Are Dementia Patients Better at Home or in a Care Home?

Are Dementia Patients Better at Home or in a Care Home

Dementia is a broad term for various memory loss conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, that cause memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior. It is a significant part of aging for many individuals, which can impact their ability to perform daily tasks and maintain independence.

When faced with a dementia diagnosis in a loved one, families often grapple with the challenging decision: are dementia patients better at home or in a care home? While both options have their merits, in-home care stands out for its numerous benefits that positively contribute to the patient’s overall well-being and quality of life.

The Case for Home Care: Are Dementia Patients Better at Home?

One of the primary considerations for families is whether patients are better at home or in a care home. There are several significant benefits to at home care:

Familiar Environment and Comfort

Living at home allows dementia patients to remain in a comfortable, safe, and familiar environment, which can significantly reduce anxiety and confusion. The comfort of one’s own home can provide a sense of stability and continuity. Familiar surroundings can trigger positive memories and provide a soothing atmosphere, which is particularly beneficial for patients suffering from this disease.

Personalized Care and Attention

Home care often enables more personalized and one-on-one attention compared to care facilities. Caregivers can tailor their approach to the specific needs and preferences of the patient, contributing to a higher quality of life. This level of personalized care can be crucial in order to manage dementia symptoms and progression. In-home caregivers can develop a deep understanding of the patient’s routines, likes, and dislikes, which enhances the effectiveness of care.

Customized Care Plans

Similarly to the benefits mentioned above, customized care plans meet the specific needs of patients at home. From medication management to tailored activities that stimulate cognitive function, in-home care addresses all aspects of the patient’s well-being. This individualized approach is often more effective than the generalized care provided in many facilities.

Involvement of Family Members

Having dementia patients at home allows family members to be actively involved in their care. This involvement can strengthen familial bonds and provide emotional support for both the patient and the caregivers. Family members can play a significant role in the daily activities and care routines, enhancing the patient’s overall well-being. Loved ones can provide patients with a sense of security and emotional comfort.

Quality of Life and Independence

In-home care supports the dignity and independence of dementia patients. They can maintain their daily routines and hobbies with minimal disruption, which can have a positive impact on their mental and emotional health. The ability to live independently and in a familiar environment positively contributes to the quality of life.

Addressing the Challenges of Home Care

While in-home care offers numerous benefits, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges to ensure a balanced decision.

Physical and Emotional Demands

Caring for a loved one at home can be physically and emotionally demanding. The responsibility can be overwhelming, especially as the disease progresses and the patient’s needs become more complex. Caregivers may experience burnout, which can affect their health and the quality of care provided. That is why we recommend choosing a qualified in-home care professional.

Safety Concerns

Ensuring the safety of a dementia patient at home can be challenging. The risk factors for accidents, such as falls or wandering, increase as cognitive abilities decline. Families may need to make significant modifications to the home environment to mitigate these risks, which can be costly and time-consuming. However, when you work with a professional caregiver, your loved one is in the most capable hands.

Factors to Consider

Deciding if patients are better at home or in a care home involves a balance of several factors. Families must consider the patient’s specific needs, the availability of resources, and the ability to provide the necessary level of care.

Severity of Dementia

The stage and severity of the disease play a critical role in determining the best care setting. Early-stage dementia patients may thrive in a home environment, while those with advanced dementia might require the specialized care provided by a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Family Support and Resources

The availability of family support and resources significantly impacts the decision. Families with ample support and financial resources may be better equipped to provide high-quality home care, whereas those with limited resources might find care facilities more suitable.

Quality of Care

The quality of care is paramount in supporting the well-being of patients. Whether at home or in a care home, the care plan should be comprehensive, addressing medical, emotional, and social needs. It is essential to make regular assessments and adjustments to the care plan in order to meet the evolving needs of the patient.

Making the Decision

When deciding if patients are better at home or in a care home, it is crucial to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process. Open communication with healthcare professionals, family members, and the patient (if possible) can provide valuable insights and help in making an informed choice.

Consulting Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals, including geriatricians, neurologists, and dementia care specialists, can offer guidance based on the patient’s medical history and current condition. They can provide recommendations for care plans, safety measures, and support services.

Family Discussions

Family discussions should address the capabilities and limitations of providing care at home, considering factors like caregiver availability, financial resources, and the emotional readiness of family members. It’s essential to have honest conversations about the responsibilities and challenges involved.

Kinkaid Private Care for all the Benefits of In Home Care in L.A.

Deciding whether dementia patients are better at home or in a care home is a complex and deeply personal decision. While both options have their benefits and challenges, the advantages of in-home care, such as personalized attention, a familiar environment, and the involvement of family members, often make it the preferred choice for many families.
Kinkaid Private Care in Los Angeles provides compassionate and comprehensive in-home care for people living with dementia throughout Southern California. Call us at 866-573-1542 or submit our online contact form to learn more.

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Drug Detox at Home Los Angeles

Drug Detox at Home Los Angeles

Have you reached a crossroads in your battle with a substance? If you are seeking at-home support when starting the recovery journey, you may have questions about detox and withdrawal. To learn all about drug detox at home Los Angeles, read on!

What is Drug Detox at Home?

Congratulations, you are ready to quit the substance use and reform your life. Therefore, drug detox at home Los Angeles is the very first step in your recovery from substance use disorder.

Completing the drug detox at your home is the same process you would undergo in a clinical setting. The main difference is that you complete the detox process within the comfort of your home versus a facility.

Understanding Why Medical Support is Needed During Detox

It is important to understand that an at-home drug detox should always involve medical support and monitoring. Stopping drugs cold turkey can be risky, even life threatening. For this reason, it is never advised to attempt detox alone.

Without the needed medical and emotional support, the chances of actually completing the detox are quite low. This is because the powerful cravings and physical and mental discomfort experienced during detox may be too hard to bear. Without support, the person is likely to return to the substance and never make it into treatment.

Can I Safely Detox from Drugs at Home?

Prior to entering recovery, it is important to have a doctor or addiction specialist assess and stage your substance use disorder. During this evaluation, the doctor or clinician can determine whether it is safe to undergo an at-home drug detox.

Once it’s decided that an at-home detox is a safe option for you, the next step is to arrange for medical support. To safely detox from drugs at home, you will need a trained detox nurse to guide you through the process.

The private nurse receives guidance from a physician who specializes in addiction treatment. This collaboration provides the medical support and oversight you will need to safely detox at home.

Why Choose to Detox from Drugs at Home?

Ambulatory, or at-home detox is a viable option for some individuals depending on several factors. These include how severe the substance use disorder is, your health status, your mental health status, and your detox history. A doctor can guide you toward the best detox setting for your particular substance use disorder, such as at-home detox.

For those who are good candidates for an at-home detox, there are many benefits versus a detox facility. These include:

  1. Privacy. By choosing drug detox at home you enjoy a higher degree of personal privacy compared to entering a detox center.
  2. Less stress. Being at home while going through the withdrawal process is much less stressful than being in a busy detox facility.
  3. Personalized care. A private nurse provides one-on-one individualized care and attention while you go through detox at home.
  4. Comfort. Being at home in your familiar surroundings provides a higher level of personal comfort versus a detox facility.
  5. Family support. Going through detox at home allows you to have easy access to your loved ones and their support.
  6. More freedom. At-home detox provides more freedom, such as remaining somewhat engaged in work activities or sitting outside in the backyard.
  7. Concierge services. An at-home drug detox program can provide additional holistic services to enhance comfort during the process.

