Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is a stimulant drug consumed through injection or smoking. It is a fast-paced drug that can spend up to eight hours in your system. Meth heightens your physical activity and mental alertness. Users of meth often experience severe withdrawal symptoms because of its highly addictive nature.
To counter those painful symptoms, users typically double their dosage, which leads to an endless bout of addiction. Because the drug is so powerful, users do not see the damage it causes until it’s too late. At Atlanta Detox Center, we recommend that you undergo meth withdrawal in our professional meth detox center. With adequate medical care, you can recover completely and avoid a relapse.
Our Atlanta Detox Center team specializes in addiction treatment and offers a residential addiction treatment program. Our goal is to make the withdrawal process easier so you find that addiction treatment is a worthwhile experience for you. To learn about our other life-changing programs and services, contact us by calling 470.450.2355 or completing our online form today. First, however, it is important to explore the question, “How long is meth withdrawal?”
How Long Is Meth Withdrawal?
People often ask, “How long is meth withdrawal?” Several factors determine the length of your meth withdrawal. These factors include:
- Age – As you grow old, it becomes harder to achieve a complete withdrawal from meth abuse.
- Frequency of meth abuse – If you abuse meth often, your body and brain have become fixated on the drug. This makes withdrawal quite difficult.
- Method of meth abuse – Meth users abuse the drug in different ways, and those who inject the substance into their system will experience significant pain during withdrawal.
- Combination of meth with other substances – If you consume meth and other substances, it takes longer than usual to get you off the substances.
Symptoms of Meth Withdrawal
You must note that everyone displays different symptoms of meth withdrawal. The symptoms of meth withdrawal are structured into three categories, which are:
- Psychological symptoms – The symptoms in this category include cognitive impairments like short attention span and memory loss. You may also experience paranoia, hallucinations, and frequent cravings for meth.
- Emotional symptoms – Confusion, depression, suicidal thoughts, low motivation for work, anxiety, and insomnia are the emotional symptoms of meth withdrawal.
- Physical symptoms – Fatigue, itchy eyes, and increased appetite are some physical symptoms of meth withdrawal. More symptoms of this nature include excessive sweating, fever, stomach ache, nausea, and dehydration.
Meth Withdrawal Timeline
Just as the symptoms of meth withdrawal vary among users, the duration of meth withdrawal varies. The symptoms become consistent after two to three days of withdrawal. After a week or two, the intensity of those symptoms reduce.
However, some psychological and emotional symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, and depression last for a year or more. The timeline is shown below:
- First phase – Within 20-48 hours of ceasing to use meth, you experience the first wave of withdrawal symptoms. This is often known as the “crash” period. You will face energy loss, cognitive dysfunction, nausea, excessive sweating, and occasional abdominal pains.
- Second phase – After three to ten days, the withdrawal symptoms are at an all-time high. Your body tries to adjust without meth. You will encounter a craving for meth as well as depression and fatigue.
The symptoms of meth withdrawal last around two to three weeks, and some physical symptoms subside around day fourteen. However, some psychological symptoms like meth cravings, anxiety, and depression persist for weeks.
Overcome Meth Withdrawal Symptoms at Atlanta Detox Center
If you need a place to begin your meth withdrawal, then Atlanta Detox Center is the best place for you. We offer separate programs for men and women, residential addiction treatment, and much more. Our therapy services center on individuals, groups, and families. You can reach us through our secure online form or call us at 470.450.2355 to get more information.
