Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other drugs are bad for your health, there is no doubt about that at this point in history. Their effects on the body are well documented and the best thing we can do is not take them in moderation, but rather avoid their consumption completely.
Unfortunately, there are people who have fallen into an addiction to these substances and struggle to free themselves from their physical dependence. Breaking completely off the drug is not easy, and it is scary because abrupt interruption often causes unpleasant withdrawal syndrome.
There are symptoms associated with withdrawal that are more or less intense depending on the drug, but some are so extremely serious that it is inevitable to wonder If you can die from withdrawal syndrome Below we are going to answer this question.
Is the withdrawal syndrome fatal when stopping taking drugs?
In the brain, we find an area that scientists have called the reward or gratification system. This is a set of structures that are activated when we carry out certain activities that contribute to our survival and reproduction, such as eating, drinking or having sexual relations. We feel pleasure when we do them, which predisposes us to repeat them.
Coincidentally, there are substances harmful to our body that also act on these areas: drugs. These substances also activate the reward system, which causes people who consume them to become addicted over time as their brain chemistry changes. The more consumption, the more dependence the neurons that make up this system develop, which is known as addiction.
If, for whatever reason, the addicted person suddenly stops taking the drug, his or her body, which is physically and psychologically dependent, will begin to manifest general discomfort, more or less intense depending on the type of drug, the daily amount consumed and the degree of dependency developed. This discomfort from stopping consuming the drug suddenly is what is known as withdrawal syndrome.
The withdrawal syndrome is different depending on the drug, and the associated problems are one or another depending on what drug you have been addicted to and to what extent. In some cases, this syndrome is annoying, but does not pose a real health risk and it is simply the beginning of the patient’s detoxification of the substance.
However, in other cases the symptoms associated with the withdrawal syndrome can be so serious that it is not surprising that one wonders if this withdrawal can be fatal.
We already mentioned that you can die from withdrawal syndrome, both directly associated with the syndrome and as a consequence of its psychological symptoms. To understand it better, We are going to talk about the particularities of the withdrawal syndromes of a few drugs highlighting whether or not they are life-threatening.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome depends on the type of drinker. In moderate drinkers, the syndrome begins to occur between the first 12 and 24 hours after stopping drinking The symptoms suffered by these patients are generalized weakness, tremors, chills, headache, dehydration and nausea. If you are an alcoholic but consume moderate amounts of the substance, with no more than three units of alcohol per day, stopping taking this drug could hardly pose a fatal risk to the addict’s health.
In heavy drinkers, that is, those who consume alcohol chronically and drink it in large quantities, the same withdrawal symptoms occur as in moderate ones, over the same amount of time. The symptoms in your case are more intense. However, what differentiates them from moderates and, in fact, is what makes alcohol withdrawal syndrome life-threatening is that After 2 to 10 days, the dangerous delirium tremens appears
Delirium tremens is the name of the acute confusion produced by alcohol deprivation. This, as we mentioned, is caused by the interruption of alcohol intake in heavy and chronic drinkers, people who have developed a great physical dependence on this substance.
Among the symptoms of delirium tremens we find the almost total disintegration of consciousness, with visual hallucinations, delusions, emotional lability and stupor There is no shortage of tremors, seizures and psychomotor agitation. Disorientation, nightmares, excessive sweating, and deep depression are also common symptoms in these patients.
Despite its short duration, delirium tremens is extremely dangerous: 20% of cases are fatal if adequate medical attention is not received, resulting in fever, tachycardia and seizures.
2. Nicotine
Tobacco withdrawal syndrome is not fatal Its intensity will depend on how long the person has been smoking and the number of cigarettes the person usually smokes each day. The most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are headache, irritability, drowsiness or insomnia, increased appetite and weight and, of course, an uncontrollable desire to smoke again.
3. Cannabis
Marijuana is one of the most consumed illicit drugs in the world, perhaps the most. Very popular among teenagers and young people, its effects include altered sensory and time perception, mood changes, memory problems and, if consumed in large doses, delusions, hallucinations and psychosis.
As with tobacco, its withdrawal syndrome is not fatal. Stopping its consumption can produce symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, drowsiness loss of appetite and great desire to consume again.
4. Narcotics
Among narcotics we find heroin, codeine, oxycodone, opium and morphine They are substances that act by depressing the central nervous system, as does alcohol. At small doses they produce euphoria while at large doses they cause dizziness and lethargy.
Among the first symptoms of narcotic withdrawal are labored breathing, watery eyes, runny nose, and sweating. Later, hyperactivity and hypervigilance, accelerated heart rate, fever and goosebumps appear. Dilated pupils, chills, muscle pain, abdominal pain, tremors and diarrhea may also occur.
In the group of anxiolytics we would find barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are medications prescribed to control anxiety or be able to sleep, but if taken in high doses and in an uncontrolled manner they can cause addiction.
Withdrawal from barbiturates and benzodiazepines is serious and life-threatening, generating a syndrome similar to delirium tremens typical of alcohol. Among the main symptoms of barbiturate withdrawal syndrome are depression, generalized weakness, tremors, delusions, hallucinations, insomnia and dehydration.
6. Amphetamines
Amphetamines are drugs that, under medical control, are used to lose weight, stay awake for longer hours, and also for the treatment of ADHD. They are drugs that help people who have concentration and attention problems, being useful for studying and studying.
In this group we find illicit substances such as methamphetamine, MDMA and ecstasy If you are addicted to them, when you stop using them, a withdrawal syndrome occurs characterized by extreme fatigue and drowsiness, although there are also cases of people who become extremely anxious.
If they had depression before taking them, becoming addicted and stopping using them makes the depression come back stronger. This information is important because, Although amphetamine withdrawal syndrome is not fatal in itself, suicidal behavior is that appear after stopping consumption and presenting depressive symptoms.
7. Cocaine
Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant drug. It is a highly addictive drug, generating a rapid tolerance that facilitates hooking and the need to increase the dose. Its withdrawal syndrome is potentially fatal because, in addition to the extreme fatigue and hallucinations that appear after stopping taking it, the addict may feel deep depression with suicidal ideation that can motivate him to end his life.
