Author: James Anderson

Ecstasy Withdrawal & Detox Symptoms & Timelines

Because the drug affects mood-altering chemicals in the brain, the user often experiences psychological symptoms when they withdraw from regular use. They may also experience physical symptoms like jaw clenching, appetite suppression, and extreme tiredness. Generally, the withdrawal process from ecstasy takes a few days, but some symptoms can persist for weeks. This can include people, situations, or circumstances that can prompt a desire to take drugs. Techniques such as CBT can help individuals learn to identify and avoid their triggers by developing alternative coping strategies. In essence, CBT helps clients learn new, drug-free ways to cope with triggers that might encourage them to use ecstasy again.

In an addiction treatment program, you’ll have support throughout the entire recovery process, including detox. Medical professionals will assess your overall health and identify supportive care you need. You may receive medications to manage certain symptoms of withdrawal, such as insomnia or anxiety. While every individual is unique and will have different needs, many centers provide tailored recovery plans. Below is a list of the most common forms of treatment programs and what they entail.

During this period, individuals may experience increased depression and memory problems, along with cravings and insomnia. Eliminating an addiction to ecstasy consists of multiple stages of rehab that target the physical, psychological, and emotional causes of addiction. Dosage plays a small role in the severity of withdrawal symptoms because, generally, if someone is addicted to MDMA, they are not taking small doses. The single biggest complicating factor of Ecstasy withdrawal is that it is usually not pure MDMA but a mixture of multiple drugs.

This requires an individual to stop taking ecstasy, and this is best done through medically supervised detox. Withdrawing from ecstasy is somewhat similar to withdrawing from stimulants. The severity of withdrawal will depend on overall health, reasons for taking the drug, and length of use. PHP also involves counseling and group therapy as well as specialized services that focus on skill-building, relapse prevention, and employment assistance.

Seeking medical help during Ecstasy withdrawal can help alleviate both withdrawal symptoms and the risk of complications. The half-life of MDMA is about 6-10 hours, meaning half of a dose is broken down by the body in that amount of time. Because it takes five half-lives to completely remove MDMA from the system, most people need about hours or around two days. More frequent usage will prolong withdrawal symptoms, sometimes from just a few days to up to a week.

What Causes Withdrawal From Ecstasy?

In most cases, the therapist provides incentives to the patient in exchange for ongoing abstinence and acceptance of treatment. Dialectical-behavior therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on mindfulness, how to live in the moment, how to cope with stress, and how to improve relationships. DBT also helps clients identify negative influences in their lives and learn how to develop healthy coping skills.

This includes an understanding of how situations, people, or the environment can trigger an addictive desire to take ecstasy, or how to introduce healthy behaviors that can steer them away from using. CBT is known to be effective and long-lasting as clients can continue utilizing these strategies once their therapy sessions have ended. Standard outpatient programs are suited to individuals who have just completed an inpatient program and want to continue some form of therapy. Standard outpatient is also ideal for people who may be juggling other responsibilities such as work or school. Ecstasy addiction is more psychological than physical, but withdrawal can still occur.

If you have any pre-existing health conditions, like depression, the withdrawal process is likely to be more intense. Coupling the depressive symptoms of ecstasy withdrawal with co-occurring anxiety or depression can even be dangerous, so it’s imperative to have psychological and medical support during this process. If withdrawal symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, this is sometimes referred to as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). For ecstasy, this extended period can be due to underlying mental health conditions, especially if the individual has anxiety and/or depression. Known for its widespread use as a “party drug”, ecstasy is commonly taken by young adults to boost their mood and energy, which can lead to emotional and psychological addiction. This is especially the case for individuals with underlying mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, as withdrawal from the drug can exacerbate these conditions.

If the body is already coping with other issues, it is less able to adjust to the changes brought about by withdrawal. However, there are a few medications that have proven to be helpful during the rehabilitation process. Contingency management is another effective treatment for addiction and is based on a reward system.

Ecstasy Withdrawal and Detox

Therapy and ongoing support are essential during this time, as relapse is likely. The temptation to take more ecstasy in a simple effort to feel good again can trigger a relapse. These neurochemicals also boost the mood and cause people to feel more empathy. Through guided therapy, patients learn about issues connected to addiction and relapse. These sessions are designed to promote self-esteem and self-worth while the patient and therapist work together to reinforce positive behavioral changes.

1. They may also experience physical symptoms like jaw clenching, appetite suppression, and extreme tiredness.
2. This is especially the case for individuals with underlying mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, as withdrawal from the drug can exacerbate these conditions.
3. Luckily, there are plenty of options when it comes to recovering from ecstasy addiction.
4. While these symptoms can fade after 2 weeks, they can sometimes last for months.
5. She is the founder of The Master in You, a mental wellness site that provides information about the role that thoughts and emotions play in our physical and emotional health.

For less severe ecstasy withdrawal symptoms, inpatient or residential settings can facilitate the withdrawal management process.8 These facilities may offer support for other aspects of recovery. Either setting can help you get connected with a substance use treatment program once you overcome withdrawal symptoms. Rehab facilities that offer dual diagnosis are often staffed with psychiatrists or clinical therapists that can diagnose and/or treat co-occurring mental health conditions. This kind of treatment is especially useful for people who have underlying issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This allows clinicians to safely address these conditions alongside withdrawal from the ecstasy itself. For individuals who are seeking intensive treatment but still prefer to live at home, partial hospitalization (PHP) or day treatment programs are also available.

Ecstasy Withdrawal & Detox

Detox programs are available at certain clinics and medical facilities where they supervise a person’s drug withdrawal and provide supportive medications where necessary. These clinics are usually staffed with a team of doctors and nurses who have experience with addiction and drug withdrawal. Individuals who relapse or return to using MDMA after a period of abstinence may have a lower tolerance to the substance. And if they return to the same dose they were previously using, their body may be unable to handle this amount and it could result in severe and dangerous effects.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is all dependent on how long the person has been taking ecstasy, how much they took during their last session, and what other drugs were used simultaneously. While these symptoms can fade after 2 weeks, they can sometimes last for months. It is important to know what to expect during Ecstasy withdrawal if you or a loved one are addicted to the drug.

People with an addiction to MDMA should consider detoxing with the help of trained staff at an addiction and rehab facility like The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health Drug and Alcohol Rehab. Also, If any other drugs were present in the Ecstasy pills, these could be identified with drug testing techniques. With a comprehensive approach to recovery, you can stop using ecstasy for good. Detoxing from ecstasy is best done safely under medical supervision where clinicians can keep you safe and comfortable. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. When MDMA is actually in the mixture, there are often other drugs mixed in as well.