Drug withdrawal is a serious challenge that can impact both your body and mind. It happens when your body, having become dependent on a substance, reacts to its sudden absence.

When you consume drugs or alcohol, and you get exposed to them for a long time, they can alter how your body and brain work. So, when you stop taking them, the body struggles to adjust, leading to symptoms that vary in intensity and duration.

Understanding the withdrawal timeline is critical for navigating recovery safely. In this blog, we’ll explore the stages of withdrawal, the factors that determine how long it lasts, and what withdrawal can you die from. 

Factors That Affect Withdrawal Duration

Everyone has a unique withdrawal experience. And there are different factors that can influence the length and intensity of symptoms. These include the type of drug used, duration and intensity of use, and health condition.

Type of drug

Different substances can impact your health in different ways. Withdrawing from them can also give various levels of intensity and risks. 

For instance, alcohol and benzodiazepines can cause severe, even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms (e.g., seizures and delirium tremens). On the other hand, opioid withdrawal often causes intense physical symptoms like vomiting and muscle pain, but withdrawal itself is rarely fatal.

Duration and intensity of use

How long you’ve been using and how heavily you’ve relied on a substance are key factors in how intense withdrawal will be. The stages of addiction matter here. 

So, if you’ve been using a drug daily or in large amounts for years, your withdrawal is likely to be more severe and last longer. On the contrary, if you’re in the earlier stages of addiction and haven’t built up deep dependence, the process might be shorter and less intense. 

Personal health and co-occurring conditions

Your overall health also plays a big role in how you experience withdrawal. If you’re in good shape physically, your body might recover more quickly. However, if you have a chronic illness or weakened immune system, the process could be harder and take longer. 

Additionally, co-occurring mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression, can further amplify the emotional strain of withdrawal.

General Withdrawal Timelines

When it comes to recovery, the timing of things is important to know. In withdrawal, you must understand that various substances have different withdrawal timelines. To give you an idea, we’ll break down the general timelines of commonly abused substances.

Opioids (e.g., heroin, prescription painkillers)

• Acute symptoms: If you’re withdrawing from opioids, you can expect symptoms like muscle aches, nausea, sweating, and restlessness to peak around days 2-4 and typically last 5-10 days.
• Protracted symptoms: After the worst has passed, you may still experience lingering anxiety, cravings, and trouble sleeping for weeks or even months.
• Can it be fatal? While opioid withdrawal itself isn’t usually life-threatening, it puts you at a high risk of overdose if you return to using after a period of abstinence. Tragically, thousands of opioid-related overdose deaths happen every year due to this lowered tolerance. From October 2022 to 2023, over 150,000 died in the U.S. because of overdose.

Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium)

• Acute symptoms: If you’re withdrawing from benzodiazepines, symptoms like anxiety, irritability, sweating, and headaches may last up to 2 weeks.
• Prolonged symptoms: Insomnia, mood swings, and heightened anxiety may persist for months after the acute withdrawal phase.
• Can it be fatal? If you’re wondering what drugs can you die from withdrawal, benzodiazepine is one of those. Severe symptoms, such as seizures, can occur and lead to brain damage or death without immediate medical attention. Always withdraw from benzodiazepines under professional medical supervision.

Alcohol

• Acute symptoms: Withdrawing from alcohol typically lasts 4-7 days. You may experience symptoms such as tremors, nausea, sweating, and increased heart rate, often starting within 6-12 hours. These could peak around 24-72 hours.
• Ongoing symptoms: Mood swings, anxiety, and cravings may linger for weeks or months after acute symptoms resolve.
• Can it be fatal? Yes, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. But how can someone die from withdrawal symptoms related to alcohol? It happens when severe symptoms like seizures or delirium tremens (DTs) occur. DTs, which affect up to 33% of people with severe alcohol use disorder in critical care settings, can cause confusion, rapid heartbeat, and hallucinations, potentially leading to cardiac arrest or death.

Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)

• Acute symptoms: Stimulant withdrawal typically lasts 1-2 weeks. Symptoms you’re likely to experience range from fatigue, irritability, and depression to cravings.
• Lingering effects: Low mood and drug cravings may persist for weeks or even months after the acute phase.
• Can it be fatal? Like opioids, stimulant withdrawal isn’t physically life-threatening, generally speaking. But note that it can cause severe depression, increasing your risk of self-harm or suicide. 

Marijuana

• Acute symptoms: If you’re withdrawing from marijuana, symptoms like irritability, restlessness, and appetite changes typically last 1-2 weeks.
• Ongoing effects: Sleep disturbances, mood swings, and mild cravings may linger for weeks.
• Can it be fatal? No, marijuana withdrawal itself isn’t fatal. However, it can worsen existing mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. Again, this could heighten your risk of self-harm or suicide. 

Managing Withdrawal: Why Professional Help is Key

Withdrawal challenges both your body and mind, but seeking professional suppor keeps you safe and supported. 

As you learned, substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines can cause dangerous symptoms, such as seizures or delirium tremens. And these require medical attention to prevent serious complications.

Doctors use medications like methadone or buprenorphine for opioids and benzodiazepines for alcohol to reduce symptoms and control cravings. These treatments stabilize your body and make the process more manageable, ensuring you stay on track.

Apart from physical concerns, withdrawal also brings emotional and mental hurdles. In this regard, counseling can help you tackle anxiety, depression, and cravings head-on. Meanwhile, peer support gives you encouragement and a sense of connection.

Conclusion

While withdrawal can be daunting, it’s a vital step for you to reclaim your freedom and enjoy lasting sobriety. The key is understanding various withdrawal timelines, the factors influencing its duration, and the potential risks. Knowing all these helps you prepare for the journey ahead. 

Whether you’re dealing with opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other substances, professional support makes all the difference. And if you’re ready to take that first step, we at Freedom Recovery can help. 

Offering the best addiction treatment Idaho has to offer, we’re here to aid you in navigating withdrawal safely. Get in touch with us today!