The Deadly Withdrawal

Today’s topic is the symptoms of withdrawal from drugs and alcohol. The drugs we will be focusing on are alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine. All of these drugs have physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be fatal.

Alcohol: Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in America. Withdrawal from Alcohol may require medical treatment or a hospitalized detoxification program. It is important to know that unsupervised Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. The most common symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal are as follows. Physical: Headaches, Nausea, Tremors, Sweating, and Seizures. Mental: Anxiety, Hallucinations, Disorientation, Restlessness, Insomnia, and Irritability.
Opiates: Opiates are the most commonly abused medication in America. Opiates can be prescribed by doctors for pain management or purchased on the street such as Heroin or Fentanyl. Opiate Withdrawal may consist of multiple physical symptoms however, they are not fatal. It is most often recommended to enter a detoxification program to safely withdraw from Opiates. The most common symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal are as follows. Physical: Muscle Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Sweating, Goose Bumps, and Tremors. Mental: Insomnia, Restlessness, Anxiety, and Discontentedness.
Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are a class of prescribed narcotics used to treat Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorders. The most common Benzodiazepines are Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan. Withdrawals from Benzodiazepines are serious and should always be done under medical supervision since the withdrawal can be fatal. The most common symptoms of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal are as follows. Physical: Headaches, Chest Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Blurred or Double Vision, Fatigue, and Seizures. Mental: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Mood Swings, Insomnia and Paranoia.
Cocaine: There are numerous symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal, however, none of them are fatal. It is still recommended to always seek medical assistance when discontinuing the use of Cocaine. Cocaine is a fat soluble substance, which means that once the body breaks it down the Cocaine metabolites can lodge themselves into fatty tissue. When that fat is then metabolized the minute traces of Cocaine are once again released into the bloodstream which results in intense cravings. This can take place months after one stops using Cocaine. The most common symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal are as follows. Physical: Congested or a runny nose, Muscle Pain, Sweating, Tremors, Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of Appetite, and Intense Cravings. Mental: Severe Anxiety, Paranoia, Hallucinations, Depression, Insomnia, and Mental Confusion.

Whether you or a loved one is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from drug and alcohol use, it is always recommended to seek medical help or hospitalization. Professional detoxification centers provide the appropriate medical measures to ensure that one detoxes in the safest way. Remember that Withdrawal symptoms can be extremely severe and in some cases even fatal.

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