John Ward
Medically Reviewed by John Ward
Last Updated on:
November 19, 2025
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For many people, withdrawal is one of the biggest barriers to getting help. Not only is drug and alcohol withdrawal physically uncomfortable, but it can be dangerous when left untreated.
With the right medical care, emotional support, and guidance, it can be a safe and manageable process.
Recovery is not a test of willpower. It is a healing process, and withdrawal is simply the first phase of that healing. For more information on our medical detox program partners in Atlanta, contact us today.
You are not alone. You deserve to get help.
Peachtree Recovery Solutions is an industry leader in outpatient substance abuse treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual. Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
What is Withdrawal?
Withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person stops using a substance their body has become dependent on.
When drugs or alcohol are used regularly, the brain adapts. Over time, the body expects and relies on the substance to function normally.
Without it, the nervous system must quickly adjust, which leads to physical symptoms, emotional changes, and sometimes intense cravings.
Withdrawal is not a sign of weakness. It is the body’s natural response to change. Healing begins here. The body is learning to function again without relying on substances to regulate mood, energy, and stress.
Why Withdrawal Happens
Drugs and alcohol often interact with the brain’s reward system. They can create feelings of relief, pleasure, escape, or numbness.
Over time, the brain learns to expect those effects and reduces its own natural ability to regulate stress and dopamine. When the substance is removed, the brain has to relearn how to function without artificial support.
Different substances affect the body in different ways, which is why withdrawal symptoms can vary so widely. For example:
- Alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant. Withdrawal may lead to anxiety, tremors, or agitation.
- Opioids attach to pain receptors. Withdrawal can feel similar to a severe flu combined with intense emotional distress.
- Benzodiazepines influence GABA, the brain’s calming neurotransmitter. Withdrawal can lead to rebound anxiety, insomnia, or restlessness.
- Stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine affect dopamine and energy. Withdrawal often brings exhaustion, depression, or emotional blunting.
Some withdrawals are uncomfortable. Others can be dangerous if not monitored. This is why professional medical detox is so important.
Common Symptoms of Drug & Alcohol Withdrawal
Because there are many substances and many levels of dependence, symptoms will look different for everyone. However, some commonly reported symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Muscle Aches
- Sweating or Chills
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Mood Swings
- Fatigue or Exhaustion
- Intense Cravings
- Irritability
- Difficulty Concentrating
In some cases, withdrawal may lead to severe complications such as seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), dehydration, or cardiovascular issues. These complications are more likely to occur when alcohol or benzodiazepines have been used regularly for a long time. Medical supervision significantly reduces these risks and helps ensure that withdrawal is handled safely.
Other Types of Drug & Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening and requires medical supervision, particularly for those with heavy, long-term use.
Symptoms typically begin 6-12 hours after the last drink and can progress in severity.
Minor symptoms include tremors (especially in the hands), sweating, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and nervousness, headache, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.
More severe symptoms may develop 12-48 hours after last use, including hallucinations (visual, auditory, or tactile), seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs), which involves severe confusion, fever, rapid heartbeat, seizures, and hallucinations. DTs typically occur 48-72 hours after cessation and constitute a medical emergency.
Other symptoms include intense cravings, irritability and mood swings, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, loss of appetite, and profuse sweating.
Medical detoxification significantly reduces risks and provides crucial support during withdrawal.
Fentanyl withdrawal is particularly intense due to the drug’s potency and short half-life.
Symptoms typically begin within 12-30 hours of last use and can be more severe than other opioid withdrawals.
Common symptoms include severe muscle and joint pain, extreme agitation and anxiety, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat and palpitations, high blood pressure, severe nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, insomnia and sleep disturbances, tremors and shaking, intense fentanyl cravings, confusion and difficulty concentrating, depression and mood swings, and cold flashes with goosebumps.
Acute withdrawal typically lasts 7-10 days, though post-acute symptoms may continue for weeks or months. Medical detox is strongly recommended due to symptom severity.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms vary based on the specific drug used, with short-acting opioids like oxycodone producing symptoms within 8-12 hours and long-acting opioids like methadone taking 24-48 hours.
Common symptoms include muscle aches and pains, restlessness and agitation, excessive yawning, runny nose and tearing eyes, sweating and chills, dilated pupils, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety and irritability, intense drug cravings, and goosebumps.
While extremely uncomfortable, opioid withdrawal is typically not life-threatening in otherwise healthy adults, though medical supervision is strongly recommended.
Cocaine withdrawal is primarily psychological rather than physical, but symptoms can be intense and overwhelming.
The “crash” typically begins within hours of last use, with acute withdrawal lasting 1-2 weeks.
