Lethargy. Night sweats. Restlessness. Nausea. Irritability. Depression. Delirium. Anxiety. Confusion. Slowness. Seizures. Trembling. Muscle aches. Drug cravings. These are just some of the many symptoms associated with withdrawal from drugs. Show If you regularly use drugs and alcohol, and have used them for some time, it is highly likely that your body is now dependent on a substance of choice. That may be why you are here. You have too many mornings where you wake up and feel like you can’t face the day, that your body cannot move without another hit, sip, or bump of that drug. There are times when not only does your head hurt, but your brain hurts just from thinking about getting by without getting high. This is known as withdrawal. This is your body trying to re-learn how to function without drugs. This is your body’s first step at overcoming addiction. You see, your body has become used to having drugs each day. Drugs are chemicals that physically alter the brain structure, re-wiring parts dedicated to emotion, decision-making, and self-control. Drugs also impact how the rest of your body, such as your central nervous system, works. Even if you desire to stop using, your brain and body may continue to demand the drug. They need time to adjust without it. If you want to quit drugs, but are afraid of what might follow, you are not alone. As a young adult drug treatment provider, Turnbridge knows a lot about withdrawal from drugs. And we can tell you that most often, the anticipation of the withdrawal is worse than the actual thing. You will get through this, and the right clinical drug treatment center can help. What Withdrawal Symptoms Can You Expect? Every drug is different, each coming with their own unique stretch of withdrawal symptoms. Some hard drugs, such as heroin or prescription painkillers, will be followed by harsh withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, body aches, and cold sweats. Other drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine, will bring about more emotional symptoms like depression and irritability. Depending on your drug of choice as well as your history of using, the length and severity of withdrawal symptoms will also vary. Withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, and can span from mild to uncomfortable to chronic and life-threatening. Your medical history, mental health, age and genetic makeup will also come into play – no two people experience withdrawal from drugs the same way. To put into perspective, someone who has regularly injected large doses of heroin for years, who has a family history of substance use and mental health issues, is likely to experience a prolonged withdrawal period and more powerful symptoms than someone who does not have a family history of co-occurring disorders and who used smaller doses for a shorter period of time. Below Turnbridge details the some of the drug-specific withdrawal symptoms and their average timeframe: Heroin Withdrawal: Heroin is a highly-addictive opiate drug with a short half-life – meaning its effects are hard and typically come on fast. Opiate withdrawal from heroin typically begins within 12 hours of your last dose and reaches its peak within 24 to 48 hours. Heroin withdrawal can last a week or up to a few months, depending on the amount you were taking, how long you’ve been taking it, and the method in which you administered the drug. Heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
Prescription Opioid Withdrawal: Prescription opioids, while legal when used medically, are among the most addictive drugs today. If you have been using prescriptions like OxyContin or Vicodin longer than intended (or prescribed), your body has likely developed a tolerance to the drug. Typically, users start to experience withdrawal symptoms just 8 to 12 hours after taking that last painkiller pill. The most excruciating symptoms peak between 12 to 48 hours, and lasts up to 10 days. Common opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
Cocaine Withdrawal: Cocaine is a fast-acting stimulant drug, and expectedly, its withdrawal symptoms also come on quick. If you use cocaine regularly, you likely know the “ups and downs” well. Just hours after stopping the drug, the “crash” or withdrawal symptoms start. That is why so many users will go on a cocaine binge – the high comes quick, leaves the body quick, and you make every effort to keep it going. If you don’t, the withdrawal symptoms will hit. They peak within a few days and can last up to 10 weeks. If you are addicted to cocaine and these behaviors sound familiar, you can expect withdrawal symptoms such as:
