Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCoping With Withdrawal DiarrheaHow Long Will It Last?CausesDehydrationWhen to See the DoctorMedical Treatments

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Coping With Withdrawal Diarrhea

How Long Will It Last?

Causes

Dehydration

When to See the Doctor

Medical Treatments

Diarrhea isn’t something many people feel comfortable talking about. Unfortunately, diarrhea and associated stomach pain can be symptoms of drugwithdrawal, particularly opiates. It can also occur after a period of intensesubstance use.

Symptoms may range from mild to severe. This can often lead to distress and can even be a major factor impacting the decision to quit drugs for many people.

How to Cope With Withdrawal Diarrhea

RecapSticking to a bland diet, staying hydrated, eating yogurt with live cultures, and taking OTC medications can help when you are coping with withdrawal diarrhea.

Recap

Sticking to a bland diet, staying hydrated, eating yogurt with live cultures, and taking OTC medications can help when you are coping with withdrawal diarrhea.

How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

The duration and severity of withdrawal symptoms depend on several factors. Physical withdrawal symptoms often last three to five days; however, the type of substance a person has been using can play a role. For some substances, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and long-acting opiates, withdrawal symptoms may last one to two weeks.

Along with diarrhea and stomach pain, you might also experience other physical symptoms such as chills, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, shakiness, sweating, and vomiting. While these symptoms often last only a few days or a week, the psychological symptoms of withdrawal can last much longer.

Causes of Withdrawal Symptoms

Substance use leads to changes in howneurotransmittersfunction in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals and help regulate various bodily functions. When alcohol or substance use is halted, the brain is forced to readjust to its sudden absence. This leads to unpleasant physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.

Safely Treating Dehydration

Dehydration happens when your body loses too much fluid and electrolytes through urination, sweating, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. However, drinking only water, particularly in large quantities, can be harmful and lead to water intoxication. Water intoxication can be life-threatening, so it is important to take steps to avoid it.

If you have been experiencing severe diarrhea, drinkrehydration fluid(available from drug stores) rather than plain water to replace lost fluids.

Fruit juice can also help replace lost electrolytes but can exacerbate diarrhea.Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on the right way to replace lost fluids.

If your diarrhea, stomach pain, or vomiting are severe or last for longer than a few days, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. While this withdrawal symptom is sometimes considered no more than a nuisance, for some people, it can be troubling enough that it derails their attempts at quitting. If a person quits a substance and then relapses, it can increase the risk of overdose.

Warning

Stomach symptoms can be an indication of an underlying, treatable infection, and they can lead to life-threatening dehydration. You can go to an emergency room where an IV drip can quickly replace fluids and electrolytes.

One of the most severe consequences of alcohol withdrawal, calleddelirium tremens(“the DTs”), impacts about 3% to 5% of people who withdraw from heavy drinking.If left untreated, this condition can be fatal.

Medical Treatments for Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal from substances can be done at home or in a healthcare setting. Quitting substance use is often easier under medical supervision because medications can be used to make the transition easier and less uncomfortable. Different treatments are available for different substances.

Alcohol

If alcohol withdrawal symptoms are moderate to severe, you may need to be in a supervised clinical setting.Whether you seek treatment as an inpatient or outpatient, you may be given sedatives to help make the transition to complete withdrawal in a medically safe way.

Treatment with B vitamins is also critical for someone withdrawing from alcohol. It can prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (oralcohol dementia), a set of neurological conditions resulting from a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.

Barbiturates

Because of the potential complications of stopping barbiturate use, withdrawal should always take place under medical supervision. You may be given phenobarbital to help make the transition.

Stimulants

Treatment for stimulant withdrawal will likely involvepsychotherapybut may also include antidepressants or other mood-affecting medications.

Opiates

Treatment may include clonidine, which helps with anxiety, sweating, irritability, muscle cramping and aching, and runny nose, and/or buprenorphine or methadone, both of which can decrease the amount of time it takes to detoxify and also help withdrawal symptoms.

Gabapentincan help with several symptoms, including diarrhea.Antispasmodics like Bentyl may also help ease gastrointestinal symptoms.

Coping With Tramadol Withdrawal Symptoms

RecapWhile detox and withdrawal can often be done at home, there are also medications that can help ease symptoms. The type of medication your doctor will prescribe depends on the substances you have been using, so talk to a healthcare practitioner about your options.

