Withdrawal Symptoms
Before diving into the common drug withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it is important to know they can vary depending on the substance.
There are millions of people who become dependent upon or develop an addiction to drugs. When they try to stop using those drugs, they may have withdrawal symptoms. If you have a tolerance to drugs or alcohol, it may be a good idea to learn about the symptoms of withdrawal that you might experience.
Before diving into the common drug withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it is important to know they can vary depending on the substance.
Opiate and Heroin Withdrawal
Heroin is a type of opioid. Opioids attach to and activate opioid receptors in the body. After the activation, there is an increase of dopamine released in the person’s brain. When someone has higher dopamine levels in their system, their body becomes conditioned to need the substance to feel “well”.
Due to the massive release of feel-good chemicals in a person’s body when using opioids, it is no wonder why this is one of the most common drugs people abuse. This combined with the difficult physical withdrawal symptoms keep millions of people stuck.
Many people think they are safe because they have an opioid prescription. However, a prescription doesn’t stop someone from building up a tolerance to these drugs. Even people who only use opioids or opiates for a short time can become dependent on them.
Have you been using opiates, heroin or other opioids? If so, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. Some symptoms you might encounter include:
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Sleep issues
- Excessive yawning
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Cold flashes
- Profuse sweating
- Chills and goosebumps
- Body aches
- Muscle cramps
Withdrawing from opioids usually doesn’t cause life-threatening problems. However, the symptoms can be unpleasant. The good news is that rehab center programs can help reduce and manage withdrawal symptoms, so you don’t have to be so uncomfortable.
Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are another drug many people abuse. A doctor might prescribe these drugs to treat panic disorder, anxiety disorder, seizure disorder, tremors and other health conditions.
Benzos are medications that cause depression of the central nervous system. They also increase signals from nerve cells to the brain to help manage the health conditions above. Some of the common benzodiazepines doctors prescribe are Ativan, Xanax, Librium, Valium and Klonopin.
If you stop using benzodiazepines, some symptoms you might experience include:
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Delirium
- Muscle cramps
- Nightmares
- Blurry vision
- Hallucinations
You don’t have to struggle with these symptoms on your own. You can enter a detox program and rehab center program today.
Cocaine Withdrawal
Many people use cocaine. It is a stimulant drug that is very addictive and activates the brain’s reward area by blocking dopamine removal. When someone gets high on cocaine, their body may feel as if nothing else can make them feel as good as this drug.
If you have been using cocaine but then stop, you may experience various drug withdrawal symptoms. Some symptoms you may experience include:
- Rebound mood (whatever mood you were in before using cocaine)
- Depression
- Irritation
- Nervous energy
- Psychosis
- Suicidal thoughts
- Hallucinations
- Lethargy
Withdrawing from stimulants is different than doing so with other drugs. Most of the symptoms with stimulant withdrawal are psychological or emotional rather than physical. Due to this factor, the treatments for cocaine withdrawal generally consist of mental or emotional health services.
Withdrawing from Alcohol Use
Many people don’t think alcohol is a drug. The truth is alcohol is one of the drugs that people abuse the most. The symptoms people may experience when withdrawing from alcohol can be severe and life-threatening.
If you are withdrawing from alcohol, some symptoms you might go through include:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chills
- Tremors
- Delirium Tremens
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
Going through the alcohol withdrawal process can be extremely grueling. However, you can get help from detox and rehab center professionals throughout the entire process.
Treatments for Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal
There are millions of people who go through drug and alcohol withdrawal every year. The types of drugs people withdraw from vary from cocaine to opioids to alcohol. No matter what substance you need to stop using, there are treatments to help you.
Some of the common treatments for drug and alcohol withdrawal include:
- General detox programs
- Medication-assisted treatment (Naltrexone, Buprenorphine, and Methadone)
- Support systems
- Sponsors
- Emergency medical services
If you are ready to detox from alcohol or other drugs, it is best to reach out for help. Trying to go at the process on your own can be highly uncomfortable.
After receiving the detox services, it would be best to enroll in an addiction rehab center program. You can start inpatient treatment. You can also go to a partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. During your rehab center treatment, you may want to get family services, as well. These services can help your family better understand what you are going through, so they can provide better support for you.
Getting Help Through the Withdrawal Process
So many people struggle with drug and alcohol addictions. The good news is that millions of people do decide to stop using harmful substances. If you are one of them, it is vital to get the help you need when going through the withdrawal process.
The first step to getting help through this process is to call rehab center professionals. You will need to start a detox program. This is a program that helps you get alcohol and drugs out of your system. Then, you can pick one of the treatment programs to continue your journey into recovery. Once you have gone through that program, you can receive aftercare services.
Don’t waste another day. Reach out to us today to get help with withdrawal symptoms and your recovery.
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