What is Drug Withdrawal?

Substance withdrawal is the physical and psychological process that ensues hours after you stop taking drugs or pills. Once someone has become dependent or addicted to a substance, the brain chemistry has adapted to its presence. When the person decides to stop taking the drug, the brain and body undergo a period of destabilization, as if in shock.

During this period, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms emerge. The symptoms eventually subside once the brain can once again produce its own chemicals. This timeline varies based on the type of substance involved, and how long the person was dependent on it.

What to Expect During Drug Detox at Home

When enlisting the support of a private detox nurse, you may be put on a drug-tapering schedule. Tapering is common for those who are dependent on prescription pills, as it allows the body to adjust gradually over time as the dose is reduced.

Some common drug withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • GI distress
  • Shaking
  • Sweating
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Shivering or goose bumps
  • Confusion
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Hallucinations
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Seizures

Although the specific withdrawal symptoms and timelines will vary depending on the substance, there is a predictable pattern to expect:

  • Stage one of detox: The first stage of detox starts about 6-12 hours after the last dose of the drug. This stage features emerging symptoms and only lasts about a day.
  • Stage two of detox: The second stage of detox features the most intense withdrawal symptoms. This stage may last 2-3 days.
  • Stage three of detox: The final phase of detox may last days or weeks, and features the withdrawal symptoms resolving to a large extent.

Do You Need Treatment After Completing Drug Detox at Home?

To vastly increase your chances of recovery success, you will want to enroll in an outpatient or residential addiction treatment program. This is because detox alone is not adequate for long-term sobriety. A rehab program shows you how to sustain sobriety by helping you develop new behavior patterns.

Both outpatient and residential rehabs offer similar treatment elements, although in differing levels of intensity. These elements include:

    • Individual psychotherapy
    • Group therapy
    • Family group
    • 12-step program
    • Life skills classes
    • Addiction education
    • Holistic therapies
    • Nutritional counseling

If you are ready to get clean and sober and are interested in drug detox at home, reach out today.

Kinkaid Private Care Drug Detox at Home Los Angeles

Kinkaid Private Care specializes in assisting individuals complete drug detox at home Los Angeles. Safely detox from drugs or alcohol in the privacy and comfort of your home. Call Kinkaid Private Care today at (866) 337-4596.

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How Long Does Opioid Detox Take at Home

How Long Does Opioid Detox Take at Home

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Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

Opioid withdrawal is one of the most uncomfortable stages of breaking free from an opioid use disorder. Left untreated, many people find themselves unable to make it through this period on their own – but with in-home opioid detox at Kinkaid Private Care, you can find tangible relief from your symptoms from the comfort of your home. But how long does opioid detox take? We’re here to answer your questions and help you get the treatment you need to overcome opioids.

Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal is one of the hallmark signs of an opioid use disorder. When people use medications such as opioids (e.g., fentanyl, heroin, morphine, or codeine) for extended periods, their brains and bodies become reliant on the drug to feel normal. When you suddenly stop or cut down your dosage, your body can react viscerally – leading to both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

The symptoms of opioid withdrawal aren’t typically life-threatening, but they can be incredibly uncomfortable and lead people to return to active opioid use. Among others, some of the most common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

  • Hot and cold flashes
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Goosebumps
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose
  • Stomach pains and cramps
  • Intense opioid cravings

Opioid withdrawal is often compared to a severe flu. However, since the symptoms of withdrawal are easily removed if a person gives in to their cravings, many people will return to active opioid use rather than break through the withdrawal phase and achieve recovery. And with neural evidence showing that opioid use disorder changes the structure of your brain, making it more difficult for people to stop using opioids, this is far from a matter of choice.

Thankfully, medical opioid detox at home can substantially reduce these symptoms and make the path to recovery easier. Opioid withdrawal medications target the same receptors in the brain and body as opioids do but to a much lesser degree. In some cases, they can remove the experience of withdrawal entirely.

How Long Does Opioid Detox Take?

Opioid detox typically lasts between ten and twenty-one days, but several factors can influence the length of treatment that you’ll need. No two people share the same path to recovery, and our in-home opioid detox is designed to be flexible enough to account for a wide range of circumstances.

A typical opioid detox treatment plan may be scheduled for two weeks, for instance, but could be extended if you continue to experience uncomfortable and disruptive withdrawal symptoms. At Kinkaid Private Care, our team carefully tracks your progress through the withdrawal period, looking for any emerging symptoms or complications that require further intervention.

The goal for the end of opioid detox is to be free from acute withdrawal symptoms. While some lingering symptoms may remain – often known as post-acute withdrawal – the overwhelming physical symptoms should be entirely removed through the clinical practice of withdrawal management. Withdrawal management uses a combination of medications and treatments to alleviate your symptoms and help you recover in relative comfort.

Factors that Affect Length of Opioid Detox

Dozens of factors can contribute to the length of your opioid detox. As part of the detox process, our medical team will assess several variables that influence the length of treatment, including:

  • Type of opioids used
  • Frequency of opioid use
  • Length of opioid use
  • Typical opioid dose
  • Non-opioid substance or medication use
  • Medical and mental health history
  • Time since last opioid use
  • Age
  • Overall fitness

As you might expect, longer times using opioids at higher doses and frequencies typically require longer treatment periods for a successful detox. Similarly, longer-acting opioids such as methadone have longer withdrawal periods. These factors are merged into a customized treatment plan for in-home opioid detox, ensuring that you have everything you need to reach sobriety in safety and comfort.

Timeline of Untreated Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

The timeline for opioid withdrawal can provide insight into why opioid detox takes as long as it does. Without appropriate intervention, opioid withdrawal typically follows a trajectory:

Day 1

Opioid withdrawals can begin as early as eight hours after your last dose, though some people may not experience the effects of withdrawal until 24 hours have passed. Symptoms on the first day are generally mild, and may include:

  • Feeling irritable
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Cravings
  • Depression

Because of how opioids are processed in the body, opioids are still in your system at this point, even if you don’t feel their effects. As the drugs continue to clear, withdrawal symptoms get progressively worse.

Day 2

The second day of opioid withdrawal typically involves progressively worsening symptoms, often beginning to affect you physically as well as mentally. By day two, people can experience symptoms such as:

  • Runny nose
  • Upset stomach
  • Severe anxiety
  • Hot and cold flashes

These symptoms are experienced on day one and have often become more frequent and intense at this stage.

Day 3-4

Days three and four are when withdrawal symptoms peak. At this stage, most opioids have been cleared from your body, and the effects of your physical dependence on opioids are experienced in full force. This is when the most severe withdrawal symptoms begin to arise, including:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Profuse sweating
  • Restlessness

During this phase, symptoms arise frequently, often in waves. The overwhelming nature of symptoms makes it incredibly difficult for people to break free from their addiction without professional intervention.

