What is withdrawal in drug addicts? Symptoms, causes, treatment, duration of withdrawal. Drug addict withdrawal or withdrawal syndrome

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Today, drug addiction has turned into a real epidemic, it has affected all cities and towns of our country, entered many families and destroyed thousands of lives.

Drug addiction

Drug addiction is one of the most terrible diseases that completely enslaves a person and takes control of his life. Formed addiction to drugs leads to the fact that the addict constantly wants to use them. This desire is not controlled by him; he follows it against common sense, despite the destruction of his health.

Drug addiction has a number of features that distinguish it from other human diseases. Let us note these differences between drug addiction diseases and other diseases:

Drug addiction is complex. It includes two addictions: psychological and physical.
Drug addiction diseases destroy all areas of a person’s life. Drug addiction destroys the physical sphere of life, that is, health; the emotional sphere, relationships with others, the inner life of a person; social sphere, his family and career; as well as the spiritual sphere, completely depriving the drug addict of moral principles and high goals.
Drug use does not endanger just one organ, but disrupts the functioning of all systems and organs of the body, leading to their irreversible pathologies. This is due to the constant intoxication to which the drug addict exposes himself.

Psychological addiction to drugs

Drug use is a disease that can develop in almost anyone. The reason for this is that most people have internal psychological prerequisites for developing addiction. Usually a person seeks in drugs for consolation from life’s failures or an opportunity to solve them in this way. For example, an indecisive or very shy teenager may begin to use drugs that promote communication and emancipation.

As a result, when a psychoactive drug is used by a person who is potentially predisposed to acquiring addiction, his psyche begins to find many advantages in a state of intoxication, a solution to his problems. So people, not wanting to change, to acquire healthy communication skills, take the “easier” path, as it seems to them, - they go into the world of drug dreams. When psychological dependence on drugs is formed, a person begins to use them more and more often. Without psychoactive substances, life no longer seems satisfactory to a drug addict; he is missing something.

Dosages are gradually increased because tolerance to the drugs increases. To achieve the same level of euphoria that was observed during the first doses, the previous doses are no longer enough. Drug use becomes regular.

Physical dependence on drugs

Regular use of a narcotic drug makes fundamental changes in the biochemical processes of the body. The drug is included in the metabolism, it replaces any of its components, which are normally produced by the body itself. As a result, it turns out that the organs stop producing these substances, because they already do so, without effort, in huge quantities. When this happens, we can say that the person has acquired physical dependence on drugs.

Drug withdrawal

Most likely, every adult and many children and teenagers have heard about withdrawal from drug addicts. Withdrawal for drug addicts becomes an insurmountable obstacle to stopping use. It’s not called withdrawal syndrome for nothing. As soon as the drug stops entering the human body after long-term and regular use, the addict experiences psychological and physical painful symptoms, and withdrawal symptoms occur. In the case of drug addiction, withdrawal is called drug withdrawal.

Withdrawal begins some time after the last dose of the drug. Its duration, symptoms, and intensity depend on the type of drug, length of addiction, volume of the last dose, and the general health of the person. Let's give a few examples.

Spice withdrawal

When a person has developed a persistent physical dependence on spice, he experiences painful withdrawal without being able to smoke it. At this point, the addict begins to experience the following withdrawal symptoms:

Behavior changes, he becomes irritable, subject to sudden mood swings and depression.
The state of a drug addict can vary from frightening aggression to no less terrible lethargy; a person in this state is characterized by paranoia.
The patient's sleep is disturbed, the overall tone of the body decreases, performance decreases, drowsiness and muscle weakness are observed.
There may be trembling throughout the body, pain in the joints and muscles.

Drug withdrawal from spice begins 10-12 hours after the last dose. The described symptoms of withdrawal are observed in the patient for several days. It is difficult to say exactly how long withdrawal from spice lasts; this is due to the fact that the unstable composition of the drug acts differently each time. In addition, it matters whether detoxification was carried out and how it is carried out: at home or in a clinic.

