Ibogaine Treatment for Methamphetamine (Meth) Addiction

Methamphetamine was first synthesized from ephedrine in 1919. It was widely prescribed within the United States during the 1950s and 1960s as a treatment for obesity, and weight-loss aid. As the extremely addictive nature of crystal meth became apparent, governments worldwide began strictly regulating and controlling its production and distribution. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II drug within the United States. Pharmaceutical methamphetamine is still available, and sold under the Desoxyn brand. Crystal meth use has become a nationwide epidemic in recent years. The relatively simple synthesis and ready availability of precursors, lends itself to “bathtub chemistry” wherein poorly trained individuals, with little understanding of what they’re actually doing, follow cookbook formulas, to create methamphetamine hydrochloride of questionable purity. Many people are under the impression that meth is simply a more powerful version of amphetamine, however, there are critical differences; perhaps the most significant being that methamphetamine is a neurotoxin in humans. In direct contrast, there is no evidence of amphetamine neurotoxicity in human subjects.

Because methamphetamine is such a potent stimulant in any of its forms, whether it is used as speed, crystal meth, or another form of amphetamine, methamphetamine comedown and methamphetamine withdrawal are complicated, difficult processes. For users, the drug affects the brain rapidly, triggering the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. This in turn increases alertness, energy, and sociability. These affects can last for as long as eight hours, depending on the dose and the user. However, once the drug begins to wear off, the user starts to feel terrible as the effects of methamphetamine comedown take hold. The methamphetamine comedown period is distinct from the methamphetamine withdrawal process, even though there are a few common threads between them. Methamphetamine comedowns resemble hangovers from alcohol somewhat. Both are influenced by a complex mix of surplus chemicals metabolized into toxins and built up in the body, exhaustion from the euphoric effects of using the drug, and imbalances in neurotransmitters in the brain. Symptoms of methamphetamine comedown include: anxiety, decreased appetite, depression, fatigue, headache from dehydration, hopelessness, insomnia despite exhaustion, lack of motivation, malnutrition, muscle pain, especially in the jaw from clenching, muscle weakness, and plain old sadness. Methamphetamine comedown symptoms can persist for several days after abusing the drug. Mental health changes such as anxiety and depression tend to linger the longest. It is critical to be able to recognize methamphetamine comedown symptoms, because many users take more drugs in order to banish those symptoms and feelings—and this is even more dangerous. This kind of reaction leads to methamphetamine binges and “tweaking,” which can cause overdose, psychotic effects, and more intense difficulties when getting clean later. Tweaking binges are typically characterized by periods of 3 to 15 days without sleep, filled with intense paranoia and sometimes temporary psychosis. This psychosis is the cause of the delusions and hallucinations that tweakers sometimes experience, such as feeling bugs on or beneath the skin. Other symptoms include aggression, anxiety, dehydration, excessively high energy, irritability, loss of appetite, overheating, physical pain, and twinges. After a binge, most users will “crash,” and unfortunately the mental state that comes after this often leads to more consumption of methamphetamine. Any attempts to avoid symptoms of comedown can also lead to more use, methamphetamine dependence, and addiction.

Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms are mainly emotional and psychological with various associated physical traits. And while the physical aspects of the methamphetamine withdrawal process are not as severe as those seen in people who are withdrawing from opioid drugs or alcohol, they are still intense and off-putting for users in the throes of methamphetamine dependence. Methamphetamine withdrawal is fairly consistent for all users. It starts within the first 24 hours of abstinence. It grows in intensity over time, peaking within 7 to 10 days of the last dose, and once the intensity of the methamphetamine detox has passed, it steadily declines. On the whole, methamphetamine withdrawal takes around 14 to 20 days. Throughout this time, without support a patient can feel increased appetite, dry mouth, excessive sleepiness (typical of withdrawal from stimulant medications), fatigue, jitteriness, and lethargy. A large number of users report feelings of depression when they stop using. These too drop lower over time. Severe methamphetamine cravings also occur during methamphetamine withdrawal but usually these decline quickly. Some research indicates that there is a connection between cravings for methamphetamine and the level of depression during withdrawal. The more frequent and intense the person going through methamphetamine withdrawal experiences, the more likely it is that they will relapse. This is why managing the methamphetamine detox process is so important.