One of the first steps toward entering into a life of sobriety is detoxifying our bodies of any remnants of drugs or alcohol. The process is uncomfortable, but a happy future in sobriety it waiting for us at the end. Determining how long it will take for acute symptoms of withdrawal to diminish is difficult, as the duration of detox is entirely dependent upon one’s drug of choice, and the amount and frequency of their use. The two most dangerous drugs to withdrawal from are alcohol and benzodiazepines. Acute withdrawal symptoms from these substances can cause seizures, which can prove to be lethal. Anyone undergoing the process of withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines must seek medical attention immediately to be medically assisted through the process. According to the National Institute of Health, 90 percent of withdrawal-induced seizures from alcohol occur within the first 48 hours. The most discomforting withdrawal symptoms from alcohol resolve within one week. Symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal begin within a few hours after cessation from the drug and resolve within a few days. Opiate withdrawal presents very intense symptoms, including muscle pain, nausea, abdominal cramping, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms peak around the third day after opioid cessation, and resolve within about five days. Medically-assisted opiate detox, specifically with buprenorphine, eases the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms, but may make the process last longer. Withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine, on the other hand, is not as discomforting as withdrawal from other drugs, but can cause severe depression and lethargy. On average, most of the symptoms of stimulant and cocaine withdrawal resolve within 7 to 10 days. One of the greatest challenges of recovery is not getting through the acute symptoms of withdrawal, but managing the long-lasting symptoms, known as Post-Acute Withdrawal, or PAWS. PAWS symptoms can last from weeks to about a year after cessation from drugs or alcohol. PAWS symptoms vary based on the type of drug, but generally include an increase in feelings of depression and anxiety, fatigue, and irritability. Recovery programs and communities are one of the best tools at our disposal to learn healthy coping skills from other men and women who have been through PAWS.
Withdrawal does not last forever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and countless men and women have gone through the process and emerged into a happy and free life of sobriety. Oceanfront Recovery, a treatment facility in beautiful Laguna Beach, is staffed with caring and compassionate professionals dedicated to managing your symptoms and making the detox process as comfortable as possible. For more information about Detox and other treatment options, please call today: (877) 279-1777