Phenibut withdrawal syndrome

Phenibut can rightfully be called a pharmaceutical drug, because it causes mental and physical addiction in the patient. When the drug is withdrawn, a person develops physical signs similar to the withdrawal symptoms of a drug addict: chills, weakness, impaired thermoregulation of the body. The habit of relieving psychological discomfort with the help of a drug leads to mental dependence on it. During withdrawal from phenibut, the following psychological symptoms are observed: depression, thoughts of suicide, and a strong desire to take the drug again. With long-term therapy with phenibut, there is a high probability of withdrawal symptoms when it is discontinued. Exactly how long the withdrawal syndrome from phenibut will last will depend on the dosage, duration of use, and the patient’s condition.

Withdrawal from methadone

Symptoms of withdrawal in methadone drug addicts are painful: severe pain in joints and muscles, cramps, headache, gastrointestinal problems (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea), apathy and fear, depression and panic attacks. Methadone withdrawal lasts 3-4 weeks. The use of methadone is dangerous not only due to an overdose due to the cumulative effect, but also methadone addiction has the following features: the drug suppresses cough and gag reflexes, so phlegm is not removed from the body, and vomiting does not occur in case of severe intoxication. This can lead to the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in the respiratory tract and toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, a drug addict can be killed by pneumonia or poisoning.

Signs of withdrawal in drug addicts: causes, treatment

As you can see, each drug causes withdrawal with its own specific symptoms, but among them there are some that are common to all types of drugs.

Physiological symptoms of withdrawal, characteristic of most narcotic drugs:

Pain, sensations of twisting, aching in bones, joints, muscles.
Lower back pain.
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract, most often painful diarrhea, which leads to dehydration and exhaustion of the body, as well as nausea and vomiting.
Convulsions, up to convulsive attacks, tremors of the limbs.
Symptoms similar to colds and flu: runny nose, increased lacrimation, chills.
Disturbances in sleep and wakefulness, insomnia.

Psychological symptoms of withdrawal, characteristic of most addictions:

Irritation, aggressive behavior, manifestations of unreasonable anger.
General weakness, lack of physical and mental strength.
Feeling of loneliness, meaninglessness of life.
Manifestations of fear from mild anxiety to horror and panic attacks. At the same time, fear does not leave the patient in his sleep in the form of nightmare visions.
The addict loses interest in the world around him, becomes withdrawn, and stops communicating even with loved ones.
Relationships with other people are destroyed, they are perceived as enemies, which causes inappropriate behavior in the drug addict.

Why is withdrawal relief necessary?

Withdrawal syndrome or drug withdrawal requires mandatory treatment, that is, the removal of this condition with the help of medical means.

It is withdrawal that leads the addict to use the next dose, leading him in a vicious circle of addiction. Therefore, by helping a person relieve withdrawal symptoms, you thereby give him a chance for recovery.
The danger of withdrawal, which is not relieved by detoxification measures, is that the addict’s desire to take the drug is so strong that there is a huge risk of relapse after a period of abstinence. Over these few days, the human body has already partially cleared itself naturally, and its tolerance to the drug has decreased. Therefore, in the event of a relapse, a regular dose of a drug can cause an overdose, which is how many drug addicts died.

Withdrawal relief in the clinic and at home

Relieving drug withdrawal is a process of detoxification of the body. After all, it is the presence of toxic waste in the tissues and biofluids of the body that leads the drug addict to a state of withdrawal. Drugs and their derivatives prevent the body from adjusting to a normal mode of operation without the participation of narcotic substances.

Relief from withdrawal in drug addicts can take place in a specialized clinic, which is more preferable, as well as at home

Medical detoxification in a hospital. This treatment is considered more effective and safer for the patient. Drug addiction is a serious disease characterized by a strong craving for drugs. In a specialized clinic, it is possible to exclude the patient’s access to drugs. Here the drug addict is under constant supervision of specialists, which makes it possible to adjust prescriptions during the treatment process. Accommodation in a clinic provides greater opportunities for hardware detoxification. When acute conditions occur, doctors can always use resuscitation measures and intensive care.
Relieving withdrawal symptoms at home, calling a narcologist. This method of treatment is also acceptable. In this case, the specialist will not be able to use hardware therapy methods, but it is possible to carry out high-quality detoxification treatment at home. Droppers based on saline solution allow you to quickly relieve intoxication and dehydration of the body. They also add general strengthening agents and means to alleviate drug withdrawal. If the patient’s condition is of concern, the narcologist recommends placement in a hospital.
Detoxification with home remedies. This method is appropriate in cases of first use, when the body is not yet heavily polluted and there is no stable addiction. Home remedies can only carry out light detoxification, as well as supplement the main course conducted by a narcologist. Home remedies include everything that helps remove toxins from the body naturally: increasing the volume of drinking water, active sports, visiting a bathhouse, and a light diet.

