Through detoxing, you are trying to rid the body of methamphetamines. Meth withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that many people trying to quit meth will begin using again just to deal with the discomfort. This is why it is so important to enter a meth detox center rather than trying to quit on your own. Withdrawal takes place within 24 hours of stopping use. At first, you may feel fatigued, and then a great wave of depression washes over you. When you try to detox from meth on your own, there are no medical professionals to help guide you through the process, and the next hit is only an arm’s length away.
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How Meth Detox Works
In the first 24-48 hours after stopping use, you will feel a crash. Along with abdominal cramps, sweating, and nausea, you will feel like you have no energy, and your ability to think rationally and clearly will also falter. Over the next 3-10 days is when withdrawal symptoms are most likely to peak. This period is the phase of withdrawal where your body tries to adapt to not having any meth in your system. The anxiety, depression, and fatigue can be overwhelming. You may also experience muscular pain and shaking. This is when the drug cravings are at their strongest.
In the third week of detox, days 14-20, many of the physical symptoms have begun to subside, but the drug cravings still linger. These cravings can be very intense, but your body is getting used to having no meth to lean on. Depression and fatigue are still prevalent but should be waning by now. After a month has passed, the worst of the withdrawal symptoms are usually gone, and those that remain begin to fade away slowly. Meth affects the mind as it affects the body, and the feelings of anxiety and depression may continue for several months.
10 Signs of Methamphetamine Withdrawal
Every person’s experience is unique, and not everyone will go through the same withdrawal symptoms or at the same intensity. These symptoms will reduce over time and do so more rapidly with help from a meth detox center. Symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Headaches
- Hunger
- Aggression
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Sleep disorder
- Confusion
- No gratification
These symptoms may be overwhelming, which is why it can be helpful for you to have professional attention during the withdrawal process.
Medication for Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
Medicine cannot help with ridding your body of meth. Only time can do that. However, there are medications that can alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Modafinil, a drug used to treat narcolepsy by regulating how you sleep, helps with cravings and any troubles with sleeping too little or too much. Modafinil has also been proven effective in treating memory loss and other cognitive issues you may encounter during the withdrawal process. Bupropion is an antidepressant that helps people trying to quit smoking and has been effective in regulating dopamine, which counteracts deficiencies in dopamine caused by long-term meth use. Prozac can help with anxiety and feelings of depression.
Reach Out to Ethan Crossing Recovery Today
Detoxing from methamphetamine takes place in several stages. The body must first rid itself of the drug, and then the mind must hold on to counteract the symptoms of withdrawal. Medication can be necessary to help with the symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression, which can be overwhelming at times.
At Ethan Crossing Recovery near Springfield, Ohio, we focus on family engagement and the therapeutic process. We offer several wellness services, including yoga and music therapy. This is a long and challenging process, and we will support you throughout the journey. Anyone can get help at any point. Ethan Crossing Recovery serves the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Ohio area. Contact us today.