These feelings, called withdrawal, can last from several days to a few weeks. The effects of meth use can be felt long after a person stops using the drug. Research has shown that cognitive abilities improve after three months of not using meth. 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.
Understanding Meth Withdrawal
As the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant. When people who regularly take methamphetamine stop using it, withdrawal symptoms can occur. It will also discuss treatment how long does a salvia trip last options for methamphetamine withdrawal and provide links to helpful websites.
Older adults or people who’ve used meth for a long time may experience more severe, longer-lasting symptoms. Keep in mind that your behavior while using meth, like not eating or drinking water, can make your withdrawal symptoms more severe. Bednarczyk said avoiding withdrawal is “part of the reinforcement maverick house sober living for addictive behavior.” Using meth makes people addicted to the drug feel better.
A person ready to stop methamphetamine use can search for local facilities at FindTreatment.gov. According to a 2022 review, withdrawal symptoms occur when the body tries to re-adapt to a decrease in drug usage. These are usually present before a person stops using methamphetamine. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. During this time, symptoms may peak and then gradually begin to decrease.
The Crash: One to Two Days
Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of addiction treatment. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Unfortunately, while medications like this exist for other drugs (opioid pain medications, for example), there are no FDA-approved prescriptions for stimulants like methamphetamine. First, those who have taken meth for longer periods of time will usually withdraw for longer. Higher regular doses of meth affect the length of withdrawal in the same way.
Symptoms of Meth Withdrawal
Clearing meth from the body and overcoming withdrawal symptoms is the goal of detox, which is the first step of treatment for meth addiction. Once detox is complete, people can seek counseling and other services to learn how to quit meth and maintain long-term sobriety. The primary physical symptoms of meth withdrawal are sleep problems along with painful headaches. During initial withdrawal, people may spend most of their time catching up on food and sleep.
- As the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant.
- Medical staff will also keep the patient’s loved ones informed and updated on their progress.
- While symptoms tend to steadily improve in 1 or 2 weeks, sleep issues may actually worsen after improving within the first week.
- When this happens, the person may experience a range of distressing physical and psychological health problems.
- 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.
- Detoxification is one major step toward rehabilitation, but the journey to health and wellness continues long after this phase.
For this reason, medically supervised detox can be a addiction recovery art crucial part of a care plan. Detox centers and rehabilitation facilities provide around-the-clock medical supervision to those undergoing detoxification. Nurses and doctors on staff will ensure you are adequately hydrated and have the proper nutrients, allowing you to detox healthily and safely.
Those who choose to stop using the drug cold turkey without medical supervision may not know how to alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms. Attending rehab for detox is much safer because patients have access to immediate medical care. The most severe effects of meth withdrawal typically occur within the first couple days of detox. Although symptoms gradually subside within one to two weeks, certain withdrawal effects can persist for several weeks after someone stops taking the drug.