Methaqualone Addiction Treatment

Methaqualone addiction treatment is necessary for people who have become dependent on or are addicted to methaqualone. Methaqualone is a synthetic or man-made depressant drug that affects the central nervous system.

Methaqualone, also referred to as Quaaludes, has a similar effect on the body as barbiturates and is highly addictive. Common side effects of methaqualone may range from mild symptoms to severe or intense reactions.

The severity typically depends on what is used to make the drug, the tolerance of the user, and the frequency of use. Typically, one or more of the following side effects of methaqualone use can occur:

• Chills
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Itching and/or skin rash
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Increased or irregular heart rate
• Insomnia
• Slurred speech
• Sweating
• Tingling

However, long-term use of methaqualone can result in additional mental and physical side effects. These may include impaired muscular function, anti-social behavior such as isolation or hostility, delusions, depression, disorientation, seizures, memory loss, vision problems, and coma.

Signs and Symptoms of Methaqualone Dependence or Addiction

Methaqualone addiction treatment is necessary when a patient shows signs of dependence or addiction, but sometimes these symptoms and signs are difficult for anyone but the user to identify. Typically, the most notable signs are the withdrawal symptoms that occur if the user doesn’t receive his or her next dose of methaqualone. These withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Pins and needles or tingling sensations in the extremities
• Stomach problems
• Anorexia
• Dry mouth
• Anxiety
• Sweating

Heavy or prolonged use of methaqualone may also result in symptoms such as vomiting, insomnia, cramps, tremors, seizures, and depression. These symptoms may occur even if your body is not going through withdrawal.

Methaqualone addiction treatment may be necessary even if none of these symptoms are apparent, particularly if you are able to ensure that the next dose is available when needed. In addition to withdrawal symptoms, there are several behavioral warning signs that can indicate methaqualone addiction, including:

• Stealing the drug and/or money from others
• Withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, pain, or hallucinations when you are unable to take the next dose of methaqualone
• Isolation
• Lying or other unusual negative behavior such as sudden hostility or aggression
• Changes in social circles
• Shifting moods or other sudden, inexplicable behavioral changes

A person who is suffering from addiction to any type of drug is unlikely to break the cycle of addiction without outside help.

If you or someone you know is facing issues of dependency and or addiction to methaqualone, consider seeking methaqualone addiction treatment at a private facility. For more information, call toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or click here to contact us by email.

A Brief History of Methaqualone

Methaqualone was introduced by American pharmaceutical companies in the 1960s and marketed as a nonaddictive alternative to barbiturates. This sedative was approved by the U.S. government under the name Quaalude. However, within a short period of time, methaqualone began to be heavily abused and several users developed anxiety, depression, and addiction. Methaqualone was then listed by many countries as being psychoactive, and was eventually banned by the mid-1970s. Now an illegal drug, methaqualone is sold and produced illegally. In some countries, it is still produced by pharmaceutical companies and given as a prescription medication.

Methaqualone Detox

The first step in methaqualone addiction treatment is detoxification. Medically supervised methaqualone detox can help to reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms or eliminate some of them. Medically supervised methaqualone detox also helps to increase your chances of safe and successful recovery from methaqualone addiction. It is vital to both the patient’s physical and psychological well-being, and to a successful recovery, that methaqualone detox be carried out in an inpatient setting, where patients can be monitored around the clock by qualified medical personnel.

Methaqualone detox begins when the patient stops using the drug. The length of time necessary for complete detoxification varies depending on the duration of use and the individual patient, but methaqualone withdrawal symptoms typically begin about 12 to 24 hours after the last dose of methaqualone, and tend to peak within 24 to 72 hours of the last dose. This period is when the most intense symptoms can occur and is the most crucial to the patient’s successful recovery. Methaqualone withdrawal symptoms can include one or more of the following:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Tremors
• Anxiety
• Excessive sweating
• Delirium
• Insomnia
• Convulsions and/or grand mal seizures

Because methaqualone withdrawal symptoms can become extremely intense within the first few days of detox, it is vital that detox takes place in a medical environment such as a hospital or drug rehab facility where doctors can monitor and treat symptoms.

How Long Does Methaqualone Detox Last?

In most methaqualone addiction treatment facilities, the average time necessary for complete detox is seven to ten days. After the initial 24 to 72 hours, withdrawal symptoms begin to weaken in severity until they eventually disappear.

Methaqualone Addiction Rehab and Recovery

Following successful detox, methaqualone addiction treatment programs typically provide rehab and recovery services. Depending on where you live, there are several options for methaqualone rehab, which can be divided into two categories: inpatient and outpatient care in a private or publicly funded facility.

