Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Rebound EffectThe ComedownThe CrashWithdrawal FatigueEnergy RecoveryHow to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Rebound Effect
The Comedown
The Crash
Withdrawal Fatigue
Energy Recovery
How to Get Help
What is the most important information I should know about drug rebound?The after-effects of prescription drugs and other substances can sometimes play a role in their misuse and contribute to the risk of addiction.Understanding these effects and knowing how to cope can help if you are struggling with misuse, withdrawal, or addiction.
What is the most important information I should know about drug rebound?
The after-effects of prescription drugs and other substances can sometimes play a role in their misuse and contribute to the risk of addiction.Understanding these effects and knowing how to cope can help if you are struggling with misuse, withdrawal, or addiction.
The effects of prescription and illegal can be short-lived, causing an individual to experience a rollercoaster of emotions if such drugs are misused. A rebound effect, a crash, and a comedown are drug after-effects that cause different symptoms.
These effects play a role in the onset and maintenance of drug addiction. To avoid experiencing unpleasant effects, people sometimes continue using or taking more of a substance. This contributes to the cycle of addiction.
Keep reading to learn more about what rebound, comedown, and crash are and the role that they play in addictions. Also, explore strategies that can help you cope and treatments that can help you recover from drug addiction.
Understanding the rebound effect explains why certain drugs, particularly those that have a quick and intense effect on the nervous system, are very addictive. One of the ironies ofaddictionis that the rebound effect causes the person taking the drug to experience the very same effects they were hoping to escape throughdrug use.
This is especially true if the person wants to maintain the state such as wishing to stay awake or alert for longer than the effects of the stimulant or trying to sleep or relax for longer than the effects of the depressant, sedative, or tranquilizer.
For example, when you take asedative drug, which causes relaxation and drowsiness, a rebound effect of agitation will occur after the drug wears off, making you want to take more of the sedative drug in order to calm down.
Taking more of a substance to counteract rebound effects can worsen the risk of developing an addiction, as people seek to recapture the effects they experienced after taking the drug.
Pain is also intensified during a rebound from apainkiller, such as an opioid medication, a phenomenon known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia.The pain can be physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. Physical and emotional pain often go hand-in-hand, so it is easy to see how painkiller addiction develops.
The “comedown” is the feeling of the effects of a drug gradually wearing off, after a period of intoxication. It is often described as “coming down” from the drug’s effects.
The experience varies depending on the person, the amount of drug taken, as well as how long and how often the person has been using the drug.
If the intoxication experience was too intense and made the person who took the drug feel uncomfortable, anxious, or delusional, the comedown can feel relatively mild, while for others, the comedown can be a disappointing sensation, signaling a return to reality and perhaps triggering further drug use.
If you feel ill during a comedown, you may be having medical complications in reaction to the drug.If these persist, it is important to be evaluated for emotional or psychological symptoms, especially if they involve thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, andpsychotic symptoms, such as hearing voices.
Make sure you tell them what you have taken, how much, and when. It is better to get early intervention than suffer greater complications later on.
The “crash” is the intense exhaustion that people sometimes feel after using drugs, particularly those that are stimulating, such as cocaine, meth, and even high doses of caffeine.
It involves helping the body recover not only from the toxicity and effects of the drugs, but also from any overexertion, lack of sleep, injuries, or other harms that potentially occurred during intoxication.
This crash can last much longer than the original drug effects because the body needs longer to recover from the effects of the substance and other behaviors that may have affected the individual, such as lack of sleep.
Withdrawalis the physical and emotional experience that occurs when a drug is discontinued after a period of continuous or excessive use.
If you stop taking a substance, you may experience withdrawal fatigue. Regardless of the substance taken, fatigue is a trademark symptom of withdrawal. Even if the substance was a relaxing substance, the inability to relax and sleep will lead to the person feeling more tired than usual.
Research has shown that people withdrawing from alcohol have sleep disturbances, poor sleep quality, and do not function well during the day for a month after discontinuing drinking.They also experience considerable psychological distress during this time.
Coping With Withdrawal Fatigue
Withdrawal fatigue is exhausting, but people often try and keep going at their usual pace. This is not a good idea, as it will take longer to restore energy and return to normal activities. Fatigue is your body’s way of getting you to rest and recuperate.
However, some withdrawal symptoms can actually make mental illness symptoms likeanxiety,depression, sex difficulties,sleep problems, andpsychosisworse.These are known as substance-induced disorders.
An addiction specialist is the best person to diagnose and treat your condition, but if you don’t have access to a specialist, talk it over with another healthcare provider.
Everyone’s recovery experience is different. The good news is that most people who stop using drugs and alcohol regain energy, sometimes in as little as a few weeks.
Of course, how quickly you recover depends on many factors including:
Social support can play an important role in addiction recovery. If you are not living with or near people who support you, it will be more difficult to recover.
If you are in an abusive relationship, it is unlikely you will feel alright until you get away from the abuser. No matter how much sleep you get, living with someone who hurts you emotionally or physically is exhausting.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates.
If you are experiencing rebound effects, coming down, or crashing due to using a substance, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider. Your doctor can evaluate your condition and recommend treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and recover from addiction.
Each person’s treatment plan varies depending on their symptoms and needs. Depending on the substance you have been taking, you may need to participate inmedically-supervised detox. This process allows medical professionals to supervise the drug detoxification process to ensure your safety and minimize the risk of severe or life-threatening symptoms.
Other treatments for addiction often focus on:
Psychotherapy
Types of therapy that your doctor might recommend includecognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT), contingency management, andmotivational enhancement therapy. Such treatments may be provided on either an outpatient or inpatient basis, depending on your needs.
Medication
Your doctor may also prescribe medications that can help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal and prevent relapse. The type of medication your doctor prescribes will depend on the substance you have been taking and the type of symptoms you have been experiencing.
Mutual Support Groups
Support groups such as12-step self-help programscan be a great way to get encouragement, information, and resources that can help you on your journey to recovery.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Understanding Withdrawal and Its Effects
10 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.
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