Some vitamins and supplements may improve opiate withdrawal symptoms. Learn more about what scientists discovered regarding vitamins used during opiate withdrawal.
If you struggle withopioid addictionand want to quit, you may wonder if there are alternative remedies to help with withdrawal. Specifically, in your desire to lead a healthier life, you may wonder if there are vitamins you can take to help withopioid withdrawal.
Article at a Glance:
- Some people try alternative remedies to help with opiate withdrawal symptoms.
- There are no vitamins or supplements approved by the FDA for opiate detox or withdrawal.
- Vitamins to consider trying however, include multivitamins, passionflower, vitamin C, and ginseng.
- You can also help yourself through opiate withdrawal by eating high-proteinandhigh-fiber foods.
- Drinkingwater, sticking to scheduled mealtimes, and avoiding starchy/sugary foods can help too.
It is important to note that no vitamins, herbs or supplements have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in opiate detox or withdrawal. However, some vitamins were studied by researchers and other experts. Doctors know that if you struggle with opiate use, you may also havechallenges withpoor diet and eating patterns. Therefore, in some cases, it is possible that using vitamins, herbs or supplements may help.
When choosing vitamins to use during withdrawal, the package labeling on the vitamins may not be able to help you. Because some supplements are not approved by the FDA, companies are not allowed to market their vitamins, herbs or supplements with claims that they help withopioid addiction treatment.
It is important to talk to your doctor before starting new vitamins, herbs or supplements. Some products may have an interaction with medicines you are currently taking. Also, depending on your medical history, some products may be dangerous for you to take.
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Best Vitamins for Opiate Withdrawal
- Multivitamin:Because nutrient deficiencies arevery commonin opiate users, your doctor may recommend a basic multivitamin. Your doctor may conduct blood tests to find out if you have any deficiencies. Different deficiencies have different symptoms, and treating them will make you healthier and stronger during recovery.
- Passionflower:Passionflower is an herb thatwas studiedalongside clonidine, a drug that is sometimes used for opiate withdrawal. In the study, people who took passionflower with clonidine had lessopioid withdrawal symptomsthan the people who took clonidine alone. The physical symptoms, as well as the mental symptoms likeanxiety, of the withdrawal process improved with passion flower use. Researchers think that the herb works because of its effect on multiple chemicals in the brain. Side effects of passionflowerincludedizziness and sleepiness.
- Vitamin C:Vitamin C is a chemical that plays an important role in the body. Vitamin C wasstudiedin patients suffering fromheroin withdrawaland it improved major withdrawal symptoms when used in high doses. Luckily, vitamin C, even at high doses, isnontoxic. Themain side effectsat high doses are nausea and diarrhea.
- Ginseng:Ginseng is a traditional Chinese herb. Several studies have been conducted on ginseng in both humans and animals. Studies have shown that ginsengmay improve mood symptomslike anxiety during opiate withdrawal. There are multiple kinds of ginseng available, so it is important to know what kind you are buying. Most studies looked at Asian ginseng, also known as red ginseng. It is also important to talk to your doctor before using ginseng if you have a history of cancer, because ginsengmay impact some cancers. Side effects of ginsengincludedry mouth, fast heartbeat, and diarrhea.
- Acetyl-L-carnitine:This dietary supplement is derived from carnitine and L-carnitine. Carnitine is an important chemical building block for the body. Acetyl-L-carnitine wasstudiedand shown to improve muscle symptoms and sleep problems from opiate withdrawal. Side effects from the supplement are very rare and usually limited to an upset stomach. However, you should talk to your doctor before using the supplement if you are on chemotherapy drugs for cancer, because the supplement mayincrease your riskof nerve damage.
Natural Vitamins for Opiate Withdrawal
Some of the best vitamins for opiate withdrawal come directly from the food you eat. Diet is especially important for people who struggle with opiates because they often havesevere nutrient deficiencies. People using opiates are likely to eatvery fewfruits and vegetables. Instead, opiate users are likely to eat foods with little nutritional value. Additionally,setbacks are more commonif poor nutrition habits continue. One reason for this is that a person recovering from substance usemay mistake hungerfor a drug craving. This factor increases the risk of experiencing a setback. Opiate users should, therefore:
- Eat foods high inprotein, such as fish and chicken
- Consume less starchy and sugary foods, andinstead, have more vegetables and whole grains
- Eat ahigh-fiberdiet
- Schedule mealtimes and stick to them
- Drink fluids with meals and between meals
If you or a loved one live with opiate addiction,contact The Recovery Villagetoday. Calls are free and representatives are ready to get you or your loved one started toward recovery. Making the telephone call is the first step toward a healthier future.
