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One of the questions often asked our
admissions counselors by a substance abuser or a
member of his or her family is, "What will I feel
during my detox at Novus?"
There is no easy answer to the question
because each of us has unique DNA, so therefore
the way that we metabolize the abused substance
and how our bodies handle the metabolized
substance differs widely.
People taking the same dosage of the same
substance experience dramatically different
withdrawal symptoms-from almost no withdrawal
symptoms to more severe and potentially unpleasant
withdrawal symptoms.
We can only assure our patients that
what they experience at Novus will be much less
traumatic than anything they would have
experienced if they tried to withdraw on their own
or at most other
facilities.
The Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration ("SAMSHA"), the
division of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services whose mission is to address the
substance abuse problems in the U.S, has provided
some signs and symptoms associated with withdrawal
from various drugs. At Novus,
we have observed many of our patients as they
experience some of these symptoms to a greater or
lesser degree, and thought that it would be
helpful information to share with you.
Signs and Symptoms of the Acute
Phase of Alcohol
Withdrawal
·
Restlessness, irritability, anxiety,
agitation
·Anorexia (lack of appetitie)
·
Nausea,
vomiting
·
Tremors, elevated heart rate,
increased blood pressure
·
Insomnia, intense dreaming,
nightmares
·
Impaired concentration, memory, and
judgment
·
Increased sensitivity to sounds,
alteration in tactile
sensations
·
Delirium (disorientation to time,
place, situation)
·
Hallucinations (auditory, visual, or
tactile)
·
Delusions (usually
paranoid)
·
Grand mal seizures (a loss of
consciousness usually with violent muscle
contractions)
·
Elevated
temperature
Signs and Symptoms of
Opiate (e.g. OxyContin & heroin)
Withdrawal
Early Signs and
Symptoms
●Anxiety
·Increased respiratory
rate
·Sweating
·Lacrimation (tearing or
crying)
·Yawning
·Rhinorrhea (runny
nose)
·Piloerection
(goosebumps)
·Restlessness
·Anorexia
·Irritability
·Dilated pupils (larger
than normal pupils)
Advanced Signs and
Symptoms
·Insomnia
·Nausea and
vomiting
·Diarrhea
·Weakness
·Abdominal
cramps
·Tachycardia (rapid
heartbeat)
·Hypertension
(abnormally high blood
pressure)
·Muscle
spasms
·Muscle and bone
pain
Signs
and Symptoms of High-Dose Benzodiazepine
(e.g. Xanax & Valium)Withdrawal
·anxiety
·tremors
·nightmares
·insomnia
·anorexia
·nausea
·vomiting
·orthostatic hypotension
(low blood pressure when
standing)
·seizures
·delirium (extreme
restlessness, confusion and sometimes
delusions)
·hyperpyrexia (high
fever)
Withdrawal from Stimulants (Cocaine,
Crack Cocaine, Amphetamines and
Methamphetamines
The two most commonly abused
stimulants are cocaine and methamphetamine.
Intermittent binge use of both substances is
common. While the withdrawal symptoms that occur
after a 2- to 3-day binge are different in
intensity than those that occur after chronic,
high-dose use, they are similar.
Signs and Symptoms of withdrawal
from stimulants are:
·
dysphoria
(depression)
·
irritability
·
difficulty
sleeping
·
intense
dreaming
Marijuana
There are few signs and symptoms
associated with withdrawal from marijuana.
Some patients are irritable and have difficulty
sleeping for a few days when they discontinue
chronic use of marijuana. Persons withdrawing from
marijuana, like those withdrawing from cocaine and
other alcohol and drugs, benefit from a supportive
environment during
detoxification.
Drugs that do not produce a
withdrawal symptoms
Chronic use of PCP can cause a toxic
psychosis that takes days or weeks to clear;
however, PCP does not have a withdrawal syndrome.
LSD, DMT, and ecstasy do not produce physical
dependence.
How to use this
information
Francis Bacon, considered the
founder of the scientific method for research and
analysis, often said, "Knowledge is power." The more
knowledge that you have about how a person may
react to withdrawal from abused substances, the
more ability that you have to understand what
courage it often takes for a person to confront
stopping the use of the substance. Once you
understand what the substance abuser is possibly
facing, then you will be more able to help your
friend or loved one confront getting off the
substance that is ruining their lives.
At Novus, our protocol, location,
people and skill will make the withdrawal as easy
as possible but, because of everyone's unique DNA
and how we metabolize substances, the actual
degree of withdrawal symptoms that any given
person is going to experience are not
possible to establish in advance. The
only thing for sure is that, off the abused
substances, the person has the opportunity for a
much better
life.
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