Ever experience a caffeine headache? You know, that nagging pain you got when you were rushing out the door and forgot about your morning cup of coffee. We’ve all been there, but what you might not know is that the headache is a sign of caffeine withdrawal. That’s right, even skipping one morning coffee can lead to a mild withdrawal that typically shows in the form of a headache or general fatigue.
Why Do Withdrawals Happen?
Using drugs like opioids, alcohol, anxiety meds, or stimulants causes your brain to change how it works and reacts. Withdrawals happen because, as you keep using these substances, your body starts to rely on them for everyday functions, leading to dependence. When the substance is suddenly reduced or stopped, the body enters a state of withdrawal, initiating a battle to regain balance. Withdrawal from drugs is a hard battle for both the body and the mind, revealing just how hard they need to work to get back to normal.
How Does Withdrawal Work?
As painful and uncomfortable as it can be, withdrawal is a healing process. Drugs and alcohol affect every aspect of your body, which each needs to rebalance in different ways.
The brain must ramp up or ramp down the production of certain chemicals.
If someone is taking a substance that increases their dopamine levels, the body will decrease production of dopamine to regulate. Similarly, alcohol inhibits glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, leading the body to produce more to compensate. When alcohol is removed, the overabundance of glutamate can cause tremors, anxiety, or even seizures.
The nervous system must recalibrate.
Substances will often suppress the sympathetic nervous system, also known as the body’s “fight or flight” response. When that substance is gone, the body can’t equalize quickly, which can increase the heart rate and spike blood pressure.
The liver needs time.
The liver’s role is to remove toxins from the body’s blood, including alcohol and drugs. Each substance is different in terms of how long it will stay in the body. Alcohol can stay in the bloodstream for a few hours while heroin can take days to fully process. Notably, liver function can decline if it is overworked over a period of time.
It can take weeks to re-establish a normal sleeping rhythm.
Drugs and alcohol can wreak havoc on a person’s circadian rhythm. This is as much due too the lifestyle that comes with substance abuse as the substances themselves.
Let’s look at some of the common symptoms of withdrawal, navigate why detox is so important, and learn how you can avoid withdrawal.
When Do Withdrawals Start?
In cases of heavy alcohol use, withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as six hours of stopping use. For drugs the onset of withdrawal symptoms can vary significantly based on the type and frequency of use.
Common symptoms of drug withdrawal
The way withdrawal feels can vary widely based on the substance, usage, duration, dosage, and individual health factors. However, withdrawal symptoms often fall into two main categories: physical and psychological.
Physical symptoms, based on the type of substance you’re using, may include:
- Opioids: Muscle aches, sweating, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting.
- Alcohol: From mild symptoms like anxiety and sweating to severe conditions such as seizures and delirium tremens.
- Benzodiazepines: Anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms.
- Stimulants: Changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and physical lethargy.
Psychological symptoms commonly involve:
- Anxiety, depression, and mood swings, with an intensive craving for the substance.
- Cognitive impairments, including concentration difficulties and memory problems.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are two types of withdrawal: acute withdrawal and protracted withdrawal. Acute withdrawal is the initial emergence of symptoms after suddenly discontinuing the use of a substance. These symptoms tend to be the opposite of the effects of the substance.
The length of acute withdrawal ranges according to the following substances:
- Alcohol: 5-7 days
- Benzodiazepines: 1-4 weeks, or 3-5 weeks if reducing dosage gradually
- Cannabis: 5 days
- Nicotine: 2-4 weeks
- Opioids: 4-10 days; methadone may be 14-21 days
- Stimulants: 1-2 weeks
Symptoms that last beyond this period, or recur after this period, are known as protracted withdrawal (also known as post-acute withdrawal, chronic withdrawal, or extended withdrawal).
Why is detox important?
Detox, the initial step in clearing the body of substances, is crucial for several reasons. It represents the first concrete step towards recovery, providing a foundation for long-term treatment and rehabilitation. Medically supervised detox can mitigate the risks associated with withdrawal, especially from alcohol and benzodiazepines, through medication and supportive care. It also addresses psychological symptoms, offering a safer and more comfortable transition towards sobriety.
Unfortunately, some types of drug and alcohol withdrawal can be just as dangerous as abusing the substances themselves. Heroin, painkillers, alcohol, and benzodiazepines are some of the most dangerous drugs to withdraw from due to how they affect the body and interact with certain brain receptors. People addicted to these drugs can reduce their risk for overdose or death by seizure by receiving professional drug detox at a drug or alcohol rehab center.
A common saying in the addiction world is that withdrawing from certain substances can kill you, while other substances can make you feel like you want to die. Depending on the type of withdrawal you experience, you may have symptoms that last from days to weeks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
While the withdrawal process can be intimidating, drug and alcohol detox can help you safely withdraw from substances with a reduced risk for complications. Symptoms like dehydration, increased blood pressure, and seizures can all be life-threatening and cause death when withdrawal takes place outside of a controlled medical environment. Medical detox allows you to recover from drug dependence while receiving medical care and supervision, and often involves the use of medications that can relieve and reduce symptoms.
How to prevent drug withdrawal
Drug withdrawal can be scary, painful, and life-threatening. Fortunately, there are detox methods that can prevent you from having any symptoms at all so that you can experience a safer, more comfortable recovery.
People who suffer from heroin and painkiller addiction may receive medications in drug detox that can relieve drug cravings and other opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are FDA-approved medications for use in treating opioid dependence and addiction. These drugs can be prescribed as part of medical detox or medication-assisted treatment, the latter of which is typically combined with counseling and behavior therapy.
Those who suffer from addiction to prescription drugs like benzodiazepines, amphetamine, and sleep aids can be put on tapering schedules to avoid withdrawal. Tapering involves doctor-supervised reduced dosing of these drugs gradually over time until a patient is no longer using the medication. Tapering schedules and medication management are included as part of drug detox.
Preventing drug withdrawal starts with addressing substance use before it escalates to dependence. Education, early intervention, and access to treatment are critical. For those already experiencing dependence, careful tapering under medical guidance, rather than abrupt cessation can help manage or prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, adopting a holistic approach to recovery, including therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes, can reduce the likelihood of relapse and withdrawal recurrence.
Navigating withdrawal with support and care
The journey of withdrawing from a drug is a challenging phase of recovery, marked by a complex of physical and psychological symptoms. Understanding these symptoms, the risks associated with different types of substances, and the critical role of detoxification underscores the importance of a supportive, medically informed approach to withdrawal.
Prevention, through education, early intervention, and comprehensive care, remains the best strategy against the challenges of withdrawal. As individuals navigate this difficult path, the support of healthcare professionals, along with personal resilience and community resources, can pave the way towards healing and a future free from substance dependence.
About Cumberland Heights
Cumberland Heights was founded in 1966 with a firm, focused mission: to transform lives, giving hope and healing to those affected by alcohol or drug addiction.
We’re a nonprofit organization, a resource of leading clinical expertise, and the first Tennessee addiction treatment center to achieve certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. We’re also a community. At Cumberland Heights, staff, alumni, and advocates walk with each patient through every step on the journey to recovery, helping them rewrite their story – a story of hope, healing, and happiness.
We exist to serve those who are seeking addiction treatment in Middle Tennessee, and we have a Cumberland Heights program near you! Our main campus is located in Nashville, Tennessee, but we have treatment centers across the state of Tennessee in Jackson, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Clarksville, Crossville, Cookeville, and more.
We’re here to help. If you or a loved one would like to learn more about Cumberland Heights, click here or call 615-314-3856.
