Some people avoid quitting drugs because they’re so terrified of the detox symptoms that they might experience. Many others relapse during the withdrawal process because reintroducing substances to the system is one of the only ways to reduce the discomfort. With the right supervision and medical management, however, you can diminish withdrawal symptoms and ease into an uplifting rehab experience that will pave the way for a successful recovery.
Alcohol Detox Symptoms
Alcohol is a depressant. Although it might make you feel livelier at parties, it suppresses the activity of certain neurotransmitters, slows down your motor functions and changes the way that your brain works.
If you continue to consume alcohol for a significant time, your body overcompensates to balance out these changes. It sends out more of certain chemicals, which would make you feel off-kilter if you hadn’t been numbing your system with alcohol.
This results in hyperexcitability when you abruptly stop using alcohol. You may experience agitation, irritability, shaking and nausea within the first 6 to 12 hours of withdrawal. Between 12 and 24 hours after quitting, you might have hallucinations. You could start having seizures within the next 12 hours.
Severe symptoms of detox from alcohol include delirium tremens, which is a psychotic condition that makes you feel confused and disoriented and can cause a dangerously rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.
Opioid Detox Symptoms
Like alcohol, opioids also alter your brain function in such a way that your body tries to adapt by flooding your system with different levels of chemicals than it normally would. Even when people don’t consider themselves to be addicted to painkillers, they may experience withdrawal symptoms after prolonged usage of narcotics.
Symptoms can begin as soon as 6 to 12 hours after your last dose of short-acting opiates and 30 hours after you stop using long-acting opiates. You might feel like you have the flu as you experience nausea, stomach cramps, muscle aches, and chills. You may also have intense drug cravings and depression.
These feelings usually peak around 72 hours and diminish a week or so later. The emotional effects of withdrawal can last much longer.
Benzodiazepine Detox Symptoms
Benzodiazepines are usually taken to treat anxiety and insomnia. You may feel relaxed while you’re on the drugs, but you can develop a tolerance if you use them for a prolonged period. As you increase your dosage, your body relies on the pills to maintain the same state of calm.
When you stop taking benzos, you might relapse, experiencing more anxiety than ever before. This can accelerate into panic attacks, insomnia, and irritability.
Symptoms of detox from benzodiazepines can be life-threatening. You could experience seizures and suicidal behavior. Many physicians don’t recommend quitting these drugs cold turkey. You should work with a healthcare professional to determine how to wean yourself off of the chemicals slowly.
The Right Detox Program Encourages Lasting Recovery
There are many medications that can help you get through detox comfortably. Some even regulate your vital functions and prevent potentially fatal reactions.
At Ardu Recovery Center, a drug and benzo detox center in Utah, we perform medically assisted detoxification through a variety of methods. We aim to keep you comfortable and support you as you go through one of the most extreme psychological and physical roller-coaster experiences of your life.
We use the following approaches to boost the health of your body and mind as you journey through withdrawal:
- IV amino acid therapy
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Nutritional therapy
- Medical detox
- Individual therapy
Don’t get beat down by detox. Rise up, and achieve your full potential by contacting Ardu Recovery Center today at 801-810-1234.