Drug addiction treatment course

Drug addiction is a complex disease that requires step-by-step treatment, and withdrawal relief is only the first step towards recovery. A full course of drug addiction treatment includes detoxification, rehabilitation and socialization of the addict. All these stages are important and necessary in order to get rid of addiction completely.

In our First Step center, we provide comprehensive treatment for any type of drug addiction, from withdrawal withdrawal to socialization and the return of a former drug addict to normal life. When selecting a treatment course, we always take into account the type of addiction, medical history and psychological characteristics of the patient. This makes it possible to select the most suitable treatment and rehabilitation option for the clinical case. In order to get advice from a specialist on withdrawal symptoms and drug addiction treatment, you need to dial our call center, it works around the clock. The phone number is listed on the website page, using it you can get a free consultation right now. Take your first step towards recovery.

If you decide to overcome your opiate addiction, take strength. First of all, you will have to cope with severe withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal syndrome), known as drug withdrawal. A number of over-the-counter medications can help: painkillers for body aches, antihistamines for nausea, and loperamide for diarrhea. Also talk to your doctor about possible prescription medications. Read about the symptoms, try to calm down and not be afraid, and also consider joining a Narcotics Anonymous group or going to a specialized clinic to survive withdrawal and begin the path to a drug-free life.

Attention: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any medications, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1

Over-the-counter drugs

Buy an over-the-counter pain reliever. This may be paracetamol, ibuprofen (Nurofen) or naproxen (Nalgesin). Painkillers can help you cope with the pain that comes with withdrawal. The slight pain that you were drowning out with drugs will intensify when they leave your body. Ibuprofen and naprxen are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a similar mechanism of action, and if you take them together, be careful not to exceed the total dose allowed for each drug (the dosage of paracetamol is counted separately).

Buy an antihistamine with a sedative effect. Sedating antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Diphenhydramine) or dimenhydrinate (Dramina, Aviamarin), can help control nausea and help you fall asleep.

Buy medicine for diarrhea. Loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium, Lopedium) is best suited. In its structure, this drug resembles the narcotic analgesic pethidine (banned in Russia), but does not pass the blood-brain barrier (the barrier between the circulatory and central nervous systems).

Buy a two-week supply of over-the-counter medications. To avoid running out of medications and having to go to the pharmacy in the midst of withdrawal, take care of this in advance.

Take a vacation. It may take you up to two weeks to get through withdrawal and get back to normal, so try not to work during this time. If you have children, it is better to go to a clinic or move in with someone you trust during this time, so that the children do not see the withdrawal process.

Reduce the dosage of the drugs you use. Reduce the dose by 25% every two to three days to ease withdrawal symptoms.

Consider going to a day hospital at a drug treatment clinic. This way you will receive medical care without having to be in the clinic around the clock.

Be sure to see your doctor if you have previously had suicidal thoughts or have physically harmed yourself. During withdrawal, such thoughts may return and your life will be at risk. If you have a history of depression or other mental health problems, drug addiction treatment should be supervised by a physician.

You can go to a drug addiction treatment clinic. This time, to one where there is an overnight hospital. There you will be offered several treatment options, including:

Provide positive reinforcement. Here are strategies you can try:

Tell yourself that the pain of withdrawal is like the pain of childbirth: this is how your new personality, free from drug addiction, is born.
Write yourself a note, “I’m doing great, and I can do this,” and hang it somewhere visible.
Reward yourself for every drug-free day (with something non-drug-free, of course!).

Don't forget to eat and drink water. You may not feel like it at all, but your body needs nutrition and water. Eat foods that are easy on the stomach, such as crackers and yogurt. Be sure to drink water or fruit juices to replenish the fluid your body loses through vomiting or diarrhea.

Provide yourself with light physical activity. Don't overexert yourself, just go out for a short walk or do easy household chores. Physical activity will lift your mood and help take your mind off your symptoms.

