When individuals who are addicted to a specific substance cease consumption suddenly, often in a detox environment, they will go through what is known as withdrawal. When in a supervised setting, withdrawal is a key process of recovery. However, it can be risky if done unsupervised. Explore the common symptoms of withdrawal and learn what to expect.

Emotional Symptoms of Withdrawal

Often, withdrawal symptoms are primarily thought of as physical in nature. However, that is not the case. Withdrawal can also bring about a range of emotional and psychological symptoms, some of which need to be carefully monitored.

Withdrawal can bring about feelings of anxiety in many patients. Addiction isn’t something that can be controlled, and in recovery the future may feel uncertain. For these reasons, anxiety is common.

Depression is also common in some patients going through withdrawal. As the body learns to function without its addictive substance of choice, it may feel overwhelming. Feeling depressed is a natural side effect of such a tremendous change.

Some patients also experience paranoia. They may think that they are victims or that medical professionals aren’t looking out for their best interests. This will pass, and is often just a short-lived symptom.

Withdrawal can also exacerbate existing mental health conditions. Those who struggle with things like clinical depression, borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia may see a resurgence in symptoms during the withdrawal period.

Physical Symptoms of Withdrawal

The greatest changes to a person in withdrawal will relate to their health. Depending on the substance in question, withdrawal from it can lead to a range of unpleasant physical side effects. Often, these symptoms are comparable to getting the flu.

It is nearly impossible to pin down the exact physical symptoms that can crop up during withdrawal. There are many factors that can influence what these symptoms will be. In particular, the kind of substance being abused will play a big role in withdrawal symptoms.

Also important to note is that withdrawal will be impacted by the severity of the addiction. Someone who has been using drugs for a decade will have a tougher time of withdrawal than someone who has only been using for a year. Similarly, those who routinely consume large amounts of drugs or alcohol will struggle more than those who only consume small or infrequent amounts.

Some of the most common physical symptoms of withdrawal include the following:

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cramping
• Temperature fluctuations
• Restlessness
• Sneezing

Serious Symptoms of Withdrawal

Many of the most common symptoms of withdrawal are unpleasant, and may be uncomfortable, but they can be managed by most patients. In addition, medical supervision can help to reduce any unpleasant symptoms and ensure the comfort of patients. There is, however, the risk of more serious symptoms of withdrawal that should be addressed.

While rare, it is possible for patients who are in withdrawal from drugs or alcohol to have a stroke or a heart attack. This may happen because the stress of detoxing from an addictive substance puts too much pressure on the heart or the circulatory system.

Hallucinations are also a rare but possible side effect of withdrawal. Patients who are in withdrawal might be convinced that they are seeing visions or hearing voices, but these symptoms are just side effects of withdrawal itself. However, hallucinations can become incredibly unpleasant and overwhelming for patients.

Seizures can also happen during withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. If patients are being monitored and are in a safe environment, these seizures may not result in any long-term problems.

The chance of these more serious symptoms cropping up during withdrawal is slim. Nonetheless, it is critical that patients only participate in withdrawal when they are in the right setting. Trying to detox solo without medical expertise or supervision is an dangerous choice that could lead to irreparable damage.

Duration of Withdrawal Symptoms

The exact duration of the withdrawal and its symptoms will depend heavily on the individual, his or her history of addiction and the addictive substance in question. However, most individuals will work through the symptoms of withdrawal in under one week. Symptoms tend to peak at 72 hours after last consumption and improve thereafter.

Keep in mind that PAWS, or post acute withdrawal syndrome, is a common part of the recovery process. Months after withdrawal has ended, PAWS can be a milder, secondary withdrawal. Individuals should be aware of the potential of PAWS in order to be strong against it and work through any lingering symptoms.

Withdrawal Symptoms for Specific Substances

The symptoms of withdrawal can vary depending on the substance people are withdrawing from. Some of the most commonly used addictive substances in the United States include opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines and alcohol.

Heroin and prescription painkillers might appear very different, but they are both opiates. Therefore, withdrawing either can be very similar. Opiate withdrawal is often characterized by a very strong flu-like feeling. Chills, bone aches and muscles aches are among the worst symptoms reported by patients.

During a cocaine withdrawal, patients may experience a lot of agitation and restlessness. It is common for those who are addicted to cocaine to feel very sad and even depressed. It may be difficult to be positive without the stimulating effects of cocaine.

A withdrawal from alcohol is considered one of the most medically dangerous types of withdrawal. Dehydration is a major concern thanks to extreme sweating, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Sensitivity to light is common, and patients may also experience tremors, seizures or hallucinations. It is vital that those with alcohol withdrawal symptoms are monitored around the clock by trained medical professionals.

Withdrawing from benzodiazepines like Valium or Xanax is often accompanied by digestive trouble. Cramping, diarrhea or nausea are all possible symptoms. In addition, individuals can experience a range of psychological side effects. Thoughts of suicide and paranoia are common.

