Call Now
It can be difficult to understand drug withdrawal symptoms relative to just plain feeling bad. You can be so accustomed to a pattern of nausea, muscle aches, joint pain, or headaches that it’s the norm. Some pains may be part of being alive, and some may be related to substances or drugs that create harmful effects on our bodies. Remember, when your body is in pain, it’s telling you that something needs your attention! Perhaps it’s the drug intake that needs the attention.
NuLife Behavioral Health in Worcester and Framingham, Massachusetts, offers outpatient treatment for drug addiction and mental health conditions.
What is drug withdrawal?
All addictive substances make our bodies depend on them. Drug withdrawal is a physical reaction to the absence of a regularly consumed addictive substance. Suddenly quitting or reducing the use of such a substance is likely to start the drug withdrawal process. Drug withdrawal is a physical reaction to the absence of a regularly consumed addictive substance. Suddenly quitting or reducing the use of such a substance is likely to start the drug withdrawal process.
Drug withdrawal is related to regular use and will become more severe as usage increases in larger amounts. Symptoms may vary but most involve physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, which become extremely dangerous and painful when not treated.
How do I know it’s a drug-related withdrawal?
Drug withdrawal symptoms will begin shortly after you discontinue use of a substance. Their prevalence and intensity will depend on the drug type, usage amount, duration of use, and length of time since last use. The longer and heavier you have been taking the substance, the more intense your drug withdrawal symptoms may be.
Body mass and age affect withdrawal severity. A lower body weight or size can bring about symptoms sooner or make them more extreme, depending on the longevity and amount of drug intake. A higher body mass is an important factor in predicting slower drug clearance and longer, perhaps less intense withdrawal symptoms. Abruptly ceasing to take an addictive drug (“going cold turkey”) found in the following list is likely to create withdrawal symptoms.
Common withdrawal symptoms typically occur after heavy or prolonged use.
Alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal typically shows two or more of the following symptoms:
- Feeling anxious, jittery, or hyperactive
- Heavy sweating
- Rapid pulse
- Elevated blood pressure
- Hand tremor or shaking
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Hallucinations, either visual or hearing
- Tensions are shown in forms of continual body movement such as pacing, tapping, leg movements, and others
- Seizure where consciousness is lost
Opioids and Heroin. This class of drugs can cause complaints of anxiety, restlessness, and an achy feeling that is often located in the back and legs, along with irritability and increased sensitivity to pain.
Opioid and heroin withdrawal are very similar to each other. You can usually expect three or more of the following symptoms:
- General unhappy mood
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle aches.
- Runny nose or excess tearing
- Pupillary dilation, piloerection, or sweating.
Sedatives. Drugs include barbiturates, benzos, or ketamine. Withdrawal symptoms will involve two or more of the following:
- Autonomic hyperactivity (e.g., sweating or pulse rate greater than 100 bpm).
- Hand tremor
- Nausea or vomiting
- Visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions
- Psychomotor agitation
- Grand mal seizures
Stimulants. Some of the more popular drugs in the category are meth, cocaine, or prescription drugs. You will see two or more of the following within a few hours or several days:
- Vivid, unpleasant dreams.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia.
- Increased appetite.
- Moving slowly or spastically.
Drug Withdrawal Symptoms Impact
Symptoms of drug withdrawal impact families, social, work, and functional activities. Your withdrawal pain will leave you unable to have good relationships in any of these area. Your attention to detail will be impaired, as well as your ability to keep up with regular life duties. These effects will increase your isolation and aggravate any struggles you may have with an addiction.
Prior to the discovery of medication-assisted treatment, a person would have to endure significant physical distress before beginning recovery. Those days are long gone. NuLife Behavioral Health offers medication-assisted treatment, which helps make drug cravings manageable.
Withdrawal Management
Withdrawal management refers to the medical and psychological care of patients who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms because of ceasing or reducing their drug use. Today, there are specific withdrawal programs for each of the drugs listed above. They’re geared to reduce discomfort.
Continued Professional Support
Relapse is a common experience in the recovery process. That’s why NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts has relapse prevention programs and diverse levels of care. These care options include traditional outpatient services, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs. We treat each person with an eye on their immediate needs and long-term drug-free living.
Our PHP and IOP programs help you overcome challenges not only associated with addictions but also the events associated with withdrawal symptoms. Learning to make healthy decisions for your well-being is a priority here at NuLife.
If you or a loved one is experiencing the physical and mental distress these drugs create and their withdrawal symptoms, seek help at NuLife! Our professional staff will be here to support those struggling and believe that our individualized treatment plans help give our clients a foundation for lasting recovery.
