Two of the terms most frequently used to describe the difficulties of stopping a drug are detox and withdrawal. Although they may be connected, detox and withdrawal should not be used interchangeably. Overcoming a drug use disorder may be made less daunting and more doable by being aware of the differences between detox and withdrawal.
The distinctions between drug and alcohol detox and withdrawal, as well as the best methods for dealing with substance usage, are discussed in the sections that follow.
Detox
You should be familiar with the fundamentals of detoxification before delving into the distinctions between detox and withdrawal. You may find out what detox is, how it feels, and how long it lasts in the sections below.
Detox: What Is It?
The process of the body and mind releasing the addictive substances they have accumulated during substance usage is known as detoxification. Drugs like heroin, opioids, and alcohol can affect your physiological processes, impair your cognitive capacities, and cause your body to become dependent on the substance when consumed in high doses over a prolonged length of time. For this reason, once a person stops using drugs, the body reacts strongly and fast.
Having medical care throughout detoxification is essential since stopping drugs might have some negative side effects.
Detoxing on your own without medical supervision may be quite risky. Thankfully, there are choices available for detoxification regimens.
The three main categories of drug detox programs are as follows:
Inpatient detox: Because it guarantees that medical assistance is always available, staying at an inpatient institution is the safest method to undergo detox. Potential withdrawal symptoms can be experienced safely thanks to the ongoing observation of medical personnel.
Outpatient detox: Compared to an inpatient treatment, an outpatient detox program carries a somewhat increased risk of recurrence or complications. An outpatient program, however, enables patients to stay at home with their families and yet get routine medical monitoring.
Medical detox: During a medical detox treatment, drugs are used to reduce some of the physical and psychological side effects of withdrawal. This technique lessens the effects of withdrawal, making it simpler to stop using drugs without relapsing. The medicine is gradually reduced as the detox process comes to an end. Both an inpatient and an outpatient environment are acceptable places to perform medical detox.
How Does a Detox Look?
Detoxification may be a difficult procedure that includes many of the signs and symptoms of drug withdrawal. The precise side effects of detox differ based on the patient’s body chemistry, the substance they used, and how long they have been addicted.
However, these are the most typical signs of detoxification:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Anxiety Irritability
- Insomnia
- Fever
- a quick heartbeat
- Sweating
- muscle ache
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
It is crucial to have regular medical monitoring during the detox process since the adverse effects of detox might feel unpleasant or overpowering. As the body learns to manage itself without the chemical in its system, these symptoms will eventually go away.
How Long Does a Typical Detox Take?
Everybody experiences detoxification in a different way. However, because the procedure often follows the same cycles and patterns, it is simpler to explain to patients what to expect from their program. A general timetable of the detoxification procedure is shown below:
Initial 12 hours: Detox symptoms start off modest but rapidly get worse. It’s possible for the patient to start feeling sick, shaky, anxious, and irritable.
On the first day, symptoms worsen and may include tremors, convulsions, and disorientation.
Second day: Similar to the first, the second day will feature some of the most painful symptoms. Hallucinations and panic episodes are frequent at this stage of the procedure
The remainder of the first week: Various symptoms might appear and disappear throughout this time. The most severe symptoms usually appear at this time. A medical detox treatment frequently aids in preventing more health issues and offers some pain relief.
Within one week: Most withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside within the first week of detox. Some symptoms could persist, but they’ll probably be far less severe and manageable with medicine.
The remainder of detox: The worst withdrawal symptoms should be treated after the first week or two of a detox program. Patients should continue to be in a secure, encouraging atmosphere nonetheless, as they are still going through a period of physical and mental rehabilitation.
Rarely, a condition known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome will cause patients to continue to experience symptoms. To control the adverse effects in these situations, prescription drugs might be given.
Withdrawal
Understanding the specifics of withdrawal is essential to comprehending the significance of detox programs. We will discuss what withdrawal is and how it feels in this part.
Why Do People Withdraw?
When someone with a drug use problem abruptly stops using, they can suffer a wide variety of symptoms known as withdrawal. The brain progressively develops a tolerance for the substance because alcohol and drugs interfere with the connections between neurons, impairing some brain processes.
.The individual eventually starts to feel as though they need to consume more to get through a day.
When a person stops drinking or taking drugs, their neural system is shocked by the abrupt lack of the substance, which results in withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms might be quite minor or extremely dangerous. Recovering from a drug use problem is significantly hampered by withdrawal because of how dangerous and severe the symptoms are.
How Does Withdrawal Appear?
When a person quits using drugs or alcohol, withdrawal symptoms often begin within hours and peak within a few days. Typically, withdrawal symptoms peak after a week and then start to subside. The typical symptoms of withdrawal are summarized below:
Day 1: Nausea, irritability, and perspiration are frequent withdrawal symptoms. In addition to a faster pulse, tremors, and sleeplessness, a person’s blood pressure may increase.
Day two: Withdrawal symptoms are worse on day two and, in extreme circumstances, they can even involve seizures and hallucinations.
Days three to five of withdrawal: These days are typically marked by intense emotional discomfort, and hallucinations or tremors may persist.
Helpful Resources
