KCI The Anti_Meth Site

Questions about meth withdrawal

JUSTCATS	Question about meth withdrawal... I watched that A & E special, "Meth In The City" last night. In it, it says that coke withdrawal is 3-5 days, and meth withdrawal is 3- 9 months. I was just wondering why meth withdrawal is so much longer? Aren't coke and meth similar in a way? Also, when they say 3- 9 months withdrawal, are they talking about withdrawal as something physical or is withdrawal also, like a mental state too??? Does this mean that since my ex is sitting in prison, possibly still going through whatever withdrawal he may be going through, that he may get the sh!t out of his system and may be thinking more clearly and come to his senses about his meth use, a year from now??? - I know, it's wishful thinking. Has anyone had an addict that has abstained from meth usage for many months, close to a year, get their thinking straight and come to their senses? Do you think that meth damages their brain and makes it impossible for some heavy users to ever think clearly again?
Replies...
Loraura	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... Meth and cocaine are similar in the way they produce a high, however, they are not similar in one particular mechanism. The difference is that while a person is high on meth, meth blocks the reuptake process for dopamine for approximately 12 hours. It takes this long for the body to break meth down. During this time the body's natural protection mechanism spends all 12 hours destroying dopamine in the brain. (It is a reaction to being flooded with dopamine, and is a natural process within everyone's brain.) Normally, the reuptake process catches most of the dopamine and recycles it. The MAO process usually does not have time to destroy a lot of dopamine, and is only there as a safe guard to the human. So for meth, because it blocks the reuptake process, and because it takes hours to break down, this destruction of dopamine goes on for HOURS and usually, with continued use, DAYS. With cocaine it goes on for mere minutes. Here's more that I wrote about meth's interaction inside the brain, and why it takes months and sometimes years, to repair the brain damage: Meth inside the brain
Sfj	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... *Quote:* Do you think that meth damages their brain and makes it impossible for some heavy users to ever think clearly again? I think it is possible for many of us to think clearly again. I have no problem with mental or cognitive functions. (that I'm aware of) I take no medication of any kind. I've been a student, regularly attending classes for two years at the post-secondary level and have earned grades of A or B in every one of those classes. I also participate in many other community activities, work part-time for NIDA research scientists and do many other things requiring a healthy brain. I have not used meth in nearly five years. There are many of our friends on this forum who have similar circumstances, I have hundreds of recovered friends in real life
forget suzette	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... are they talking about withdrawal as something physical or is withdrawal also, like a mental state too??? YES Does this mean that since my ex is sitting in prison, possibly still going through whatever withdrawal he may be going through, that he may get the sh!t out of his system and may be thinking more clearly and come to his senses about his meth use, a year from now??? - I know, it's wishful thinking. Yes, it's possible. ....it's also possible he'll hit the ground running for it. Has anyone had an addict that has abstained from meth usage for many months, close to a year, get their thinking straight and come to their senses? yes, I did that the 1st time. I had only been using 5 years....from 17 to 22 years old. I was young....I bounced right back. ....the second time I burned up more well being (dopamine) and was just barely functional but, certainly depressed. ...for 6 years, I felt like I waited to breathe. like I had a collar with a chain...I wanted to break free of...but just didn't. .....I bounced back at 31 in about 2 months...somewhat. I saw a shrink. ...I found I have a mental disorder. ADHD, and meds helped. moved, relapsed w/o a dr. the next time I relapsed more of my will to live w/o meth ....more of my natural well being, and natural joy was gone. it took me 8 months, no, 12 months to stabilize. Do you think that meth damages their brain and makes it impossible for some heavy users to ever think clearly again? yes. ...sort of. I think clearly, my brain would reward me for feeding it speed. ....but speed will take the rest of me. and I'll die sooner or later. part of me is already dead. it's bad.
imlost inky	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... Everything that has been said about both I do believe has been cocaine. I don't recall either saying meth. Sharon, I saw that special. Suz it featured your hometown stomping grounds - Atlanta. I heard where they stated 6-9 months. Sharon, actual withdrawals may only last that long but the repairing of the damage done physically may never be done. My kidneys are shot. It's been 11 years My husband's brain isn't right. He has been off meth for over a year. My sister - her long term memory is gone. It has been almost 11 years. Now I guess it depends on what is determined to be withdrawals and damage. Cocaine and meth are both stimulants. But that is where the connection ends. Personally, I never liked coke- never did anything for me other than make me talk a lot. I didn't need help doing that. Meth on the other hand messed me up. At the time I loved it. It was an interesting show- well done I thought. I hope it airs again.
Paws from hell	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... I once had a chemical addictions professional tell me that " doing meth is like getting hit by a Mack truck,," IMO that's an understatement. Some meth addicts will suffer Post Acute Withdrawal , some up to 10 years. I add my name to the top of that list! *Quote:* Do you think that meth damages their brain and makes it impossible for some heavy users to ever think clearly again? OMG I pray not! But recovery helps an addict to recognize these behaviors and deal with them in a positive way. Not perfect mind you, but better, anything better than using... {{{{shudder}}}}}
JUSTCATS	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... Thank you all for your input. And thanks Loraura for the link to the information. Meth addiction is like being hit like a Mack truck, compared to cocaine addiction. I guess, I was looking at the type of highs that you get with them and comparing that. Although, from what I gather, coke "does not compare." It must be all of the "toxic chemicals" that make it so wonderful as compared to the natural things that are found in coke. Anyhow, thanks.
