While the process can be challenging, understanding the different stages of withdrawal can help you feel more prepared. As the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) explains, it can be challenging to care for someone who has a substance use disorder. People who alcohol use disorder symptoms and causes provide such support should make sure to practice self-care. During a methamphetamine detox, some people may benefit from the support of family, friends, or partners. After detox, the most important aspect of treatment is continued abstinence from methamphetamine.

1. Since there are no approved medications for meth dependence, treatment during medical detox is supportive.
2. But if you choose to use meth, there are steps you can take to make your experience safer.
3. In some cases, a nonthreatening conversation is a better option.
4. Working with a mental health professional can give you the skills necessary for lasting recovery.

CADTH does not make any guarantee with respect to any information contained on such third-party sites and CADTH is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage suffered as a result of using such third-party sites. CADTH has no responsibility for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by third-party sites. No simultaneous antidepressants, behavioral interventions, or substitution therapy were administered. Additional references of potential interest that did not meet the inclusion criteria for this review are provided in Appendix 5. When the drug is completely out of your system, your doctor will help you prepare for treatment.

Craving for MA and depressive symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms have been linked to a propensity for relapse to drug abuse. Inasmuch as this association applies to methamphetamine (MA) abuse, an understanding of the course of MA withdrawal symptoms may help to direct treatment for MA dependence. Previous studies of symptoms manifested during abstinence from MA have been limited in size and scope. Unfortunately, there are not currently any FDA-approved prescriptions specifically designed to ease the methamphetamine withdrawal process like there are with other drugs such as opioids. So, the most common crystal meth treatment methods for withdrawal symptoms continue to be centered around medical supervision and behavioral interventions.

Drug cravings will be heightened during this phase, and individuals may experience muscle aches, shaking, or tremors. Typically, the most intense symptoms of crystal meth withdrawal occur within 24 to 48 hours of the last use of the drug. After the first week of sobriety, most of the intense crystal meth withdrawal symptoms begin to taper off. But the effects of meth use can be experienced for months or even years after using crystal meth.

Depression and Unease: Seven to 10 days

The potential risk of bias of the primary studies was assessed and the articles were graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) levels of evidence. The heterogeneity between primary studies was described and, due to the heterogeneity that was observed, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Sources of funding for the primary studies included in the review were not reported. The review authors reported no competing interests or conflicting funding sources. The target population of the guideline by Wodarz et al.9 is adults who misuse methamphetamine.

In this study, MA withdrawal symptoms (aside from craving for MA) were, on average, mild and resolved within 14 days of abstinence. In a previous study, MA withdrawal symptoms (increased appetite, craving for MA and depressive symptoms) decreased linearly from a peak in the first day of abstinence over 7–10 days [19]. The onset, appearance and subsequent decrease of ‘increased appetite’ observed in that study directly match the pattern that was also reported for the craving for MA [19] and is similar to the findings presented here.

The least risky (and slowest) way to use meth is to swallow it. Your odds of harmful effects go up if you put meth into your vein with a needle. But you can lessen the chances of harmful effects if you use smaller amounts of meth no matter what method you choose. Some people swallow it in a pill form or smoke it by heating up crystals in a glass bowl or pipe and breathing in the vapors. Methamphetamine hydrochloride (Desoxyn) is the only legal methamphetamine in the U.S. It’s a pill approved to treat ADHD, but doctors don’t prescribe it very often.

Additionally, The Recovery Village asked participants about their meth withdrawal timeline. The vast majority (95%) of all participants experienced meth cravings for up to seven weeks after beginning withdrawal. The three main portions of withdrawal are the crash, cravings and recovery. Methamphetamine withdrawal is a slow, difficult, but enormously valuable process that may last several days or weeks.

Some have suicidal thoughts and are unable to feel pleasure. By the end of the first week, these symptoms largely decline. Once tolerance develops, people need to take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects. They may start smoking or injecting meth to experience a stronger, more immediate high.

If you use meth while you’re pregnant, you may give birth early or have a baby with a low birth weight. In general, you may feel the effects of meth for around 2-6 hours if you smoke it or 6-8 hours if you inject it. The high may linger a little longer if you snort or swallow the drug, lasting up to 12 hours or longer. The duration may differ for you depending on how often you use meth. 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.

In addition to these programs there are also various outpatient support groups that can be used in the treatment of meth addiction. Programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or NA, Methamphetamine Anonymous and other 12 step groups are helpful to many addicts in their long-term focus of recovery and healing. 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. Withdrawal from methamphetamine occurs when a regular meth user suddenly stops taking the substance.

Once detox is complete, people can seek counseling and other services to learn how to quit meth and maintain long-term sobriety. If you or a loved one is struggling with crystal meth use, read on to discover some common signs and symptoms of meth addiction and some long-term effects of meth use that you should be aware of. Meth produces an intense high that comes on and fades quickly.

The first step is to recognize any misconceptions you might have about substance use and addiction. It’s important to remember that ongoing drug use changes the brain’s structure and chemistry. This makes it more and more difficult influence of genetic background in alcohol dependency to simply stop taking the drug. You might wonder if it’s drug use or something else, such as stressful job or time in their life. When you have an addiction, you can’t stop using a drug, regardless of any negative consequences.

Methamphetamine Detox and Withdrawal

Coming down can cause difficult emotional and physical symptoms, such as depression and insomnia. As a result, meth addiction often follows a pattern of bingeing on the drug for several days at a time, followed by a crash. Methamphetamine is a powerful and dangerous stimulant that can cause dependency after just one use. Withdrawal symptoms, including extreme cravings and feelings of depression, can be emotionally and physically intense and even lead to fatalities if not properly treated.

Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety. Your doctor can assess your overall health by performing a physical exam. They can also refer you to a treatment center and answer any questions you may have. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs. When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.Regular drug use changes your brain chemistry, affecting how you experience pleasure.