Believe in yourself. As cliché as it may sound, it will be easier for you to cope if you believe in your success. Constantly tell yourself that you will succeed, that you are strong and will not go astray. Try not to lose your positive attitude. If it helps you, come up with a mantra or simply a phrase that you repeat to yourself as a reminder.

Part 4

Getting rid of addiction once and for all

Give up drugs for your sake and yours alone. You won't be able to give them up forever if you do it for the sake of your parents, children, wife or husband. You have to decide for yourself that you have had enough and you no longer want to ruin your life.

Join an organization that helps you overcome drug addiction. Although Narcotics Anonymous societies are not so widespread here, find out if there is something similar in your city. No matter how skeptical you may be, the help will be invaluable: not only will you go through a step-by-step drug withdrawal program, but you will also meet people who are going through the same thing as you and share their experiences. In addition, you will have a case manager who is available to talk to you at any time about your addiction and your struggles with it.

Communicate with the right people Leave behind those with whom you used drugs and who could push you back onto the harmful path of drug addiction. And even more so, avoid those who, as you know, sell drugs.

Be prepared for the process to take a long time. Acute withdrawal lasts from 3 to 14 days. However, it may be replaced by the so-called post-withdrawal syndrome.
- Post-withdrawal syndrome often resembles other mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder and psychosis. People often experience apathy, confusion, memory problems, sleep disturbances and mood swings, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
- If you are experiencing post-withdrawal symptoms, seek help and support. Otherwise, you may go back to using drugs.
- It's easier to gain strength and quit drugs when you have support. Those who truly care about you will be happy to help you through this difficult time.
- Buy yourself tasty and not necessarily healthy food. Sometimes it’s unhealthy fast food or sweets that can lift your spirits. Put aside worry about eating healthy for now. Eat your favorite chocolate if it helps take your mind off how bad you feel. You'll worry about calories later.
- If you have a non-tiring hobby, like crafting or playing a musical instrument, it can help you take your mind off things and pass the time. The main thing is to prepare so that everything you need is at your fingertips.
- Be sure to tell your husband or wife what is happening to you so that your loved one can help you and not blame themselves.
- Read a good book.
- If you have injected drugs, get tested for HIV. No matter how scary the thought of HIV infection may be, the sooner you find out about it, the sooner and more effectively you can take action.
- It is also important to get tested for the hepatitis virus. Long-term intravenous drug use increases the risk of hepatitis. Remember that hepatitis is contagious and can be passed on from you to other people. There are different forms of hepatitis, and in combination they are even more severe than alone. Hepatitis can only be detected using a blood test. Usually the side effects of hepatitis are not noticeable until there are obvious signs of liver disease, jaundice and other serious problems. If you have ever shared a syringe with someone, had unprotected sex, or were thought to have been exposed to the virus in any other way, be sure to get tested for both HIV and hepatitis.
Warnings
- Once withdrawal symptoms are over, don't give up or be tempted to start using drugs again, even if you feel sick again. You will ruin all your efforts.
- Don't mix! Opiates and alcohol or benzodiazepines (diazepam, clonazepam) are a deadly combination.

Drug addiction is like a coin that has two sides. One of them is a feeling of euphoria, oblivion after taking a dose. The other side is the drug addict’s withdrawal, which seems endless to the unfortunate person. What is withdrawal syndrome? How to help a patient whose recent “high” has turned into unbearable suffering? About all this in the review.

You need to know the enemy by sight

Drug withdrawal is one of the pathological processes that develop during drug use. A particularly striking clinical picture is observed as a result of the use of potent substances. Heroin can easily be considered one of these.

The state of a drug addict can be called the response of his body to the restriction in the drug.

The time of onset of withdrawal varies individually. Only one thing is logical: the more experience the addict has, the greater the likelihood of frequent and most intense attacks.

If the syndrome does not begin after several doses of a narcotic substance, this cannot guarantee further absence of withdrawal symptoms.

Why does withdrawal syndrome occur?

A person who is “on a drug” gets used to the drug; the unfortunate person's body undergoes dramatic changes. Gradually, the harmful substance, having reconstructed the drug addict’s metabolism, becomes a vital component for the patient. A person places the drug on the same level as food, water, and air.

