Meth Comedown

Get Over Meth Hangovers and Meth Abuse to Find Support

In the United States, approximately 2.6 million people had used meth in 2023, as reported by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Methamphetamine, better known by its street name “meth,” is a stimulant drug with a high potential for abuse.

Meth is a harmful drug that can have devastating effects on the neurological system. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain, is increased and released quickly by meth. This can promote the usage of the drug and lead to addiction.

A “meth hangover” is a period that occurs after a substantial period of meth use, otherwise known as a binge. The fear of this hangover, also called a meth crash or comedown, is often what drives users to continuously ingest the drug.

Icarus Wellness and Recovery can help you get through each stage of the meth withdrawal timeline and reach lasting recovery. We address the underlying causes of meth abuse so that you will not have to worry about a meth hangover or crash moving forward.

What is a Meth Hangover?

A meth hangover is an intermediate stage of withdrawal from meth called the acute withdrawal process. As the desirable effects of meth (e.g., increased energy, euphoria) of the drug wears off, you start to experience physical and psychological symptoms.

Methamphetamine Use and Your Mental Health

Meth addiction is a substance use disorder. When you take meth repeatedly, it damages the brain’s reward system. This can make it difficult for repeated users to feel positive emotions without using the drug.

This is part of why it is so critical to have professional support not just for acute symptoms of withdrawal, but after the immediate withdrawal stage is over.

Physical Dependence on Meth

When someone is physically dependent on methamphetamine, drug cravings are a key indicator of that reliance. In addition to mental health symptoms, you may start to feel physically unwell at first after you stop using meth.

Meth Withdrawal Timeline: What to Expect When You’re Coming Down

Let’s talk about what to expect from a meth crash. Fortunately, you should feel less of the negative effects of meth withdrawal by the end of the first week. It is possible to get through it. Seeking professional support is integral.

The Initial 24-Hours

Most people getting off of meth will start to feel withdrawal symptoms relatively quickly. A variety of mental and physical symptoms may occur within the first day of a meth crash, but they may not necessarily peak that day.

48-72 Hours Off Meth

Many of the most severe symptoms of a meth comedown occur within 2-3 days after your last time using the drug. At around the 48-72 hour mark, you will likely experience physical and psychological symptoms such as:

Increased appetite (hunger).
Pain and discomfort.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Sleep problems.
Drug cravings.
Trouble focusing.
Irritability.

Dopamine and serotonin are constantly flooding your brain during active meth use. Your brain stops producing enough of those neurotransmitters on its own, hence some of the psychological symptoms that may occur.

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From Day 4 to Day 7 Off Meth

Acute symptoms of meth withdrawal should begin to subside by the end of the first week. If you are in medical detox, this is around the time you may transfer to an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program.

Your physical body will start to stabilize at around this time. However, some mental health symptoms, like mood swings, may persist for longer.

After the First Week of Meth Detox

After the first week of meth detox, symptoms such as intense cravings for stimulant drugs, depression, and anxiety may persist for months. These are called protracted withdrawal symptoms, or post-acute withdrawal symptoms.

Seeking treatment can help you get through this stage. While your physical health recovers from substance abuse, these programs can help you deal with any lingering psychological problems or urges.

Relief During the Meth Comedown

A meth hangover, no matter how minor, may be physically exhausting. Treatment providers can take multiple actions to help those who experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop taking meth. For example:

Food Intake and Hydration

If you want to help your body heal, it needs all the resources it can get to perform at its best. The best way to combat a hangover is to take care of yourself by drinking plenty of water and eating healthy meals.

We provide nutritious meals, hydration, and medical care. If you’re at a detox center due to more severe withdrawal symptoms during the initial detox process (the first few days to a week), they should monitor your vitals and help you stay hydrated.

Get Plenty of Rest

Maintaining a healthy sleep routine is much more challenging than it may seem after meth abuse. Since meth is a powerful stimulant, its withdrawal symptoms can leave you with extreme fatigue.

Medical professionals, including those at Icarus Wellness and Recovery, can help those healing from meth abuse get the rest they need. Be sure to speak up if you experience symptoms like trouble sleeping on a prolonged basis.

Build a Support System

A support system will be integral as you move through the recovery process. Whether you start treatment at a detox center and transfer to our treatment center (or get sub-acute detox services at Icarus), we’re here to help.

Remember that the detox process is not the end of recovery. Proper treatment is essential as you move forward in the recovery process.

The Role of Addiction Treatment for Meth Abuse

Icarus Wellness and Recovery has multiple treatment options for people overcoming meth abuse. Our treatment professionals can help you:

Get through post-acute withdrawal symptoms (e.g., strong cravings, depression, and anxiety). While these can last for months after your last dose of meth, they will get better in time. It is critical to stay patient and engaged in the recovery process.
Address co-occurring disorders. Some clients overcoming stimulant use disorders will have underlying health conditions, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, or anxiety. If that is the case, we can help.
Build coping skills. Coping strategies can help you manage co-occurring mental health conditions and achieve lasting recovery. Especially for those who experience longer-lasting meth withdrawal symptoms, like depression, having a toolkit of strategies that help matters.
Repair relationships. Meth addiction can affect interpersonal relationships and other parts of life, like work. We work on communication skills, healthy emotional expression, and other goals that aid relationship repair.

Treatment options at our center include inpatient drug abuse treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and aftercare. We’re here to help you get through each stage of recovery from methamphetamine abuse.

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Call Icarus for Meth Abuse Programs and Get Support

The only true way to avoid a meth comedown again is to completely cut the substance out of your life. Our meth addiction treatment services are among the best. A step-down approach is available and recommended to help you transition back into typical everyday life as you move through the recovery process.

With combined treatment methods, including behavioral health and holistic therapies, we’ll help you through the process and ensure you’re ready for life post-rehab. We ensure you have ample support after you graduate from our programs and will even help you obtain housing and employment if needed. Reach out for our confidential support and get help now.

For more information on how Icarus Wellness and Recovery help you overcome meth use disorder, talk to a member of our admissions team today. Just call the phone number on our website to get in touch.