The acute symptoms of withdrawal can last a week to 10 days, but the more psychological symptoms of withdrawal, such as anxiety or depression, can last for weeks or months. However, certain side effects, such as cravings or depression, can lead to relapse or risk of suicide. Detoxing in a treatment program offers the best chance for a safe detox and sustained recovery. These first few days can be the toughest because your brain is beginning to try and function without the presence of amphetamines. During this time, you may experience restless sleep and exhaustion, as well as headaches and dizziness.

• Depending on your chemical makeup and personal situation, your symptoms may persist from the first day to several months, or may completely disappear within the first few days.
• The average score in global state was reported in three of the four included studies.
• You may have a hard time sleeping or feel unusually tired or fatigued.
• Because we judged that the objective outcome was unlikely to be influenced by the lack of blinding, all studies were determined to be at low risk of bias.

Cold turkey precipitates withdrawal symptoms, and there’s evidence that it can shorten the withdrawal phase and jump-start recovery from harmful health effects of the substance used. Although three studies reported data on withdrawal symptoms, only two studies involving 74 participants were included in the analysis (Srisurapanont 1999b; Cruickshank 2008). Data from Kongsakon 2005 for this specific outcome were not used because only median withdrawal scores were reported and means and standard deviations were needed for the comparison. However, the study did report significant improvements in amphetamine withdrawal symptoms as measured by the Amphetamine Withdrawal Questionnaire (AWQ) in the mirtazapine group versus placebo. Four studies, involving 125 participants, met the inclusion criteria for this review (seeCharacteristics of included studies).

Types of Amphetamines

Few studies examined treatments for amphetamine withdrawal, although it is a common problem among amphetamine users. Its symptoms, in particular intense craving, may be a critical factor leading to relapse to amphetamine use. In clinical practice, medications for cocaine withdrawal are commonly used to manage amphetamine withdrawal although the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of these two illicit substances are different. People who have been abusing dextroamphetamine or are addicted to the drug may benefit from supervised detoxification before entering addiction treatment and rehabilitation. Dextroamphetamine detox is comparable to detox for other stimulants, such as cocaine.

• In extreme cases, withdrawal symptoms can even worrisome for your physical health.
• Increased sense of pleasure, alertness, focus and loss of appetite (to reduce weight), causing anyone who takes the drug in large amounts – and continuously – to develop a psychological and physical dependence.
• The opioid methadone can help people who struggle with addiction manage their cravings and avoid a setback in their recovery.

CADTH has no responsibility for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by third-party sites. Additional details regarding the strengths and limitations of included publications are provided in Appendix 3. Additional details regarding the characteristics of included publications are provided in Appendix https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/the-importance-of-gratitude-in-recovery/ 2. Additional references of potential interest that did not meet the inclusion criteria for this review are provided in Appendix 5. Doctors who are suspected of having substance use disorders are often required to undergo evaluations that require them to pass polygraphs if they want to keep practicing medicine.

Chan‐Ob 2001 published data only

The person’s age, weight, gender and genetics can also impact their withdrawal time line. Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use disorders and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

We do not receive any compensation or commission for referrals to other treatment facilities. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Ark Behavioral Health, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Ohio. We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. Finding a detox program can help you or your loved one access the support they need to begin the journey toward recovery.

2. Social interaction response during nicotine withdrawal

Factors such as your degree of intoxication, tolerance, metabolic profile, tolerance, and biological profile can go a long way in determining the span of your withdrawal symptoms and their severity. Other factors also include your mental and physical health prior to your addiction. There is currently no approved medication for treating amphetamines. However, treatment programmes for amphetamines will provide medical care. In a rehab facility, medical professionals will administer drugs such as antidepressants and other psychotics to manage withdrawal symptoms. Physical withdrawal symptoms often occur as a reversal of the effects induced by taking the drug.

Increased sense of pleasure, alertness, focus and loss of appetite (to reduce weight), causing anyone who takes the drug in large amounts – and continuously – to develop a psychological and physical dependence. We understand that hardly any addict plans on being addicted to the drug when they first take it. You may have ingested amphetamines to stay active for study, stave off fatigue, lose weight, or may have initially taken it whilst following your doctor’s orders. However, as a result of the powerful addictive quality of the drug, you were caught in the web of abuse.

Cruickshank 2008 published and unpublished data

Cruickshank 2008, on the other hand, used the Amphetamine Cessation Symptoms Assessment or ACSA (McGregor 2008b) to measure withdrawal symptoms. The ACSA is a 16‐item, self‐administered instrument including 9 of the 10 items from the AWQ and 13 of the 18 items from a modified Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (the word how long do amphetamines stay in your system “cocaine” was replaced with “amphetamines”). For both the AWQ and ACSA, higher numbers indicate greater withdrawal symptom severity. The reviewers examined whether the decision to include the data obtained from studies in which most (50%‐75%) participants were amphetamine dependent or abuse affected the results of review.