why you may decide to start your recovery from opioid use disorder, and improving your health is likely one of them. However, there are still health care needs that you should keep an eye on as your body gets used to no longer having the opioids it’s used to.
Health care providers can support you every step of the way. They can reduce the risk of complications and help you reach sustainable recovery. When you decide to start treatment for OUD, you should talk to your provider first. You want to make sure you go through the process as safely as possible.
At Groups, we collaborate with your providers. We make sure that your physical and mental health is prioritized throughout the process.
You’ll get quick access to Suboxone, a medication for opioid use disorder that can help you to manage withdrawal symptoms, including cravings. Suboxone is one of the gold standard treatments for OUD.
Along with the prescription of Suboxone, you’ll also receive medication management throughout your time with us. That means continuing to monitor how Suboxone is affecting you. We determine if changes need to be made, such as dosage or type of administration. It can be taken as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue or against the cheek.
We also provide weekly group support meetings and custom life-goal assistance to help you work through your mental health challenges and figure out personal goals that will help you in the long run.
Give our Recovery Support Specialists a call today at 888-858-1723 for more information or to begin your recovery. We provide treatment across the country — and we’re always expanding. See if we offer care in your state, either online or at one of our 130+ local offices. If Groups doesn’t offer treatment in your area, you can locate other treatment options here.
