Drug detox is the process of removing drugs from the body. This can be done through medication, therapy, exercise, and dieting. detox helps to repair the damage that has been done by addiction and withdrawal symptoms. It also helps prevent relapse as it allows people to recover on their terms, in their own time and space. This article talks about the side effects of drug detox.
1. Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are feelings of sickness that can lead to dehydration. People during drug detox need to ingest plenty of liquids and foods with high water content such as fruit, and vegetables to replace lost fluids. Dehydration may make withdrawal symptoms worse and increases the risk of fit seizures.
2. Headaches and Stomach Pain
Withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and stomach pain may be reduced by taking over-the-counter medications for headaches and stomach aches alike paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin. These should only be used on a short–term basis because of their potential to do long-term harm. Headaches are common during detox, especially if sleep is disrupted or fluid balance is not restored.
3. Fatigue and Sleeping Problems
Fatigue can be severe, with people sleeping for longer hours than normal. More sleep generally restores the body’s resources so that it may feel less tired over time. As withdrawal symptoms subside, fatigue may disappear. Sleeping problems are likely to occur because sleep is often disrupted during the early stages of withdrawal, especially if people are experiencing high anxiety or panic attacks.
4. Mood swings and Emotional Problems
During drug detox, people often feel moody, irritable, and experience strong emotions, which can seem overwhelming. It is common for people to experience mixed sadness, depression, anger, irritability, restlessness, and even elation. These overwhelming feelings can sometimes lead to impulsive behavior, which may put users at risk of relapse.
5. Dizziness and Vertigo
Dizziness is a feeling of faintness or light headache. The person may experience sudden falls or feel that they are falling even when they are still, for example, when rolling over in bed. Over time, these feelings disappear as the body’s natural balance returns.
How Long do Drug Detox Side Effects Last?
The time taken for drug detox side effects to pass varies from person to person. Some will experience withdrawal symptoms shortly after use, while others may not experience any at all. The strength, type of dependence, and frequency of use are major factors that determine how long drug detox side effects last for people.
It can take anything between a few days to several weeks for people to feel back to normal. Headaches, tiredness, stomach aches, and anxiety may last about two weeks. Mood swings, emotional problems, and sleeping problems may be protracted, with effects lasting from days up to three months after stopping using drugs.
Fatigue is the most likely withdrawal symptom that will persist over time. Recovering addicts can continue to experience tiredness for up to six months or more after detox.
As far as physical dependence is concerned, it takes on average three weeks for the body to return to normal, and people can expect withdrawal symptoms such as aches and pains, nausea, and irregular bowel movement to decrease during this time steadily.
What are the Risk Factors for Drug Detox Side Effects?
Several factors increase the risks of withdrawal symptoms. These include:
1. Age
The older someone is, the greater their risk of experiencing severe drug detox side effects. This is because older people tend to take more medication, increasing the chances of dependency and the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
2. Length of Drug Addiction
The longer a person has been taking drugs, the greater their risk of experiencing severe drug detox side effects. This is because the body’s tolerance to the substance builds up over time, so they need to take more for it to have an effect.
3. Abusing Multiple Substances
If someone is taking more than one drug, it is common for them to experience severe side effects because the substances influence each other in different ways.
4. Severity of Dependency
People who have developed a strong dependency are at greater risk of experiencing severe drug detox side effects because they need to stop using all at once rather than gradually reducing dosage.
5. Underlying Health Conditions
People who have pre-existing or undiagnosed health problems are at increased risk of experiencing severe drug detox side effects.
Conclusion
Drug detox helps to wean abusers off drugs or alcohol to eliminate withdrawal symptoms. The detox process typically lasts several days, but it can take weeks for the user’s body to return to normal. Drug detox side effects vary depending on individual factors such as age and length of drug use. The longer a person has been using drugs and the more they have abused them, the longer it will take for drug detox side effects to pass. However, through the detox process, the drugs can be removed from the body. Are you ready to get started? Call us now at 833-497-3812.