The process of ridding one’s body of drugs or alcohol consumption is known as detoxification (detox). When someone stops using drugs or alcohol, detox is meant to safely treat withdrawal symptoms. Everyone’s experience with detox is diverse. What detox will be like depends on the kind of drug used and how long it was used.
Drug detox programs support those who want to safely and successfully recover from their substance use disorder. The first step toward recovery from any substance use issue is detoxification, particularly when done under the supervision of medical specialists during a medical detox program.
For most drugs, getting through withdrawal symptoms might take days or even months. The duration of withdrawal is determined by a number of variables, such as:
- substance(s) to which the user is addicted
- Length of time the addiction has persisted
- Abuse technique (snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing)
- Quantity of drugs consumed
- Family history
- underlying health issues
Drug detox entails getting rid of the chemical that a person’s body has grown close to using in order to feel normal. The individual could have withdrawal symptoms during this process.
The initial phase of treating alcoholism is the alcohol detox phase. Alcohol is totally eliminated from your body throughout this period. After beginning detox, withdrawal symptoms usually go away in about 1-2 weeks; but, depending on how severe your addiction is, it can take longer. After that, you’ll be able to concentrate on other elements of your recovery, such as various activities, therapies, psychological counseling, and support services.
Over the course of months and years of drinking, your body starts to become dependent on alcohol, which has a negative effect. As you get dependent on the drug, your brain gradually quits manufacturing some of the molecules that alcohol gives it. It takes time for your body to adjust when you stop drinking because of this. This is what results in withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations, fever, nausea, and headaches.
What happens during detox?
Typically, a detox program will consist of the following elements:
An examination upon admission so the detox team can determine the level of help you’ll require. You might have blood work done, a discussion about your health and drinking habits, and tests to determine your physical and mental well-being.
Support during detoxification, including treatment for any arising problems as well as medication to treat withdrawal symptoms. The objective is to aid in your physical and emotional stability. Throughout this procedure, you can have routine temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing checks.
Assistance in obtaining treatment so that you can learn to overcome your addiction.
How long does the process take?
Even within drug classifications, the withdrawal period varies from drug to drug. The half-life of the substance (which affects the typical duration of drug effects), the manner of administration, the frequency of use, and the average dose used all have an effect on the development and resolution of withdrawal symptoms. Some medicines may cause symptoms to appear right quickly, while others take longer to show signs.
After the last dose of a stimulant, withdrawal symptoms frequently start to appear one to two days later.
Withdrawal symptoms from sedatives can start as soon as a few hours or as far in the future as several days. Xanax withdrawal symptoms for an addict may start to show up 6 to 8 hours after the last dose and subside by the 4th or 5th day. While this is going on, withdrawal symptoms from Valium may appear a full week after the last dose and may not go away for 3–4 weeks.
In the case of opioid narcotics like heroin and painkillers, symptoms usually start to show 6–12 hours after the last dose and go away in 5-7 days.
Methadone is an example of a long-acting opioid medication that may have a longer and more delayed timeframe, with effects starting to show up 2-4 days after the last dose and taking longer to go away completely.
After stopping or reducing alcohol intake, withdrawal symptoms often start to appear a few hours to days later.
What are the side effects of detox?
Drug detoxification can be risky and painful. This is the reason why medical detox is so vital. Patients can detox under medical supervision in a secure and comfortable setting. Inpatient and outpatient rehab have varying levels of monitoring.
Some withdrawal symptoms cannot be avoided, despite the fact that medical detox reduces them.
The following are a few of the most typical adverse effects:
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Pain in the body
- Mood changes
- Bad sleep
- Having trouble focusing
What happens after detox?
The first step in the healing process is detox. People are urged to enroll in formal addiction therapy after detox. This typically entails participating in an outpatient or inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Professional treatment aims to address the problems that led to substance use, improve your capacity for sobriety, give you the necessary skills, and assist you in finding healthy ways to deal with relapse triggers.
Start moving in the right direction at any time. Call us right away if you require assistance. For more information regarding detoxification, mental health problems, and their treatment, visit our centers or call 0341-1959599. Free consultations are offered by us.