MDMA Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox Treatment Options
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA or ‘molly,’ is a drug derived from amphetamines. It is highly addictive and produces a combination of effects not seen with other street drugs. In addition, ecstasy is a unique drug in that it induces the stimulant-like effects of amphetamines but hallucinatory effects similar to those produced by mescaline.
Ecstasy use can also be deadly, causing the user to be unable to control body temperature. This can lead to cardiac arrest or brain damage. It lowers inhibitions and induces feelings of euphoria and closeness, which can lead to risky behavior. It can also cause fatal accidents.
Detoxing from ecstasy can be painful, preventing the user from seeking help. However, getting detox help for ecstasy or MDMA withdrawal pains is the best path to lifelong recovery.
What Are the Symptoms of MDMA Withdrawal?
Medical research shows that the more dependent the user is on ecstasy, the harder and more painful the ‘come-down,’ or withdrawal from it. Tremors, teeth clenching, nausea, chills, sweating, and dysphoria can be particularly burdensome symptoms for a user to deal with on their own.
Getting help for ecstasy withdrawal pains in a medical detox facility can greatly reduce the severity of these symptoms. Staff is trained to recognize these symptoms, reduce their severity, and aid the user with care, support, and counseling.
If left on the street, users risk self-medicating these symptoms, replacing one drug with another. Detoxing in a controlled environment greatly reduces this risk.
Ecstasy withdrawal symptoms can mirror those of methamphetamine. Symptoms of withdrawal may include the following:
- Dysphoria
- Irritability
- Depression
- Impulsivity
- Sleep disturbances
- Decreased appetite
- Memory and attention problems
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Muscle and teeth clenching
- Nausea
- Sweating and chills
What withdrawal symptoms last the longest or show up later?
The pharmacology surrounding ecstasy is complex. Amphetamine-derived drugs, such as ecstasy, affect the release of neurotransmitters, e.g., dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline.
Ecstasy blocks the reuptake of serotonin, the chemical responsible for regulating mood and happiness. This can induce clinical depression in the user. At worst, long-term problems regulating mood can haunt the user for months after cessation.
Ecstasy withdrawal has been shown to impact users with long-term psychiatric issues. These include depression, recurrent paranoia, panic attacks, and memory problems.
Depression as a withdrawal symptom is likely to manifest later within the cycle. It is considered a potentially deadly side effect, with the individual in recovery at increased risk of suicide.
What Causes MDMA Withdrawal?
MDMA (Ecstasy) increases the activity of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. After the effects of Ecstasy wear off, the brain will be depleted of serotonin, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.
While MDMA withdrawal is typically less physically severe than other substances such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, the psychological effects can be difficult to overcome.
How Long Does MDMA Withdrawal Take?
The strength and duration of ecstasy withdrawal symptoms is concomitant with the user’s level of dependence on the drug.
Other factors include:
- The amount of time a user has been taking the drug
- Their genetic traits
- Any medical or mental health conditions they may have
- How they consumed the drug
The physical symptoms related to ecstasy withdrawal end more quickly than psychological symptoms. But there is no way to rush the process.
However, detoxing from ecstasy in a safe, secure medical detox facility can lessen some symptoms’ severity. It is also safer for the user to recover in a structured, supportive facility so they can be monitored for depression and its associated risks.
Those in recovery can be supervised by caring and trained counselors to deal with the potentially deadly side effects of depression and anxiety accompanying withdrawal. Depression is a painful condition but can be managed, and the symptoms lessened with help from experienced counselors.
Medically trained staff can administer legal drugs to soften the blows associated with ecstasy withdrawal. This prevents the user from seeking relief from other illegal drugs or alcohol to escape the pain associated with the ecstasy withdrawal phase.
In addition, medical detox facility methods are backed by proven scientific research, and the staff is extensively trained to best help their patients recover from addiction.
Getting detox for ecstasy withdrawal pains increases the likelihood of life-long recovery. Zinnia Health, an accredited rehabilitation facility, has helped thousands of people recover from ecstasy addiction. Call us at (855) 430-9439 to enroll in our evidence-based program and begin your journey to clean living today.
How to Safely Manage an MDMA Detox
Zinnia Health’s medically supervised MDMA detox has both the comfort and the safety of our clients in mind. Since ecstasy is such a powerful drug, our detox embeds a firm footing for your MDMA addiction rehab.
Our staff at Zinnia Health are committed to your well-being. We want to be your rehab center for ecstasy addiction. Because the experts here are well-acquainted with addiction types that people struggle with, you also can be confident that you will receive only the most informed, highest-value addiction treatment possible.
If you’ve tried to quit on your own and suffered withdrawal symptoms of relapse, contact us at (855) 430-9439 for help. Zinnia Health has helped thousands of patients move on to meaningful lives past their addictions. Our accredited facilities offer inpatient/outpatient evidence-based treatments for substance abuse. Call us 24/7 or send an email; we’re ready to help.
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