Methaqualone - Treatment for Habitual Users
Treatment for Habitual Users
When a person suddenly stops taking a drug like methaqualone, the body overreacts to the loss of the substance. For example, if the heart rate is slowed by a drug, when that drug is abruptly discontinued, the heart rate will accelerate rapidly and unevenly. Such body changes can cause withdrawal symptoms, which include a range of extremely uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening physical symptoms. These symptoms last until the user has undergone detoxificationOften abbreviated as detox; a difficult process by which substance abusers stop taking those substances and rid their bodies of the toxins that accumulated during the time they consumed such substances.. Due to the intensity of methaqualone withdrawal, inpatient treatment is highly recommended.
In the case of methaqualone, seven to ten days is considered the average detox time for someone who has become dependent on the drug. Withdrawal symptoms will begin at approximately twelve to twenty-four hours after the last dose is taken. They peak twenty-four to forty-eight hours later. Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, tremors, an irregular heartbeat, heavy sweating, anxiety and panic attacksUnexpected episodes of severe anxiety that can cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, and shaking., insomnia, confusion, convulsions, and seizures. Methaqualone detoxification should always take place in a hospital or rehab setting, under the supervision of health-care professionals, so that withdrawal symptoms can be treated properly.
During medically supervised withdrawal, doctors may prescribe a substitute sedative to ease the initial symptoms. Antidepressant medication may also be prescribed for individuals experiencing anxiety or sleep disorders.
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