Days 5+

By the fifth day, the symptoms listed above begin to diminish. Think of opioid withdrawals happening on a curve, where they slowly taper off after their peak. However, symptoms can continue for up to ten or fourteen days.

Once individuals no longer feel the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal, the acute withdrawal phase is considered finished. Yet, the mental health symptoms related to overcoming opioid addiction may last for months. Many people find ongoing treatment from mental health specialists helpful during this time.

At-Home Detox Treatment Timeline

With in-home opioid detox, you can save yourself from having to experience the worst of opioid withdrawal symptoms. While medical detox cannot eliminate all symptoms, it can make the process rapidly more comfortable and vastly increase your likelihood of achieving sobriety.

Our team uses targeted medications to treat opioid withdrawal. These medications target the same receptors in the brain as opioids do but to a much lesser degree. The result is a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms without the euphoric or addictive properties of opioids.

Because these medications target opioid receptors, accurate timing of the dose is critical. Typically, people need to have not used opioids for at least 24 hours before taking withdrawal medication, just before the second day of opioid withdrawal.

While this does mean that you may experience mild withdrawal symptoms during the 24 hours of detox, the payoff is not having the severe symptoms of withdrawal. During the next several days of detox, medications are administered regularly by our treatment team, preventing any new symptoms from appearing and keeping you as comfortable as possible.

Throughout detox, these medications are slowly weaned. By the time you have completed your in-home detox, you will have overcome opioid withdrawal and no longer be taking any withdrawal medications.

Start In-Home Opioid Detox at Kinkaid Private Care

Breaking free from an opioid use disorder is never easy. With the help of in-home opioid detox and Kinkaid Private Care’s expert providers, overcome your opioid dependence once and for all – and all from the comfort of your home. Call one of our nurses today at 866-337-4596 or fill out our confidential online contact form to start your initial assessment and take steps toward a lasting and worthwhile recovery.

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Best Way to Detox from Alcohol at Home

Best Way to Detox from Alcohol at Home

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Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

You may have experienced many twists and turns before finally being ready to get some help for a drinking problem. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) takes time to develop and worsen, eventually taking a heavy toll on your life. But as much as you might have resisted the idea of sobriety, you are now ready to tackle the AUD.

So, what is the best way to detox alcohol from your system? Alcohol detox is tricky and must be undertaken with great care. There are unknown risks that can crop up during the detox process, some of which can even be life threatening. For this reason, having a medical professional oversee the detox is the best course of action.

Why Detox Alcohol at Home?

When it’s time to seek help for AUD, many decide to undergo the detox process within the privacy of their own home. There are many benefits to going through a supervised alcohol detox at home. These include:

  1. Enhanced privacy. No one will see you entering a detox center, which eliminates the fear of stigma.
  2. Less stressful than going through detox at a facility. Going through detox at a facility is not as relaxed as it is at home.
  3. Increased comfort being at home in familiar surroundings. Having access to your own bed, your own kitchen, and even the family dog creates a more comfortable detox experience.
  4. Access to your loved ones and their support while going through detox. Instead of strangers at a detox center, you will be able to interact with your loved ones at home.
  5. Holistic therapies. Access to holistic methods, like IV vitamin therapy, massage, and acupuncture, can help ease discomfort.

What to Expect During Alcohol Detox

Chronic heavy drinking eventually impacts the brain and several organs, including the heart. Alcohol abuse has a profound effect on brain chemistry and neural pathways. Over time, these pathways are altered.

When you decide to stop drinking the body struggles to adjust to the absence of alcohol. The severity of this reaction, or the withdrawal symptoms, depends on the duration of the alcoholism. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

It is never wise to stop drinking on your own without medical oversight. Alcohol detox involves having vital signs closely monitored to be on the lookout for any acute symptoms. To reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, meds are provided as needed.

Detox symptoms may include:

  • Sweating
  • Agitation
  • Confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Irritability
  • Tremors
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Shakiness
  • Disorientation
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Seizures

What Are the Risks of Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol withdrawal can be a challenge because detox does not always follow a predictable path. In fact, you can be nearing the end of the detox process when, on day four or five, extreme symptoms set in. This is a condition called the delirium tremens, or the DTs. Symptoms of the DTs include:

  • Fever
  • Hallucinations
  • Extreme mental confusion.
  • Agitation
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Insomnia

The DTs impact a small number of people going through alcohol detox. However, because symptoms can be very severe, up to 15% of those who get the DTs will not survive. For this reason, alcohol detox should always be done under the supervision of a trained medical detox team.

What is the Alcohol Detox Timeline?

The alcohol detox process varies from one person to the next. Some may sail through detox in three days while others take ten days. There are several factors that affect the detox timeline. These include how long you had the drinking problem, how much you drank, your health, and other substance addictions.

Alcohol detox goes through three distinct phases:

Stage one. The initial phase of detox begins about eight hours after the last drink. This stage features anxiety, nausea, stomach pain, mild hand tremors, loss of appetite, vomiting, foggy thinking, sweating, and headaches.

Stage two. The second phase starts 24-72 hours after the last drink and involves fever, increased blood pressure and heart rate, insomnia, and confusion. You may experience a sudden unexpected onset of severe symptoms during this phase.

Stage three. The final phase of detox features less severe symptoms, as the brain adjusts to the lack of alcohol. You might still have fever, disorientation, agitation, and hallucinations, although these are not common. Some symptoms, like sleep problems and depression, may linger for weeks.

The Best Way to Detox Alcohol at Home

The best way to detox alcohol involves doing so in a setting where you are under the care of a physician. This pertains whether you detox at home with the help of a private detox nurse, or in a rehab setting. These experts are trained to guide you through the three stages of detox with the least amount of discomfort. Their goal is to help you safely complete the detox and then segue into treatment.

Next Steps After Detox

For the best chance of recovery success, you should enter a rehab program right after you’ve completed detox. Your detox nurse and doctor can guide you as to which level of care is best for your AUD.

Outpatient rehab is suited for early AUD and is flexible and a less pricey treatment option. If your AUD is moderate to severe, though, a residential rehab program is the better choice. You will receive a much more intensive treatment regimen while having access to 24-hour support.

Treatment elements include:

  • Private therapy sessions.
  • Group therapy sessions.
  • Education and life skills training.
  • Relapse prevention planning.
  • Family therapy
  • Holistic methods.
  • 12-step program.

The best way to detox alcohol is the one that works best for you, however, it should include medical oversight.

Kinkaid Private Care is a full-service concierge private nursing and healthcare management service provider that specializes in at-home medical detox. Kinkaid Private Care detox nurses help ease withdrawal symptoms and offer emotional support as well. If you are interested in the best way to detox from alcohol, please call us today at (866) 527-5892.

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can i detox in 24 hours

Can I Detox in 24 Hours?

Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

Drug and alcohol detox can be a difficult and debilitating experience – still, people are always looking for quick-fix solutions to rid their body of drugs, start feeling better, and escape the discomfort of withdrawal. But can you detox in 24 hours, or are you putting yourself in danger by attempting to do so?