Inpatient methaqualone addiction treatment is highly effective because patients are given constant medical care and treatment for both their psychological and physical addictions.
“In most methaqualone addiction treatment facilities, various forms of counseling are provided to treat psychological issues.”
Outpatient methaqualone addiction treatment also provides care in a rehab facility, but the patient does not remain there full time. In many cases, patients visit the facility daily or weekly, but reside at home for the duration of treatment. This may be an effective methaqualone addiction treatment option in the later stages of methaqualone rehab, but isn’t recommended in the early days following detoxification.

An effective methaqualone rehabilitation program removes methaqualone from your body and your surroundings, and should also provide treatment for the patterns of behavior and the emotional issues surrounding your addiction. In most methaqualone addiction treatment facilities, various forms of counseling are provided to treat psychological issues.

Individual Counseling

Individual or one-on-one counseling focuses on treating the emotional issues that lie beneath methaqualone addiction in a private and secure environment. Individual therapy is most helpful when there is a co-occurring mental disorder such as anxiety or depression. One-on-one counseling also provides patients with a chance to voice their concerns or talk about their addictions privately with a trained counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. In an inpatient one-on-one counseling program, patients often have access to a counselor daily if necessary. This may be scaled back as the patient moves through the methaqualone addiction treatment program and becomes less dependent on the support received through individual counseling.

Behavioral Therapy

In many methaqualone addiction treatment programs, rehab includes behavioral therapy that focuses on replacing unhealthy behaviors with better, healthier ones. This type of therapy utilizes rewards like positive reinforcement, along with rehearsal or practice, to help the patient achieve long-term recovery outside the treatment facility.

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, often referred to as CBT, also teaches new behavioral patterns. However, CBT tends to focus on the thoughts and emotions behind behavior rather than just physical actions. Essentially, this type of methaqualone addiction therapy tries to change or modify the thoughts that originally led to the addiction or abuse.

Family and Group Therapy

Methaqualone addiction treatment often requires that family and/or friends also undergo therapy to ensure a successful recovery from methaqualone addiction. Family members may form habits in order to cope with the patient’s addiction and, in the process, end up enabling it. Family counseling sessions help family members rebuild relationships and focus on healthy behaviors and interactions.

Group therapy provides the patient a safe, private, and secure environment where they can discuss and work out issues with their peers. Group therapy sessions are run by a qualified counselor or therapist and can help patients realize they are not alone. Group counseling provides patients with the opportunity to share experiences and concerns with other patients who are in methaqualone addiction treatment. Group counseling typically occurs at least once a week in the initial stages of methaqualone rehab, and may be scaled back to monthly meetings later in the methaqualone addiction treatment program.

No matter which type of methaqualone addiction rehab facility you choose, it is critical to your long-term recovery that some form of counseling is provided as part of your treatment program. In most methaqualone addiction treatment programs, it is recommended that the patient utilizes at least a combination of group therapy and one-on-one counseling.
“In most methaqualone addiction treatment programs, it is recommended that the patient utilizes at least a combination of group therapy and one-on-one counseling.”

Both group counseling and one-on-one counseling programs encourage honesty from patients and provide them with support systems. These two types of counseling also share the goal of ensuring long-term recovery from methaqualone addiction. Group and one-on-one counseling are often used jointly in methaqualone addiction treatment programs to provide the patient with the most support possible during rehab.

The type of methaqualone addiction treatment program you will require depends on the severity and duration of your addiction. The facility you choose will typically evaluate your unique situation and then determine the best methaqualone addiction treatment plan for you.

The most effective methaqualone rehab option is to seek a private inpatient facility. Private rehab centers are not free facilities, but they offer high-quality care. Although a public medical facility may offer a similar standard of care, private rehab facilities can often offer a more private, secluded setting.

Both public and private methaqualone addiction treatment programs offer qualified medical supervision and support during the rehab process, patients who wish to keep knowledge of their rehab and recovery limited to their immediate family and friends may be better suited to a private rehab center.

Methaqualone rehab and recovery is often a life-long process that includes both avoiding the drug and mental and physical rehabilitation to repair the damage done by past methaqualone use. The first step to this long-term recovery is contacting someone for information on how to begin your rehabilitation.

If you or someone you know is addicted to or has developed a dependency on methaqualone, call us toll free at to discuss your methaqualone addiction treatment options. Calls are confidential, and the lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also click here to contact us by email for more information.

Unsure where to start? Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Please be aware that this evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor.