
Written by:

Medically Reviewed by:
Last Updated:
June 11th, 2025
Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment | Prescription Drug Detox and Rehab
Illegal drugs often get more media coverage but prescription drug addiction can do just as much harm. It is a horrible feeling when the medicine you thought was helping you starts to hurt you, but if this sounds familiar, you don’t need to struggle alone. Linwood House’s prescription drug addiction treatment has helped so many people exactly like you. With the right support, you can take back control and start living a life that makes you happy.
What is prescription drug addiction?
Prescription drug addiction often starts with an ordinary medical need, but the tablets that help you sleep or ease pain can slowly become something you depend on. At first, you may not even realise it’s happening, and you feel worse without the meds and become anxious, more irritable and tired when you haven’t taken them. Over time, you may start to realise there is a problem but still not be able to stop. This is the definition of addiction: continued substance use despite the problems it is causing.
What are the dangers of prescription drug addiction?
When they are misused or taken for too long, prescription drugs can be just as harmful as any street drug, negatively affecting both your physical and mental health.
You might find yourself struggling with memory, mood swings, sleep problems, anxiety or even depression. Various prescription drugs can affect your organs, immune system, gastrointestinal health, breathing and in some cases, especially with painkillers or sedatives, there is the risk of a potentially fatal overdose.
Prescription drug addiction can destroy relationships, cause massive legal and financial problems and gradually destroy every part of your life.
How prescription drug rehab can help
Linwood House’s rehab for prescription drug abuse provides everything you need at each of the three key stages of recovery:
- Prescription drug detox with professional medical care around the clock
- Proven prescription drug rehab therapy to work through the real reasons behind your dependency
- A solid aftercare plan to help you stay on track long after you leave
We provide prescription drug addiction for a range of different substances with some of our most important programmes, including:
- Opioid addiction help
- Benzodiazepine rehab
- Stimulant abuse recovery
- Painkiller addiction treatment
Here is how it works:
Step one: Prescription drug detox
Detoxing from prescription drugs means safely stopping medication use with the right help around you. Quitting on your own might seem easier or quicker, but it can be dangerous and leave you vulnerable to relapse.
A professional prescription drug detox deals with the physical hold the drugs have on you and gives your body the time and support it needs to adjust. The idea of detox can be scary, but you will be cared for the whole way through.
After prescription drug detox has cleared your body of drugs, we can then start looking at what’s been going on underneath it all through therapy.
What types of prescription drug rehab are available?
Linwood House offers the following prescription drug programmes:
Antidepressants addiction treatment
Click on the link provided below to discover how antidepressant rehab can help you recover.
Benzo addiction treatment
Benzo rehab gives you the tools and support you need for long-term sobriety using proven treatment methods. Click on the link below to learn more.
Opioid addiction treatment
Find out more about how opiate rehab works and how it can help you maintain lasting recovery. Click the link below if you would like to learn more.
Sleeping pill addiction treatment
Enrolling on sleeping pills rehab will allow you to address the underlying causes of your cravings in a calm and nurturing environment.
Stimulants addiction treatment
Learn more about the treatments offered for stimulants rehab and how they can help kickstart your recovery. Click the link below to learn more.
Prescription drug withdrawal symptoms and timeline
Withdrawal from prescription drugs can look very different depending on what you have been taking, how long you’ve been using it and how your body responds. Some medications like opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines or sleeping pills can cause intense withdrawal symptoms, while others might lead to milder effects. But even the “milder” symptoms can still feel overwhelming without the right support.
Common prescription drug withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Sweating and shaking
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble sleeping or vivid nightmares
- Depression
- Intense drug cravings
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Confusion, memory problems or mood swings
- Fatigue and flu-like symptoms
- In serious cases, seizures or hallucinations
Just like the symptoms, the timeline of withdrawal can also vary. Some people start feeling unwell within hours, while others don’t feel the effects for a day or two. Generally, the first few days are the hardest as your body adjusts to the absence of the drugs. Physical symptoms tend to peak within the first week and then gradually ease off.