How Drugs and Alcohol Leave the Body

When you ingest drugs or alcohol in any form, or by any method, you are introducing these substances into the bloodstream. For example: if you swallow an addictive substance, such as alcohol or painkillers, they enter the bloodstream through the stomach, the liver, and the digestive tract. In the case of alcohol, drinks are absorbed first through the stomach lining, which enters the bloodstream and heads directly to your liver.

The liver begins to metabolize alcohol almost instantaneously – attempting to clear out the toxic substance from your bloodstream. But some of the alcohol you drink makes it through the liver and passes back into the bloodstream, where it will ultimately reach your brain. As the cycle of blood returns to the liver, more and more alcohol is broken down until you have fully cleared any toxins from your system.

Other methods of ingesting substances work in similar ways:

  • Smoking: substances pass through the capillaries in the lungs into the bloodstream
  • Snorting: substances land upon your mucous membranes, which transport the substance into the blood
  • Injection: substances enter the bloodstream directly

In all cases and with other addictive chemicals, the liver is the primary organ responsible for cleansing – or detoxing – toxic substances from your system. The liver cleans the blood and breaks down addictive chemicals into less harmful metabolites to be eliminated.

How Long Does It Take Drugs and Alcohol to Leave Your System?

Different drugs are broken down at different rates, and fully clearing your system can take anywhere from several hours to over a month. A common method of testing whether substances have fully left your system is through urinalysis – testing the urine for the presence of drug metabolites. By the time a urine test can no longer detect a substance, it has typically been eliminated.

With some variation between individuals, typical drug detection times include:

  • Alcohol: 2-4 days
  • Cocaine: 3 days
  • Amphetamines: 3 days
  • Benzodiazepines: 7-14 days
  • Cannabis: 7-30 days
  • Heroin: 3 days
  • MDMA: 3 days
  • Meth: 3 days

Some substances will take longer to clear the body when they’ve been used heavily, and genetic and physical health factors may influence the rate of drug metabolism as well.

24 hour detoxCan You Detox in 24 Hours?

By understanding how drugs get processed in the body, we can answer the question “Can I detox in 24 hours?” with certainty. In nearly all cases, detoxing from drugs and alcohol is impossible within 24 hours. The drug hasn’t even fully cleared your system yet, and most people’s definition of detox is concerned less with if drugs are still in your bloodstream and more with overcoming debilitating withdrawal effects.

Looking at the time it takes to eliminate drugs from your body above, these timelines generally coincide with when the worst physical and mental health withdrawal symptoms occur. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids, alcohol, and methamphetamine all peak at the 3-day mark, before beginning to subside over the next week. Benzodiazepines and cannabis, on the other hand, have protracted withdrawal symptoms since the substance takes longer to leave the body.

The 24-Hour Detox Myth

When you search for 24-hour detox cures on the internet, many websites will tell you it’s not only possible but simple and easy. Typically, it involves purchasing a detox drink or several different nutritional supplements, either through their own company’s store or via affiliate marketing links. Don’t believe these marketing strategies: no combination of vitamins, minerals, and supplements can cheat biology.

Certain strategies may be able to help your body cleanse itself of harmful substances somewhat quicker, but these are marginal improvements. Drinking more water, for instance, can dilute the urine, making it contain less of a drug metabolite – but it won’t help you feel better, and it likely won’t make enough of a difference to pass a drug test.

These marketing approaches are not only deceitful – but can be dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol can cause serious medical concerns, which often lead to life-threatening emergencies. The only way to safely detox from these substances is with the help of a trained medical professional, that can provide targeted treatments to reduce your symptoms and keep you safe and comfortable.

 Why Choose at Home Detox

You can detox at home with the help of an in-home medical detox provider. Kinkaid Private Care provides exclusive services to select clients who want the best medical treatment for drug and alcohol withdrawals, and our specially trained providers will meet you at your residence to provide their services.

Kindaid Private Care provides a comprehensive range of home detox services, tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of individuals seeking compassionate and personalized support on their journey to recovery including:

Medical detox uses proven, evidence-based methods to help people achieve sobriety. Each treatment plan is customized to the unique needs of our patients and can help to manage withdrawal symptoms such as:

  • Shakes
  • Anxiety
  • Substance cravings
  • Hot and cold flashes
  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Seizures
  • Delirium

These services are typically provided at an inpatient drug and alcohol detox center – but with Kinkaid Private Care, you can receive all the same effective withdrawal management techniques from the comfort of home. This allows you to receive exclusive one-on-one attention from our care team, complete and total privacy, and truly individualized treatment options that allow you to continue living your life as you see fit.

We understand the desire for people to want to overcome drug and alcohol addiction quickly, and our services never extend beyond what’s medically necessary. But choosing to work with professionals can ensure that you start your recovery on the right foot, that you have the tools to maintain it, and that you stay safe and healthy in the process.

Reach Out to Kinkaid Private Care Today

Don’t ask yourself “Can I detox in 24 hours”; instead, ask yourself how important your sobriety is to you. You deserve more than a bottle of supplements to help you overcome drug or alcohol addiction, and Kinkaid Private Care can offer you the best medical detox services on the market.

Reach out to our team by calling (866) 337-4596 or filling out our confidential online contact form to speak to one of our trained medical professionals and start the path to a lasting recovery today.

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how to detox your body from drugs at home

How to Detox Your Body from Drugs at Home

Los Angeles | Orange County | San Diego | San Francisco

Although drug addiction remains at high levels nationally, every day many people decide to quit using drugs. Many others want to stop their drug abuse but fear checking into a rehab facility. Other people struggling with drug addiction may be concerned about the potential dangers and discomforts of drug detox. These are all valid concerns. After all, everyone has heard of the dangers of drug detoxification, but what is it and why is it dangerous, and can drug detox take place in a person’s home?

Can You Safely Detox From Drugs at Home?

Fortunately, you can safely detox from drugs in the comfort and privacy of your own home, with one major caveat: you can detox from drugs at home with professional medical assistance.

Drug detox is the process by which drugs of abuse and their toxic byproducts are purged from an addicted person’s body, allowing them to function without those drugs.  However, most addictive substances make significant changes in the ways a person’s major organs and tissues work and react. Addictive drugs cause dependence, and that’s a serious phenomenon in which the addict’s normal, baseline functioning depends on a steady level of their drug of choice in their bodies just to work at all.

That’s why quitting ‘cold turkey’ by abruptly halting one’s intake of addictive drugs is risky, painful, and can be life-threatening. When a person stops taking drugs of abuse suddenly, their body will go into withdrawal, which can be painful and dangerous.

No one should attempt to quit drugs on their own. There are many other safe, secure ways to get clean from drugs, including home detox.

What Does Detox Feel Like?

Detox feels different for everyone, and that includes the levels of discomfort a person feels. When a person stops consuming alcohol or drugs, withdrawal starts. Withdrawal is the most intense phase of detox and can be uncomfortable or painful. Some factors that influence this include the individual’s overall health and the drug or drugs they’ve been using. The biggest factor that influences a person’s detox is whether they’re going through it alone or with professional assistance.

Detoxification is the first step in the substance abuse recovery process. During this process, the body rids itself of toxic substances and the chemical by-products caused by these toxins.

