Stimulant addiction and withdrawal

[Forthesevenlakes]

For years, cocaine was considered to not be physically addictive. SWIM has heard something to the effect that it is to an extent. SWIM is guessing amphetamines could be too. Please post any of swiy's experiences with physical withdrawals on stimulants and tips to help ride it out. How long does it last? What symptoms will be manifested? What can someone take to ease it?

[Nicaine]

The only thing SWIM thinks could legitimately be called a 'withdrawal symptom' is cravings (if in fact they occur). Most everything else is part of a 'recovery period' involving depletion of catecholamines, sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, malnutrition, etc. But none of those things constitute "withdrawal symptoms" in the classic sense of the term.

[Forthesevenlakes]

interesting. swim has always been taught that stimulants can be physically addicting, making swim think of withdrawal in the classic sense of opiates or alcohol. (not that the symptoms would be the same, but that there would be about a week-long refractory period of physical symptoms). but the malnutrition thing, thats interesting. does swim think its just from not eating much on a stimulant binge?

[Riconoen {UGC}]

Oh fuck yeah stimulants are addictive, just look at the millions of americans and brits who cant function thorughtout the day without a caffeinated beverage in the morning. And even when they've had plenty of sleep. swim feels pissed off, like hes dragging his feet and has a splitting headache without his caffeine fix.

[Forthesevenlakes]

this is true. and with the work ethic in these countries where time is money, swim is surprised we dont see government-sponsored coffee IV drips into every person's arm. or, for that matter, the legalization of khat.

EDIT: riconoen, excellent mention of caffeine. its such an obvious, widely used stimulant that it didnt even occur to swim initially to mention it in this thread. headaches and a sort of general languor are very common after abrupt cessation of caffeine use. these symptoms lasted a few days when swim gave up caffeine for a while, and additionally he felt that the world had a sort of unreal, dreamy quality to it for a couple days and noticed an increase in creativity for writing and drawing once he gave it up. anyone experience anything like his, or have more withdrawal facts to share?

[nwpsychonaut]

swim had found himself addicted to both at the same time, and by themselves, the only advice swim can give is for him to ride it out. He had a problem with malnutrition, and slept constantly after stopping(not by choice ever though), he found cocaine to be far more mentally addicting than amphetamines in his case, he never really had PHYSICAL withdrawals that bad, but the mental withdrawals and feening for coke consumed him to where he simply HAD to go back for another but its mostly mental. just tell swiy to wait it out and it should pass for the most part in a week or a bit longer, but he makes no promise the mental addiction will ever go away, it hasent for swim, he just has to DO something else to take his mind off of it, but he still thinks about it every day of his life..... good luck man its tough

[aimar21]

hi
this is my first post and a difficult subject to broach. SWIM was an IV amphetamine addict for 15 years - He has been clean of illegal stimulants for 8 years but due in the most part to a the support of a local government health authority and the prescription of 60mg dexedrine daily. After such a long period of abuse, consisting of anything up to 12 injections a day, the prolonged withdrawal both physical and mental is most real.
I am not sure how to proceed so i will await your replys - i hope that this is ok
aimar21

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