Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

What Is Heroin Withdrawal?

Heroin withdrawal describes the negative symptoms heroin users experience when they stop their drug use. These symptoms can range from moderate to severe, making it very difficult to quit abusing heroin.

Because using heroin again is the quickest way to stop withdrawal symptoms, many with heroin addiction find it incredibly hard to quit on their own.

What Causes Heroin Withdrawal?

When opioids like heroin enter the brain, they strongly bind to opioid receptors and cause feelings of euphoria and pain relief.

The effect of heroin use is so powerful that the body and mind quickly become dependent on the drug.

Once drug use ends, the brain begins to receive pain signals from the body but cannot produce and release endorphins without the help of heroin. Within a few hours of the last dose, withdrawal symptoms may begin to appear.

Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin withdrawal often gets compared to flu-like symptoms and can even be mistaken for sickness at first glance.

Although physical symptoms aren’t life-threatening, they can be dangerous if you have other pre-existing health conditions.

Common symptoms of short-term heroin withdrawal (acute withdrawal) include:

• Anxiety
• Goosebumps
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Yawning
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Widened (dilated) pupils
• Body and muscle aches
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Shaking
• Elevated heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• High blood pressure
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

Common symptoms of long-term heroin withdrawal (i.e., post-acute withdrawal syndrome) include:

• Drug cravings
• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Continued fatigue
• Irritability
• A general sense of feeling down or emotionally dull
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed
• Short-term memory problems
• Decreased attention, impaired concertation, and difficulty making decisions

Heroin Withdrawal Timeline

Symptoms of heroin withdrawal typically begin as soon as a few hours after the last dose of heroin. Severe symptoms can last 3 to 5 days, but patients may feel long-term effects for up to 2 weeks.

During the first few days of withdrawal, the body and brain must detox from the drug. Side effects like sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea act as the release of built-up toxins from months or years of frequent heroin abuse.

Not only does it take time to detox from heroin, but the body needs a certain length of time to heal from the damage and dependence caused by drug abuse.

How to Safely Withdraw From Heroin

The safest way to withdraw from heroin is through addiction treatment administered by healthcare professionals. However, withdrawing from heroin alone is seldom successful and may be dangerous if severe withdrawal symptoms aren’t treated.

Under the care of a treatment center, you’ll be guided through the heroin detox process and receive medications to help lessen withdrawal symptoms. A treatment program will also provide counseling and peer support to ensure your chances of relapse are much lower.

Tapering

For some patients addicted to opioids, tapering the drug is safer and more effective. However, with an illegal substance like heroin, tapering can be much harder to achieve.

In some cases, doctors may use prescription opioids to help with the tapering process. Slowly lowering the dosage over a set amount of time may make the body’s withdrawal response less severe than quitting “cold turkey.”

Medical Detox

Medical detoxification from heroin is a vital step in the addiction recovery process. Not only do detox programs ensure you remain safe while getting off heroin, but they also help prevent relapse due to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Thankfully, medication-assisted treatments can lessen withdrawal symptoms and help you feel more comfortable during the withdrawal process.

Common medications used for heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Lofexidine
• Suboxone (Buprenorphine and Naloxone combined)

Follow-Up Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Inpatient and outpatient heroin addiction treatment typically involves detoxing off the drug and cognitive behavioral therapy to address why you sought heroin in the first place.

Because heroin is highly addictive, recovery from substance use disorder can be difficult without the right support.

Aside from one-on-one therapy and group therapy, many recovering addicts benefit from Naltrexone, a medication that completely blocks the effects of heroin. Naltrexone ensures that, even if you relapse, you feel none of the drug’s euphoric effects.

In addition, many patients find success with support groups. Organizations like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and SMART Recovery allow recovering addicts to connect and receive peer support through long-term recovery.

Get Help for Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Do you or a loved one struggle with heroin withdrawal symptoms? While the heroin withdrawal process can be challenging, you don’t have to battle it alone.

Doctors and treatment centers are ready to help you weather heroin withdrawal and help you begin your journey to a heroin-free life.

Use SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or call (800) 662-4357 to find a treatment center near you that meets your unique needs.