Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, Causes And Treatment

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Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin withdrawal is similar to withdrawal from other substances and can include an array of extremely unpleasant symptoms.

When someone uses heroin, (either through snorting, smoking or injecting) their brain and body adapt to the heroin use over time and they begin to build up a tolerance.

After a period, as tolerance builds up, the body requires a higher quantity of heroin to achieve the same results, and thus, heroin use typically increases to meet the increased physical and psychological need. If heroin use is then stopped, withdrawal occurs.

Withdrawal is both physical and psychological, and your fear of quitting after prolonged heroin use is exacerbated by the very real fear of experiencing brutal withdrawal symptoms.

Heroin withdrawal is similar to withdrawal from other substances and can include an array of extremely unpleasant symptoms, including:

Heroin addiction is a confounding disease that inevitably has a profoundly negative impact on the person using, as well as their family, friends and professional colleagues. As with other drug and alcohol addiction, heroin addiction is a chronic brain disease. Thankfully, there are effective treatments available.

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Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin withdrawal is brutal and typically takes up to:

• 4 days in the acute phase.
• 6 months in the protracted phase.

When the acute effects of heroin start to abate, someone goes into what is referred to as anticipatory opioid withdrawal.

This begins approximately 3-4 hours after the point of last usage and is manifested through:

• Increased anxiety.
• A crippling fear of the upcoming withdrawal process itself.
• A strong drive to obtain more heroin.

In early withdrawal (approximately 8-10 hours after last usage), anticipatory symptoms increase and new unpleasant symptoms start to develop, such as:

• Extreme restlessness.
• Nausea.
• Sweating.
• Stuffed up nose.
• Stomach cramps.
• Dilated pupils.

From the end of day 1 to day 3 or 4, you will likely experience profound:

• Anxiety.
• Restlessness.
• Tremors.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Muscle cramps.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Chills.
• Intense cravings.
• Suicidal thoughts.

While many former heroin addicts report the protracted phase of withdrawal abates after a period of months, in some cases, the duration of symptoms is much longer.

Protracted withdrawal is characterized by anxiety and depression, insomnia, fatigue and muscle pain. Life in protracted withdrawal is severely compromised and in many instances, individuals are not able to live anything resembling a full life during this period.

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Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms

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Treatment for Heroin Withdrawal

Withdrawal should be monitored and treated as part of the detoxification process in a medical facility that treats opioid withdrawal regularly.

Heroin withdrawal is not something that anyone should undergo without trained medical assistance.

Ideally, withdrawal should be monitored and treated as part of the detoxification process in a medical facility that treats opioid withdrawal regularly.

Medication-assisted heroin addiction treatment is effective and provides critical recovery support, both in the acute short-term phase of withdrawal, and in the long-term, by helping addicts overcome relapse triggers and successfully maintain abstinence.

Evidence-based best practice indicates that the use of buprenorphine or methadone during heroin withdrawal treatment (detoxification) and beyond is recommended.

As with withdrawal from other drugs of abuse, the goal of treating someone undergoing heroin withdrawal is to:

• Monitor vital signs.
• Provide as comfortable an environment as possible.
• Administer medications designed to reduce anxiety.
• Aid in addressing potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Once the withdrawal process is completed, the combination of pharmacological treatments (such as buprenorphine) and psychosocial support has been shown to be most effective in ensuring long-term recovery.

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Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs

The two key options for long-term treatment of heroin addiction are outpatient drug-free counseling or long-term opioid substitution maintenance, and in-patient abstinence-based or medication-assisted treatment.

• The best choice depends upon:

  • Your treatment philosophy.
  • Your medical provider’s recommended course of treatment.
  • Available financial and time resources.
    • Outpatient treatment is typically more affordable and easier to integrate into daily life.
• Participation in an ongoing group and individual therapy is recommended. Valuable recovery tools can also be be found through such community-based organizations as:

  • Neighborhood groups.
  • Government and faith-based institutions.
  • Peer-to-peer recovery support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous..

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Help Someone Through Withdrawal

Effectively managing your own or a loved one’s withdrawal from heroin is not a realistic option. As outlined above, the severity of heroin withdrawal symptoms is such that trained medical treatment is absolutely necessary.

Don’t wait for your loved one to go into withdrawal. Seek help now for yourself or your loved one’s heroin dependency.