Concerta Withdrawal and Detox

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What is Concerta Withdrawal and Detox?

Concerta is a prescription medication intended to treat deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. This drug belongs to the category known as stimulants and helps speed up the central nervous system function, as well as enhance memory and attention to details. Stimulant drugs can produce feelings of clear-headedness, which may bring comfort to those who struggle to focus, or those who cope with lethargy or narcolepsy.

However, like many prescription stimulant drugs, including Adderall, Concerta is also used recreationally or abused as a performance-enhancing substance. Concerta is typically prescribed to children and teens and may be abused by adolescent populations and as an athletic enhancement, study aid, or simply for its recreational effects. Prescription stimulants may be abused for the perceived “rush” they can provide, which may include:

• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiration
• Feelings of increased energy
• Increased blood pressure
• Higher blood sugar
• Heightened focus

Though Concerta is most commonly used by youths and adolescents, stimulant abuse is not just an issue for teenagers and young adults. Recent studies indicate that 7% of individuals 18 to 49 years of age abuse ADHD medications for recreational purposes.

Abuse doesn’t just mean buying drugs illegally, or “on the street.” Stimulant abuse can include taking too much of a legally prescribed drug, taking someone else’s medication, or mixing drugs, such as taking a prescribed stimulant with alcohol. However, since many people assume that a prescribed stimulant drug is “safer” than a street stimulant, such as cocaine, individuals may be tempted to take these drugs in excess.

But drugs like Concerta can be very dangerous, and addictive when abused. And once addiction has set in, professional assistance from a recovery center, such as Resurgence Behavior Health, should be the next step in finding freedom and detoxification from Concerta.

Effects of Concerta Withdrawal and Detox

Stimulants like Concerta are addictive and powerful because they interact with dopamine, one of the chemicals the body uses in its “reward” response. This means that the body comes to associate a feeling of reward and pleasure with stimulant usage. In just a matter of weeks, the body may begin to feel dependent on Concerta, requiring larger doses to achieve the same positive feelings and sense of focus.

The effect and severity of the addiction and Concerta withdrawal can depend on the type of stimulant used, the duration of use, and the amount used. But studies have shown that, while Concerta is available legally, it is similarly addictive to drugs like cocaine and amphetamine, which are known for their addictive properties and powerful withdrawal effects.

The Concerta withdrawal process from stimulants is considered to be among the most difficult, due to both the physical and psychological effects, which can include extreme experiences of depression, which can result in self-harm or suicide. The symptoms and side effects of Concerta misuse can include:

• Anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Numbness, or blueness, in fingers and toes
• Increased violence or violent thoughts
• Fainting
• Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices
• Slowed growth in children
• Depression, which may be extreme
• Inability to concentrate
• Potential for self-harm
• Suicidal thoughts
• Paranoia
• Panic attacks
• Heart disease
• Weight loss
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Fatigue
• Anger
• Constipation
• Tremors and involuntary movement / “ticks”
• Mood swings
• Headaches

Furthermore, medically urgent withdrawal symptoms, including emotional “crashes” do not only occur with illicit, or hard drugs. Prescribed stimulants, such as Concerta, can cause similar withdrawal effects to drugs like cocaine, and require professional assistance and supervised detoxification.

Mental Illness and Concerta Withdrawal and Detox

Those who have been prescribed stimulants, such as Concerta, are already experiencing mental and physical health issues, such as racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, lethargy, and other issues that disrupt their daily lives and peace of mind. Furthermore, those who abuse stimulants are also often doing so to self-medicate as a result of depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, PTSD, and other mental health concerns.

It is also important to note that Concerta is often prescribed to youths, and prescription drug abuse has been a rising issue in teens and adolescents for several years. Youths and teenagers can be particularly susceptible to prescription abuse, and stimulant misuse, do to peer pressure, social pressure to succeed, self-esteem issues, and other environmental and mental health concerns.

As a result, many youths who are misusing stimulants like Concerta may be suffering from co-current depression and anxiety, or other risk factors for substance abuse. This relationship between mental illness and substance abuse often becomes a cycle, with individuals using substances to manage anxiety, pressure, sleep issues, or other concerns, only to experience a worsening of those issues.

Professional assistance is important because treatment of individuals who are coping with Concerta abuse will likely include treatment of physical addiction, including detoxification, as well as the development of strategies to manage underlying mental health issues that can lead to relapse, medical emergencies, or self-harm.

Treatment and Concerta Withdrawal and Detox

While the dangers of stimulants like cocaine and crack are widely known and depicted in the media, it is often mistakenly assumed that prescription stimulants, like Concerta, are safe and non-addictive. But this is incorrect, and suffering that comes with stimulant addiction and withdrawal can be as agonizing for those addicted to Concerta as for those struggling with illicit drugs.

Medical detoxification is one of the safest and most effective ways to free the body from the addictive presence of Concerta, allowing the individual to move forward with treatment. Detox takes place under the supervision of clinical experts, such as in a hospital or residential treatment center, which provides access to medical care in case of a serious withdrawal issue, such as seizure, heart attack, or stroke.

Medical staff and treatment counselors will also be able to assist with the depression that follows withdrawal, and those facing Concerta withdrawal may be prescribed anti-anxiety medication, and other ADHD medications, to help with restlessness in the aftermath of detoxification. Additionally, staying in a residential program can help provide freedom from stressors and peer pressure, which may have triggered the initial substance use issue. This can help provide respite as the individual begins to focus on resilience and mental wellness.

A residential treatment center, such as Resurgence Behavioral Health, can provide access to family counseling, peer support, one-to-one therapy, 12-step programs, spiritual outreach, nutrition therapy, and other types of support that can enable a lasting recovery.

Payment Information

Resurgence Behavioral Health offers a welcoming experience, designed to help you focus on creating the healthy, addiction-free life you deserve. As you walk through our doors, recovery should be your primary concern. And Resurgence Behavior Health offers flexible treatment and payment plans that can work within almost any budget.

We accept most PPO insurance and private forms of payment and communicate with your insurance provider on your behalf. Just call us at 855-458-0050 and let us show you the difference our team can make.

How to Get Help

Yes, you can recover from your addiction to Concerta. And we can help you get there. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, our staff, providers, and caregivers are fully trained in modern substance abuse recovery techniques. Our team understands your struggle, and we are equipped to coach you on your recovery journey.

Combined with our state-of-the-art treatment centers, with locations throughout Orange County, Resurgence Behavioral Health is ready to help you change your life, and find lasting freedom from Concerta addiction. Here you will learn to develop healthy coping skills while building a support system that shares your commitment to recovery.

Along the way, you will learn about addiction, recovery, and yourself, building your resilience and breaking the grip of addiction. Our holistic, evidence-based treatment program includes medical detox, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, residential rehabilitation, 12-Step programs, counseling, and more. Call Resurgence Behavioral Health today and experience a brighter tomorrow.