Paws from hell	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... *Quote:* compared to the natural things that are found in coke. The only natural thing about cocaine is the plant, coca found in South America, the garbage found on our streets is far far from natural..... You come back here JUSTCATS............
mtgl 7771	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... the first thing i noticed about my husband besides the incredible weight loss was his eyes. they got wide and crazy looking. how did it do that?
forget suzette	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... you are what you eat. ...the taste of it's enough to bug your eyes out. it's just what you look like when your sitting on the hood of a race car. ..your brain is rocking and rolling with a multitude of thoughts per second. your mind moves so fast, you anticipate what someone is telling you, and start to answer before they finished speaking. then when you stay up awhile.. ....your translations of incidents occurring are not very accurate. and when speed freaks stay up awhile together, everyone starts misinterpreting everything. I think it's hard on relationships when you both use because you never get a break... ...you get a crash course in the persons life story over and over, without the much needed 8 hours break/sleep. like playing your favorite song over and over and over ....until you never wanna hear it again. a one year anniversary for strait couples = 2and a half years for speed freaks... ...because, personality flaws like to flare up too. what would have come on slowly, and at a rate you can adjust to in normal speed. ...was just ON you in FORCE! and your looking at a person who was, kind of on the jealous side. but nothing out of hand. ...become INSANELY CONVINCED...that benign things proved I was having sex or masturbating somewhere...or talking about him, planning to humiliate him. OK... I got no attention span now. on speed I couldn't conspire to make it to work... ...I couldn't find my bottom false teeth, my underwear is upside down and inside out! I'm late, and looking for @#%$ constantly. and having an affair....when? LOL! anyhow.. ...............on meth I was like a gnat after I was up 10 days or 2 weeks. everyone including me was irritated as hell by my lack of ability to pay attention. ...I couldn't follow my thoughts....they'd go on without me.....and stop and say....HEY!!! ....this is your thoughts! pay attention! you walking around in a circle wearing a sock on one foot and a shoe on the other! ...the bathtubs over flowing! .....and your candle burned down to the paper plate it was sitting on! ...and the speed is over there!
missing miki37	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... I am new to this site and have been just lurking before now. I would like to give you a poem that was given to me about meth. My sister was missing and found dead last year and the guilty party: meth and her so called meth friends. This poem helps me live each day I miss her. Sorry it's long. Crystal Meth Bares Her Soul I destroy homes, I tear families apart, I take your children, and that's just the start. I'm more valued than diamonds more precious than gold, The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. If you need me, remember, I'm easily found, I live all around you, in school and in town. I live with the rich; I live with the poor, I live just down the street and maybe next door. I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, I can even be made under your kitchen sink. In your child's closet and even out in the woods, If this scares you to death then it certainly should. I have many names, but there is one you know best, I'm sure you've heard of me: My name is "CRYSTAL METH" My power is awesome, try me, you'll see, But if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, But if you try me twice, then I am your soul. When I posses you, you'll steal and you'll lie, You'll do what you have to do, just to get high. You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you must feel sad. Just forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways. I take kids from their parents; I take parents from their kids, I take people from God, I separate friends I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always, right by your side. You'll give up everything, Your family, your home, Your money, your friends Then you'll be alone I'll take and I'll take till you have no more to give, When I finish with you you'll be lucky to live. If you try me be warned "This Is Not a Game" If I'm given the chance, I'll drive you insane I'll savage your body; I'll control your mind I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine. The nightmares I'll give you while you are lying in bed, My voice you will hear from inside your head The sweats, the shakes and the visions you'll see I want you to know, these are your gifts from me. But then it's too late, you'll know in your heart, That you are now mine and we shall never part. You'll regret that you tried me (they always do) But you came to me, NOT I to you, You knew this would happen, many times you were told, But you challenged my power you chose to be bold You should have said "NO" and then walked away If you could live that day over, now what would you say??? I'll be your master and you'll be my slave I'll even help take you to your grave Now that you've met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not, it's up to you I can show you more misery than words can tell, Come hold my hand, let me take you to HELL!! Hope this helps you understands the effects Meth has not only on the user but everyone around the user.
Loraura	Re: Question about meth withdrawal... Pupil dilatation is a reaction to using meth. "It must be all of the "toxic chemicals" that make it so wonderful, as compared to the natural things that are found in coke." By the time methamphetamine is in crystal form, there is very little adulterant left in the product. The pure chemical, methamphetamine, doesn't contain any of the "garbage" that is used to make it in a clandestine lab. Those harmful chemicals are only used as catalysts to aid in the chemical reaction turning ephedrine into methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is just much much more difficult for the human body to break down and get rid of. This makes it's effect, and it's disastrous side effects that much more potent and devastating than those of cocaine.