All of the following detox symptoms happen when a person detoxes at home without medical supervision and support. Home detox with medical support is a much less dangerous, far more comfortable process.

Alcohol. Alcohol has one of the most painful detoxes when detox is carried out without medical support. After about 8 hours after the last drink, a person will experience nausea, anxiety, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms include mild hand tremors, heavy sweating, vomiting, loss of appetite, and headaches. About 24 hours after an alcoholic’s last drink, dangerous symptoms become inevitable. These include rapidly increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.

The final stage of unmanaged alcohol detox includes delirium tremens, a dangerous syndrome that produces hallucinations, agitation, disorientation, and sometimes seizure.

Opioids and opiates. These drugs are highly effective painkillers but produce euphoria when abused and are habit-forming. They include fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and heroin. Detoxing from opioids without medical support can include some unpleasant symptoms, such as muscle cramps, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, tremors, blood pressure swings, runny eyes, and stomach cramps.

Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are prescription-only medications given for the relief of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. There are a vast number of benzos, but the most commonly prescribed are alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion), and temazepam (Restoril), and they all require medically supervised detox upon quitting.

Ironically, when a person quits consuming benzos, rebound anxiety becomes intense, causing sweating, heart palpitations, shaking, and a rapid heartbeat. Long-term use of benzodiazepines can cause a person to become psychotic or have seizures and like alcohol, heavy users of benzos should never try to abruptly stop using on their own.

How to Detox Your Body From Drugs at Home

If you’re detoxing from drugs at home, you need the support of in-home medical care. However, you can also establish new habits that will help you recover more rapidly. Eating a healthy, nutrient-dense diet is one of the best habits you can establish.

What Foods Help Flush Out Your System?

Addiction causes severe nutritional deficiencies which can leave a person vulnerable to malnourishment. People who are in detox from drug addiction need to return to good physical and mental health and eating nutrient-rich foods helps speed that process. That’s because addiction wreaks havoc on a person’s tissues and organs and can leave a person malnourished.

These are some of the most effective foods for flushing out and supporting a person’s system during detox.

  • Water. Staying hydrated is always important, especially when a person is detoxing from drugs. During detox, people may experience heavy sweating, which can help the body purge itself of toxins, but can be dehydrating. Getting enough water helps prevent that dehydration, but also increases the body’s ability to flush out the harmful biological byproducts of addictive drugs.
  • Protein. A person in detox needs protein to help rebuild tissues and organs damaged by addiction. Both meat and plant-based proteins will do the job.
  • Fruit. Fruits are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and water. Some of the most effective cleansing fruits include citrus, cantaloupe, peaches, and berries.
  • Green leafy vegetables. Spinach and kale are loaded with nutrients, including minerals like potassium and calcium. Sea greens like kelp are loaded with prebiotic fiber that helps regenerate healthy gut bacteria.
  • Healthy fats. Some fats are essential for the good health of the nervous system. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in supplements, but the best way to get them is from fatty cold-water fish, like salmon or mackerel, or plants, such as chia, flaxseed, and walnuts.

Kinkaid Private Nursing Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive in-home detox care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client. Additionally, not only do we specialize in premium care, but we also practice proper management techniques to ensure your care is organized, efficient, and best for you.

Overall, we create a concierge medical experience for each of our clients. Our approach starts with building relationships with each of our clients and their families; we get to know you in the comfort and privacy of your home to understand your exact needs. We then create a personal care team for you consisting of at least a clinical nurse specialist, clinical case manager, and care coordinator. Our compassionate teams are clinician-led and available to you 24/7 to provide unparalleled service and attention to detail.

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stopping klonopin

The Dangers of Stopping Klonopin Suddenly

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Stopping Klonopin suddenly, without appropriate medical intervention, can lead to a life-threatening emergency. The withdrawal effects from Klonopin can lead to serious physical symptoms that are incredibly dangerous, particularly if you are taking a high dose of Klonopin. Kinkaid Private Care offers in-home benzodiazepine detox that can alleviate these physical symptoms and help you to achieve sobriety safely.

Klonopin Addiction

Klonopin, also known by the generic form clonazepam, is a benzodiazepine drug that has a high risk for misuse. Typically prescribed for the treatment of anxiety or as an anticonvulsant, Klonopin can also lower people’s inhibitions, produce a feeling of euphoria, and lead to drug dependence.

Like other addictive drugs, using Klonopin recreationally, or in excess of your prescription, can quickly lead to the development of a substance use disorder. People who develop an addiction to Klonopin can experience symptoms such as:

  • Invasive drug cravings
  • Lack of interest in activities outside of Klonopin use
  • Worsening physical and mental health symptoms as a result of Klonopin use
  • Multiple failed attempts at cutting down or stopping Klonopin use
  • Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when stopping Klonopin suddenly
  • Using more Klonopin than intended, or for longer than intended

Benzodiazepines like Klonopin resulted in over 212,000 emergency department visits between 2016 and 2017, and were involved in nearly 17% of overdose deaths between 2019 and 2020. These drugs, even if prescribed by your physician, can be incredibly dangerous. But you must take care when deciding to stop your Klonopin use, to avoid any complications of withdrawal.

Most people who develop a Klonopin addiction will be unable to stop on their own. Targeted intervention from a benzodiazepine detox can help people break through this initial first stage and start them on the path to recovery.

How Do I Get Rid of Clonazepam?

If you’re committed to stopping Klonopin, the first step should always be to reach out to a benzodiazepine detox. The side effects of stopping Klonopin “cold-turkey” can be deadly, and it’s vitally important that you seek professional help before getting rid of your medication.

If you’ve found a treatment team that can help you to detox safely, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends disposing of your medications by taking them out of the original container, placing them into a disposable container, and mixing them with coffee grounds or cat litter. Don’t dispose of your Klonopin by flushing them down the toilet, where it can contaminate local water supplies, or throw them in the trash where children or pets may be able to reach them.

How Long Does It Take to Get Klonopin Out of Your System?

Klonopin can stay in your system for up to a month. Klonopin has a half-life of 22-32 hours, much longer than most other benzodiazepines. The half-life of a drug refers to the amount of time that it takes your body to eliminate 50% of the substance, and some studies have shown that Klonopin was still detectable in urine up to 28 days after administration.

This long half-life of Klonopin can also make the withdrawal process take an extended period. Klonopin’s withdrawal timeline is over twice as long as other benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, and many people will need extended treatment in order to detox successfully.

The Dangers of Stopping Klonopin Suddenly

Klonopin, like all other benzodiazepines, is a central nervous system depressant. Specifically, it acts on GABA receptors within the brain. GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning that it is responsible for helping people to calm down and relax.

This produces several effects that make Klonopin widely abused, including:

  • Relaxation
  • Drowsiness
  • Anxiety relief
  • Lowered inhibitions

It can also produce side effects such as slowed breathing, light headedness, and memory loss.

When people use Klonopin for extended periods, their brain’s become dependent on the drug. The natural resting state of the brain becomes more stimulated, balancing out the effects that Klonopin has on GABA receptors.

