Understanding Withdrawal: Symptoms, Detox, and Safety

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Understanding Withdrawal: Symptoms, Detox, and Safety

02 November, 2023Articles, News

Addiction withdrawal

Withdrawal is the process of cutting out, or cutting back on addictive substances. Addictive substances can include some medicines, like opioids or benzodiazepines, or drugs or alcohol. Some behaviors, such as gambling, are also addictive.

When your body is getting used to working without the substance or behavior you might have symptoms. The symptoms can be mild or they may be serious.

Knowing what these symptoms are can make quitting easier for you. It can also make it easier for people who are supporting you. Withdrawal is the combination of physical and mental effects a person experiences after they stop using or reduce their intake of a substance such as alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs.

If you have been using a substance with a high potential for dependency and you stop suddenly or abruptly or you cut down your use drastically, you can experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms. The intensity and duration of these withdrawal symptoms can vary widely, depending on the type of drug and your biological make-up.

Withdrawal can be unpleasant and potentially dangerous in some cases. For this reason, you should always talk to your doctor before stopping or reducing your substance use.

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What are the symptoms of addiction withdrawal?

Withdrawal symptoms can be different for different people and can be mild or severe. Symptoms depend on:

the type of substance/behavior and how long you used it for
your age
your physical health
your mental and emotional state
the withdrawal process used

Symptoms can include:

not being able to sleep
irritability
changing moods
depression
anxiety
aches and pains
cravings
tiredness
seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
nausea and vomiting
diarrhea
sweating
shaking

Severe withdrawal symptoms, especially for drugs and alcohol, can include:

Paranoia
Confusion
Tremors
Disorientation
seizures

Symptoms can last for a few days or weeks, but they will stop with time.

What Is Detoxification?

Detoxification (detox) is the process of clearing the body of drugs or alcohol that an individual has consumed. The purpose of detox is to safely manage withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking drugs or alcohol.

Everyone has a different experience with detox. The type of drug and how long it was used affect what detox will be like.

Medications used in detox help keep former users comfortable while the drugs leave their body.

It can take days or months to get through withdrawal symptoms for most drugs. The length of withdrawal depends on a number of factors, including:

Can I Detox at Home?

Choosing to detox at home can be dangerous and potentially deadly. Quitting “cold turkey” or without medical supervision can lead to serious issues such as seizures and severe dehydration.

There are inpatients and outpatient detox programs that help prevent dangerous complications. People with severe addictions should seek inpatient detox because withdrawal can be fatal. Inpatient detox includes 24-hour support and monitoring.

The Process of Detoxification

Everyone’s detox needs are different. The drug detox process helps addicted people get personalized treatment. In most cases, the process involves 3 steps:

Evaluation

The medical team screens incoming patients for physical and mental health issues. Doctors use blood tests to measure the amount of drugs in the patient’s system. This helps determine the level of medications needed.

There is also a comprehensive review of drug, medical, and psychiatric histories. This information sets up the basis for the patient’s long-term treatment plan.

Stabilization

The next step is to stabilize the patient with medical and psychological therapy. The goal of stabilization is to prevent any form of harm to the patient. Doctors can prescribe addiction treatment medications to prevent complications and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Preparing Entry into Treatment

The final step of detox is preparation for a treatment program. Doctors familiarize their patients with the treatment process and what to expect. Inpatient rehab offers the best chances of success after detox.

Side Effects of Detox

The process of drug detox can be painful and dangerous. This is why medical detox is so important. Detox with medical supervision allows patients to detox in a safe and comfortable environment. The extent of supervision is different in inpatient and outpatient rehab.

A medically supervised detox prevents dangerous complications of drug and alcohol withdrawal.

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Approved Medical Aids

What Does Withdrawal from the Rock Drug Feel Like?

Withdrawal from Crack Cocaine

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Home / Posts tagged "withdrawal symptoms"

Withdrawal from Crack Cocaine

16 July, 2020Articles, News

Although cocaine is used recreationally, it has also proven over many years, to be a highly addictive drug. Crack cocaine is one variant of cocaine and comes in the form of solid blocks or crystals which vary in colour. It is also known as “rocks”. Around the world, the rock drug has become available as a cheaper alternative to cocaine, which comes in powder form.

Crack cocaine is ordinarily smoked and is generally purer and far stronger than regular cocaine. The high that results from smoking rocks is relatively short-lived and lasts about fifteen minutes. Users often find that over time, abusing crack cocaine results in them needing more of the substance in order to achieve the same high.

At Crossroads Recovery Centres, we have experience with treating clients who struggle with an addiction to crack cocaine. As such, our trained staff members are accustomed to identifying and dealing with some of the symptoms of withdrawal. Essentially, when an addict stops using crack cocaine, their body goes into a shock-like state which can produce a variety of symptoms. Some of the most prominent symptoms of withdrawal include depression, anxiety and difficulty concentrating on singular tasks. Physical symptoms include muscular aches and pains, insomnia and vomiting. It’s important to realise that withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and can be determined by a number of factors including whether the addict has underlying medical conditions, how long they have been abusing the drug for and how much they have been using.

Typically, withdrawal from the rock drug can last from 3 to 10 days. For this reason, depending on each client’s unique circumstances and state of health, we allow for a detox period when clients enter the treatment programme at Crossroads Recovery Centres. During this time, clients are closely monitored by trained medical professionals to ensure that the process is as manageable as possible.

If you or a loved one is in search of help for addiction to the rock drug, know that help is readily available. Contact us for a free consultation and we’ll support you in your journey.

Sources: Mentalhelp.net