What are Withdrawal Symptoms?
Substance abuse withdrawal symptoms are the physical or mental effects felt by an individual who stops taking an addictive substance. These symptoms occur as a result of the body releasing incorrect amounts of hormones after habitual drug use has interrupted the normal chemical process of the responsible centers in the brain.
Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
Individuals struggling with drug abuse who experience withdrawal will have different symptoms depending on the length of substance abuse, amount used each time, and the type of drug used. Many symptoms of withdrawal are common and shared across multiple drug types. There are both psychological symptoms and physical symptoms, although severe physical symptoms are mainly experienced by those who suffer from alcohol addiction or opioid dependence.
Common symptoms of withdrawal by substance are as follows:
- Opioid Withdrawal: Agitation/Anxiety, Muscle aches, Cold flashes and sweating, Insomnia, Severe abdominal cramps, Diarrhea, Nausea and vomiting
- Alcohol Withdrawal: Anxiety, Shaky hands, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Insomnia, Sweating, In Severe Cases: Hallucinations, Seizures, Delirium Tremens (DT)
- Benzodiazepine Withdrawal: Anxiety, Agitation, Panic Attacks, Sweating, Heart palpitations, Muscle aches, Changes in perception and difficulty concentrating, In Severe Cases: Hallucinations, Seizures, Psychosis, Suicidal ideation
- Adderall Withdrawal: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Fatigue, Nightmares, Difficulty concentrating, Body Aches
- Cocaine Withdrawal: Anxiety, Depression, Agitation and restlessness, Nightmares
- Crystal Meth Withdrawal: Anxiety, Depression, Agitation, Sweating, Loss of motivation, Suicidal ideation, Dehydration, Paranoia
Many symptoms overlap drug types and every withdrawal syndrome shares the symptom of anxiety.
Going Through Drug Detox in a Rehab Center
Many drug addiction treatment facilities and rehabs today offer detox centers to those experiencing withdrawals to help with severe withdrawal symptoms. This is a process where an individual will stay on location at a treatment center so they can safely withdraw and receive medically supervised evaluation and support during addiction recovery.
During this time of drug and alcohol withdrawal, their body processes out the toxins from substance abuse or alcohol abuse and their brain regulates to produce normal levels of chemicals, hormones, and endorphins. These treatment centers have 24/7 nurses and caretakers to check your symptoms and provide medications such as those that decrease anxiety, help with nausea or vomiting, relieve pain, or ease sleep.
An MD is also onsite or on-call 24/7 in case any serious health complications should arise during the withdrawal process. Medical detox saves lives and prevents those who quit cold turkey from relapsing and returning to drugs and alcohol in order to relieve the pain of addiction withdrawal symptoms.
Medications Used To Manage Withdrawal Symptoms
These are the commonly used medications available during drug or alcohol detox to help with withdrawal management:
- Campral: used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reduces the brains dependence on alcohol by reacting with the brain’s neurotransmitter systems.
- Antiadrenergic agents: inhibits the signals of epinephrine and norepinephrine to facilitate alcohol detox, opioid withdrawal and benzo detox
- Phenobarbital, Clonazepam: anticonvulsant used in case of seizure or severe shaking
- Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro: antidepressants to help with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation
- Zofran: anti-nausea medication
- Methadone, Naltrexone, Suboxone: reduces cravings and withdrawal for those with opioid dependence or heroin addiction
How Long Will Withdrawal Symptoms Last?
The withdrawal timeline varies for everyone depending on personal use and health factors and also what substance was being abused, however it takes 5-10 days to experience withdrawal symptoms at detox facilities, with all but a few recovering individuals no longer feeling symptoms of withdrawal . Individuals may still feel tired from the detox process and mentally low as well, but severe and physical symptoms, even the worst ones of opioid addiction, will have completely gone away.
Serenity Oaks Drug Detox and Rehab in Fort Lauderdale
Specializing in creating personalized treatment plans and maintaining a low staff-to-client ratio, Serenity Oaks Wellness Center offers a five-week program where recovering individuals will undergo detox and a residential treatment program designed to start their recovery journey and provide the best chance at a life of long-term recovery from substance abuse disorder. The facility offers:
- Initial medically assisted detox with 24 hr care and monitoring administered by certified medical professionals
- Inpatient programs with
- Individual therapy: general therapy and information gathering
- Dual diagnosis and Behavioral therapy: identifying and understanding the underlying reasons for using substance abuse as a coping mechanism
- Group therapy: community building and practicing those first steps to building healthy relationships, finding a support system, and mending relationships on the outside
- Family therapy: helping loved ones understand addiction and the recovery process, how to help prevent relapse, mending relationships damaged by actions during substance abuse
- Partial hospitalization programs: regular meetings and therapies and possibly medications prescribed, like outpatient with a higher expectation of accountability
- Intensive outpatient programs: spend limited time at the facility for treatment to allow the client to continue to go to work or fulfill other obligations
- Alumni program: aftercare to help with relapse prevention and provide a support system and resources you may need after leaving treatment
Serenity Oaks is South Florida’s premier addiction treatment program and is nationally accredited with the qualifications, knowledge, and compassion to hold your hand and lift your spirits as you begin your journey down the road to recovery. Get in touch with us today at (833) 720-0708.
