Amphetamine Withdrawal Timeline
The time required for detoxification from amphetamines varies from person to person. The withdrawal symptoms are generally observed for between five days to three weeks. The initial three days after abstinence are marked by fatigue, excessive sleep, increased appetite, nausea, abdominal cramps, dizziness and headaches.
The following three or four days are characterized by mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, anhedonia, intense drug cravings and increased irritability as the body reacts to the absence of the drug. Some of the symptoms observed during the first three days, including insomnia and increased appetite, tend to persist during this period.
Following this initial week of abstinence, most of these symptoms gradually subside over the following two weeks. Insomnia and some mood and appetite disturbances tend to persist into the second and third week with a possibility of unpleasant, vivid dreams. Intense cravings for drug use may persist for at least five weeks.
Factors Affecting Withdrawal Duration
The duration and symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal vary from person to person. The duration, intensity and presentation of symptoms may depend on multiple factors, including the dose and frequency of drug use, the duration of drug dependence and the metabolism of the individual. Although most symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal last for approximately three weeks, some symptoms, like intense cravings for the drug, may last longer.