Beware Withdrawal Symptoms – They can be Fatal!

Upon abrupt discontinuation or decrease in intake of substances of abuse, an individual goes into a phase called “withdrawal”.

It happens after repeated use of opiates (pain pills/heroin), alcohol and benzodiazepines and buprenorphine (trade names: Suboxone, Bunavail, Zubsolv), a medication used to treat opioid withdrawal and cravings.

Withdrawal causes acute physical distress and, in the case of alcohol and benzodiazepines, it can cause seizures, stroke or even death. The symptoms may include excessive sweating, anxiety, depression, fatigue etc.

It is quite evident form the above that withdrawal symptoms need to be treated immediately in order to avoid negative medical consequences. Luckily in New Jersey, withdrawal management services are widely available whether you live in Plainfield or Plainsboro, Montclair or Marlboro
Toms River of Forked River, Clinton or Clifton, Far Hills or Cherry Hill, Howell or Wall Township.

Opiates (pain pills, heroin)

Opiates withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, and shivers.

Suboxone

Suboxone withdrawal symptoms include nausea and vomiting, muscle/body aches, insomnia or drowsiness, indigestion, anxiety, depression, and irritability.

Alcohol

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include: sweating, anxiety, depression, mood swings, tremors, shaking, irritability, nausea, seizures and delirium tremens.

Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, irritability, increased tension and anxiety, panic attacks, hand tremor, sweating, diazepines, it can cause seizures or even death. Culty concentrating, headache, muscular pain, stiffness and dry wretching and nausea.

Cocaine

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include agitation and restless behavior, depressed mood, fatigue, increased appetite, vivid and unpleasant dreams, and slowing of activity.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms include deep, dark depression, emotional lability (exaggerated changes in mood), night sweats, teeth grinding, anxiety, anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable), irritability, suicidal ideations, and suicide.

Spice

Spice withdrawal symptoms include: depression, headache, loss of appetite, headache, tremors, palpitation, confusion, psychotic episodes, restlessness, extreme sweating, hallucinations, and seizures.

Ketamine

Ketamine withdrawal symptoms include: nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, flashbacks, aggressive behavior, irregular and rapid heartbeat, seizures and, possibly, death.

As is evident from the withdrawal symptoms listed above, stopping drug and alcohol use abruptly has its own risks, Consequently, when an individual decides to come off of drugs or alcohol, it is important to do it at licensed detoxification facilities under appropriate supervision and care.

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Addiction is a Chronic Disease – Treat it Like One

People with a substance use disorder, or addiction, are generally viewed as being “responsible” for their condition and there is a stigma associated with suffering from this disorder.

However, medical evidence leaves no doubt that addiction is a disease.

According to NIDA, addiction comes about through an array of neuroadaptive changes and the laying down and strengthening of new memory connections in various circuits in the brain.

Addiction is a chronic disease, much like diabetes and it needs to be recognized and treated the same way.

All chronic diseases require long-term treatment, and so does addiction and share some characteristics:

Firstly, treatment can remove or reduce the symptoms, but cannot eliminate the root cause and return the individual to “normal”.

Second, in order for patients to get the maximum benefit out of treatment, lifestyle and behavior changes have to be affected.

Lastly, because the complexity of factors lead to a chronic illness, and a need for long-term treatment and lifestyle changes, relapses can occur even after successful completion of treatment.

Does this mean an individual with addiction has no hope? To the contrary: when a patient is motivated and goes into addiction treatment knowing the challenges he will face the chances are good that he/she will achieve successful recovery. However, more than one episode of addiction treatment may be needed to achieve long-term sobriety.

We at CNT have pioneered the Outpatient, Ambulatory detoxification and Outpatient withdrawal management model for substance use disorders. Contact us for your addiction withdrawal management and detoxification