As both a stimulant and hallucinogen drug, ecstasy addiction can be one of the most harrowing forms of addiction to overcome. Ecstasy withdrawal effects run the spectrum in terms of the physical and emotional discomforts that develop along the way.

Without some form of treatment support in place, most people will resume drug use when trying to tackle detox on their own. Ecstasy detox treatment programs provide the types of physical and emotional supports needed to make it through this critical first stage of the recovery process.

Ecstasy Withdrawal Mechanisms

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, ecstasy’s effects develop out of the drug’s interactions with dopamine-, serotonin- and norepinephrine-producing cells throughout the brain and central nervous system. As essential neurotransmitters, these chemicals play key roles in regulating thinking, emotions, learning and sensory perceptions.

Ecstasy’s effects result from increases in neurotransmitter output, which alter how the brain processes incoming sensory information while speeding up chemical processes within the brain. These combined effects warp the brain and body’s normal functions creating feelings of euphoria, increased energy, confidence and even hallucinations.

Fatigue and disorientation are common symptoms of ecstasy withdrawal.

With continued ecstasy abuse, the brain not only becomes dependent on the drug’s effects, but also falls into a type of chemical process-pattern that relies on ecstasy to function normally. These changes account for the types of symptoms that develop in ecstasy detox. In effect, the brain and body enter a state of ecstasy withdrawal with symptoms taking the form of:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Disorientation or confusion
• Aches and pains
• Diarrhea
• Suicidal feelings
• Anxiety
• Irritability

In effect, ecstasy detox treatment picks up where the drug leaves off in terms of helping restore a normal chemical environment in the brain and body.

Ecstasy Detox Treatment Components

Upon stopping drug use, the brain and body’s systems go haywire. As an essential first step, ecstasy detox treatment interventions work to stabilize brain and body processes at the start through medication therapies. Physical symptoms, such as headaches and gastrointestinal distress may be treated using over-the-counter remedies. Patients also receive balanced meal planning in order to help restore the body’s vitamin and nutrient reserves.

Depending on the severity of a person’s condition, antidepressant and/or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed to help relieve the emotional upheaval that commonly occurs during ecstasy detox. Ultimately, the emotional/psychological aftereffects of ecstasy addiction tend to take the greatest toll on a person’s resolve in ecstasy detox so treatment programs place a heavy emphasis on providing needed support and direction through intensive psychotherapy, group therapy and support group interventions.

According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, emotional/psychological supports not only help make the ecstasy detox process easier, but also offer an introduction into the next stage of the recovery process. Once a person completes detox, ongoing treatment will focus almost entirely on replacing addiction-based thinking and behaviors with a drug-free approach to everyday living.

If you or someone you know is considering entering ecstasy detox treatment and have more questions about how it works, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-609-2774 (Who Answers?)  to speak with one of our addictions specialists.

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