Commonly known as Meth, methamphetamine is one of the most addictive drugs. It is solemnly prescribed and consumed illegally otherwise. Meth is an artificially produced drug and is manufactured in clandestine laboratories throughout the US.
Meth consumption stimulates the production of dopamine in our brain unnaturally which raises a sense of excitement and happiness. Excessive consumption of this drug could slow down the natural production of dopamine, hence, creating a dependency on the drug.
Withdrawal Symptoms
When the addiction becomes too severe, the user faces a lot of withdrawal symptoms while trying to quit the drug. If not addressed properly, these symptoms become too difficult to handle and can cause relapse. Some of the common meth withdrawal symptoms are:
- Fluctuated blood pressure and heart rate
- Vomiting and nausea
- Agitation and restlessness
- Energy loss
- Losing sexual desire
- Depression
- Minor paranoia
- Insomnia
- Increased appetite
- Suicidal tendency (worst case)
Detoxing From Meth
The best way to start the process of quitting meth is undergoing detox. The detox process can last for about two weeks to a few months depending on some factors like:
- Time period of meth abuse
- Frequency of dosage
- Amount of meth consumed
- Psychological factors interfering the detox process
The detox timeline varies for every patient. Some takes about two to three weeks while some worst cases can take about years to overcome withdrawal symptoms. The stages of the detox process would be:
Stage 1 (First 24 hours): patient experiences mild withdrawal symptoms after nearly 12 hours of leaving the drug. They might feel nervous, anxious and agitated.
Stage 2 (Day – 2 to 7): other symptoms take over like muscle aches, vomiting and nausea, anxiety, depression and mood swings with fluctuating heart rate and blood pressure with drug cravings.
Stage 3 (One week): other symptoms seem to appear like increased anxiety and depression and exhaustion due to lack of sleep with increased drug cravings.
Stage 4 (3 to 4 weeks): most of the withdrawal symptoms will fade by this time remaining only with depression and any craving that the body still might feel. Patient starts to feel better physically at this stage.
Stage 5 (After 4 weeks): almost all the symptoms will diminish and the body starts to function as normal. Patients should focus on exercising and a nutritious diet to help the body function better.
Treatment
Once the patient has crossed the tough path of withdrawal symptoms, he or she is ready to begin with the residential treatment and therapies. The therapists will help the patient look for the root cause of the addiction. After knowing the reason, the patient is able to understand and develop skills to prevent future relapse.
Skyward Treatment
The detox process might seem too difficult but it is for your better future. Skyward Treatment in CTA strives in helping patients deal with addiction. Call us now to make your life better and free from addiction.