Half a million Americans suffer from amphetamine addiction. However, with appropriate care in a treatment program, you can take the steps needed to address your condition and regain control over your life.
When you decide to stop using amphetamines after an extended period of abuse, you will inevitably experience withdrawal symptoms, some of which may be quite severe.
In the first stage of withdrawal, a person addicted to amphetamines will go through a “crash” phase that will likely last for one-to-two days. Early symptoms of withdrawal may include severe fatigue, excessive sleep, a sudden burst of appetite, lingering cravings and feelings of depression.
As withdrawal progresses, you will likely continue to experience a depressed mood and your energy will remain low. But your excessive need to sleep could be replaced by insomnia, as your body struggles to find a proper balance between waking and sleeping hours.
Other withdrawal symptoms you experience during this second stage could include:
These symptoms will usually continue for three-to-five days, although depression and mood swings may last for a few weeks if the amphetamine addiction is severe.
To avoid being overwhelmed by amphetamine withdrawal symptoms, gradual tapering of dosages is recommended. Consider participating in a medically-supervised detox program offered by a residential drug and alcohol treatment center. During detox, all of your physical and emotional needs will be addressed by a team of medical professionals. Emphasizing on helping you make it through your withdrawal symptoms with a minimum of discomfort.
While medications are not recommended specifically for amphetamine withdrawal, antidepressants can help take the edge off the depression. Depression often accompanies this part of the recovery process. Benzodiazepines for anxiety and antipsychotics for hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms may also be prescribed. However, only for use during the seven-to-10-day detox period (benzodiazepines in particular can be addictive if used for more than a few days)2.
After withdrawal symptoms have stabilized, you will be ready to move on to formal treatment for amphetamine addiction.
We provide holistic care and treatment using an individualized approach specifically tailored to your needs. Secondly, we help you lead a healthy, substance-free life with adaptive coping and problem-solving skills. Contact us today for more information on our certified staff of professionals, as well as our first-rate facilities.
