Why Do Detox Drugs Make You Hallucinate?

Detox drugs can cause hallucinations during withdrawal because of the way they affect the brain and body. When someone stops using a substance they are dependent on, the brain needs time to adjust, which can lead to overactivity in areas responsible for perception and sensory processing. Detox drugs, used to ease withdrawal symptoms, can sometimes alter brain chemistry unexpectedly, triggering hallucinations.

These hallucinations can also result from the withdrawal process itself, as the brain struggles to regain balance without the addictive substance. Thankfully, they are usually temporary and improve as the brain stabilizes.

If you or a loved one want to detox safely, call Avenues Recovery—we’re here to help you on your path to recovery.

What Are Withdrawal Hallucinations?

Withdrawal hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur when a person is going through withdrawal from a substance they are dependent on. These hallucinations can involve seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there, and are often a result of the brain's difficulty adjusting to the absence of the substance. Substances like alcohol, benzos, or stimulants, which affect brain chemicals, are more likely to cause withdrawal hallucinations when they are suddenly stopped.

During alcohol withdrawal hallucinations, a person may experience delirium tremens (DTs), a severe reaction that can include vivid visual or auditory hallucinations. Withdrawal hallucinations are typically temporary and improve as the brain stabilizes, though severe cases may require medical treatment to ensure safety.

What Are the Different Types of Hallucinations?

These are the different types of hallucinations:

• Visual Hallucinations - seeing things that aren’t there
• Auditory Hallucinations - hearing sounds that aren’t there
• Tactile Hallucinations - feeling things that aren’t there
• Olfactory Hallucinations- smelling odors that aren’t present
• Gustatory Hallucinations- tasting things that aren’t there

Cause of Hallucinations During Withdrawal

Hallucinations during withdrawal occur because the brain struggles to adjust after losing a substance it depended on. With alcohol, withdrawal disrupts the balance of brain chemicals, leading to overactivity and causing auditory or visual hallucinations. In severe cases, this can escalate to delirium tremens (DTs), which involve vivid hallucinations and confusion.

Drugs like stimulants (e.g., meth or cocaine) and sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines) can also cause hallucinations. Stimulants affect dopamine levels, and their withdrawal can lead to false sensations, like bugs crawling on the skin. Sedative withdrawal disrupts calming brain signals, often causing visual or auditory hallucinations. Opioid withdrawal is less likely to cause hallucinations, but severe cases may lead to them due to sleep deprivation or psychosis.

Certain medications, like antipsychotics, antidepressants, or corticosteroids, can cause hallucinations if stopped abruptly. Withdrawal often disrupts sleep, which can also trigger hallucinations. Additionally, long-term substance use can lead to nutritional deficiencies that make these symptoms worse.

How Long Do Hallucinations During Withdrawal Last?

The following chart clearly illustrates how long hallucinations during withdrawal last:

Hallucinations from Alcohol Withdrawal

You may wonder, “Can alcohol withdrawal cause hallucinations?” Hallucinations during alcohol withdrawal are a serious symptom that can occur in individuals who have been heavily drinking for a prolonged period and then suddenly stop or significantly reduce their alcohol intake. These hallucinations are often associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), a potentially life-threatening condition.

The hallucinations can be visual, auditory, or tactile. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that are not there, such as shadows, animals, or people. Auditory hallucinations involve hearing non-existent voices or sounds, while tactile hallucinations create sensations on the skin, such as bugs crawling (a symptom known as formication).

In terms of how long alcohol withdrawal hallucinations last, typically alcohol detox hallucinations begin within 12 to 24 hours after the last drink and may last up to 48 hours. They are most common in alcoholic hallucinosis, a condition distinct from the more severe delirium tremens (DTs). While hallucinations in alcoholic hallucinosis do not typically impair awareness or orientation, they can still be distressing and require medical attention.

Causes of Hallucinations During Alcohol Withdrawal

Hallucinations during alcohol withdrawal occur due to the significant changes in brain chemistry that result from chronic alcohol use and stopping suddenly. Prolonged alcohol consumption depresses the central nervous system (CNS), leading the brain to compensate by increasing excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, and decreasing inhibitory neurotransmitters, like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). When alcohol is suddenly removed, the balance is disrupted, leading to hyperactivity in the CNS, which can cause withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations.

Key causes include excessive glutamate activity, reduced GABA function, and an overactive stress response. These imbalances create heightened sensory processing and misinterpretations, resulting in visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations. Other contributing factors include pre-existing mental health conditions, sleep deprivation, and electrolyte imbalances, which can exacerbate the severity of hallucinations. This is why medical supervision is so often necessary during alcohol withdrawal to manage symptoms and prevent complications.

How to Minimize or Prevent Hallucinations During Withdrawal

Below are key steps to prevent hallucination during withdrawal:

1. Seek Medical Supervision: Detox should be conducted under the guidance of healthcare professionals. Medical facilities can monitor symptoms and provide treatments to prevent complications, including hallucinations.
2. Medication Management: Doctors often prescribe medications to manage withdrawal symptoms, stabilize the nervous system, and reduce the risk of hallucinations.
3. Gradual Tapering: Abruptly stopping alcohol can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations. Gradual reduction under medical supervision helps the brain adjust more smoothly.
4. Hydration and Nutrition: Dehydration and nutrient deficiencies, particularly of thiamine (vitamin B1), can worsen withdrawal symptoms. A balanced diet and adequate fluids can help stabilize the body.
5. Address Underlying Health Issues: Pre-existing mental health conditions, stress, and anxiety can exacerbate withdrawal symptoms. Managing these through therapy or medication can provide additional stability.
6. Calm Environment: Reducing external stimuli and stress during withdrawal can help prevent sensory overload that may contribute to hallucinations.
7. Support System: Family, friends, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can provide emotional and practical help during the withdrawal process.
8. Professional Follow-Up: Regular check-ins with healthcare providers after detox can help address any lingering symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse.

Which Meds Help With Withdrawal Hallucinations?

These are the main medications that help with withdrawal hallucinations:

• Benzos: Medications like diazepam, lorazepam, and chlordiazepoxide are the first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal. They enhance the calming effects of GABA in the brain, reducing anxiety, seizures, and the risk of delirium tremens (DTs), which can cause hallucinations.
• Antipsychotics: Drugs such as haloperidol, olanzapine, or quetiapine may be used if hallucinations persist or if agitation and psychotic symptoms are severe. However, these are typically secondary treatments, as they do not address the underlying causes of withdrawal.
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1): This is critical for preventing or treating Wernicke's encephalopathy, a condition associated with severe alcohol use that can lead to confusion and hallucinations.
• Beta-Blockers and Alpha-2 Agonists: Medications like propranolol or clonidine can help reduce autonomic hyperactivity, such as rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure. While they do not directly target hallucinations, they can ease withdrawal symptoms.
• Anticonvulsants: Drugs such as gabapentin and carbamazepine may be used to manage seizures and stabilize mood, potentially reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
• NMDA Receptor Antagonists: Experimental treatments like memantine or ketamine are being researched for their ability to reduce excitatory brain activity during withdrawal, which may help prevent hallucinations.

These medications should always be administered under medical supervision.

Prevent Hallucinations During Withdrawal at Avenues Recovery

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder and are worried about hallucinations during detox, reach out to Avenues Recovery Center today. There is hope, and healing is possible! Our experts at Avenues Recovery are standing by to help you detox safely – it’s only a phone call away. Our dedicated and professional staff have helped over 40,000 people transform their lives, and they can help you too. Contact us today to join our vibrant recovery community and to begin your journey to sobriety.