Meth Withdrawal Timeline: How Long is Meth Detox?
Findings by the National Institute of Health NIH) indicated that methamphetamine-dependent people may have trouble maintaining abstinence for more than a week due to continued cravings for the drug. This craving lasts through several weeks of abstinence and continues at a reduced level over at least 5 weeks of abstinence. This continued craving for meth during abstinence may contribute to the high rate of relapse seen in treatment studies.
Our meth detox rehab provides support and medical intervention during withdrawal and helps people get clean. After detoxing, clients continue treatment in our residential addiction program to learn how to become sober long-term.
Meth Withdrawal Timeline
Within 24 hours of the Last Use
The severity of certain withdrawal symptoms is at their most intense within 24 hours after quitting then start to decline. Symptoms include:
- Severe depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Fatigue
- Intense meth cravings
- Food cravings
- Dry mouth
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Muscle spasms
The Acute Phase (7 to 10 days)
By the end of the first week, your symptoms should be nearly under control. This phase is characterized by:
- Increased sleeping
- Increased appetite
- Depression-related symptoms
- Anxiety
- Cravings
Subacute Phase (up to 3 weeks)
Symptoms remain stable at low levels for at least the next three weeks. However, some may continue for much longer. The depression should improve during this time.
The symptoms of psychosis should also improve. This is usually present before the person stops using methamphetamine and tends to continue to improve. The emotional symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety, depression, or intense cravings can last for months in some cases.
What Causes Withdrawal Symptoms?
According to a review done in 2022, withdrawal symptoms occur when your body tries to re-adjust to the decrease in meth use. When you take a drug, your body becomes used to its effects. Meth affects certain brain receptors which changes your brain chemistry temporarily. The more you use, the greater the changes in your brain.
When you stop using methamphetamine, your brain has to adapt quickly to the change. This starts various processes that operate to bring your brain chemistry closer to what it was before using meth. The side effects of these processes are withdrawal symptoms.
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What Is Meth?
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that speeds up your central nervous system. It elevates dopamine levels. Dopamine is a brain chemical that plays a role in your movement and motivation. It also sends signals that tell you to repeat behaviors that make you feel good. Some common terms for meth include:
- Crystal
- Speed
- Crank
- Tweak
- Uppers
- Glass
- Ice
Usually, meth is a white pill or powder that has no smell but has a bitter taste. Crystal meth looks like chunks of glass or shiny bluish-white rocks. In its powder form, it has a bitter taste like the other types of meth.
Crystal meth is a popular party drug which is typically smoked with a small glass pipe. However, it is sometimes snorted, swallowed, or injected into a vein. People report a quick rush of euphoria soon after using crystal meth.
What are the Effects of Meth?
People are affected in different ways. The way it makes you feel depends on several factors including:
- Your body size and age
- How much you take
- How you use it
- The place where you use it and the people around you
- Whether you have other physical or mental health conditions
- If you have alcohol, medicine, or other drugs in your system
Short-term Effects
Similar to other stimulants, you might feel high. Even with small amounts, you may feel:
- More confident and alert
- An increase in energy
- Move around and talk more
- Eat and sleep less
Some uncomfortable physical symptoms you may experience include:
- Rapid breathing
- Racing heart
- Chest pain
- Dry mouth
- Increase in body temperature
Long-term Effects
Depending on how often you use meth and your method of use, you could develop emotional and physical symptoms, including addiction. Long-term effects of regular meth use include:
- Drastic weight loss
- Constantly seeking the drug
- Dental issues
- Itching skin so bad your scratching causes sores
- Feeling as if bugs are crawling under your skin
- Depression, anxiety, and other changes in mood
- Trouble focusing or confusion
- Memory loss
If you used meth frequently, you may also:
- Do risky things and use poor judgment
- Generally feel bad except when using meth
- Become violent and aggressive
- Experience extreme paranoia
- See and feel things that aren’t real
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?
Meth isn’t broken down in your body as fast as some of the other stimulant drugs, such as cocaine. You may experience the effects for 8 to 24 hours, but it may remain in your blood or urine for about 72 hours. It can be detected in your hair for up to 90 days.
