Some drugs you just can’t quit cold turkey. They include heroin, opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, sleep aids, and alcohol.
Watch a movie about addiction, and you’ll probably see a character chuck pills in the garbage as the music swells. This approach may work well on the big screen, but it can have dangerous consequences in real life.
Several drugs cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Quit them cold turkey, and you could put yourself in serious jeopardy.
Quitting drugs cold turkey may seem like the quickest and easiest way to get clean. However, it can be extremely dangerous for certain substances Withdrawal symptoms from some drugs can potentially be fatal if they are stopped abruptly. Here is what you need to know about what drugs can cause life-threatening withdrawal if you quit them cold turkey
Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs to quit cold turkey About half of those dependent on alcohol will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. Of those, 3-5% will develop potentially deadly delirium tremens (DTs)
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include:
- Insomnia and restlessness
- Irregular heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Seizures
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- Confusion and disorientation
DTs can onset within 72 hours after the last drink. Due to the risk of seizures, confusion, and cardiac issues, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal without medical supervision.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin are commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders. These drugs enhance the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA to produce sedative and tranquilizing effects.
Long-term use, even when taken as prescribed, can result in physical dependence. Quitting benzodiazepines cold turkey can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in ears
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle spasms and cramps
- Seizures
Benzodiazepine withdrawal shares risks similar to alcohol withdrawal, including seizures, hallucinations, and cardiac complications. Medical detox provides a gradual taper of benzos to avoid dangerous side effects.
Opiates
Opiates like prescription painkillers and heroin act on opioid receptors in the brain to produce euphoria and pain relief. With regular use, the body becomes dependent on opiates to function normally.
Attempting to stop opiates cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Agitation and anxiety
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Runny nose and eyes
- Sweating and chills
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
Although opiate withdrawal is rarely fatal by itself, it can be extremely uncomfortable without medication assistance. Complications like dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can become medical emergencies.
Additionally, the cravings and depression during withdrawal lead many to relapse, which risks fatal opiate overdose. Medically-supervised detox tapers opiates gradually and provides medical monitoring and medications to ease symptoms.
Other Risks of Cold Turkey Withdrawal
Quitting any drug cold turkey after a period of prolonged, heavy use can be highly unpredictable. The body and brain chemistry have adapted to function with the presence of the substance. When it is suddenly removed, extreme changes and imbalances occur.
Other risks of attempting cold turkey withdrawal include:
- Relapse and potential overdose due to intense drug cravings
- Dehydration and nutritional deficits
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially when quitting substances like alcohol that affect mood and cognition
- Heart attack, stroke, or organ failure from rapid changes in blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism
- Aspiration from vomiting during withdrawal
The safest way to quit addictive drugs is through a medical detox program. This provides 24/7 monitoring, medications to ease symptoms, and IV fluids and nutrition when needed. Medical detox stabilizes the body and mind before entering a substance abuse treatment program.
Getting Professional Help for Addiction
If you or someone you care about has been using alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, or any substance in a dependent pattern, reach out for help. A medical detox and comprehensive treatment program can help you recover in a safe and comfortable environment. Don’t take the serious risks of quitting drugs cold turkey on your own. Many high-quality addiction treatment options accept various insurance plans. Take the first step and ask for help. Recovery is possible with the right support.
5 Drugs You Can’t Quit Cold Turkey
Are you or someone you know struggling with addiction?
A longstanding drug habit changes brain function. In time, your brain cells only work properly in the presence of drugs.
Remove drugs abruptly, and you could feel incredibly sick. Sometimes, your symptoms are so significant that your life is at risk.
These are five drugs most experts agree are too dangerous to quit abruptly.
A longstanding heroin habit changes dopamine pathways within the brain. Each dose remains effective for just a few hours, and some people with an addiction feel mild withdrawal symptoms between hits. If someone like this quits all at once, they’re destined to feel very ill.
People typically describe withdrawal symptoms as “flu-like.” But be aware that people can die due to heroin withdrawal.
Nausea, vomiting, and sweating cause intense fluid loss. Dehydration can harm your kidneys, heart, and more. Relapse is also incredibly likely.
Drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin work much like heroin. They hijack the brain’s dopamine system and deliver bursts of euphoria that wear off quickly.
Painkillers are responsible for 70 percent of the world’s overdose deaths, and anyone using them should stop as soon as possible. But quitting opioid painkillers cold turkey is dangerous.
Dehydration is a real problem with cold-turkey detox. You may also feel so desperate for the discomfort to stop that you relapse back to drug use.
Opioids are often contaminated with stronger drugs, including the opioid fentanyl, so your next dose could be your last. Many people who overdose on opioids do so unintentionally, not knowing that fentanyl is in the substance they are taking. A professional rehab program is the best way to recover from painkiller abuse.
Valium, Klonopin, and other prescription benzodiazepines come with stark warnings about dosage. If you’re using them with a prescription, your doctor likely told you to avoid a cold-turkey withdrawal. If you’re abusing these drugs, you may not know how dangerous stopping use can be.
Benzo withdrawal typically begins within a few hours after taking a short-term drug. You might feel the following symptoms:
- Confused
- Delusional, including believing things others don’t
- Paranoid
- Unwell, as your heart races, your hands shake, and your vision swirls
Some people quitting quickly can develop seizures. Unless they are treated, those episodes can be fatal.
Ambien, Lunesta, and other prescription medications soothe electrical activity in the brain and allow you to drop into a deep sleep. Quitting these drugs quickly can cause a serious and uncomfortable withdrawal process.
Sleep aid withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Racing heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Shivering
People often find these symptoms so uncomfortable that they start using again, triggering another cycle of addiction and withdrawal.
Few of us think of alcohol as a drug, but a longstanding drinking habit can change your brain in major ways. When that happens, trying to quit suddenly can cause you harm.
People in alcohol withdrawal can experience the following:
- Disorientation
- Hallucinations
- Heart palpitations
- Restlessness
- Vomiting
Of people experiencing alcohol withdrawal, 1 in 10 will also develop seizures. This serious form of alcohol withdrawal is called delirium tremens. It might involve high blood pressure and fever as well. Left untreated, it can be fatal.
How Do Professionals Help You Quit?
Few experts would want you to keep using a drug that causes so much long-term pain. If you have an addiction, you must stop substance abuse, but don’t do it alone.
A treatment program can give you the help you need. This way, you can get sober safely, and you are less likely to relapse.
Your treatment approach will vary depending on the drugs you took.
- Benzodiazepines and sleep aids: People with addictions to benzodiazepines usually tolerate a slow taper. Your doctor helps you take less and less until you’re taking nothing.
If the tapering process moves too quickly and you feel ill, doses are adjusted. Your doctor works to keep you comfortable.
- Alcohol: Your team uses medications, including small doses of benzodiazepines, to help your brain adjust to a lack of alcohol. Your doctor monitors your progress carefully, so you don’t have an opportunity to abuse your medications. Over time, your dose of benzodiazepines is lowered as you wean off all substances.
- Heroin and opioids: Proven medications such as buprenorphine ease your cravings and help you avoid a relapse. Your doctor might ask you to keep taking these medications for a long period of time, so you don’t relapse before you can participate in therapy. Some people use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for months or years.
5 Substances You Can’t Quit Cold Turkey
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