When a drug addict does not take a drug for some reason, his nervous system experiences stress, which negatively affects all human organs. The poor fellow's body is trying to compensate for the emerging imbalance, using the entire arsenal of compensatory mechanisms. The supply of internal resources turns out to be negligible to restore the patient’s previous condition. As a result, drug withdrawal occurs and its first symptoms appear.

Gradually, drug addiction becomes life-threatening

Description of the clinical picture

Withdrawal symptoms may vary slightly. Their list and nature depend on the type of drug, the time of taking the drug and the physiological parameters of the drug addict. The approximate symptoms of withdrawal are as follows:

After about 10 hours of abstinence from the dose, the drug addict becomes irritated, nervous, and absent-minded. Gradually, the person’s condition worsens, he loses control over himself.
Cold symptoms appear: the drug addict is cold, his nose is stuffy, tears flow uncontrollably, the patient sweats profusely.
The unfortunate person's pupils dilate and do not react to light exposure from the outside.
The addict loses his appetite, constantly feels nauseous, and may experience vomiting and diarrhea. All these symptoms are the body’s attempts to remove unnecessary substances.
Arrhythmia is observed, blood pressure rises.
A person suffers pain that occurs in muscle tissue and bones. The unfortunate person feels as if his joints are being torn apart. The picture is complemented by convulsions, bones literally “break”.

A drug addict cannot eat, drink, sleep, or have a bowel movement on his own. He tries to hide from prying eyes, to remain alone with himself. Often, drug addicts curl up in a ball under the blanket, where they are also haunted by withdrawal. The described symptoms can be observed for several days until the unfortunate person is at the disposal of medical staff.

Consequences of the pathological condition and assistance to the patient

During the withdrawal process, all systems and organs of the human body suffer. The skin becomes thinner, roughens and cracks, the structure of hair and nails is destroyed. The thirst for a narcotic substance prevails over other needs of the patient. A dependent person forgets to eat and drink, he loses interest in his own life. For the unfortunate person, any moral and ethical principles cease to exist, even the instinct of self-preservation of the individual seems to dissolve. Relatives for a drug addict cease to be valuable and loved. A drug addict lies and turns into an unprincipled and ruthless person. In other words, there is a complete transformation of the personality and physiology of the drug addict.

How to help a drug addict?

How to remove withdrawal? Is there a reliable way to combat the pathological process? In modern drug treatment practice, there are many drugs used in case of withdrawal syndrome. Among them:

Drugs for symptomatic treatment.
Means for normalizing sleep.
Medicines that cleanse the body of toxins.
Drugs that correct the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

In order to really alleviate the patient’s condition and not worsen the symptoms, it is necessary to accurately determine the composition and dose of the drugs used. Sometimes alternative detoxification methods are used. In any case, only a medical professional can do this.

Only a doctor can determine the dose and types of medications for detoxification

Often, drug addicts try to “help” themselves. For this purpose, the unfortunate people take alcoholic beverages, further aggravating the situation. Sleeping pills, any painkiller and various psychostimulants cause enormous damage to human health and threaten his life. Therefore, it is the direct responsibility of the relatives of the drug addict to timely involve qualified medical personnel in the process of relieving the syndrome.

What is provider-supervised treatment? The patient faces a difficult journey of five to seven days. During this time, his body will be cleansed of decay products and residues of harmful substances. They begin to relieve withdrawal symptoms through injections of a polyionic saline solution. This remedy helps the addict’s body restore its internal electrolyte balance. As additional drugs, sedatives, diuretics, vasodilators and other drugs are used. Gradually, the symptoms of withdrawal symptoms will disappear. When the detoxification process is completed, the patient is given minerals and vitamins to restore the immune system and mobilize strength for a speedy recovery.

During detoxification, the body is cleared of drug residues and their breakdown products.

What will be the patient's future path?

Victory over withdrawal symptoms is only the first step in a long journey of recovery from drug addiction. The patient has to understand that he has a chance to regain his former happiness and live a full life without the drug. Otherwise, the process will start again, and signs of the syndrome will not be long in coming. Detoxification and restoration of the immune system are followed by drug therapy, the main focus of which is the rehabilitation of the nervous system and internal organs of the patient.

