Stimulant Withdrawal

What Is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal is a period of time during which the user expels the drug from their body. During this time, the user is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, which are byproducts of the body’s attempt to achieve chemical equilibrium without the drug. Specific symptoms of withdrawal vary according to many different factors, including the particular drug of abuse, the length of time of the addiction, and biological factors such as the sex, age, and medical history of the user. Withdrawal symptoms are generally uncomfortable, but if the user attempts to treat these symptoms by self-medicating with other drugs, whether illicit or pharmaceutical, withdrawal can become dangerous.

Symptoms of Withdrawal from Stimulant Abuse

Some stimulant withdrawal symptoms, like those of methamphetamine, show most vividly in the user’s ability to think and perform basic motor functions. Other stimulant withdrawal symptoms include a sense of fatigue, unreasonable fear, disinterest and depression, “crashes” (characterized by a quick decline in mood), hallucinations, bad dreams, and trouble feeling happy or content. It is during withdrawal that the user feels powerful cravings for the drug, and they may accidentally overdose in an attempt to quell their stimulant withdrawal symptoms. Users may also try to self-medicate with over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, or other substances, which can react badly together or which may be too strong for the user’s compromised bodily health. For these reasons, stimulant withdrawal treatment is necessary to ensure a safe, successful recovery.

Medically Assisted vs. Unassisted Withdrawal

Coping with stimulant withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant, uncomfortable, and, in some cases, dangerous. The urge to return to the drug to ease withdrawal can be too tempting to resist without assistance. At BetterAddictionCare, we can use our nationwide recovery network to help you find a customized, medically assisted detox program specially designed to keep you comfortable through the withdrawal period. Highly trained medical staff will be on hand to adjust the treatment to meet your personal needs, and after detox concludes, clients are welcome to speak with a counselor or take advantage of after-treatment support services to help them get back on track.