When a person attempts stopping Klonopin suddenly, that balance is broken, and their central nervous system becomes hyperactive. This can lead to the hallmark side effects of stopping Klonopin, typically referred to as Klonopin withdrawal.

Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms

People who have been taking Klonopin regularly experience several withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop. These symptoms can range from being mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening emergencies, depending on how much Klonopin you typically take, how long you’ve taken Klonopin, and if you have any pre-existing medical health conditions.

Klonopin withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Racing heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Sweating
  • Muscle aches and cramps
  • Insomnia
  • Shakes
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures

If left untreated, the seizures from Klonopin withdrawal can be deadly.

Klonopin withdrawals typically begin one to three days after your last dose. You may first begin to notice symptoms between the second and third days, and symptoms typically begin to peak at the two week mark. Most withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside after about a month.

Getting the Help You Need

If you’re living with the effects of a Klonopin addiction, detox is considered a medical necessity. It is not safe for you to stop Klonopin on your own, and it should never be attempted without medical intervention.

Getting treatment is the only way to ensure that you can safely stop Klonopin use. Targeted medical interventions can prevent withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, as well as alleviating the side effects of stopping Klonopin suddenly.

Kinkaid Private Care offers in-home Klonopin detox services to help people break through this difficult stage from the comfort of home. Our in-home detox model brings a team of medical and mental health professionals to where our clients are already most comfortable, and delivers targeted treatment options to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal.

In-home detox services with Kinkaid offer the highest level of addiction care, individualized treatment plans, and a concierge medical experience like no other treatment center can provide. Our team has decades of experience in substance use treatment, and can bring everything you need to recover to your own home.

If you or a loved one is struggling with Klonopin addiction, reach out to our team by calling (866) 337-4596 or filling out our online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.  You can recover – and the team at Kinkaid Private Care can help.

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how long does oxycodone stay in your system

How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System?

What is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone is a narcotic pain reliever in the opioid family of analgesics, given for the management of moderate to severe pain. It’s sold under the name Oxycontin, as well as many others. Like all opioids and opiates, it works by binding with opioid receptors found in nerve tissue throughout the brain and spinal cord, suppressing the perception of pain.

Oxycodone also causes lasting changes in how the brain makes and responds to dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls feelings of pleasure and regulates the sensation of pain.

As with all opioids, oxycodone has a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Oxycodone is similar to drugs such as:

  • Hydrocodone 
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Tramadol
  • Fentanyl (Duragesic, Abstral)

Brand Names for Oxycodone

  • OxyContin (immediate release)
  • OxyContin CR (controlled-release)
  • Xtampza ER (extended-release)
  • Oxaydo (immediate release)

Other Medications that Include Oxycodone

  • Percocet (oxycodone plus acetaminophen)
  • Tylox (oxycodone plus acetaminophen_

When Do You Start Feeling the Effects of Oxycodone?

How rapidly you feel the effects of oxycodone depends on the formulation you’re taking and the way in which it gets into your system. Oxycodone that’s delivered by an injection is the fastest of all routes of administration. You’ll feel the results of an injection almost instantly. Immediate-release oxycodone is given through capsules and in liquid and works within 30 minutes. Immediate-release oxycodone will wear off in 4 to 6 hours.

Slow-release or extended release oxycodone comes in tablet form and can take several hours to start working, but because it builds up slowly in the system, it delivers longer-lasting pain relief.

How Long Does It Take for the Effects of Oxycodone to Subside?

Orally-dosed oxycodone’s effects peak 2 hours after the first dose and begin to wear off within 4 to 6 hours. The rate at which oxycodone’s effects subside is based on the dosage a person is taking and how it’s introduced into their system, such as by injection, capsules, liquid, or tablet formulations. Another important factor is a person’s history of taking opioids. Oxycodone’s effects will fade most rapidly in those people who have a long history of using opioids.

How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System?

After the last use, levels of immediate-release formulations of oxycodone drop by 50% after 3.2 hours. Levels of controlled and extended-release versions of oxycodone will be 50% lower after 4.5 hours to 5.6 hours.

It takes 24 hours for most people to completely clear oxycodone from their blood, but its breakdown products are detectable for much longer.

After the last dose of oxycodone is taken, it can be detected:

  • In saliva for 24 to 96 hours
  • In urine for 72 to 96 hours
  • In hair for as long as 90 days

Many factors affect how quickly opiates leave your system. A person’s general health, the health of their kidneys and liver, body weight, and age are all important determiners of how long oxycodone stays in your system.

  • Liver function

People with liver dysfunction clear oxycodone about 2 hours more slowly than people with normally functioning livers.

  • Age

People over the age of 65 process oxycodone more slowly than younger people.

  • Gender

Oxycodone leaves a woman’s system more rapidly than a man’s although the reasons for a gender difference are not known.

  • Kidney function

People with kidney problems take up to one hour longer to eliminate oxycodone from their bodies than people with regularly functioning kidneys.

  • History of oxycodone consumption

Opioid medications are prone to building up in a person’s fatty tissues. If you’ve been using oxycodone for weeks or months, it will take longer to get out of your body.

Symptoms of Withdrawal from Oxycodone

Symptoms of withdrawal will start within 12 hours of a person’s last dose and feel much like flu symptoms. People who have used oxycodone chronically or in large amounts will experience more intense withdrawal symptoms than those who’ve used it for a short time or in lower doses

Typical symptoms of Oxycodone withdrawal include:

  • Excessive yawning
  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
  • Depression
  • Body aches and pains
  • Diaphoresis (extreme sweating)
  • Coughing
  • Runny nose
  • Teary eyes
  • Shaking
  • Increased heart rate
  • Poor concentration
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability

How Long Does Withdrawal from Oxycodone Last?

The length of oxycodone withdrawal depends on several factors, including:

  • A person’s health, particularly their liver and kidney health
  • The length of time a person has been using oxycodone
  • How much and how frequently they used oxycodone
  • Their typical route of administration—such as orally, injections, or insufflation (snorting).

Oxycodone abuse and addiction causes intense psychological and physical side effects. They range in intensity and duration from person to person but are usually uncomfortable and can be frightening. Early withdrawal symptoms show up from 6 to 12 hours after a person’s last dose Symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal will peak within 72 hours, then lessen over a week to 10 days.

How Kinkaid Private Care Can Help

You also don’t have to go into a hospital or clinic to detox from oxycodone. Kinkaid Private Care delivers top-notch care through the services of a private detox nurse, a trained medical professional under the supervision of a physician. The detox nurse is fully trained to provide medical assistance for oxycodone withdrawal symptoms, from mild to more severe. Your private detox nurse will help ease you through the detox and withdrawal process, allowing you to stay in the safe and private environment of your own home.

Kinkaid Private Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client. Additionally, not only do we specialize in premium care, but we also practice proper management techniques to ensure your care is organized, efficient, and best for you.

Overall, we create a concierge medical experience for each of our clients. Our approach starts with building relationships with each of our clients and their families; we get to know you in the comfort and privacy of your home to understand your exact needs. We then create a personal care team for you consisting of at least a clinical nurse specialist, clinical case manager, and care coordinator. Our compassionate teams are clinician-led and available to you 24/7 to provide unparalleled service and attention to detail.

