Methamphetamine withdrawal starts within the first two days after the last dose of the drug was taken. Moreover, the process can last from a few weeks or can continue up to three months. According to a 2022 review, withdrawal symptoms occur when the body tries to re-adapt to a decrease in drug usage. These are usually present before a person stops using methamphetamine. A 2005 study published in the journal Addiction indicated that amphetamine users can experience depression about seven to 10 days into withdrawal. Symptoms of depression may continue into the second and third weeks of withdrawal, but they usually end within the first two weeks.

Those who inject Meth will typically experience a longer, more intense withdrawal process than those who don’t. To address depression caused by meth withdrawal, rehab centers may provide antidepressants. Dehydration often accompanies the withdrawal process, which can be dangerous. For this reason, medically supervised detox can be a crucial part of a care plan.

  1. Isaak Stotts is an in-house medical writer in AddictionResource.
  2. The SAMHSA phone line can also help people who are caring for loved ones who have a substance use disorder.
  3. In addition to therapy, people with a meth addiction also benefit from other forms of counseling and support.

From there, the treatment team can develop a detox plan that fits their specific needs. Keep in mind that the doctor may ask a patient questions about their current and past substance abuse. This is necessary for setting up a patient’s long-term recovery plan.

Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 24 hours after last using methamphetamine and last around 14 to 20 days. PAWS symptoms can persist for several weeks to months after cessation. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions.

Depression and Unease: Seven to 10 days

If you feel comfortable, you can bring it up with a healthcare professional. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement. Dopamine and serotonin are two chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that can affect a range of things, including your mood, sleep cycle, and digestive process.

Detox alone is rarely enough to help someone resist the urge to return to drug use. Treatment support can be vital in preventing meth addiction relapse. The next step is a clinical assessment, in which the person and healthcare professionals discuss treatment options.

Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

Keep in mind that your behavior while using meth, like not eating or drinking water, can make your withdrawal symptoms more severe. Here’s a closer look at https://sober-home.org/, including how long it lasts and how to manage it. The purpose of therapy is to help the person with the addiction determine the underlying causes of the addiction. It also teaches the person to identify triggers for drug use and learn to manage those triggers effectively. After detox is complete and withdrawal symptoms subside, formal counseling begins. The detoxification process is challenging with a meth addiction, but it is possible to recover from the addiction.

Treatment for Meth Withdrawal

The primary physical symptoms of meth withdrawal are sleep problems along with painful headaches. During initial withdrawal, people may spend most of their time catching up on food and sleep. Appetite and sleep patterns usually return to normal after a few months without meth. Long-term meth use may decrease the number of dopamine receptors in brain cells, making it difficult for the individual to experience pleasure, even if normal dopamine levels return. Many people who quit using meth experience this condition, called anhedonia. Anhedonia can continue for years after a person stops the drug.

When you abuse meth over a period of time, you can build up a dependence. Then when you try to stop using, intense withdrawal symptoms can occur that make addiction recovery difficult. Many patients who arrive at the detox center what does it feel like to be drunk are experiencing the peak of their withdrawal symptoms. Treatments begin as soon as possible after the evaluation stage to help make the patient more comfortable. As symptoms improve, doctors will adjust treatments accordingly.

This can reduce the chances of relapse in the first week of recovery. Just how dangerous meth is can be shown in the statistics for drug overdose deaths. In Ohio in 2020, overdose deaths from meth consisted of 20% of all unintentional overdose deaths that year. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.