Amphetamine Addiction: Detox and Withdrawal Timeline

Amphetamine refers to a group of chemically-related stimulants such as methedrone, mephedrone and methylone. A particularly disturbing property of amphetamine is its ability to quickly cause chronic addiction. Once you start using the drug, it is extremely difficult to stop and will lead to a number of unpleasant side effects including insomnia, involuntary muscle clenching and hallucinations.

At Primrose Lodge, we treat patients who are addicted to amphetamines. We offer medically-supervised amphetamine withdrawal treatment starting with a medical drug detox at our residential clinic with 24/7 medical care and therapeutic support.

What is Amphetamine Withdrawal?

Amphetamine withdrawal is a type of a metabolic shock your body undergoes when you suddenly quit amphetamine after a period of use. It comes with a wide range of physiological and psychological symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms are dangerous and can persist for months leading to physiological disorders and mental illness if not properly managed.

Physically, your body is subjected to pain, discomfort, cardiac problems and seizures while mentally, there is increased paranoia, depression and suicidal ideation. Because of the dangers associated with amphetamine withdrawal, amphetamine detox should take place in an inpatient treatment facility with round-the-clock supervision to ensure the safety of the user.

What Causes Withdrawal?

When the body becomes physically dependent on a substance, abrupt cessation of the substance will lead to withdrawal symptoms. Likewise, when amphetamines are repeatedly abused, it gives rise to the development of physical and psychological dependence that ultimately result in withdrawal when the drugs are no longer being used. When this happens, a tolerance builds up, meaning it takes larger and more frequent doses of amphetamine to get to the same effects as before.

Prolonged amphetamine use causes a spike in the creation of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which is followed by lowered production of these hormones over time. This results in the body building up a physical dependence on amphetamine to produce these otherwise naturally occurring hormones in order to elicit pleasure for the user. Generally, amphetamine withdrawal is a result of the body recalibrating itself to function without the drug and, in most cases, it has hazardous effects.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Amphetamines are psychiatric drugs which change the chemical makeup of the brain. Because your brain has adapted to the amphetamine and all of its chemical effects, when you quit, your brain can go into shock. Your brain may feel like it is not functioning properly and will try to readjust, making the withdrawal process difficult. During this period, it is dangerous to go cold turkey or self-detox because the withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and may trigger a relapse.

These symptoms vary according to individuals and they include:

• Increased appetite
• Aches and pain
• Seizures
• Vivid nightmares
• Slowed reaction and movement
• Irritability and agitation
• Depression
• Hallucination
• Anxiety
• Bodily movements and twitches
• Insomnia
• Psychosomatic disorders

For your safety and total recovery, it is best to be in a private rehab to make it through the rigorous detoxification process with as much comfort as possible. Apart from medically-supervised detoxification, aftercare is also crucial to your drug-free life and our rehab offers one-year free aftercare. As we try to physically rid your body of amphetamines, our therapists also try to treat your mind and root out whatever it was that made you abuse it in the first place.

Timeline

The amphetamine withdrawal process can be categorised as:

• 0 – 24 Hours: The first signs of withdrawal can show up within the first few hours of the last dose. It is marked by intense irritability, depression, fatigue and cravings.
• Days 1 – 3: These first few days are the toughest because your brain is adjusting to functioning without the help of the amphetamines. Your system is craving amphetamines and it may lead to intense exhaustion, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, headache and dizziness.
• Days 4 – 7: By now, the worst of the amphetamine detox is over. The severity of the symptoms has lessened, though you may still have cravings.

At Primrose Lodge, we offer a range of support to minimise withdrawal symptoms in a caring and supportive environment. Our clinical team will see to it that you are comfortable throughout the amphetamine detoxification process and our healthcare professionals include holistic therapeutic treatments for the total wellbeing of your soul and mind.

What is a Medical Amphetamine Detox?

During the medical detox process, patients are prescribed an approved medication to manage their symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal. The process is tailored to the individual to negate the effects of fitting, vomiting, tremors etc… until the client is substance-free. The treatment is clinically proven to be the safest way to detox, taking between 7-14 days to complete, with 24/7 care and support, provided throughout.

Home Detox

Quitting by yourself in your home may seem attractive, but it carries a number of serious drawbacks. It is not advisable for a drug addict to detox alone because what had previously seemed like benefits are actually weaknesses which can trigger a relapse. Some of the downsides of home detox or self-detox include:

• No medical supervision in case of a withdrawal-related medical emergency.
• No additional treatment for co-existing psychological problems that may be driving drug use.
• Staying at home grants you easy access to drugs.
• No access to medications that may ease withdrawal symptoms.
• While self-detoxifying, familiar surroundings may include cues associated with drug use.
• Stressful family, work or home situations can hinder rather than help recovery.
• Severe withdrawal symptoms can disrupt work and may cost you your employment.
• There are no provisions for psychological treatment and therapy in home detox.

Benefits of Private Detox

It is exceedingly difficult and sometimes dangerous for you to quit on your own. Withdrawal symptoms are often severe and, in extreme cases, fatal. Going to a drug rehab facilitates your recovery process and helps to reverse the damage caused by addiction and substance abuse. Some of the benefits of our private detox include:

• Medically-supervised detox: Treatment is designed and monitored by a team of medical professionals who are on site 24/7 to ensure you receive support.
• Therapeutic environment: Our rehab centre provides a serene, safe and nurturing environment that aids recovery.
• Improved treatment outcome: Private rehabs have a higher success rate than home detox, community treatment or outpatient treatment.
• Access to experienced addiction specialists: Private rehabs staff some of the best addiction specialists in the UK to deliver a world-class programme to their clients.
• A wider range of therapies to overcome the root cause of addiction: They include as many therapies as possible to ensure holistic and comprehensive treatment to make sure they address the psychological part of your addiction.
• 1-year complimentary aftercare support
• Bespoke treatment plan: Private rehab centres create a highly personalised treatment plan for each patient based on your symptoms and unique physiology.

Get Help Today!

We specialise in providing residential amphetamine rehab to the client with dedicated family support. Addiction rarely affects just the individual, and we appreciate that this can be a stressful time for all those concerned. If you have any questions regarding our detox and rehab clinics, treatment needs, locations and cost – we can answer them!