The symptoms of withdrawal are varied. However, what doesn’t change is the need for medical supervision throughout withdrawal. This ensures that individuals withdrawing from drugs or alcohol can remain safe and healthy throughout the detox and recovery process.

Even things as relatively simple as over-the-counter drugs can be helpful, reducing pain and keeping many withdrawal symptoms at bay. It’s a good idea to discover more about the realities of detox and how professional facilities may use drugs to aid drug detox for their patients.

Understanding the Withdrawal Symptoms of a Drug Detox

Although specifics can vary significantly depending on the drugs used, the severity of the addiction and the history of the patient, a typical drug detox will last anywhere from one to two weeks. The first withdrawal symptoms typically appear around 12 hours in, and they tend to peak at around 72 hours. While those first few days may be the hardest to get through, this stage is vital to lasting sobriety.

Withdrawal symptoms can be physical and/or psychological in nature, and they are often very unpleasant for patients. Detox is essentially when the body relearns how to function without the substance it is addicted to, which means that there are major psychological and chemical changes taking place. As a result, it’s common to experience nausea, struggle with diarrhea or be extremely dehydrated. Other common withdrawal symptoms include depression, insomnia, changes in appetite and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Over-The-Counter Medications That Can Ease Detox Discomfort

One of the benefits of attending a professional, medically supervised detox program is having access to around-the-clock care and the option of prescription medications. In many cases, however, common withdrawal symptoms can be best treated with ordinary over-the-counter medications. These milder medicines can be just as effective as more extreme measures, and they are also less likely to cause health problems as the body goes through such a sensitive period of transition.

Loperamide is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter medications during a drug detox. Loperamide is the main ingredient in anti-diarrhea medicine, and it’s often used when patients are detoxing from opiates. Many patients are surprised to learn that Loperamide is actually a form of opiate, although it doesn’t deliver a high. Taking Loperamide during detox can prevent diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, but it can also help prevent other withdrawal symptoms since the body believes it’s getting a small dose of opiates on a regular basis.

Ibuprofen is perhaps one of the most common over-the-counter medicines used among people in America, and it’s just as commonly used in drug detox facilities. Ibuprofen reduces inflammation, which relieves pain and discomfort. During a detox from drugs, inflammation is likely, and it can cause everything from severe headaches to muscle pain. Ibuprofen is a simple, but incredibly effective way of reducing these symptoms and easing discomfort for patients.

A drug detox can bring on withdrawal symptoms such as a constantly runny nose or itchy eyes. Antihistamines have few to no side effects, but they can go a long way in reducing these symptoms quickly and effectively. Surprisingly, antihistamines can also be helpful among patients who are having trouble sleeping, since they can also be used to treat insomnia or restlessness in the night.

Dehydration is a major problem during detox, and it’s often the cause of a lot of discomfort. Diarrhea, vomiting and sweating, along with a lack of appetite or thirst, can easily cause extreme dehydration in just a matter of hours. Thankfully, this can be remedied with something as simple as electrolyte solutions and beverages. Electrolyte replacement shakes, or even salt tablets, can restore balance and hydration in the body quickly.

Prescription Medications During a Drug Detox

The best type of a professional drug detox will combine over-the-counter and prescription medications to help patients. Often, it’s the milder, more common medications that work most effectively and have the lowest risks. However, one of the benefits of being medically supervised 24/7 is having access to stronger, more potent medications if and when it becomes necessary.

While an ordinary electrolyte replacement shake can be beneficial for many patients, sometimes this basic approach won’t work. In that case, an I.V. can be used to stave off extreme dehydration and worsening symptoms. Similarly, if a medicine like antihistamine won’t help insomnia in patients who are seriously lacking in sleep, then a stronger sedative could be prescribed on an as-needed basis.

Risks of Improperly Used Medications

Although over-the-counter medicines carry lower risks than most prescription medications, that doesn’t mean that patients should take them without consulting a medical professional first. Some seemingly harmless drugs are contraindicated with one another, and taking two simultaneously could actually worsen, rather than improve, withdrawal symptoms.

It’s also important to note that even ordinary medications can become addictive, and it’s vital to watch for this. Imodium, for instance, with its primary ingredient of Loperamide, contains opiates. While short-term use in moderate doses can be helpful, addiction is possible. The last thing that patients want is to leave detox free from one addiction but now struggling with another one.

The Advantages of a Professional Drug Detox

There are many advantages of attending a professional drug detox rather than going through withdrawal at home alone, but one of the most important is accountability. Even when detox is challenging, having people supporting and helping patients means that they are more likely to complete the program and achieve sobriety.

Keep in the mind this vitally important fact: in a professional detox, patients will get medical attention around the clock. They don’t have to add stress to the process of withdrawal by worrying about whether one medicine will worsen symptoms or cause health problems. Instead, they can relax and focus on recovery, trusting nurses and physicians to make the right decisions for their health and sobriety.

While detoxing from drugs can be difficult, something as simple as over-the-counter medications can help. In a professional detox setting, certain ordinary medications can be effective in treating withdrawal symptoms and making the process less painful for those patients committed to achieving sobriety.