Symptoms of detox will vary depending on the substance you are addicted to, how long you have been abusing substances, and how often you use. If you are wondering how long do detox symptoms last, you can expect to be in a detox facility for about a week. You might need a few days longer if your symptoms persist, or you could be ready to move on to a short-term rehabilitation program after a few days of detox. Withdrawal is supported in a medically-assisted detox, and it is the safest way to remove drugs or alcohol from your system.
Detox Symptoms From Alcohol
Some people try to withdraw from alcohol on their own at home, but the detox symptoms can become overwhelming fast. While the early symptoms of detox from alcohol may be some agitation, sweating, or nervousness, the withdrawal process can become much more difficult quickly. Symptoms of detox from alcohol include:
- Increased cravings to drink alcohol to stop the withdrawal symptoms
- Agitation, extreme anxiety and an inability to sleep
- Shaking, tremors and in later stages seizures can develop
- Confusion and problems concentrating
When you are trying to withdraw from alcohol, it can take up to a week or more to successfully go through detox. You can start to feel withdrawal symptoms within hours of your last drink, and it’s important to get the help you need to detox safely. For those with severe alcoholism, detox symptoms can take weeks to go away fully.
Opiate Addiction Detox Symptoms
Relapse is common when you don’t get help with an addiction to opiates. Opiates include both legal, prescription pain medication, and illegal substances such as heroin. Many people start with an opiate addiction by abusing a prescription and turning to heroin to continue getting high. Detox symptoms when you are going through an opiate withdrawal may include:
- Muscle cramping and pain
- Anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and agitation
- Depression that leaves you feeling hopeless
- Feeling like you have the flu or are sick in general
Many people relapse when struggling with an addiction to opiates because the detox symptoms are difficult to deal with. Programs for medically-assisted detox will help you reduce your cravings to opiates by bringing you off the opiates in a more controlled way. The severity of your symptoms will depend on how much you were abusing and length of addiction.
When You Struggle with a Benzodiazepine Addiction Detox Symptoms
Benzodiazepines are medications used to treat anxiety and panic. While this type of medication is a prescription, many people start to abuse the medication beyond its intended use. Over time, it’s possible to build up a tolerance to benzodiazepines, and this can lead to addiction. People who start abusing medication such as Xanax, Valium, or Clonazepam, find that trying to stop produces several uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can start about 12 hours after the last use. Usually, they will peak for most people around the 48-hour mark. Most people successfully withdraw from benzodiazepines after five days. They then move on to treatment to deal with the emotional and spiritual components of addiction. Detox treatment allows people to safely remove substances from the body with the support necessary to prevent a relapse. With the right help in place, the detox period is not as overwhelming.
Get Help For An Addiction Now
Stop letting addiction control your life. If you are looking to begin your recovery, it’s time to reach out to The Ranch PA. Contact us today at 717.969.9126 and get the treatment you need to get sober.