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal: Often called “benzos” and taken in the form of brands like Xanax and Ativan, these prescription drugs are designed to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, and seizures. Many people, however, use them nonmedically as relaxants. The problem is, benzos are highly addictive. When the body becomes dependent on the drug, and then hits the withdrawal stage, users experience reversed effects: anxiety, panic attacks, disturbed sleep. These symptoms typically begin within 1 to 4 days of stopping the drug. In some cases, experts say, the withdrawal period from benzos can last months or years without treatment. Common benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:
Alcohol Withdrawal: One in every 12 adults struggles with alcoholism. If you’ve drank alcohol before, you likely know what a hangover entails. However, if you are dependent on alcohol – you engage in heavy or excessive drinking, drink throughout the day and every day, and cannot stay sober for long – the withdrawal symptoms will be much more excruciating than your average morning-after. Once eliminating alcohol from your day-to-day, you can expect to experience some form of alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as:
3 to 5 percent of alcoholics will also experience delirium tremens, which can be fatal if left unaddressed. If you have just quit alcohol and are experiencing seizures, a fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, and delirium, contact your medical provider as soon as possible for help. Marijuana Withdrawal: Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance among adolescents and young adults. What many do not know, however, is that it also has the potential for addiction and for a withdrawal stage. This is especially true for frequent or daily smokers. According to the NIDA, one in six teens who try pot will get addicted, but 50 percent of teens (one in every two!) who use marijuana daily will get addicted. Teens who are addicted and stop smoking marijuana suddenly will experience at least one of the following withdrawal symptoms. Those who experience withdrawal symptoms without seeking medical help are more likely than other users to have problems at school, at work, or trouble with relationships and money. Marijuana withdrawal symptoms include:
To overcome addiction and the stages of withdrawal, it is important to properly detox under medical supervision. It is also vital to enroll in an integrated, long-term drug treatment program, where you will learn how to properly cope and manage withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings in recovery. You do not have to go through this alone. Turnbridge is a young adult drug rehab offering 24/7 watchful care to young men and women facing addiction. We extend both residential and outpatient treatment services to you or your loved one in need. Contact us at 877-581-1793 to learn more. If you have unbearable withdrawal symptoms or have been experiencing symptoms for a long period of time (post-acute withdrawal syndrome), please contact Turnbridge or your medical provider immediately. Drug addiction can be a complex and misunderstood condition for people who have no experience with it. The solution might seem obvious for those who don’t understand: drugs are the problem, just stop using them. But it’s not that simple. It isn’t easy to quit using drugs for a variety of reasons, and avoiding drug withdrawal symptoms stands out as a big one. Drug withdrawal symptoms are the body’s reaction to the sudden absence of substances. Someone who uses for a long time develops a tolerance for and dependence on drugs. Their body learns to function under the influence and eventually needs substances to exist. When they stop using drugs, their body revolts. They are part of the difficulties of getting clean that keep people turning back to drugs. Are you looking to learn what the process of getting clean will look like for you or a loved one? If you’re wondering, “What do drug withdrawal symptoms look like?” you’re in the right place.