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alcohol withdrawal insomnia

Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia: What to Expect

Insomnia and alcohol withdrawal often go hand in hand. This common and tough symptom can lead to relapses early in recovery, but medical detox professionals can provide treatment. You need not suffer from sleepless nights to achieve sobriety. Let the Kinkaid Private Care team help you overcome insomnia and alcohol withdrawal in this tough phase of recovery.

Why Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Insomnia?

Is insomnia a side effect of giving up alcohol? To see why insomnia and alcohol withdrawal are related, you need to understand how alcohol affects your brain and body first. Alcohol produces its effects by depressing the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. This can result in several effects:

  • Slower breathing
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Lower heart rate
  • Drowsiness
  • Pain relief

These effects could lead people to use alcohol as a sleep aid. Its short-term effects can bring relaxation and help them fall asleep faster.

However, as you begin to consume alcohol more often, your body begins to compensate in the other direction. Your central nervous system becomes more excitable, counteracting the effects of alcohol. The main reason for developing tolerance and experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the shift in the central nervous system.

alcohol insomniaInsomnia and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

When a heavy drinker suddenly stops, their central nervous system becomes dangerously overactive. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the opposite of the effects of alcohol, and you might experience symptoms like:

  • Insomnia
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Rapid breathing
  • Anxiety
  • Shakes
  • Muscle aches and cramps

In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can also result in life-threatening seizures and hallucinate. For this reason, medical intervention is strongly encouraged when you are attempting to stop drinking. Targeted medication can not only ease withdrawal and make you feel more comfortable but also prevent life-threatening consequences.

Prevalence of Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia

Alcohol withdrawal insomnia is prevalent in people recovering from an alcohol use disorder. Roughly half of people experiencing withdrawal will experience this symptom, though some people are at greater risk than others.

As the severity of alcohol use disorder increases, so does the risk of insomnia. People who drink alcohol, smoke, have both depression and anxiety or use alcohol as a sleep aid are much more likely to have this troublesome symptom.

The Importance of Quality Sleep During Detox

You can overcome alcohol withdrawal insomnia with at-home medical detox services. Several treatment options can help to make your detox safe, comfortable, and therapeutic.

Treating Alcohol Withdrawal Insomnia

With at-home medical detox services, alcohol withdrawal insomnia can be overcome. Several treatment options can help to make your detox safe, comfortable, and refreshing.

The Medical Taper

A medical taper is the primary method of treating an alcohol use disorder. It can help to treat insomnia, prevent seizures, and eliminate many uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Essentially, the medical taper is a method of calming the central nervous system during alcohol withdrawal. The hyperactive central nervous system affected by long-term alcohol use can gradually return to its normal levels.

For most people, the medical taper is enough to help them achieve high-quality sleep during detox. But if insomnia persists, there are further options that can treat this troubling symptom.

Specific Sleep Medications

If insomnia continues to persist, we can prescribe targeted sleep medication. When used along with a gradual reduction plan, can help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling more refreshed. The sleep medications you need might be different from someone else’s. It’s smart to chat with your healthcare provider if just the tapering plan isn’t completely helping your insomnia.

Sleep Hygiene

Certain behavioral practices can aid in treating insomnia during detox as well. These include:

  • Setting a certain time to go to sleep each night
  • Avoiding stimulating activities in the hour before bed, such as television or social media
  • Not drinking caffeine in the evening
  • Avoiding napping during the day
  • Make sure your bedroom is dark and comfortable

We call this term “sleep hygiene.” When used with medical treatment for alcohol withdrawal insomnia, they can help you sleep better every night during detox.

How Long Does Insomnia Last After Quitting Drinking?

For most people, insomnia and alcohol withdrawal will end after about a week. However, some people may continue to experience insomnia related to their alcohol use disorder for weeks or months. People can enhance their sleep during recovery by using sleep medication or trying cognitive-behavioral therapies for insomnia, which are known to be effective.

People experiencing insomnia long after the acute withdrawal phase may be experiencing post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This syndrome can persist for several months because of long-term brain alterations caused by alcohol use disorder. With time, the brain will recover from this syndrome. Seeking counseling services can be helpful during this period.

In-Home Alcohol Detox with Kinkaid Private Care

Do not face severe alcohol withdrawal alone. This does not mean someone should be admitted to a hospital or detox facility. Kinkaid Private Care can send medical and mental health experts to your home so you can detox from alcohol right there.

Contact our team by calling us directly at 866-337-4596, or by filling out our confidential contact form below. Our team, led by experienced clinicians, has been helping folks beat substance use issues for years. We’re here to guide you through the initial phase of recovery. Overcoming alcoholism is possible, and the team at Kinkaid Private Care can show you the way.

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How Long Fentanyl Stays in Your System

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?

The opioid epidemic has become even more devastating due to the increased presence of fentanyl in illicit painkillers, cocaine, and heroin. Fentanyl is a synthetic prescription-only opioid painkiller that’s 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Because of its extreme potency,  fentanyl can easily cause a fatal overdose. 

Fentanyl abuse has been on the rise over the last several years and with it has come a wave of overdoses and deaths by overdose. The difference between a safe dose of fentanyl and a fatal overdose is very small and it takes surprisingly little fentanyl to kill. Depending on a person’s tolerance, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose, compared to the 30 milligrams to 100 milligrams needed for heroin. A fentanyl overdose is fast and can start within seconds. 

Most deaths from fentanyl overdose have been caused by people taking other drugs, like heroin or cocaine that have been contaminated with fentanyl. 

What Does Fentanyl Do? 

Fentanyl is an analgesic that relieves severe, long-lasting pain. It’s also used to control breakthrough pain that accompanies cancer but can also be used to control chronic high-level debilitating pain that comes from other causes. 

Like all opioids, fentanyl works within the brain. Molecules of fentanyl attach themselves to specialized receptor sites on brain cells that control the perception of pain. When fentanyl binds to these tiny receptor sites, a person’s sense of pain is temporarily decreased or shut off entirely.  Fentanyl also causes the release of the neurochemical dopamine, the primary chemical used in the brain’s learning and reward center. Increased levels of dopamine not only reduce pain but also produce an intense feeling of well-being, even euphoria. 

Fentanyl is much more efficient and far more powerful than other opioids in two ways: it penetrates brain tissue more effectively and binds more strongly to the cells responsible for our ability to feel pain. This means it takes smaller doses of fentanyl to control pain than other opioids. It also takes effect more rapidly. 

The same qualities that make fentanyl an effective painkiller can also make it dangerous when it’s not taken in a controlled medical setting. Fentanyl affects areas of the brain that control heart rate, breathing, and consciousness. Just as fentanyl slows or halts the working of the brain cells that allow us to perceive pain, fentanyl can also slow the brain tissue that keeps us breathing and our hearts beating. 

There are numerous ways fentanyl can be delivered into a person’s system. They include: 

  • Skin patches (Duragesic®, APO-fentanyl®)
  • Lollipops and lozenges (Actiq®) 
  • Tablets 
  • Injections (Sublimaze®) 

Fentanyl purchased on the street or as a contaminant in other street drugs like cocaine is usually a powder. A minute amount of fentanyl is sufficient to kill a healthy adult, especially if that person has little tolerance to opioids.  

