While most inhalant withdrawal symptoms are moderate, certain users are at risk of experiencing more severe symptoms.
While the danger of establishing a physical reliance on inhalants is limited, many users rapidly acquire a psychological dependence. When a person addicted to inhalants abruptly ceases using them, their body experiences withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s reaction to not having a drug on which it is reliant. Because inhalants are depressants of the Central Nervous System (CNS), they inhibit the user’s physiological processes. When a person stops using, the repressed functions become hyperactive. This results in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and nausea, among other things.
Although the symptoms of inhalant withdrawal are usually minimal, the procedure can nonetheless be challenging. Addicts are recommended to contact a doctor before discontinuing usage of inhalants or to complete the withdrawal process at a drug treatment facility. Please do contact us if you require assistance in locating treatment.
Withdrawal effects from inhalants can be both psychological and physical in character. While most symptoms are moderate, people who have a lengthy history of Inhalant usage may have severe effects.
The following are common and/or severe Inhalant withdrawal symptoms:
Withdrawal symptoms often appear during the first 24 to 48 hours following the last usage. The duration and intensity of withdrawal symptoms vary per user, but most individuals get through the worst of it in about a week. Psychological withdrawal effects, like cravings and depression, can endure far longer than physical withdrawal symptoms. Some inhalant users have experienced psychological withdrawal symptoms for months after quitting. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms, or PAWS, are the unpleasant side effects of drug addiction. PAWS can persist up to 18-24 months in extreme instances.
There is no way to generate an exact Inhalant withdrawal timeline since a variety of factors impact the duration of each individual’s particular withdrawal. These elements include:
Regardless of these variables, it sure is possible to create a general Inhalant withdrawal timeline for the average Inhalant user.
Days 1-2
Physical symptoms are frequently the first to appear and generally start within 48 hours of stopping usage. Hand tremors, sweating, vomiting, and, in extreme situations, seizures are all possible symptoms. Anxiety, cravings, insomnia, and irritability are all possible psychological symptoms. Hallucinations or psychosis may appear in some instances.
Days 3-7
Most physical symptoms will begin to disappear over the next two to five days. However, psychological problems frequently persist during this period. Depression is likely, and anxiety and insomnia are likely to continue. Psychosis and hallucinations usually disappear rapidly.
Days 8+
Most symptoms will gradually decrease over the next several weeks until they are no longer present. Depression and cravings may remain while the user’s body adjusts. It may take a month or two for these symptoms to totally disappear.
The withdrawal process from inhalants may be both physically and psychologically demanding, placing recovering users in danger of recurrence. It is suggested that patients detox at a drug treatment clinic under the guidance of trained medical experts to avoid recurrence.
“It is critical to provide the patient with a safe atmosphere that prevents him or her from having access to inhalants.”
– SAMHSA, Clinicians’ Quick Guide TIP 45 (2006 edition)
While there are no drugs particularly designed to treat the symptoms of Inhalant withdrawal, doctors may prescribe medications to treat nausea, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Because inhalant medicines have both short- and long-term negative effects on the body, their use is not tapered off. Patients must instead quit as soon as they start a program.
Receiving treatment at an inpatient or outpatient treatment facility will provide Inhalant users with a break from the daily routine that has supported their current use condition. Inhalant addiction treatment generally begins with medical detox, followed by a variety of treatments to address the underlying attitudes and behaviors that lead to the addiction. Support groups are frequently important during the treatment process as well as after rehab.
Get treatment right now if you or someone you care about is addicted to inhalants. For assistance in locating an Inhalant addiction treatment program, contact a treatment provider today.