Drugs interact with brain and body chemistry in various ways. These reactions produce the highs that keep people coming back for more. The body adapts to the presence of these substances over time to keep a stable and balanced internal condition. But that internal system becomes unbalanced when these substances are removed suddenly. A caffeine headache is a common example of a mild withdrawal symptom that most people can understand. If you’re someone who needs your coffee in the morning to get going, you’ve experienced caffeine withdrawal symptoms. While they aren’t as severe or life-threatening as drug withdrawal symptoms, you understand the discomfort. Once your body learns to accommodate and function with the substance, it needs it to feel normal. The same goes for people who use drugs like opiates, stimulants, or benzodiazepines. But the withdrawal symptoms they experience once they cut the supply are far more intense. Examples of Drug Withdrawal SymptomsNot all drugs are the same and not all people are the same. Different substances affect people in different ways. The exact types of drug withdrawal symptoms a person experiences depend on a variety of factors. These factors include things such as:
The types of drugs a person used are one of the main factors. For example, opiates and opioids strong drugs used to relieve pain, so opiate withdrawal symptoms include hypersensitivity to pain. Benzodiazepines are a powerful class of anti-anxiety medications. Quitting benzodiazepines often cause extreme feelings of anxiety and restlessness. Another thing to consider is the severity of drug withdrawal symptoms. Some people experience only mild discomfort during the withdrawal period while others are debilitated by the reactions. The severity of symptoms is usually influenced by the factors listed above. The exact effects of drug withdrawal symptoms range from person to person. They include physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms, as well as numerous other categories. Splitting them down into groups is an easier way to understand the effects of drug withdrawal. The following are a few examples of how the body may react to quitting drugs. PhysicalPhysical reactions refer to any of the physical, bodily symptoms that result from suddenly quitting using drugs. Fatigue and lethargy are common symptoms caused by many substances because of the toll drugs take on the body. Sweats, shakes, clammy skin, tingles, and feeling cold are other examples. Muscle pains and spasms are seen when withdrawing from drugs like opiates or muscle relaxers. BehavioralBehavioral symptoms are those that affect the way people interact with those around them. GastrointestinalGastrointestinal symptoms are caused by the way the digestive system responds to the lack of substances. Appetite is usually affected in one way or another, but the loss of appetite is most often present. It’s difficult to eat with the sudden internal system imbalance. Nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting are also recurrent symptoms during drug withdrawal. PsychologicalPsychological symptoms are the impacts that drug withdrawal has on mood, wellbeing, and mental health. Much like agitation and frustration are common responses to the lack of substances, anxiety and nervousness are frequently seen. Hallucinations, meaning seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there, are part of withdrawing from some drugs. Paranoia and delirium are also some examples of psychological withdrawal symptoms. Sleep ProblemsSleeping problems are a very expected part of drug withdrawal. Sleep is part of that internal system the body seeks to regulate during active drug use. Removing those drugs throws the balance off and results in symptoms like insomnia, sleeplessness, interrupted sleep, and nightmares. CognitionCognition symptoms refer to the ability to think and process during the drug withdrawal period. Drug addiction makes cognition difficult, then quitting drugs makes regaining regular cognitive abilities another challenge. Confusion and disorientation are common while withdrawing from substances. Difficulties concentrating along with a slowed thought process are also regularly seen. The Dangers of Drug Withdrawal SymptomsSometimes drug withdrawal symptoms are not only mild discomforts but sometimes life-threatening reactions. When someone’s body becomes reliant upon substances, the sudden disruption may be more dangerous than anticipated. Powerful drugs like opiates, heroin, and methamphetamine lead to some of the most severe examples of life-threatening drug withdrawal symptoms. Extreme delusion and hallucinations during the withdrawal may cause a person to hurt themselves or others. Some people are also at risk of experiencing withdrawal-induced seizures. The severity of withdrawal symptoms increases when they use large amounts of heavy drugs for a long time. Someone who has used heroin for a few years is likely to experience some extreme withdrawal symptoms when they make the decision to stop. Treating Drug Withdrawal SymptomsFear of drug withdrawal symptoms makes people nervous to stop using drugs but there are ways to find support during this period. If you want to stop using and you’re worried about drug withdrawal symptoms you have options available to you. Addiction treatment is a common way for people to receive the help they need during these difficult times. Drug detox in Pennsylvania is a great option for those in the tri-state area looking to quit using drugs. The main focus of detox is to help you get through the withdrawal period as safely and comfortably as possible. The relief of withdrawal symptoms through the use of medical intervention and medication is a top priority. Detox provides support during the most difficult few days of early recovery. Are you looking to quit using drugs, or hoping to find help for a loved one, but don’t know where to start? Peace Valley Recovery in Pennsylvania can connect you with a caring and effective drug detox in Pennsylvania for the first step of your recovery. You don’t have to walk through the fear of withdrawal alone. Call us today at (215) 780-1953 to speak with one of our addiction specialists immediately, or fill out an online form and we can reach out to you. Take that first step today! |
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