Author: Alex Thompson

Methamphetamine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Stages and Duration

The same 2011 study found that participants slept a lot in the first few days of not using meth and reported higher post-sleep refreshment. Yet the overall quality of sleep, measured by the length of time it takes you to fall asleep and the number of times you wake up, remained low even after 3 weeks had passed. When you stop using meth, though, your brain is left without enough dopamine or serotonin, causing withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms fade as your brain replenishes its store of dopamine and serotonin.

Treatment may ease the mood symptoms and prevent short-term physical symptoms like tremors, nausea or vomiting. Clearing meth from the body and overcoming withdrawal symptoms is the goal of detox, which is the first step of treatment for meth addiction. Once detox is complete, people can seek counseling and other services to learn how to quit meth and maintain long-term sobriety. Upon admission, a medical team will assess the patient’s health and well-being.

Methamphetamine withdrawal is usually an unpleasant experience. Fatigue may set in first, followed by overwhelming feelings of depression. Many people also experience paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety and insomnia. When the drug is completely out of your system, your doctor will help you prepare for treatment. Your loved one might deny having a problem at all or refuse to seek help.

Choosing the Best Meth Detox Center

The primary physical symptoms of meth withdrawal are sleep problems along with painful headaches. During initial withdrawal, people may spend most of their time catching up on food and sleep. Appetite and sleep patterns usually return to normal after a few months without meth. Methamphetamine (also known as “crystal meth”) is an extremely addictive drug.

1. Identifying the exact duration of meth withdrawal is difficult because the length and severity of withdrawal symptoms vary by person.
2. Most of the time, meth withdrawal is almost completely over within 7 days.
3. With significant levels of physiological dependence, a person may continue to compulsively drink or use drugs to avoid unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
4. Unfortunately, while medications like this exist for other drugs (opioid pain medications, for example), there are no FDA-approved prescriptions for stimulants like methamphetamine.

When coming down from a meth high, or after prolonged use, many report feeling very upset, sad and depressed as a result of the psychological impact that this drug has on the user. If you feel comfortable, you can bring it up with a healthcare professional. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement. Meth withdrawal can be uncomfortable, but there are things you can do to make the experience more manageable. If you plan to stop using other substances, particularly alcohol, GHB/GBL, or benzodiazepines, talk with a medical professional first, as stopping these on your own can be dangerous.

Depression and Unease: Seven to 10 days

Although treatment outcomes are comparable to that of other chronic conditions, recovery is an ongoing process that can take time. According to evidence from early clinical trials, anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies may reduce and slow the effects of meth in the brain. The goal of treatment is to help you lead a healthy life without using meth. Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety. If you — or your loved one — are ready to get treatment, you may find it helpful to bring a supportive friend or family member into the fold. The first step is to recognize any misconceptions you might have about substance use and addiction.

By the end of the first week, these symptoms largely decline. Once tolerance develops, people need to take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects. They may start smoking or injecting meth to experience a stronger, more immediate high. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. When it comes to using medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, receiving a prescription is best.

Your prescriber can determine the best option for your symptoms. They’ll also make sure it won’t interact with any other medications you take. You’ll definitely want to consider consulting a medical professional first if you also intend to stop using other substances you’ve been mixing with meth. This is especially important for alcohol, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), GBL (gamma butyrolactone), or benzodiazepines, as these can be dangerous to stop using on your own. Older adults or people who’ve used meth for a long time may experience more severe, longer-lasting symptoms. Another small 2011 study involving 13 participants found that depression symptoms largely resolved after 1 week, while anxiety and other symptoms decreased within 2 weeks.

What You Need to Know About Meth Withdrawal

A small 2005 study found that some low-level symptoms may continue for up to 2 weeks, though. Meth withdrawal symptoms can be physical, mental or behavioral. They can be intense, lasting for days and, in some cases, weeks. Many factors determine the length of withdrawal symptoms, including the amount of time the person has been addicted. Meth produces an intense high that comes on and fades quickly.

While meth detox is difficult, and withdrawal will be tough, it’s important to remember that you will not have to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal for very long. Most of the time, meth withdrawal is almost completely over within 7 days. For many, the entire process is completed within 72 hours, for others, it can take up to two weeks. After the initial withdrawal process is complete, creating a plan for further treatment is vital. Detoxification is one major step toward rehabilitation, but the journey to health and wellness continues long after this phase.

Detox is the safest and most effective way to treat drug addiction. After detox, the next step of treatment is going to rehab to tackle the underlying psychological causes of addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction to Meth, there is help available.

During this time, individuals may experience fatigue, excessive sleep and increased appetite. Meth addicts will experience intense withdrawal when they quit using the drug. Medically-assisted detox can help with Meth withdrawal symptoms, making the whole process less severe. Until this becomes a widespread medication available for use in detox centers, supportive care and a combination of comfort medications and behavioral therapy should be utilized.

He also notes that there isn’t a lot of human data regarding what happens during meth withdrawal, which makes it hard to give a general timeline. Research has shown that methamphetamine withdrawal follows a predictable pattern. Learn more about the risks and side effects of substance use disorders, including the signs of intoxication or overdose. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs.

Transition Into Further Treatment

This can lead to continued use, which can exacerbate health problems. But treatment can help people safely detox and prepare to transition to inpatient rehab. During the first two days of abstinence, a person experiences a crash, also known as a come down. The body is depleted of energy and becomes more vulnerable to disease.