Methamphetamine, more commonly known as meth, is a potent and hazardous illicit substance impacting the lives of individuals worldwide. Ingesting even a small amount of meth dramatically speeds up the central nervous system, causing a euphoric and energised state that chronic users crave.
With extended meth use, the brain struggles to produce feel-good hormones naturally, leading to a cycle of seeking more of the substance to use. Regardless of the ingestion method, this substance has a high potential for addiction and health issues.
Maybe you know someone who uses meth, or you’ve considered changing your relationship with this substance. You’re not alone, and fortunately, there are ways to safely detox and approach a meth addiction from a holistic lens.
What are Meth Withdrawals?
Meth withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone stops using meth after prolonged or heavy use. Withdrawal symptoms occur because the brain and body must adjust to functioning without the drug. Because this substance significantly alters central nervous system functioning, abruptly stopping the use of meth is not safe and can be potentially life-threatening.
Symptoms of Meth Withdrawals
Meth withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, depending on factors such as the length and amount of drug use, individual health, and other personal factors. Common withdrawal symptoms involve both psychological and physical characteristics.
Heightened Mental Health Issues
As meth detoxes from the body, existing mental health issues can intensify. Depression becomes severe, with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Anxiety also amplifies, with increased feelings of worry or panic. The person may also present with psychosis, paranoia, amd rumination or experience auditory or visual hallucinations or delusions.
Mental health symptoms that are exacerbated to this degree can feel frightening, leading to feeling out of control as their body attempts to re-regulate.
Intense Mood Swings
In addition to augmented mental health symptoms, meth withdrawal can cause various rapid mood swings. With an abrupt shift in brain chemistry, someone enduring meth withdrawals will likely be easily agitated. It’s reasonable to expect to feel irritable and restless as well. The person typically wants to avoid social interactions due to their fluctuating state of mind and sensitivity to stimuli.
Intense Cravings
Fierce and persistent cravings for meth are a hallmark of the withdrawal process, posing significant challenges to recovery. Meth significantly increases dopamine levels in the brain, creating feelings of euphoria and energy, depleting natural dopamine stores over time. During detox, the absence of meth leads to a “dopamine crash,” triggering cravings as the brain seeks to restore dopamine levels. Chronic meth use alters the brain’s reward and motivation pathways, a change that persists even after the drug leaves the system.
How Long Do Meth Withdrawals Last?
The meth withdrawal timeline for withdrawal and detox can last anywhere from a few days to approximately two weeks, depending on how the substance was used. There are typically two distinct phases to this process:
Phase 1: Acute Withdrawal Phase
The first 24 hours after meth use has ended can be the most intense and is characterised by extreme fatigue as the body is trying to recover from the stimulant effects of meth. This phase of detoxification involves acute symptoms that taper off as detox progresses and are primarily physiological in nature. Medical supervision is particularly critical at this stage.
Typical phase 1 symptoms:
Intensified anxiety
Meth cravings
Tremors and shakiness
Increased appetite
Mood swings
Headaches
Depression
Extreme fatigue
Body aches
Grinding teeth
Phase 2: Post-Acute Withdrawal Phase
As acute detox symptoms begin to subside, psychological withdrawal symptoms become more apparent as the body continues to regulate. In the second withdrawal phase, the brain returns to normal functioning and a healthy baseline. While post-acute withdrawal symptoms may persist for 1-2 weeks, they are considerably more stable than in acute withdrawal.
Typical phase 2 symptoms:
Decreased motivation
Increased stress levels
Reduced ability to perform cognitive functions (focus, concentration, decision-making)
Mood swings
Poor self-control
Muscle aches and joint pain
Sleep disturbance
Sweating and chills
How Severe Are Meth Withdrawals
The severity of meth withdrawals can vary significantly from person to person and is often described as intense and challenging to endure, especially without professional support. The severity depends on several factors:
Level of dependence – Chronic or heavy users typically experience more severe withdrawal symptoms
Duration and amount of use – Long-term use leads to more significant disruption of brain chemistry, which takes longer to recover
Physical health – Poor physical or mental health can exacerbate symptoms
Co-occurring mental health conditions – Anxiety and depression can intensify withdrawal symptoms
Environment during withdrawal – A supportive and home-like setting can improve the withdrawal experience
How to Detox from Meth Safely
Once you become physically dependent on meth or any other substance used recreationally, it’s challenging to stop. Attempting to detox at home is dangerous and increases the risk of relapse–but proper support and care at a reputable detox facility can alleviate safety concerns.
Meth withdrawal management can help to alleviate a potentially uncomfortable and rigorous detoxification process. Palladium Private is able to safely support people through lower risk meth withdrawal – a clinically suitability assessment will be needed first to determine if we can support you or your loved one. For higher risk or more medically complex detoxification, we can work with nearby private hospitals to support you through this, before commencing our residential treatment program.
Meth Detox and Addiction Support at Palladium Private
Palladium Private is a private rehab offering mental health and addiction recovery in a retreat-like setting in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Qld, Australia. Through a combination of medical, mental and physical modalities, you will be guided in understanding the root cause of your condition and provided with real tools for a sustainable transformation.
Palladium Private’s nationally accredited programs focus on community supported healing – where you are supported by health professionals with lived experience. They begin with a thorough medical assessment to determine if a detox is needed before the program starts. The rehab program at Palladium Private emphasises evidence-based and empathy-led healing throughout recovery.
We’re Here to Help
Meth addiction doesn’t have to ruin your life. Addiction treatment can help you put a stop to drug addiction through safe, effective, and evidence-based therapies.
Developing an addiction isn’t only about physical dependence. Meth use often becomes intertwined with daily routines–it makes sense that social interactions and coping mechanisms would further establish an addiction over time. Learn to build new, healthy routines with a program at Palladium.
If you or a loved one could benefit from a therapeutic program at Palladium, contact our dedicated Intake team for a confidential discussion today. Knowing that you are not alone in your journey toward renewed mental wellness is essential to the recovery puzzle.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