And this is not the end! Faced with withdrawal, a drug addict needs serious mental rehabilitation, as well as social adaptation. This is also done by qualified specialists.

The scale of the damage that drug addiction entails is incredibly large. The described withdrawal is only a small part of the total horror that a person who finds himself “on the needle” will have to face. Only our prudence, common sense and prompt action will help us give a proper response to drugs.

What is withdrawal in drug addicts? As a rule, this phrase can be heard on the radio or television. This pathological condition develops in a person who has taken the last dose of the drug. The body cannot exist without it. He requires artificial doping that will allow him to work.

How does withdrawal manifest itself in drug addicts? When does this moment come? All this depends on individual factors. Some addicted people feel the syndrome after taking a couple of doses, while others develop withdrawal symptoms after several months of using the drug.

What is withdrawal?

After taking a dose, a person experiences a kind of euphoria. Then he develops a very serious condition. This is called drug addiction withdrawal. Unlike alcohol addicts, abstinence in such patients is much more intense.

Abstinence from drugs includes psychopathic and somatic disorders that develop due to physical withdrawal from the drug. The sources of the formation of negative signs are a decrease in the usual dosage.

The severity of the syndrome depends on how the drug is able to be involved in metabolic processes. Opiate compounds are considered the most dangerous and destructive. In turn, taking methadone provokes severe withdrawal symptoms. This type of remedy can torment the addict for several months. Usually it is very difficult for drug addicts to survive this period. And not everyone manages to get out of it.

Withdrawal from other weak hallucinogens does not cause physical dependence. So, what is withdrawal? This is the most terrible state of a patient who constantly wants to return to the time when he used the drug. Unfortunately, at this moment it is very rare for a person to control himself. He becomes aggressive and unrecognizable.

What are the reasons for the development of the syndrome?

Pathological changes in the body develop during drug withdrawal. They occur when a person uses drugs for a long period of time. In turn, these substances are integrated into metabolic processes. They affect the functioning of all systems and internal organs of the human body.

What are the causes of withdrawal? The occurrence of this process lies in the above-mentioned actions of the drug. But the main source of the problem is that the drug affects the functioning of the central nervous system. Subsequently, he controls the transmission of brain impulses.

How do drugs affect the brain?

First, these drugs interfere with metabolism, and then completely replace neurotransmitters. The latter are responsible for receiving and sending nerve impulses. As a result, the body loses the ability to produce neurotransmitters necessary for life.

In the brain, the drug causes the same changes as in a schizophrenic. That is, someone who is addicted to this drug becomes stupid. This occurs due to the death of nerve cells in the brain, which contributes to a decrease in a person’s intellectual abilities.

As a result, without these chemically bioactive compounds, the musculoskeletal system and the relationship between the cells of the internal organs are disrupted. The patient's body is a chaotic collection of cells and nerve impulses.

How do processes occur inside a person?

So, we have answered the question of what withdrawal is. Now let’s find out what happens in the body of a drug addict when using the drug. A person who takes drugs begins to feel the need for them after several hours of absence. The body understands after a couple of days that it is deprived of doping. This is when withdrawal symptoms begin.

How long does withdrawal last for a drug addict? Abstinence can last for several months or a couple of hours. During this time, the human body will have to remember how to synthesize the necessary substances itself.

The duration of withdrawal also depends on the type of drug the patient used and the stage of development of the addiction. After prolonged abstinence, psychosis may appear. Drug addicts often commit suicide because at this moment their consciousness is clouded, they experience memory loss and hallucinations.

Withdrawal is a kind of painful and painful recovery of the body, which is deprived of surrogate neurotransmitters. For a person, this is considered an almost insurmountable obstacle.

The situation is bad if a person has several chronic pathologies. In addition, his body will be in an extreme state of exhaustion. Also, a very long period of drug use can lead to disastrous results.

What are the signs of withdrawal syndrome?

Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity and severity. Let's look at the main signs of withdrawal in drug addicts, which are identified by experts. These include fever, headaches, nausea and sudden mood changes. The patient also experiences discomfort in the muscles and bones.

