Withdrawal Symptoms From Alcohol & Drug Use
Being addicted to alcohol or drugs is not a pretty sight, and the withdrawal symptoms can be even less attractive. Most drugs will leave the system in less than a week, but the heaviest users can be assured that it will be a very difficult week. Because some of the withdrawal symptoms can be fatal, it's best to seek professional assistance if anyone is thinking of giving up the long-term use of alcohol or drugs.
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Alcohol
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Once a physical addiction to alcohol sets in, as in the case with consistently heavy drinkers, stopping the drink can lead to a number of horrible side effects. Alcohol is a depressant, so the withdrawal symptoms can leave a person wide awake, suffering from many nervous conditions. Sleeplessness, sweating, lack of appetite, and a type of shaking known as the shakes or tremors are common. Other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include a rapid pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, agitation, jumpiness and visual or auditory hallucinations. The most dramatic withdrawal symptoms can include grand mal seizures and even death.
Cocaine
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Cocaine is a major upper, and those who give it up are going to go down. Depression and extreme fatigue are some of the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, as are angry outbursts, anxiety, irritability and muscle pain. Folks may start shaking, experience intense cravings for the drug and become nauseous and agitated. Those withdrawing from cocaine may not sleep well and may lack motivation to do much of anything.
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Heroin
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People who are withdrawing from the mellowing heroin may look and feel like they are experiencing a very bad case of the flu. They may have watery eyes, a runny nose, muscle cramps, chills and a loss of appetite. Heroin withdrawal can also produce goose bumps, tremors, dilated pupils, stomach cramps and panic attacks. Excessive sweating, yawning and a bad case of the jitters are other symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
Methamphetamine
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Methamphetamine, also known simply as meth, is another upper that can leave users extremely tired but unable to sleep without frequent waking. Someone experiencing meth withdrawal can also expect to be irritable, anxious and afflicted with moderate to extremely severe depression. Meth withdrawal has also led to psychotic reactions and behaviors.
Marijuana
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Stopping marijuana, a drug known for its soothing effect, can leave people full of tension. The tension can come out physically, with muscle aches and headaches, or mentally, in irritability and anxiety. Lack of appetite is another withdrawal symptom of marijuana, as is a very dour mood.
Xanax
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The prescription drug Xanax is a benzodiazepine and a downer, not unlike alcohol. Other downers, like Valium and Rohypnol, also fall into the benzodiazepine category, and share similar withdrawal effects as alcohol. Shaking, a rapid heartbeat and disturbed sleep or insomnia top the list. Anxiety, agitation and jitteriness are others. A person withdrawing from Xanax may also become sweaty, nervous, nauseous and extremely irritable.
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- Photo Credit Illustration by Ryn Gargulinski
