Heroin Withdrawals
“The most beautiful people I’ve known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.”– Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
Within the past year, over 50,000 people aged 12 and older reported having a heroin use disorder in Ohio. Here at CleanSlate, we’ve seen the extent to which our community is impacted by substance use. As a facility that offers comprehensive treatment for those seeking recovery, we’ve seen the importance of addressing substance use before people walk through our doors. Part of this stems from education about the effects of substance use. We aim to lower stigma and help community members make informed decisions about their health. Today we’re going to look specifically at heroin withdrawals, what they mean, and how to address withdrawal if it occurs.
What Are Heroin Withdrawals?
Heroin is an illicit form of opioid. Opioids directly impact the opioid receptors in the body which help process hormones, interpret sensory information, and more. When opioids like heroin are consumed on a regular basis, the body can grow accustomed to how they change the functioning of the body.
When someone stops their regular consumption of heroin, the body feels the absence of its effects. As the body starts to adjust to heroin no longer being within the system, side effects known as withdrawal will begin to occur.
How Do Withdrawals Happen?
Withdrawals can occur with a variety of substances, though the chances increase depending on a few factors. How the substance impacts the body, how long it’s in the body when taken, and how long a person has been regularly taking the substance can affect how withdrawal happens. This includes medications.
Withdrawals primarily happen due to someone taking a medication or substance for a long period and suddenly ceasing to take it. When the body is suddenly deprived of a substance that it has grown accustomed to being in your system regularly, withdrawal is very likely to occur.
What Is the Timeline of Heroin Withdrawal?
The exact timeline of withdrawal will vary from person to person. Many factors such as age, history of use, metabolism, and other substance use can alter the timeline of withdrawal. Overall, there is a general timeline that does occur for heroin withdrawals.
Withdrawal often begins shortly after the last dose is taken. In the case of heroin, this time frame begins 8-24 hours after last consumption.
The phases of opioid withdrawals are split into two sections. The first is known as acute withdrawal, and the second is protracted withdrawal. Acute withdrawal lasts 4-10 days. From there, protracted withdrawal starts and lasts for 6 months on average. While the protracted phase is less severe than acute withdrawal, knowing about the protracted withdrawal can help you better prepare for it.
What Side Effects Occur During Heroin Withdrawal?
There are many symptoms that can pop up during withdrawal from heroin. Not every person going through withdrawal will feel the same combination of effects, nor does every effect need to occur for withdrawal to be valid.
Let’s take a look at what symptoms are commonly experienced during heroin withdrawal.
Mild Symptoms of Withdrawal
The tamest side effects a person can experience during withdrawal are ones such as teary eyes, runny nose, and restlessness. These are inconvenient at worst and will not impact your overall functioning.
Some other symptoms can range from mild to moderate, depending on the person. This can include side effects such as muscle aches, anxiety, and insomnia. What might be a mild case of anxiety for one person going through withdrawal could be a serious case for another.
Moderate Symptoms of Withdrawal
Several symptoms of withdrawal are considered more moderate from the get-go, while others might range in severity from mild to moderate. While we already mentioned a few in the previous paragraph, other symptoms that can range from mild to moderate include nausea and vomiting.
When it comes to withdrawal, moderate symptoms tend to show up after the first day. This includes things such as rapid heart rate, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.
Severe Symptoms of Withdrawal
Not everyone will experience severe symptoms of withdrawal, but there are some symptoms in particular that many might not initially consider to be severe. First, however, let’s take a look at the most common severe symptoms.
Dehydration and seizures can occur during heroin withdrawal. Being aware of these side effects can help you be prepared and know what to look out for.
The most severe symptom of withdrawal is experiencing cravings. This is not inherently because of their intensity, but rather because of the risk they pose.
When someone is experiencing cravings for a substance, especially one they’ve cut back on or stopped taking for some time, they run a much greater risk of overdosing. Opioid overdoses are deadly. Cravings continue into the protracted period of heroin withdrawal and should be monitored and addressed.
Does Heroin Withdrawal Require a Medical Detox Program?
Besides alcohol detox, opioid detox programs are one of the most common forms of medical detox. This is because of both the concern involving opioid cravings, but also because of many medication-assisted treatment programs that can run alongside a detox program.
Heroin withdrawal does pose a risk to the person undergoing it. While most symptoms are hardly fatal, things like seizures and cravings can turn that way in the right conditions.
An inpatient, medical detox program is not necessary for every patient. Many patients choose to start their recovery journey with medication-assisted treatment or outpatient services, like what is offered at Cleanslate. If you’re unsure of whether or not you need detox, speaking with your physician can clarify your next steps.
Finding Treatment for Heroin Withdrawals in Ohio
If you’re going through heroin withdrawal, or you want to take the first step away from heroin, there are options available for you. Finding a heroin treatment program can help guide you along the way, providing you with the support and tools you need for long-term healing.
When looking for recovery options, how do you know what makes up a good facility? In regards to heroin use disorder treatment, you’ll want to find options that host both detox programs and ongoing support programs such as outpatient treatment. This combination will help pave the way for your recovery journey.
It can feel overwhelming to start looking for treatment, but taking that leap is worth it. You’re not alone in this journey, and many people make it out the other side. You deserve to see that other side, too.
No matter your history with substance use, our team here at CleanSlate is ready to help. With consistent availability, we’ll get you in whenever you decide to get started. You can learn more about our programs by giving us a call at 833-505-4673.
Begin your recovery journey with a clean slate.
FAQs About Heroin Withdrawal
What are the first signs of withdrawal?
Withdrawal from heroin can start as soon as 8 hours after the last dose. The most common side effects of withdrawal include cravings, nausea, increased anxiety, cramps, hot flashes, and sweating.