First withdrawal symptoms

At first, withdrawal symptoms are very similar to the state of a person with a cold. Also, the drug addict does not want to communicate with anyone and becomes withdrawn. This condition is accompanied by symptoms such as runny nose and cramps, lethargy, fever and confusion, irritability and excruciating discomfort in the body.

After some time, vomiting is added to them. Then diarrhea begins. This in turn leads to dehydration. The patient notes terrible joint and muscle pain.

As a rule, in this state, patients begin to roll on the floor and hit objects. At this moment they do not experience any pain. Such human behavior can lead to injury. Also added to this is sleep disturbance. He becomes superficial and anxious.

A little about psychopathic withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal occurs when the addict is deeply depressed. The person stops communicating with family and friends, he is not interested in anything. The nightmares that he dreams continue in real life in the form of hallucinations.

The drug addict mistakes those around him for terrible creatures who bring him this very suffering. At this moment he may commit a crime. The main psychopathic symptoms include hallucinations and increased levels of anxiety, outbursts of rage and aggression that the addict does not control.

What are the somatic signs?

Typical symptoms of this type include pain in the joints and muscles. Abstinence is initially preceded by initial somatic symptoms. The drug addict experiences dilated pupils, sneezing and yawning.

Then the previously mentioned symptom joins in. A person experiences unbearable pain when his muscles are cramped with excruciating cramps. Afterwards, the patient’s condition begins to deteriorate sharply and signs such as a sharp increase in blood pressure, vomiting and chills, aches throughout the body, increased sweating and problems with the gastrointestinal tract appear. The latter most often manifests itself in the form of diarrhea.

What should you do if you have withdrawal symptoms?

If during withdrawal the addict takes another dose, this condition will disappear, but not completely. In this case, you must seek help from qualified doctors.

It is impossible to treat withdrawal symptoms at home on your own. It is in a specialized hospital that the effects of abstinence are relieved. Drug addiction absolutely requires treatment. Withdrawal relief is carried out by narcologists. To do this, they administer special medications. So, to improve heart function, “Caffeine” is prescribed.

The patient is prescribed general strengthening medications, such as Unitol. For certain types of drugs, antidotes are used. If the patient has used methadone and opioids, he undergoes accelerated detoxification under general anesthesia. Unfortunately, this therapy cannot provide treatment for addiction. This remains the main problem today.

What are the consequences of withdrawal?

As noted above, the patient goes through withdrawal when he is depressed. Thoughts of suicide enter his head. At this time, there is no control over emotions from the brain. In order to escape from this painful state, a drug addict may commit suicide. Also at this time, the patient loses his basic instincts. He doesn't want to drink or eat or sleep. In addition, there is a disappearance of the instinct of self-preservation. Therefore, during this period, the drug addict can harm himself and get injured.

Severe complications are also observed in brain activity. A person may develop psychosis, major depression, epilepsy and progressive dementia. This occurs as a result of the destruction of individual parts of the brain. In this case, competent assistance from a specialist is required. Otherwise, the personality will degrade and the aging process will accelerate. A person may die. Therefore, if you have a friend who suffers from this disease, do not wait until he is gone, but seek help.

Any person who has any kind of chemical dependence is most afraid that when he gives up the drug or alcohol, he will experience withdrawal. Drugs and alcohol are a kind of sedative for the brain, suppressing the production of specific neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine. When a person stops using drugs or alcohol, the brain receives an overdose of adrenaline, which causes withdrawal symptoms. Getting addicted is easy, but dealing with withdrawal symptoms is usually a very difficult and unpleasant task.

Characteristic

The causes of this condition are well known. Any chemical dependence (whether it be drugs, alcohol or other drugs) ultimately results in withdrawal symptoms for the addicted person, or as doctors call it, withdrawal syndrome. The torment that a person experiences in this condition can be simply unbearable, especially if it is drug withdrawal.

Each substance has its own symptoms. Some substances have significant physical effects (for example, opiates or alcohol). Other drugs have little physical effect on the person but have a strong emotional effect (for example, drug withdrawal caused by marijuana, cocaine, or ecstasy). The picture of withdrawal symptoms can also vary greatly from person to person. The patient may experience mild physical symptoms, but may experience severe emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Mechanism of occurrence

If a person regularly takes a drug, alcohol or other chemical substance, then his body gradually gets used to it, and all its processes are rebuilt. The worst thing is that such a patient’s metabolism changes forever, as a result of which the drug that caused addiction becomes vital.

