When someone abuses amphetamines, whether they’re taking methamphetamines (meth) or abusing prescription medication, they’re endangering their physical and mental health. Because of the drugs’ addictive properties, amphetamine withdrawal can be quite risky without medical supervision. Professional amphetamine addiction treatment ensures patients make it through withdrawal safely, helping prepare them for the next steps in recovery.
How Can Meth Addiction Affect the Body?
Amphetamines work as stimulants to the central nervous system. They speed up the body and brain, making people more alert and focused. Doctors sometimes prescribe amphetamines like Adderall for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and other conditions. Under the right conditions, this is not a problem. Unfortunately, it isn’t always that way.
Though prescribed amphetamines are safe when used correctly, people can abuse them by taking more than the recommended dose. Methamphetamines, drugs that are chemically similar to amphetamines but illegal, have strong potential for abuse and meth addiction.
After prolonged use, amphetamines can change the way the brain works. The brain becomes unable to function properly without amphetamines, which means the body can’t function properly either. When someone who’s been using meth or other amphetamine substances stops taking them abruptly, their brain and body won’t be able to adjust. This results in painful withdrawal symptoms.
When Do Amphetamine Users Suffer Withdrawal Symptoms?
The timeline, severity, and duration of amphetamine withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person, depending on factors like their gender and weight, the length of time they’ve been using amphetamines, and any other drugs they use.
Typically, however, amphetamine withdrawal comes in three phases.
The first phase, known as the “crash,” can start within 36 hours of a person’s last dose. Crashes may last one to two days, with symptoms like cravings, depression, increased appetite, and increased need for sleep.
The second phase can last anywhere from a week to several weeks. Symptoms grow to include muscle pain, fatigue, mood swings, and trouble sleeping.
The third phase can last up to a year. Not everyone suffers amphetamine withdrawal symptoms longer than the first few weeks. Long-term amphetamine users and people who use multiple drugs are more likely to have extended symptoms, which can include chronic depression and anxiety.
Physical Signs of Amphetamine Withdrawal
Withdrawal from meth addiction and other amphetamines doesn’t usually come with dangerous physical symptoms. However, people will endure some physical discomfort during amphetamine withdrawal, such as:
- Fatigue and sleep problems
- Bodily twitches
- Nonspecific aches and pains
- Slowed movements
- Increased appetite
Rarer but severe withdrawal dangers include irregular heartbeats, seizures, and brain bleeds.
Behavioral Signs of Amphetamine Withdrawal
Compared to physical symptoms, psychological symptoms tend to be more common and prolonged in amphetamine users going through withdrawal. This is because of the way amphetamines affect brain chemistry and perception.
Especially in the third phase of withdrawal, people may experience:
- Difficulty with focus and concentration
- Depression and inability to experience pleasure
- Impaired short-term memory
- Hypersomnia or increased sleepiness
In some cases, people may experience severe depression and suicidal ideation as a result of amphetamine withdrawal.
Safe Detox at Springfield Wellness Center
A medical detox facility is the safest place to begin withdrawal from amphetamines and prepare for the long work of recovery. At Springfield Wellness Center, our trained medical staff offers supervised detox from stimulants, including amphetamines.
Our doctors tailor treatment plans to the patient’s unique needs. Anxiety and depression treatment is available to get people through the psychological and emotional effects of withdrawal. Springfield Wellness Center’s cutting-edge BR+NAD® therapy can help restore and repair brain cells that have been harmed by drug use. Contact us at 844.334.4727 or online to start your recovery or the recovery of a loved one.