When a loved one is addicted to meth, all you want to do is help. But it can feel impossible. They know the effects their substance use is having on their family and their own life, but it doesn’t seem to matter. When the symptoms of withdrawal kick in, the cycle begins again.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we see this every day. Meth withdrawals often cause intense feelings of depression and anxiety, which is why we offer dual-diagnosis care and continue supporting our clients long after they leave.
Today, we’re going to discuss how long meth withdrawal lasts, what causes it, and its symptoms.
Any addiction is a complex process with many factors. These can be physical, psychological, and even social – your loved one’s substance use won’t necessarily follow the same pattern as someone else. However, there are specific things to look for when it comes to a meth use disorder.
When meth is taken, the body is flooded with a variety of chemicals. Over time, the body can get used to these elevated levels of chemicals, needing more and more to get the same “high”, and eventually needing some just to function normally. Once this happens, when the body doesn’t get these chemicals, the brain sends out powerful cravings for meth. This is known as “withdrawal”.
Methamphetamine is a stimulant, and so has very different withdrawal symptoms compared to other substances, like alcohol or opioids. While these symptoms are less likely to be life-threatening, they can still have serious health and psychological consequences, making it difficult to break free from meth use.
Below, we’ve included a timeline covering everything you need to know about meth withdrawal.
In the first 24 hours after the last dose of crystal meth, withdrawal symptoms will begin to appear, some of them within the first few hours. These symptoms can vary, but largely fall into two categories:
At this stage, initial meth withdrawal symptoms can start to get worse, and you should be careful of dehydration in particular. Insomnia may turn into your loved one sleeping for most of the day. Additional symptoms may appear:
During this time, many symptoms will begin to fade. Research suggests that psychosis and intense depression should reach their peak in this time, then decline. However, some symptoms will continue.
During the month after the start of meth withdrawal, most acute symptoms will have faded. Cravings continue during this time but should diminish with every day that passes.
At this point, cravings and other symptoms should disappear. However, in some cases what are known as post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) can occur. These are meth withdrawal symptoms that can happen long after the initial symptoms fade, and can show up even several years later.
While these symptoms are relatively minor compared to initial methamphetamine withdrawal, they highlight the importance of surrounding your loved one with a community that cares and supports them throughout their entire recovery journey.
Facing such a lengthy withdrawal process, many people feel discouraged about recovering from their meth use. When these feelings are made worse by the negative emotions of meth withdrawal, it’s easy for your loved one to slip back into addiction. That’s why it’s important to look for treatment that doesn’t just help them in the short term, but is by their side at every step.
We believe recovery doesn’t end with treatment, but continues on long after you leave our doors. Our extensive alumni network is there to support, educate, and help your loved one wherever they are in their recovery journey. That’s why when we provide meth addiction treatment, we give your partner not only the tools they need to recover but a community where they belong. Connect with us today at 210-361-5711.
Strength. Acceptance. Recovery. Community.
Q: Can using meth once cause you to go into withdrawal?
A: Generally, no, a single use of a drug will not lead to withdrawal. Withdrawal involves the long-term development of dependence on a substance. However, some negative symptoms may appear as the drug fades, especially if meth was used to cope with other emotional or physical pain.
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