Author: James Anderson

Meth Withdrawal: Symptoms, Duration, Coping Tips, and More

The person who has a methamphetamine relapse is usually so filled with guilt and shame that they try to hide in the next hit. There’s a reason that drug and alcohol users continue going to meetings long after their last use. It’s easy to have a methamphetamine relapse and take that first hit, no matter how long a user has been clean and sober. Telling yourself that just one time won’t get me back into using is a self-deceit. Once the line is crossed, users have to start detox all over again. Meth withdrawal is a gruelling process that can cause many life-threatening side effects since methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous drugs available to people that can lead to addiction.

However, individuals may not fully recover executive and motor function, attentiveness, memory and learning ability for up to four years. Over time, repetitive meth abuse can cause a person’s mind and body to deteriorate. Methamphetamine creates an intense high that lasts five to 30 minutes, and the lingering effects can last up to 12 hours. The short duration of the drug’s euphoric effects cause people to reuse the substance, which can increase a person’s tolerance to meth. Dopamine and serotonin are two chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that can affect a range of things, including your mood, sleep cycle, and digestive process. Meth causes your brain to release its stores of both these neurotransmitters, contributing to meth’s pleasurable effects.

1. Inpatient rehabs are the best possible solution for those who choose to undergo the withdrawal process.
2. A comedown, which is also called a crash or a down, is a common occurrence amongst people who abuse the substance.
3. He also notes that there isn’t a lot of human data regarding what happens during meth withdrawal, which makes it hard to give a general timeline.
4. But treatment can help people safely detox and prepare to transition to inpatient rehab.
5. Someone who has abused meth for several years will likely experience stronger effects of withdrawal than a person who has abused the drug for a couple of months.

They may start smoking or injecting meth to experience a stronger, more immediate high. Meth withdrawal can be uncomfortable, but there are things you can do to make the experience more manageable. If you plan to stop using other substances, particularly alcohol, GHB/GBL, or benzodiazepines, talk with a medical professional first, as stopping these on your own can be dangerous. When it comes to using medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, receiving a prescription is best.

Should you seek professional care?

These feelings, called withdrawal, can last from several days to a few weeks. Depending on the method one uses to quit, withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a week to several months. If a person quits methamphetamine “cold turkey,” withdrawal symptoms will reach their peak around the 24-hour mark. However, because different kinds of meth can stay in one’s system for as long as three days, others can expect withdrawal symptoms to peak somewhere between days 2 and 5 after their last use.

The report indicated that other types of drugs failed to effectively treat meth-dependent patients, including GABA agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, ondansetron and mirtazapine. A 2005 study published in the journal Addiction indicated that amphetamine users can experience depression about seven to 10 days into withdrawal. Symptoms of depression may continue into the second and third weeks of withdrawal, but they usually end within the first two weeks. Withdrawal symptoms are “also dependent on individual brain chemistry, so each person can experience withdrawal differently,” Acheson says. He also notes that there isn’t a lot of human data regarding what happens during meth withdrawal, which makes it hard to give a general timeline. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice.

Crystal Meth Withdrawal & Comedown: Symptoms and Treatment

You can try to anticipate the intensity of your symptoms based on your consumption patterns, but there’s no guarantee around how things will unfold. But your experience after consuming meth (or any other amphetamine, for that matter) can vary quite a bit. Download our comprehensive eBook now for insights, strategies, and real-life stories to guide your journey to recovery. You can also try taking medication to help you sleep or manage uncomfortable symptoms.

Meanwhile, regular users’ withdrawal symptoms can last up to 3 years. It doesn’t matter whether it was used regularly or occasionally. Many people addicted to meth are unable to overcome their substance use disorder on their own.

When people take meth frequently or in high doses, it can eventually lead to a substance use disorder. Meth addiction can induce symptoms of withdrawal, a set of health problems that can linger for days. If you feel comfortable, you can bring it up with a healthcare professional. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement. Some people may safely tolerate meth withdrawal without medical supervision or intervention. But others may opt for, or even require, supportive care to manage their symptoms.

Additionally, as the user’s system continually absorbs Meth, it becomes reliant on the substance. As a result, the user is unable to function without it properly. If the user skips a dose or two or quits, the body will feel the drug absence. Methamphetamine withdrawal is basically the body readjusting without the drug it became dependent on. For example, some go through mild withdrawal symptoms, while others face excruciating pain as their system tries to readjust. Unfortunately, there is no “miracle” medication for crystal meth addiction that can make a comedown easy or erase the effects instantly.

Meth Withdrawal

Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that meth withdrawal symptoms can alter a person’s emotions. While going through meth withdrawal during detox, people often become angry, nervous or anxious.

Bednarczyk is the director of the Center for Health Outcomes, Pharmacoinformatics and Epidemiology. He said intense cravings are one of the reasons people want to avoid meth withdrawal. Once tolerance develops, people need to take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects.