What It Means to Nod Off on Opioids and Addiction Help Available

Understanding What It Means to Nod Off From Drugs

In the context of substance use, nodding off refers to drifting in and out of consciousness due to the intoxicating effects of certain drugs. People Describe it as being awake but not fully alert, and not being able focus or keep your head up.

Why Certain Drugs Cause Nodding Off

Drugs like opioids, heroin, fentanyl and kratom impact the brain and central nervous system to produce feelings of extreme relaxation and drowsiness. They bind to opioid receptors interfering with signaling.

As they activate reward regions, these drugs also slow breathing, heart rate, body temperature and brain activity. This combination of euphoria and depressant effects causes users to nod off intermittently.

Signs of Nodding Off from Drugs

Visible signs someone is nodding off from substance use include:

• Head bobbing up and down involuntarily
• Repeatedly dropping chin to chest and jerking it back up
• Fluttering eyelids or eyes rolling back
• Loss of muscle control and slumped posture
• Sudden micro sleep episodes of 10-15 seconds

These symptoms result from the substance interacting with opioid receptors producing drowsiness similar to but more intense than normal sleepiness.

Dangers of Nodding Off While on Opioids

Though nodding off can feel relaxing in the moment, this drowsy intoxicated state poses substantial health risks requiring emergency care in severe cases.

Risk of Overdose

The depressant effects responsible for making someone nod off also slow critical body functions like breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Excessive nodding signals the body is shutting down which can swiftly lead to overdose and death if the drug isn’t quickly reversed.

Increased Accident Risk

Driving or operating machinery while nodding off severely impairs coordination, reaction times and decision making. Nodding prevents individuals from staying alert to potential accidents and hazards around them.

Choking Hazard

The lack of muscle control while nodding causes some individual’s heads to slump downward with their chin resting on their chest. In this position, saliva or fluids can block the airway increasing choking risk especially if nausea and vomiting occur.

Difficult to Awaken

The semi-conscious state of nodding off prevents the brain from maintaining vigilance. Stimulating or loud noises often fail to rouse someone who has nodded off. Yelling their name, rubbing the sternum bone or administering naloxone spray may be required.

Drugs Most Associated with Nodding Off

While any central nervous system depressant can cause sedative side effects, the drugs and medications most notorious for nodding behavior include:

Opioids

Prescription pills like oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, codeine and fentanyl provide pain relief but also significant drowsiness and lethargy, especially at higher doses.

Heroin

This highly addictive illegal opioid analgesic induces extreme relaxation and euphoria thatoscillates with semi-conscious nodding off episodes as the body cycles between stimulation and depression.

Kratom

In small doses the psychoactive plant kratom boosts energy but in high doses its opioid-like effects emerge resulting in sedation, nausea and repetitive nodding off.

Benzodiazepines

Anti-anxiety medications like alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium and lorazepam (Ativan) promote calming that for some escalates to losing motor control and sudden nodding off.

Getting Help for Addiction and Nodding Off

Accepting help takes courage but can save your health, relationships and life. Many options exist to start the recovery process in a safe, supportive environment.

Inpatient Medical Detox

Supervised detox programs provide medical monitoring and medications to help manage painful withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing problem substances. IV fluids and oxygen address dehydration and respiratory depression.

Residential Rehab Facilities

Extended 30, 60 or 90 day residential rehab delivers intensive therapeutic modalities like behavioral counseling, wilderness therapy and life skills training in a structured drug-free setting when outpatient options prove insufficient.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT combines FDA-approved medicines like methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone with counseling for treating opioid use disorder on an outpatient basis while allowing clients to function in everyday life.

Peer Support Groups

Twelve-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery provide social connection through meetings facilitating mentorship and shared understanding between peers battling addiction.

Outpatient Counseling and Therapy

Individual or group talk therapy with a licensed mental health professional trains people in productive coping strategies for stress and teaches techniques for preventing relapse.

With professional help and social support, achieving abstinence from nodding off drugs is absolutely possible one step at a time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.