Can Stimulant Withdrawal Symptoms Be Dangerous?

Stimulant drugs will turn on your brain, causing intense energy and euphoric effect. Stimulant addicts often feel more capable, more courageous, and more robust. Upon abuse of the drugs, the addicts can handle more than they usually do.

It is easy to overdose the stimulants, and the result is life-threatening. Stimulant overdose may subject the addict to psychosis, seizures, palpitations, or death. Popular stimulants are amphetamine-based. Other CNS stimulants include ecstasy and cocaine. The two drugs have different mechanisms of action as compared to amphetamines.

Addicts consume the stimulants through smoking, sniffing of powder, or swallowing the tablets, and they are highly addictive. Injection of methamphetamine leads to an intense rush which persists for few minutes. Snorting is not associated with an intense rush. However, it elicits a euphoric effect within three to five minutes after ingestion. Most people abuse stimulants because of their pleasurable outcome, which include:

  • Delayed fatigue.
  • A feeling of well-being.
  • Enhanced attention.

Methamphetamine’s euphoric effect occurs when your body releases an enormous amount of dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical that controls motor function, pleasure, and motivation. In an attempt to achieve the high, the addicts take more doses leading to addiction. Amphetamines act on the reward center of the brain. As people binge, they go without sleep and food for several days. Note that methamphetamine differs from other stimulants because a more significant portion of it remains in the body unchanged. Thus, its stimulant effect persists for a long.

Treatment of Stimulant Addiction

Persistent abuse of stimulants may lead to addiction. For effective and holistic therapy, the choice of rehab centers is vital. Professional therapists at Columbus, Ohio, are ready to assist you live stimulant-free life. Medical detoxification is essential for long-term addicts and those with co-occurring conditions. At the recovery center based in Columbus, Ohio, the medical specialists provide full-time monitoring as traces of stimulants get eliminated from the body through detoxification. During the detox process, the addicts may experience severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal Symptoms

When there is an abrupt stoppage in the consumption of stimulants, many undesirable withdrawal symptoms set in. The mental and physical effects present during drug detoxification and withdrawal are the opposite of the drug’s primary influence. Stimulants that often provide energy and elevate mood will be associated with lethargy, low energy, and depression during the withdrawal phase. In most instances, the stimulants lack life-threatening effects. However, it is challenging to cope with the symptoms physically and emotionally and signs set in as soon as you halt the drugs’ consumption. Withdrawal symptoms associated with stimulants like methamphetamine include slow movement, increased appetite, vivid dreams, fatigue, unpleasant dreams, and psychosis. More withdrawal symptoms that you could experience within a day after a sudden stop in the consumption of stimulants are:

  • Irritability.
  • Low concentration span.
  • Restlessness.
  • Drug cravings.
  • Anxiety and depression.

Note that the duration and intensity of the withdrawal symptoms vary significantly. However, most of the symptoms range from seven to 10 days. The withdrawal symptoms could also persist for about five months after halting the use of the stimulants. Medical specialists at the detox center will prescribe some medications to assist in relieving the withdrawal symptoms. The medicines include anti-nausea and anti-anxiety drugs. The aim is to ensure that the detoxification process is as convenient as possible. You will benefit from the comprehensive programs comprising counseling, hydration, and proper nutrition at the recovery center. Although detox is a critical step in managing stimulant addiction, it is not effective as a single program. Hence, the need to combine it with other programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapies. CBT is critical in managing cocaine addicts. It aims at identifying the risk factors for abuse of the stimulant and working towards changing the thoughts. As behaviors change, clients adopt better coping mechanisms to handle life challenges while sober.

Effect of Stimulants on the Heart

Recent studies reveal that stimulant addicts are prone to premature ageing of the cardiovascular system. More so if you are addicted to methamphetamine. Amphetamine effects include elevated heart rate, high blood pressures, rupture of aneurysm, stroke, and heart attack. Note that amphetamine abuse is dangerous to the heart, especially on individuals with pre-existing risk factors. As you age, over-stimulation is hazardous to your heart. Stimulants such as cocaine may cause heart attack or promote cardiac arrhythmia risk factors. Note that intense depression is one of the significant risks associated with stimulant withdrawal. Depression is associated with suicidal tendencies. It is one of the reasons detox centers in Columbus, Ohio, offer medically supervised detoxification. The therapists will assist you in overcoming such harmful thoughts. We can help you or your loved one to overcome stimulant addiction. Call us now at 833-497-3812.