The length of time it makes you high or stays in your system depends on:
- How much you use
- What time of day you use it
- How you used it–by mouth or through a vein
- How healthy your liver and kidneys are
How Do I Know if I Need Detox?
Are you or a loved one wondering “Do I need a drug detox?” This checklist will help you answer that question:
- Is your tolerance (needing increasing amounts of meth to feel the same high) for the drug increasing:
- Are you experiencing mood changes whenever you quit?
- Do you feel physical withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have any meth?
- Do you have intense cravings, spend a lot of time thinking about the drug, and planning the next way to use it?
- Have you attempted to reduce your use, or quit, but haven’t been successful?
- Are you struggling with other medical issues that complicate your meth use?
- Have you stopped or reduced taking part in activities you used to enjoy?
Answering yes to all or any of these questions means that you need professional support to detox. You may be tempted to try to detox alone because you don’t want to ask for help or you have experienced the stigma of drug addiction. But don’t be discouraged. Many people have been in your situation and have gotten help and have gone on to live fulfilling, sober lives.
What Are Treatment Options for Meth Addiction?
Detox
Detoxification, or detox, is when your body rids itself of all the traces of methamphetamine. This involves stopping your meth use and waiting for your body to clear any remaining traces of the drug.
While in a medical detox program, these medications may be used to soothe symptoms:
- Aripiprazole to treat methamphetamine-induced psychosis
- Isradipine to treat high blood pressure
- Pexacerfont and buprenorphine to treat meth cravings
Detoxing with the supervision of medical professionals will make you a lot more comfortable while going through a difficult experience. This reduces the high likelihood of relapsing before completing detox.
Treatment Programs
After completing detox, continued abstinence from methamphetamine is crucial. You can continue treatment and learn relapse prevention strategies in addiction treatment programs.
- Inpatient Program: In an inpatient program, also called residential treatment, you live full-time at the treatment facility. There you will have 24-hour access to medical and mental health interventions. By living at the treatment center, you are removed from the temptations and triggers to use meth.
- Outpatient Programs: Outpatient programs are good for individuals who have completed a higher level of treatment, such as residential or inpatient treatment. It is also appropriate for individuals who have a mild to moderate drug abuse condition.
- Dual Diagnosis Program: Unfortunately, it’s common for substance use disorders to co-occur with mental health conditions. The two conditions must be treated simultaneously, preferably by the same treatment team in dual diagnosis care.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment Program (MAT): Many conditions can benefit from pharmaceutical treatment. MAT combines therapy and medications to treat both disorders.
Therapy for Addiction
Working one-on-one with a trained therapist, you will build trust and understanding that allows you to explore difficult issues safely in the knowledge that everything is confidential. Therapy is an effective tool in addiction treatment. Behavioral therapies help identify the causes of addiction and build healthy routines.
In group therapy, you learn to see things from other perspectives. Group therapy encourages participation in discussing issues shared by members of the group. The peer support of a group helps you move ahead with confidence.
Agape Detox Can Help You Through Meth Detox and Beyond
Now you know the meth withdrawal timeline and have an idea of what’s ahead, you need a safe place with experienced medical personnel. Agape Detox Center has compassionate, licensed, and trained medical and mental health professionals who can help you or a loved one get through the detox and on to a successful recovery.
You’ll start with a full assessment of your individual needs and requirements. If medication is necessary, we can provide you with MAT. Our therapists are experienced addiction treatment specialists. Through behavioral therapy, you’ll learn to understand your harmful behavior and thoughts and how to change them.
Agape Detox Center will provide you with professionals to help you through detox smoothly and directly into our inpatient treatment center. In our inpatient center, we can offer activities that are relaxing as well as stimulating such as:
- Yoga
- Physical fitness programs
- Meditation practice
- Goal-setting sessions
Agape can offer all of this in a beautiful, vacation-like atmosphere in Port St. Lucie, FL. You will be supported through this difficult time by professionals and people who know what you’re going through. You need to rest, recover, and rediscover yourself. Contact us today.
- July 18, 2024
- Updated Date: August 7, 2024
Detox Programs
Have any questions?
Stephanie Robilio is an accomplished Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare. With a Master of Social Work degree, LCSW license, and extensive training in Rapid Resolution Therapy under her belt, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence. Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team.