In recent years, many kinds of illicit drugs have been found to be contaminated with fentanyl,  including cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines purchased on the street. 

What are the Side Effects of Fentanyl? 

Fentanyl’s main effect is pain relief. However, in those who aren’t suffering intense pain,  fentanyl produces a powerful sense of euphoria and well-being. 

Typical Side Effects of Fentanyl 

• Constipation 

• Nausea, stomachache  

• Drowsiness, sleepiness 

• Problems sleeping, including insomnia 

• Headache, dizziness 

• Feeling cold 

• Excessive sweating 

Signs of Fentanyl Overdose 

Like all opioids, fentanyl has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Fentanyl is also easy to overdose on, with many overdoses leading to death. Death from a fentanyl overdose typically occurs because a person’s respiration becomes increasingly shallow, then stops altogether. 

The following are the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose: 

• Small or pinpoint pupils 

• Shallow, slow, or erratic breathing 

• Awake but unresponsive 

• Unconsciousness 

• Limp body, poor muscle tone 

• Slow or erratic heartbeat

• Choking, gasping, or rattling sounds when breathing 

• Vomiting 

• Gray, ashy or bluish skin 

• Clammy skin 

An overdose of fentanyl causes a condition called hypoxia. In hypoxia, the body’s tissues become starved of oxygen and stop working properly, then fail. However, the brain can only survive without oxygen for a couple of minutes before permanent damage is done. 

How Fentanyl Addiction Happens 

With continued use of fentanyl, over time it takes ever-increasing higher doses to get the same effect that a lower dose once delivered. As with all opioids, fentanyl abuse leads to the sophisticated pleasure, learning, and reward pathways of the brain being “re-wired,” so that only the presence of fentanyl can trigger the release of dopamine. 

Even more concerning is that with consistent abuse of fentanyl, the brain’s ability to make dopamine decreases, leading to an overall lowered ability to tolerate pain throughout the body. In turn, people end up taking more and more fentanyl to suppress pain. 

This vicious cycle can be broken through a process called recovery. Recovery from addiction is much more than simply abstaining from fentanyl. It entails a person being able to live a  satisfying life without chemical abuse. 

How Can You Safely Stop Taking Fentanyl?  

Recovery from addiction requires a process called detoxification. Detoxification is the process in which all of the drug or drugs in question and their byproducts completely leave a person’s body.  It is the first step toward recovery from addiction. 

If you’ve been taking fentanyl as prescribed by a medical professional for a couple of weeks or less, you can safely stop taking it once your prescription runs out. However, there are other safe ways to stop taking fentanyl for those who’ve been taking it over a longer period. 

One safe approach to quitting fentanyl is called a drug taper. Tapering is a lengthy process in which a person who’s been taking fentanyl over a long period slowly and incrementally decreases their levels of fentanyl intake. The end goal is to eliminate all fentanyl use. A taper needs to occur with the help of medical professionals trained in addiction detoxification.  

Reducing one’s intake of fentanyl requires daily medical support to calculate and administer the correct decreasing dosage schedule, as well as to assure that quitting fentanyl occurs with as little 

discomfort as possible. Tapering is a reliable and safe method to detoxify from fentanyl only if overseen by a medical professional.  

Medically Assisted Detox from Fentanyl 

Another approach that’s a safe method for quitting fentanyl is a medically assisted opioid detox. A  medically supported detoxification takes less time than a taper and can be carried out at home. 

In a medically assisted detox, a person is supported with medication provided by a medical professional that reduces the symptoms of withdrawal. Other medications can alleviate the intense cravings for fentanyl that are part of detoxification. These medicines include methadone,  Suboxone, or buprenorphine, which can be given on a time-limited basis.  

Going “cold turkey,” or suddenly stopping one’s use of fentanyl without medication for withdrawal causes painful, acute fentanyl withdrawal symptoms and should never be attempted.  After using fentanyl—or any opioid for a long time, the body becomes dependent on it for its regular functions, particularly the production of the neurochemicals that the brain uses to govern every aspect of our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.  

Going cold turkey also impairs sustaining functions, like how our bodies keep our heart rate,  respiration, and blood pressure steady and healthy. This happens because fentanyl becomes the chemical “cue” that vital neurological and systemic processes rely on to work correctly. 

No one should attempt to stop taking fentanyl without help from a medical professional. 

Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms 

When a person is dependent on fentanyl, being unable to get it leads to withdrawal. Acute withdrawal from opioids is painful and can be dangerous.  

These are the most typical physical symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal: 

• Stomach cramps 

• Diarrhea  

• Muscle aches and pains, often severe 

• Involuntary leg movements  

• Tremors 

• Sweating 

• Chills 

• Problems breathing 

• Hypertension (blood pressure may become dangerously high)

• Rapid heartbeat 

• Excess sweating 

• Watery eyes, runny nose 

• Yawning 

A person’s psychological state also suffers during withdrawal from fentanyl. These symptoms  include: 

• Anxiety, panic attacks 

• Cravings for fentanyl, which may be intense or overpowering 

• Mood swings 

• Depression 

• Problems concentrating 

Note that addiction to fentanyl, like all addictions, is progressive—that is, a person will require more and more of the drug to attempt to get the same effect, but sooner or later, will be unable to do so. Eventually, no amount of fentanyl will stave off withdrawal. This leads inevitably to a  downward spiral in day-to-day functioning and increasingly impaired health. 

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System? 

Fentanyl’s acute withdrawal symptoms begin 6 to 12 hours after a person’s last dose and usually peak anywhere from 1 to 3 days. The most intense withdrawal symptoms decrease over one week to ten days. However, withdrawal from a longer-acting form of fentanyl, such as that delivered through skin patches, can take up to 36 hours to start. 

Fentanyl can be detected on a urine drug test for up to 72 hours after the last use. Blood tests will pick up fentanyl for as long as 48 hours after the final use, and fentanyl can be found in hair follicles for up to three months. 

Getting Help  

Fentanyl abuse and addiction are common conditions in the U.S., but they’re highly treatable disorders. You also don’t have to go into a hospital or clinic to detox. Kinkaid Private Care delivers top-notch care through the services of a private detox nurse, a trained medical professional under the supervision of a physician. The detox nurse is fully trained to provide medical assistance for fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, from mild to more severe. Your private detox nurse will help ease you through the detox and withdrawal process, allowing you to stay in the safe and private environment of your own home. 

Kinkaid Private Care offers premium in-home services to patients looking for the best and most intensive care on the market. We only take on a few clients at a time, so we always provide specialized care to meet the needs of each client. Additionally, not only do we specialize in premium care, but we also practice proper management techniques to ensure your care is organized, efficient, and best for you. 

Overall, we create a concierge medical experience for each of our clients. Our approach starts with building relationships with each of our clients and their families; we get to know you in the comfort and privacy of your home to understand your exact needs. We then create a personal care team for you consisting of at least a clinical nurse specialist, clinical case manager, and care coordinator. Our compassionate teams are clinician-led and available to you 24/7 to provide unparalleled service and attention to detail.

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