Ecstasy Withdrawal & Detox

People with mental health conditions may be more overwhelmed by the withdrawal symptoms and act impulsively by attempting suicide. Symptoms of MDMA withdrawal can vary in intensity depending on the amount of ecstasy consumed and how long a person uses the drug. Withdrawal effects of ecstasy also range from unpleasant to dangerous, especially if an individual has underlying health issues or struggles with additional mental health conditions. MDMA use can cause withdrawal symptoms because people feel euphoric after ingesting the drug and then later feel a “crash.” This is due to changes in neurotransmitter signaling involving dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. It’s essential to recognize that the ecstasy withdrawal timeline is highly variable and can be influenced by factors such as the duration and severity of addiction, as well as the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

PHP typically consists of hospital treatment 5 to 7 days a week for 4 to 8 hours per day. Like inpatient treatment, clinical staff are on hand to assist with detox, medication management, and withdrawal symptoms. Long-term inpatient treatment varies in length but typically ranges between 3 to 18 months. This type of rehab is best suited to individuals with long-term chronic addictions, especially those who have co-occurring mental health issues. The reported effects of MDMA vary according to the dose and the frequency and duration of use. In general, the effects desired by most users are those produced by low doses on single occasions.

This kind of therapy is useful for people who have been addicted to ecstasy, especially those who have underlying conditions such as anxiety or depression. DBT is also effective for PTSD and for people who exhibit self-destructive behaviors. In essence, CBT helps clients learn new, drug-free ways to cope with triggers that might encourage them to use ecstasy again. This includes an understanding of how situations, people, or the environment can trigger an addictive desire to take ecstasy, or how to introduce healthy behaviors that can steer them away from using.

What Is MDMA (Ecstasy)?

The severity and duration of MDMA withdrawal varies from person to person and can be influenced by variables like age, gender, genetics, tolerance, usage patterns, and the presence of co-occurring mental health disorders or substance use disorders. You can expect ecstasy withdrawal symptoms to appear within eight to twenty-four hours after your last dose. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, paranoia and insomnia will increase over the first few days, usually reaching their peak at around day three.

Treatments

• For people who are addicted to or dependent on ecstasy, there are many different options for ecstasy detox.
• Generally, the withdrawal process from ecstasy takes a few days, but some symptoms can persist for weeks.
• This allows clinicians to safely address these conditions alongside withdrawal from the ecstasy itself.
• The severity of withdrawal will depend on overall health, reasons for taking the drug, and length of use.
• For individuals who are seeking intensive treatment but still prefer to live at home, partial hospitalization (PHP) or day treatment programs are also available.

As ecstasy withdrawal causes sleep disruption, this supplement can help ensure that clients are able to get adequate and sustained sleep. This requires an individual to stop taking ecstasy, and this is best done through medically supervised detox. Eliminating an addiction to ecstasy consists of multiple stages of rehab that target the physical, psychological, and emotional causes of addiction. Our mission is to transform lives damaged by addiction through individualized treatment tailored to your success for lasting recovery. Our experienced and licensed Northridge Addiction Treatment Center staff is prepared to help you overcome addiction and start on a path to lifelong recovery. Even though MDMA, ecstasy, and molly refer to different forms of the drug, users often use them interchangeably.

During the next four to ten days, you may experience difficulties with sleep, memory and focus. You may have some ongoing feelings of depression, as well as cravings for the drug. While these symptoms may become less severe over time, you can still benefit from continued support. Ecstasy withdrawal symptoms are primarily psychological and the severity will depend on the level of ecstasy abuse, your age, general health and genetics. Ecstasy detox refers to the process of removing traces of the drug from your system – this is a naturally occurring process that begins when you abstain from using the drug. Ecstasy detox can prove challenging due to the onset of withdrawal symptoms, but with the right help, you can ensure your experience is comfortable and manageable.

