A study found that the use of diet pills among teen girls has doubled in recent years. Because diet pills are readily available over the counter, it’s easy for young girls to have access to these dangerous substances.
Diet pills may have many different addictive ingredients. Common ingredients are caffeine and a stimulant called ephedrine. Appetite suppressant pills are the most common diet pills that get abused.
Severe side effects and addiction are possible when using diet pills. Read on to learn about diet pills withdrawal and detox.
What Causes Diet Pills Withdrawal?
Diet pills are stimulants. This means they affect a person’s nervous system and the activity inside the brain.
Whenever someone uses diet pills for a long time, the brain begins to rely on that substance. Soon, it relies on the substance to focus and perform even the most basic cognitive functions.
Diet pill withdrawal can happen when someone who regularly takes diet pills suddenly stops taking the pills or reduces the quantity.
Diet Pills Withdrawal Symptoms
The symptoms of diet pill withdrawal depend on how long an individual has been using diet pills, as well as the dosage that is used. Withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, and cravings.
Many diet pill addicts report feeling that their brain feels “fuzzy” during withdrawal. Often, weight gain and muscle aches are side effects of diet pills withdrawal.
Impaired memory, increased appetite, and insomnia are also possible withdrawal symptoms. Feeling low and experiencing depression are also possible symptoms of using any stimulants. These can last weeks or even months.
Duration of Diet Pill Withdrawal
Diet pill?withdrawal is different for each user. An individual’s tolerance level and metabolism will affect their withdrawal process.
Some people may have all the withdrawal symptoms while others have just one or two.
Diet Pill Withdrawal Timeline
Symptoms of withdrawal begin around six hours after the last diet pill was consumed. But withdrawal may not start until 36 hours after the last dose in some cases.
Symptoms are usually most severe in the first one to two days after discontinuing diet pills. The intensity of the withdrawal symptoms peaks around a week after the last dose.
Yet, the psychological symptoms like depression can last for weeks or months after quitting diet pills.
Detoxing from Diet Pills on Your Own
Research shows that those who use diet pills are often people who suffer from an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder.
Stopping diet pills is not enough to deal with these deeper issues. Often, there are years of damage and psychological pain associated with using diet pills.
Also, detoxing from any drug can be dangerous if it is quit cold turkey. During detox, people are vulnerable and need supportive influences around them, as well as professional medical help.
Medical Detox for Diet Pills
One of the biggest fears people have when they begin to explore diet pill detox is the fear of gaining weight.
Medical detox for diet pills includes the help of therapists. These professionals can assist patients with anxiety and body image concerns throughout the detox process. This will help the user have a greater chance of avoiding relapse.
Medical assistance is necessary to support sobriety. Medication is also available for patients to detox from diet pills without intense withdrawal symptoms.
How Medical Detox Works and What to Expect
When a person begins a medical detox for diet pills, a doctor will start by assessing the patient’s underlying mental and physical health problems. The patient will discuss their addiction history with their doctor in order to allow treatment to be as holistic as possible.
It’s not safe for people to suddenly quit diet pills. Intense withdrawal symptoms can lead to major depression.
In a medical detox treatment center, experts will create a customized schedule that is unique to each patient to wean them off diet pills in order to avoid such intense withdrawal symptoms. Patients will also be closely monitored during detox.
Therapists and other support workers are available to help patients work through the emotional issues that they experience during detox. They also work together to address underlying mental health conditions.
A medical detox center also provides a safe, nurturing atmosphere that removes triggers and external influences that may cause patients to relapse.
Patients take part in several kinds of therapies as part of their treatment plan. Coping skills to deal with anxiety and body image are a big part of treatment.
Medications Available for Diet Pill Detox
Doctors will usually prescribe a replacement drug for people who enter a medical detox center to replace the diet pills. Or a doctor may create a schedule for the patients to gradually decrease their dose of diet pills. Sometimes, both methods may be used in conjunction.
These strategies ensure that users safely detox from diet pills while preventing serious withdrawal symptoms that could last for a long time.
Final Thoughts on Diet Pills Withdrawal and Detox
We hope you found this information about diet pills withdrawal and detox helpful. If you or someone you know is addicted to diet pills, remember, there is hope.
It’s possible for addicts to be free from their addictions. They can learn to get to the root cause of their psychological issues surrounding weight and body image, and learn how to be free from those demands.
A drug and alcohol intervention specialist can help with intervention. This is an important step toward sobriety.
Though the process is difficult, living a healthy, sober life is possible for anyone. Family and friend support plays a big role in the addict’s success.
At Addiction Treatment Services, we know addiction hurts. Contact us to discuss the next steps you can take. We’ll work with your insurance company to find you or your loved one the best treatment option without the burden of a hefty bill.