The Most Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

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The Most Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

14 January, 2020Articles, News

Different drugs have different effects on the physical, physiological and neurological systems. And so naturally, drug withdrawals differ from drug to drug and also from person to person. At Crossroads Recovery Centres, we treat each client on a case by case basis, giving them individual attention based on their physical, mental and emotional needs. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences withdrawals differently. In some cases, medical intervention in the form of drug replacement therapy is required and in other cases, clients are able to go through withdrawals without further medication. We ensure that a professional monitors each client’s vital signs and emotional health, making sure that withdrawal process is the beginning of a positive recovery process. In this article, we highlight some of the most noticeable withdrawal symptoms associated with some of the most commonly used drugs in South Africa.

Heroin Drug Withdrawal

Many recovering addicts relate to not coping well with flu symptoms even years into recovery, because it reminds them of heroin withdrawals. Flu-like symptoms like tremors, high fever and cold sweats are the predominant withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the level of dependency, a heroin addict will experience the onset of withdrawals from up to 3 hours after using, and as many addicts can attest, they will do almost anything to prevent full withdrawal symptoms, which can be completely debilitating. Further symptoms include aches and pains throughout the body, fluctuating states of diarrhoea and constipation, vomiting and severe discomfort.

Cocaine Drug Withdrawal

It has been observed by the medical community, that the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine or similar stimulants do not manifest physically to the extent that symptoms from other drugs may manifest. Cocaine detox produces withdrawals that are mostly psychological in nature. This includes feeling “slow” or unable to concentrate, focus or perform mentally challenging tasks. Due to the fact that stimulants cause high bursts of energy and extreme alertness, withdrawals have the opposite effect and can lead to exhaustion. Depression and anxiety are also withdrawal symptoms which have been observed in cases where users have abused cocaine.

Khat Drug Withdrawal

Khat, as a commonly used stimulant, produces withdrawal symptoms that include the onset of a physical craving – an intense and uncontrollable desire to use the drug to mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal. On average, withdrawal from khat lasts for up to 3 days, after which the physical symptoms seem to be somewhat alleviated and the psychological and mental symptoms become more prevalent. Common symptoms of drug withdrawal include depression, problems with sleep, visible restlessness and significant increases in appetite.

If you or a loved one is in search of help for addiction, know that help is readily available. Contact us for a free consultation and we’ll support you in your journey.

Sources:
Drugfreeworld.com
Americanadditioncenters.org
Solutions-recovery.com

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Johan B
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Cocaine more addictive than first thought, study finds

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Home / Posts tagged "cocaine"

Cocaine more addictive than first thought, study finds

30 May, 2017Articles, News

People who use cocaine “recreationally” may be closer to becoming addicted than they think, a study has warned.

cocaine

Even among non-dependent cocaine users, visual cues associated with consumption of the illicit drug lead to dopamine release in an area of the brain responsible for cravings, according to research published in the medical journal Scientific Reports.

Dopamine is a chemical that causes people to seek pleasurable activities, and researchers have known for years that cocaine use triggers the release of the neurotransmitter.

The research suggests that using cocaine just once may cause an addiction.

“The study provides evidence that some of the characteristic brain signals in people who have developed addictions are also present much earlier than most of us would have imagined,” said Prof Marco Leyton, an expert on the neurobiology of drug use and addictions at McGill university in Montreal, Canada.

In people with addictions, visual cues – such as seeing someone using cocaine – are often enough to trigger dopamine release.

This cue-induced release of dopamine shifts to the dorsal striatum, a structure deep inside the brain thought to be particularly important for when people start to lose control of their reward-seeking behaviours.

To better understand how soon this effect might be seen, Leyton’s team used positron emission tomography (Pet) scans to look at what happens in the dorsal striatum of recreational cocaine users.

The scientists created highly personalised cues by filming participants ingesting cocaine in the laboratory with a friend with whom they had used the drug before.

During a later session, subjects underwent a Pet scan while watching the video of their friend taking cocaine.

Exposure to the cocaine-related cues increased both craving and dopamine release in the dorsal striatum.

“An accumulation of these brain triggers might bring people closer to the edge than they had realised,” said Prof Leyton.

The findings also underscored the importance of providing help early to avoid the severe effects of dependency, he said.

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043

Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311

Stories of Recovery

The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
Oliver VG
Read more
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
Johan B
Read more
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
Carla S
Read more
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Angelique J
Read more