While detox and withdrawal can often be done at home, there are also medications that can help ease symptoms. The type of medication your doctor will prescribe depends on the substances you have been using, so talk to a healthcare practitioner about your options.

Takeaways

If you are experiencing severe diarrhea that isn’t getting better or is causing symptoms of dehydration, contact your doctor. They can determine if something else might be contributing to your symptoms and decide if you need prescription medications or IV fluids to avoid serious complications.

How to Ease Withdrawal Insomnia During Recovery

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Biotechnology Information.Withdrawal management. In:Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. World Health Organization; 2009.American Academy of Family Physicians.Vomiting and diarrhea.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Health: Diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.University of Virginia Health Systems.Homemade oral rehydration solutions.Schuckit MA.Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens).N Engl J Med. 2014;371(22):2109-2113. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407298MedlinePlus.Alcohol withdrawal.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of gabapentin dose in treatment of opioid withdrawal.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2011;31(5):593-596. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378Additional ReadingLin S, Pan C, Chen C.A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of dextromethorphan Combined With Clonidine in the Treatment of Heroin Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology34(4): 508–512. 2014. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000144Manatsatihit S, Dupont H, Farthing M, et al.Guideline for the Management of Acute Diarrhea in Adults.Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7:71. 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1746.17.s1.11.x.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of Gabapentin Dose in Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 31(5):593-596. 2011. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Biotechnology Information.Withdrawal management. In:Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. World Health Organization; 2009.American Academy of Family Physicians.Vomiting and diarrhea.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Health: Diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.University of Virginia Health Systems.Homemade oral rehydration solutions.Schuckit MA.Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens).N Engl J Med. 2014;371(22):2109-2113. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407298MedlinePlus.Alcohol withdrawal.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of gabapentin dose in treatment of opioid withdrawal.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2011;31(5):593-596. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378Additional ReadingLin S, Pan C, Chen C.A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of dextromethorphan Combined With Clonidine in the Treatment of Heroin Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology34(4): 508–512. 2014. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000144Manatsatihit S, Dupont H, Farthing M, et al.Guideline for the Management of Acute Diarrhea in Adults.Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7:71. 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1746.17.s1.11.x.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of Gabapentin Dose in Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 31(5):593-596. 2011. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Center for Biotechnology Information.Withdrawal management. In:Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. World Health Organization; 2009.American Academy of Family Physicians.Vomiting and diarrhea.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Health: Diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.University of Virginia Health Systems.Homemade oral rehydration solutions.Schuckit MA.Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens).N Engl J Med. 2014;371(22):2109-2113. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407298MedlinePlus.Alcohol withdrawal.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of gabapentin dose in treatment of opioid withdrawal.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2011;31(5):593-596. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378

National Center for Biotechnology Information.Withdrawal management. In:Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. World Health Organization; 2009.

American Academy of Family Physicians.Vomiting and diarrhea.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Treatment.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Health: Diarrhea.

MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.

University of Virginia Health Systems.Homemade oral rehydration solutions.

Schuckit MA.Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens).N Engl J Med. 2014;371(22):2109-2113. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407298

MedlinePlus.Alcohol withdrawal.

Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of gabapentin dose in treatment of opioid withdrawal.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2011;31(5):593-596. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378

Lin S, Pan C, Chen C.A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of dextromethorphan Combined With Clonidine in the Treatment of Heroin Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology34(4): 508–512. 2014. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000144Manatsatihit S, Dupont H, Farthing M, et al.Guideline for the Management of Acute Diarrhea in Adults.Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7:71. 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1746.17.s1.11.x.Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of Gabapentin Dose in Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 31(5):593-596. 2011. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378.

Lin S, Pan C, Chen C.A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of dextromethorphan Combined With Clonidine in the Treatment of Heroin Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology34(4): 508–512. 2014. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000144

Manatsatihit S, Dupont H, Farthing M, et al.Guideline for the Management of Acute Diarrhea in Adults.Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7:71. 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1746.17.s1.11.x.

Salehi M, Kheirabadi GR, Maracy MR, Ranjkesh M.Importance of Gabapentin Dose in Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 31(5):593-596. 2011. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e31822bb378.

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