Sometimes, just having someone there who cares can make all the difference. It can be difficult for both of you when your loved one is going through withdrawal. Withdrawal can be physically and emotionally taxing, and your loved one will need all the support they can get.
The addicting drug causes physical changes to some nerve cells (neurons) in your brain. Examples include methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called MDMA, ecstasy or molly, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as GHB. Other examples include ketamine and flunitrazepam or Rohypnol — a brand used outside the U.S. — also called roofie. cbt for alcoholism and drug addiction These drugs are not all in the same category, but they share some similar effects and dangers, including long-term harmful effects. Substituted cathinones can be eaten, snorted, inhaled or injected and are highly addictive. These drugs can cause severe intoxication, which results in dangerous health effects or even death.
Withdrawal, or substance withdrawal, is a process the mind and body go through after a person stops consuming a substance or consumes less of the substance. In general, people who consume more of a substance and more often are most likely to suffer from withdrawal. People who have previously gone through withdrawal, have a substance use disorder, or have a mental health condition are also at an increased risk. For example, alcohol is a known depressant of the central nervous system. Over time, various neurochemical systems of the brain adjust their output and sensitivity to compensate for its presence, typically producing increased amounts of stimulating neurochemicals like noradrenaline.
Withdrawal symptoms from opiates include anxiety, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include irritability, fatigue, shaking, sweating, and nausea. Withdrawal from nicotine can cause irritability, fatigue, bipolar disorder and alcohol insomnia, headache, and difficulty concentrating. Many prescription and legal nonprescription substances can also cause withdrawal symptoms when individuals stop consuming them, even if they were taken as directed by a physician.
- If you do start using the drug, it’s likely you’ll lose control over its use again — even if you’ve had treatment and you haven’t used the drug for some time.
- Long-term drug treatment is vital to overcoming the psychological impacts of substance withdrawal.
- When you use a substance like alcohol or opioids, your body releases a feel-good chemical in the brain called dopamine.
- “NAS” is the term for the symptoms a newborn may develop due to withdrawal when they stop receiving the substance after birth.
- Biological factors, such as metabolism, age, gender, and any medical or mental health conditions, also play a role in the intensity of drug withdrawal.
You also might feel tired from the many thoughts and emotions that can overwhelm you when you don’t have alcohol or drugs to numb them. Physical withdrawal refers to the physical symptoms individuals experience when they stop using a substance, such as sweating, muscle aches, and nausea. The severity and type of withdrawal symptoms depend on the substance used, how long it was used, and the individual’s overall health.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms
The problem with this scenario is your body eventually requires more of that substance to feel the same results. As you continue to increase the amount and frequency, your body builds a tolerance, requiring a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same high you felt when you first started using it. Then, if you abruptly stop using the drug (especially after long-term use), your body is thrown off balance, and the withdrawal process begins, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. If you’ve ever ditched your usual morning cup of coffee or afternoon energy drink only to get a pounding headache several hours later, then you’re familiar with withdrawal. While caffeine withdrawal is milder and less dangerous than what you would experience with other drugs or alcohol, it helps you understand this complex process.
Medical Detox for Managing Withdrawal Symptoms
Your loved one might need help with practical tasks like preparing meals, going to the bathroom, and getting around. If possible, offer to help with these tasks so your loved one can focus on healing. One of the best things you can do is explore treatment options together. This way, you can better understand what withdrawal entails and the best course of action. Withdrawal can be different for everyone, so finding a treatment plan that will work for your loved one is crucial.
In order for the symptoms of withdrawal to occur, one must have first developed a form of drug dependence. This may occur as physical dependence, psychological dependence or both. Drug dependence develops from consuming one or more substances over a period of time.
Opioid and Opiate Withdrawal
Detoxification typically involves individualized treatment with medications that mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal and diminish the risk of complications such as seizures. Dr. Hanson agrees and adds that medical detox is just one part of the process—the other half addresses the emotional and psychological issues that led to the substance-use disorders in the first place. It’s important to note that trauma isn’t always the cause of substance use. It can also occur from simple recreation use, experimentation, or an addiction to prescription pain medications after a procedure. While addiction withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, they typically end after 2 weeks, especially with the help of medically managed detox.
Your doctor may be able to help if you are having trouble managing your symptoms and provide medical supervision to ensure your safety as you detox from a substance. Withdrawal is the combination of physical and mental symptoms a person experiences after they stop using or reduce their intake of a substance such as alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs. For example, a medical professional can prescribe medications to relieve muscle aches, mental health symptoms, or severe distress and agitation. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is the term for the withdrawal symptoms a newborn experiences after birth when they are no longer receiving the substance in utero.
“NAS” is the term for the symptoms a newborn may develop due to withdrawal when they stop receiving the substance after birth. If a child with NAS is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, they may receive intravenous fluids. These are fluids that a qualified healthcare professional administers through a vein. The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal are often mild and not life threatening.
Opioid Withdrawal Causes
This class of drugs includes, among others, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone. Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be prepared as an herbal tea. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than “natural” or harmless products.
