There is no single more difficult medical problem than having to go through withdrawal from a physically addicting drug. Whether the drug is prescribed or an illegal psychotropic, whether it is orally ingested, snorted, or injected, whether it has been one year or ten, stopping the use of a physically addicting substance will prove to be one of the most challenging and hellish experiences that you can imagine.
Withdrawal symptoms occur when the body has developed a physical dependence on an introduced substance. After prolonged usage, these drugs will cause the body to physically adapt to their presence in such a way that normal bodily functions can take place. Once the adaptation has occurred, the removal of the drug from the system will disrupt the normal activities of the body until the adaptations can reverse themselves. Of course, each substance will produce a range of different withdrawal effects, strength of the side-effects, and length of time for the withdrawal to be complete.
Some substances which will cause extreme withdrawal symptoms when their use is discontinued are: heroin, all opiate-based pain medications, synthetic opiate-related pain medication, most tranquilizers, anti-anxiety medication, antidepressants such as Zoloft and Paxil, alcohol, and more. Other substances may produce a lesser range of effects in withdrawal because their actions are primarily psychologically addicting and not physically. These include caffeine, nicotine, and just about anything that can be introduced to the body.
The symptoms of physical withdrawal, especially from opiates range widely and vary from person to person. Symptoms range in any combination of extreme anxiety, flu-like symptoms of runny nose and watery eyes, loss of appetite, tremors, muscle spasms and cramps, panic, cold chills and sweats, hot sweats, insomnia, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shaking and seizures, delirium, vomiting, and irritability. Usually one of these symptoms will be stronger than the rest and it is not possible to determine which it will be for each person. Other symptoms are also more personal and psychological such as waking nightmares, hallucinations, and extreme phobias and fears coming to the surface even if the thing or situation feared is not present.
It is unfortunate and a difficult experience, physical withdrawal, and there is no quick fix or easy way out. Some doctors will prescribe other medications which may help in the withdrawal but cause physical dependence themselves. There is no natural cure, however, if you wish to kick naturally, there are couple of choices.
The first and most obvious form of quitting a physically addictive substance is known as cold turkey, which is the sudden cessation of introducing the drug to the body. Simply quitting. This is the most difficult form of stopping and it will bring withdrawal symptoms full force and the strongest, but it is said it is the most effective. The only drawback is that you must be psychologically determined to stop and you must be in good physical health as well. If you have heart problems of any kind, the withdrawal symptoms may kill you. If you are psychologically and physically strong, shortly after stopping, especially from opiates, you will want to lock yourself in a room for 3-4 days. Make sure water is available, but you will not be able to eat, most likely. You will need someone to watch you. Strong and strong-willed family members and friends will have to watch and guard you. After the first four days, you may allow yourself to have limited privileges.
If going straight cold turkey does not sound so appealing, you may slightly lessen the effects by watching your diet. Before inducing the withdrawal symptoms through discontinued use of the addictive substance, make sure to eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, lemons, watercress, garlic, green tea, broccoli and sprouts, sesame seeds, and all fruits. These foods will provide the body with the nourishment it will require in the body’s transition.
Some vitamin and minerals, as well as herbal supplements may help as well. Vitamins and supplements to watch for are Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline Bitartrate, Inositol, L-Glutamine, L-Tyrosine, and Milk Thistle Extract. These vitamins and herbs, along with a regular multi-vitamin may help slightly in reducing withdrawal effects.
There is one lesser-known psychotropic substance that has proven effective in opiate and other withdrawal. This is a natural leaf, harvested and dried from a tree native to SE Asia. It has been in use for thousands of years in its native area. It is known as Kratom, or mitragyna speciosa korth, its scientific name. This dried leaf and intoxicant is illegal in Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, and many other countries, but perfect legal in Europe and the United States. This substance mimics the effects of opiates in a more mild manner, but with a slightly different action that makes it non-physically addicting. This dried leaf may very well help in relieving many effects of withdrawal symptoms.
These natural methods of going through withdrawal of physically addicting substances are not magical cures. In most cases you will want to consult with a professional before going through the withdrawal. All I can do is wish you the best of luck, and no matter the suffering induced by withdrawal, it will be worth it in the long run.