Need to Detox From Alcohol: Strategies & Medical Supervision

Rehab facilities that offer dual diagnosis are often staffed with psychiatrists or clinical therapists that can diagnose and/or treat co-occurring mental health conditions. This kind of treatment is especially useful for people who have underlying issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This allows clinicians to safely address these conditions alongside withdrawal from the ecstasy itself. Short-term inpatient centers typically start with medical detox and are followed by a program of addiction treatment such as therapy or counseling for 30 to 90 days. These programs range from basic inpatient to luxury options, all varying in terms of their amenities and types of therapy. MDMA withdrawal is somewhat unique in that the psychological effects are more dangerous than the physical withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment Programs

• During this time, they are given hydration and nutrients along with supportive medical care, so they can get through this phase much more comfortably.
• Individuals typically report to a treatment center or clinic 1 or 2 days per week.
• Ecstasy is the popular or “street” name for a substance identified chemically as N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine.
• As noted earlier in this review, the usual “recreational” dose of MDMA or MDEA produces blood levels in the range of 100–250 ng/mL, or 100–250 μg (0.1–0.25 mg) per litre.

People with severe addictions or co-occurring mental health conditions often find that inpatient rehab provides the best road to recovery. Treatments for ecstasy addiction typically involve talk therapies like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), counseling (one-to-one and group), family therapy, and holistic therapies. Suicide Tuesday refers to an unofficial trend of weekday suicides that experts observed in MDMA users. Depression, anxiety, and agitation are some of the main ecstasy withdrawal symptoms, which peak two to four days after use. Because most people use it as a party drug on the weekends, those feelings were most intense early in the week afterward.

Detox Programs

Serotonin is called a feel-good ecstasy withdrawal and detox neurochemical because it elevates the mood and makes people feel positive. When taking the drug, users experience more closeness, affection, satisfaction, and happiness overall. There are many different options for ecstasy withdrawal treatment in Washington and Oregon. First, people may want to call local helplines for resources about different treatment facilities in the Pacific Northwest.

This is especially the case for individuals with underlying mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, as withdrawal from the drug can exacerbate these conditions. This review of the literature indicates that ecstasy (MDMA) and related drugs are potentially dangerous, even in the doses typically used by participants at raves. Both the acute and the chronic effects can lead to serious and even fatal toxicity, the full extent of which cannot yet be estimated with accuracy. Because the main users are adolescents and young adults following the dictates of current drug fashion, physicians may need to be especially alert to such problems in an otherwise healthy population group. While the journey through ecstasy withdrawal can be arduous, it is a necessary step towards reclaiming one’s life. However, attempting to navigate this process alone can be not only daunting but also potentially dangerous.

With frequent and regular use, your brain becomes accustomed to the increased levels of neurotransmitters and, without the drug, there will be a deficit. It is this deficit that results in the onset of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the drug. Other people may find that tapering off ecstasy is an easier alternative, gradually reducing the amount taken. When individuals attempt to quit suddenly at home rather than at an accredited facility, withdrawal symptoms may be even more severe.

In this respect, it resembles the structure of the hallucinogenic material mescaline. As a result, the pharmacological effects of MDMA (and MDEA) are a blend of those of the amphetamines and mescaline, as will be described in later sections of this review. The timeline for MDMA withdrawal can vary based on the person’s physical and mental health factors, how much ecstasy they usually take, how long they have been abusing it, and if they are experiencing symptoms of withdrawal from other drugs. MDMA heavily impacts brain chemistry, causing withdrawal to last as long as it takes to naturally regain balance, even after the drug is out of the system. When MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, first appeared, people dismissed it as a party or club drug with no serious risks or long-term effects. As MDMA use became more widespread, researchers realized that ecstasy abuse causes dependence, lasting chemical changes, and intense and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Personalized Mental Health & Addiction Care in Florida

Ecstasy works by boosting the activity of chemical messengers in the brain – neurotransmitters – related to happiness and empathy, leading to the characteristic ecstasy high. This surge in neurotransmitter activity, though, rapidly depletes the natural reserves required for these emotions, leading to dependence over time. Contingency management is another effective treatment for addiction and is based on a reward system.