Common symptoms include extreme fatigue and exhaustion, increased appetite and weight gain, vivid and unpleasant dreams, slowed thinking and movement, depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), intense cocaine cravings, anxiety and paranoia, irritability and agitation, difficulty concentrating, lack of motivation, increased sleep (hypersomnia), and physical symptoms like tremors or muscle aches.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms, particularly depression and cravings, may persist for months.
Kratom withdrawal symptoms generally appear within 12-24 hours of the last dose and can last 3-7 days, though some individuals experience prolonged symptoms.
Common withdrawal timeline effects include muscle aches and tension, insomnia and sleep disturbances, irritability and mood swings, anxiety and restlessness, hot flashes and sweating, decreased appetite, nausea and stomach discomfort, tremors or shaking, runny nose and watery eyes, intense cravings for kratom, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue.
The severity of symptoms often correlates with the duration and amount of kratom use.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms typically begin 6-12 hours after the last use and peak within 1-3 days.
While extremely uncomfortable, heroin withdrawal is rarely life-threatening when properly managed.
Common symptoms include severe muscle and bone pain, restlessness and agitation, cold flashes with goosebumps, uncontrollable leg movements, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, excessive sweating, insomnia, intense drug cravings, anxiety and depression, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.
These symptoms usually subside within 5-7 days, though psychological symptoms and cravings may persist for weeks or months.
How Long Does Withdrawal Last?
Withdrawal does not have a universal timeline. The severity and duration depend on several factors, including:
- The substance used
- Length of use
- Frequency and amount used
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Genetics and metabolism
However, most withdrawal symptoms follow a general pattern.
- Early Stage (First 6 to 24 hours): The body begins reacting to the absence of the substance. Discomfort starts gradually.
- Peak Stage (1 to 5 days): Symptoms typically intensify. This is often the most uncomfortable stage.
- Stabilization Stage (5 to 14 days): Symptoms begin to lessen as the body recalibrates.
- Post-Acute Stage: Some people experience emotional or sleep-related symptoms for several weeks or months. This is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). These symptoms are manageable with support, coping skills, and therapeutic care.
Why Professional Detox Matters
Many people try to quit substances on their own. While the intention is strong, going through withdrawal without medical support can be dangerous, overwhelming, and emotionally taxing. It also significantly increases the risk of relapse because the discomfort becomes difficult to tolerate.
A medically supervised detox environment provides:
- Medical monitoring: Vital signs and symptoms are checked regularly.
- Medications when appropriate: To reduce discomfort and prevent complications.
- Emotional support: You are not left to face fear or panic alone.
- Safety: The environment is secure, supportive, and judgment-free.
Detox is not the end of treatment. It is the foundation. Once the body stabilizes, the deeper work of therapy, healing, and rebuilding can truly begin.
The Emotional Side of Withdrawal
Withdrawal is not just physical. Many people experience difficult emotions. These feelings are completely normal.
When substances are no longer numbing emotional pain or stress, those feelings rise to the surface. This is why support during withdrawal is essential.
Having someone to talk to helps reduce panic, shame, and self-judgment. Recovery is not about perfection. It is about compassion for yourself as you heal.
Those experiencing drug or alcohol withdrawal might move through the following emotions:
- Sadness or grief
- Fear of change
- Shame or guilt
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Hopelessness or doubt
Withdrawal In A Supportive Treatment Environment
At Peachtree Recovery Solutions, we take a personalized approach to managing drug and alcohol withdrawal. No two people are the same, and no two recovery journeys look alike. We assess each person’s physical health, mental health, history, goals, and help guide clients to a detox program we partner with that meets their needs.
Our team helps clients develop grounding techniques, healthy coping tools, breathing practices, and emotional regulation strategies that continue to help long after withdrawal is over.
Healing begins in the body, but it continues in the mind, relationships, and daily habits. We support you through every step of that process.
What Comes After Withdrawal?
Once withdrawal ends, life does not automatically feel easy. The body may be adjusting to new rhythms. The mind may be learning healthier pathways for coping. That is where ongoing treatment matters. Most people benefit from continued care through residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), or ongoing therapy.
Withdrawal clears the fog. Treatment helps you build a life that feels worth staying sober for.
Comfortable Drug & Alcohol Detox in Atlanta, GEorgia
If you or someone you love is struggling with drug and alcohol withdrawal, you are not alone. Help is available. Healing is possible. And there is no shame in needing support.
Peachtree Recovery Solutions offers compassionate, evidence-based detox support and treatment in Atlanta. We are here to help you find stability, comfort, and a path forward that feels manageable. Simply contact us today to begin.
We Work With Most Major Insurance
Did you know most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can help cover most of the costs associated with our program? Click below to find out your coverage and treatment options for our rehab facilities in Atlanta.
