5 Substances You Can't Quit Cold Turkey

1. Heroin 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. 2. Opioid Painkillers 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. 3. Benzodiazepines 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. 4. Sleep Aids 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. 5. Alcohol 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. Learn More: https://bocarecoverycenter.com/treatm... Connect with Boca Recovery Center: Website: https://bocarecoverycenter.com/... Phone: 1(855) 962-3301 Facebook:   / bocarecoverycenter   Instagram:   / bocarecoverycenter   LinkedIn:   / bocarecoverycenter   TikTok:   / bocarecoverycenter   YouTube:    / bocarecoverycenter   Twitter:   / bocarecovcenter   Pinterest:   / bocarecoverycenter