That said, emotional symptoms like anxiety, cravings or sleep issues can last a bit longer, which is why prescription drug rehab therapy is so important after detox. Everyone’s timeline is different, but with proper care and guidance, withdrawal becomes safer and more manageable.
Step 2: Prescription drug rehab therapy
Clearing prescription drugs from your body is a great start, but it won’t keep you safe long-term. You also need to look at why prescription drugs became your crutch or comfort during difficult times. Lots of people turn to prescription drugs to handle things like stress, feeling lonely or not liking who they are. Prescription drug rehab therapy looks at these old wounds so you can learn how to face them without medicating them away.
If you don’t do this important emotional work, those same feelings could come back and push you towards prescription drugs again later. Prescription drug rehab therapy is here to make sure that doesn’t happen, helping you build a strong foundation for the future.
Prescription drug rehab at Linwood House
The idea of going into rehab might feel scary, but at Linwood House, we have created a caring inpatient centre where you will feel welcome and comfortable. Our prescription drug rehab programme isn’t about strict rules or lectures; it’s about helping you figure out what works for you. We offer lots of ways to help you heal, including:
- 12-step programme
- One-to-one and small group therapy sessions
- Therapies to manage tough feelings, including DBT and CBT
- Family therapy and conjoints
- Motivational interviewing
- Calming holistic therapies like yoga and meditation
Using all these different approaches, we ensure that every minute of your time in Linwood House counts. You will leave feeling clearer, calmer and much more ready to handle life without prescription drugs.
Prescription drug relapse prevention
Finishing rehab isn’t like flipping a switch, and there will still be tricky moments ahead. That is why we help you create your own straightforward plan to deal with every challenge in your post-rehab life. You will know exactly what to do if you’re feeling tempted by prescription drugs, stressed out or struggling in any way.
To ensure you feel fully supported, you will also join weekly aftercare group therapy for a whole year after your inpatient treatment finishes. These are relaxed, friendly sessions where you can talk through any problems, share experiences and build confidence.
Even better, you will become part of the UKAT Alumni family, a great bunch of people who have all walked in your shoes. They are always around to offer comfort, advice and encouragement. You can chat online, attend our special events, or reach out if you ever feel lonely or uncertain. It is all to make sure you never feel like you have to face things alone.
Begin prescription drug rehab today
Considering prescription drug rehab treatment can seem overwhelming, and we understand that. Lots of people come to us feeling just like you do now but they leave healthier, happier and stronger than ever before. If you feel like prescription drugs have taken over your life, Linwood House is ready to guide and support you. Get in touch today and we can answer any questions about private rehab for prescription drugs.
Frequently asked questions
(Click here to see works cited)
- Durrani, Mateen. “Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment | Rehab & Detox.” Recovery Lighthouse, 15 January 2025, https://www.recoverylighthouse.com/rehab-treatment/prescription-drug/. Accessed 2 May 2025.
- UK Rehab. “Prescription Drug Addiction – UK-Rehab.” UK Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/prescripton-drug-addiction/. Accessed 3 August 2024.
- McHugh, R Kathryn et al. “Prescription drug abuse: from epidemiology to public policy.” Journal of substance abuse treatment vol. 48,1 (2015): 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2014.08.004. Accessed 2 May 2025.
- Shupp, Robert et al. “Recognition and stigma of prescription drug abuse disorder: personal and community determinants.” BMC public health vol. 20,1 977. 22 Jun. 2020, doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09063-z. Accessed 2 May 2025.
- UK Addiction Treatment Centres. “Prescription Drug Addiction: Understanding Abuse | UKAT.” UK Addiction Treatment Centres, 5 December 2023, https://www.ukat.co.uk/addiction/drug/prescription/. Accessed 2 May 2025.