A Look Into Withdrawal

A Look Into Withdrawal

Addiction is when someone has a difficult time stopping themselves from doing something that makes them feel good. Addiction can be psychological, physical, or both. Psychological addiction happens when one thinks they need a particular substance to function, while a physical addiction results in withdrawal symptoms after one stops using.

What is withdrawal?

Withdrawal describes the physical and mental symptoms a person has after they stop taking an addictive substance or begin to lower the amount taken. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on multiple factors, including how often drug use occurs, the substance or substances used, and how long one has been taking drugs.

What are the symptoms of withdrawal?

It is common for someone to have symptoms after they stop taking an addictive substance. The severity depends on the unique situation. They also vary based on age, physical health, and the withdrawal method chosen. There are many symptoms of withdrawal, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fluctuating moods
• Fluctuating body temperature
• Irritability
• Tiredness and poor sleep
• Aches and pains
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Hallucinations
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

 

While these are all very common, there are some more severe withdrawal symptoms to watch out for. Withdrawal can lead to seizures, disorientation, confusion, and tremors.

What is the timeline of withdrawal?

The time and intensity of withdrawal varies between substances, among other things. It can take months to be entirely through the withdrawal symptoms that come with cutting out addictive substances.

Alcohol

The withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol tend to be the quickest to get through. These can begin within just a few hours after consuming the final drink and become more intense as time passes. Between 24 to 72 hours, they will start to reach the highest point, and the symptoms may last more than a week.

Opioids

When cutting out short-acting opioids like heroin, symptoms will appear within the first 24 hours. They will likely last between 5 to 10 days. For longer-acting opioids like meth, it may take a couple of days before seeing symptoms and will last about the same amount of time.

Benzodiazepines

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines like Xanax begins within one to four days and lasts for weeks. Withdrawal symptoms for benzos include sweating, tremors, panic attacks, poor concentration, palpitations, anxiety, muscular pain, and more. These symptoms tend to get more intense as the time goes on. This typically lasts 10 to 14 days, but in some cases, specific withdrawal symptoms linger for years.

How are addiction withdrawal symptoms treated?

Withdrawal symptoms can be scary and, in some cases, life-threatening. This is why reaching out to a healthcare professional or treatment center is ideal. Treatment for withdrawal symptoms varies. Sometimes, medicine is used to help with cramping, tremors, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, or vomiting.

When people try to navigate detox and withdrawal symptoms on their own, this can lead to relapse. When symptoms get severe, it’s easier to want to pick the abused drug in question back up to get rid of the pain and discomfort. Counselors and other professionals at treatment centers can help minimize the scary aspects of withdrawal and make it a smoother process.

In a controlled environment of a treatment center, healthcare professionals can closely monitor you. They will monitor vital signs like body temperature and blood pressure. They can give medicine when things start to get worse, which works to prevent and manage symptoms. While some people detox and manage withdrawal symptoms at home, there is no denying that treatment centers are the safer option.

To stabilize the person trying to cut out addictive substances, some drugs may be administered. Some drugs that are used for this treatment include methadone, buprenorphine, and clonidine. The treatment is tailored to the individual, which makes navigating withdrawal and the symptoms that go along with it a bit more manageable.

Is drug detox a necessary part of treatment and managing withdrawal?

When someone becomes dependent on drugs, withdrawal symptoms are common when attempting to quit or cut back. These symptoms can be mental or physical. Going through a detox program can be highly beneficial in navigating withdrawal symptoms.

Having a team of experienced and compassionate LGBTQ-affirming staff support you and have your back makes a huge difference. At Pride Detox, the strong knowledge, not only of drug abuse and healing but also of how to create a safe space to launch you on a successful journey, is unmatched. Call Pride Detox at 1-562-545-3289 today.