The Withdrawal Symptoms of Amphetamines

When trying to quit amphetamines, you should be prepared for the eventual symptoms that will be experienced during the withdrawal phase. Intense cravings are an obvious issue that most people deal with after their bodies no longer receive a constant supply of the drug. The situation becomes more challenging due to the fact that no medication has shown effectiveness for the management of amphetamine withdrawal symptoms, studies show. Understanding the range of emotional and physiological manifestations of the withdrawal is one of the keys to the better management of these complications. Having the right kind of support, especially from reputable professionals like the Providence Projects team, can also contribute to a smoother transition and a consistently successful journey towards achieving long-term sobriety.

Why Do Amphetamines Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

Using amphetamines increases the synaptic activity of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in your brain. This means that more dopamine is released, dopamine reuptake is inhibited, storage is inhibited, and destruction of dopamine is blocked. In short, your brain has an excess of dopamine when you are using and not enough when you stop. Dopamine carries signals between neurons. It is also used to create epinephrine and norepinephrine. It is integral to the functioning of your reward system and plays a role in desire, your ability to feel pleasure, motivation, and cravings. Norepinephrine is involved in your body’s stress response. It regulates alertness, blood pressure, and sleep. Quitting amphetamines results in a temporary dysregulation of these functions, which is why you experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

The Withdrawal Symptoms of Amphetamines

The withdrawal symptoms associated with different amphetamine medications are generally similar. However, there can be some variation in the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms between different amphetamine medications and their formulations. People who have been taking amphetamine medications may experience similar withdrawal symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Depression and anxiety
• Irritability and mood swings
• Increased appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulties concentrating

Generally speaking, there is an initial phase known as crash and a subsequent longer phase of withdrawal. Both have their distinctive symptoms. During the crash phase, the stimulating effects of amphetamines start to wear off. As a result, a person who quits is likely to experience depression, the desire to sleep for longer periods of time, food cravings and overeating.

The next phase is characterised by intense irritability, the inability to get pleasure from daily life, cravings and lethargy. The specific experience of withdrawal can vary based on factors like the dosage, duration of use, and the individual’s unique response to the medication.

While the core withdrawal symptoms are comparable across amphetamine medications, there may be some subtle differences due to variations in the specific pharmacokinetics (how the drug is metabolised and excreted) of different formulations. However, these differences are generally not significant enough to result in entirely distinct withdrawal profiles for each medication.

When it comes to complications and more severe symptoms, there are a few things to be mindful of. Psychotic symptoms may be experienced by some former amphetamine users. These are more common among the people who have experienced such over the course of their amphetamine use. Psychotic withdrawal symptoms are most likely to occur during the first week or two after quitting amphetamines. Amphetamine withdrawal psychosis is characterised by:

• Paranoid delusions
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Extreme agitation and concentration difficulties
• Erratic motor activity
• Rapid speech that may even become incoherent at times
• Overall disorganised and illogical thinking

The percentage of people who will experience amphetamine withdrawal psychosis is luckily low. Still, if you’re going through such severe complications or you know someone who is struggling to become sober, seek professional assistance. Experienced addiction specialists like the Providence Projects team can choose an approach that will alleviate the main challenges linked to giving up amphetamines. Over the decades, we have helped over 10,000 people achieve sobriety. Using a personalised, holistic therapeutic approach, we equip those struggling with addiction with a good arsenal of tools that can address the factors that may eventually lead to relapse.

How to Fight Withdrawal Symptoms?

There are strategies that can be used to decrease the severity, intensity and duration of amphetamine withdrawal symptoms. This is especially important for individuals who experience intense side effects, as well as for those who may be dealing with prolonged withdrawal (lasting more than a few weeks). The best way to approach this issue is to contact an addiction specialist, such as the ones working at the Providence Projects. Once you have been assessed and our experts have considered your condition, you can come in for a tailored detox and rehab programme. If you are not sure how to approach a loved one suffering from withdrawals, you might also want to consider an intervention. Established in 1996, the Providence Projects can help people overcome addiction in the shortest timeframe possible, also equipping everyone with the coping tools that will come in handy during difficult episodes in the future.

if you are looking for an addiction treatment programme which can help you get back in control over your amphetamine use, The Providence Projects have a strong record of achieving just this through helping our patients rediscover better coping mechanisms and alternative routes when amphetamine medications are involved.