What will happen to a drug addict if one day he does not receive his usual dose? The body begins to feel an urgent need for this substance, and its lack becomes incredibly stressful. The body tries to replace the chemical with something, but does not find an adequate replacement. It is at this moment that drug withdrawal occurs.

Signs of withdrawal occur in a person when he was unable to take the required dose or completely abandoned the substance that caused addiction. Also, withdrawal symptoms can be caused by reducing the dose or taking a weaker substance.

Drug withdrawal occurs almost immediately, especially when using opioids such as methadone, opium, heroin and morphine. Thus, if you are addicted to methadone, withdrawal symptoms are accompanied by terrible pain for several months.

Withdrawal occurs a little more slowly when taking psychotropic or hypnotic substances. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can take a long time to develop. This condition occurs most recently when consuming hashish. There are also drugs (for example, LSD) that do not cause withdrawal symptoms at all, but they lead to other serious problems.

The more pronounced the withdrawal syndrome, the more difficult it is to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms

There are two types of symptoms of this condition.
The first type includes emotional symptoms. A person experiences them regardless of whether they have physical withdrawal symptoms. The second type includes physical withdrawal symptoms. They usually occur with dependence on alcohol, tranquilizers, and opiates.

Emotional symptoms include:

anxiety;
irritability;
attacks of aggression;
headache;
anxiety;
poor sleep;
poor concentration;
depressive states;
social isolation.

Physical symptoms include:

heavy sweating;
muscle tension;
tremor;
cardiopalmus;
labored breathing;
diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.

The very first symptom of incipient withdrawal is considered to be the occurrence of fixation of all thoughts on the administration of the substance that caused the addiction.

Stages

Narcologists distinguish 2 stages of withdrawal syndrome. The first stage is the so-called acute stage, usually lasting a couple of weeks. During this stage, the patient most often experiences physical symptoms. But each drug has its own characteristics, just like each individual patient. After acute withdrawal symptoms, the patient feels like he is on a roller coaster. At first, the condition changes literally every hour. Later, symptoms may not appear for several weeks or even months and then return again. Gradually there are more and more good segments. But bad periods can also be very intense or last a little longer.

The second stage occurs after the acute stage. The patient at this stage has fewer physical symptoms, but much stronger psychological and emotional withdrawal symptoms.

This uneven relief from withdrawal occurs because during treatment, the chemical balance in the addict's brain gradually returns to normal. As brain health improves, the balance of chemicals constantly changes, causing secondary withdrawal symptoms.

People experience the same symptoms of secondary withdrawal. In the acute stage, each patient is individual, but secondary withdrawal is characterized by the same symptoms in most people.

Secondary symptoms

The most common symptoms of secondary withdrawal are:

mood swings;
increased anxiety;
fatigue;
irritability;
energy changes;
low enthusiasm;
concentration changes;
insomnia.

Symptoms of secondary withdrawal usually appear within 2 years. And a drug addict should always remember this so as not to be caught off guard by addiction and relapse.

Consequences

Withdrawal from opiates can be very painful, but is not too dangerous as long as the person does not take other substances. Heroin withdrawal does not cause heart attacks, seizures, strokes, or delirium tremens.

Relieving withdrawal symptoms caused by tranquilizers or alcohol often causes dangerous physical conditions. Abrupt withdrawal of alcohol or tranquilizers from the body can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and seizures in patients at high risk of these diseases. In addition, self-relief from such withdrawal can cause epilepsy, hallucinations and even delirium tremens. Relieving withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision minimizes all symptoms, alleviates suffering and reduces the risk of dangerous complications.

Methods of therapy

The main difficulty in treating any chemical addiction is that the person has to endure withdrawal symptoms. The patient must, as it were, “sit out” the withdrawal, as a result of which the body is cleansed of the drug or other substance.

This “servitude” is the most difficult stage in addiction therapy. If withdrawal relief is successful, then further treatment will be effective. But if the patient breaks down, then everything will start all over again. If “serving time” is impossible for some reason, then inpatient detoxification or ultra-fast detoxification under anesthesia is used (in extreme cases).