Though opiate withdrawal is not normally life threatening, the process can lead to symptoms that are difficult to manage. Some effects of withdrawal can even cause serious health complications. The severity of your withdrawal symptoms may also depend on your level of dependence.
We Can Help You Through Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Extended use of opiates changes the structure of nerve cells in your brain. These cells will begin to need the drug just to function properly. When you stop using opiates abruptly, your body will react, leading to symptoms of withdrawal.
These initial phases, which can last anywhere from a week to a month, can be followed by long-term withdrawal symptoms. Long-term symptoms are often less physical in nature and may involve emotional or behavioral issues.
In the case of acupuncture, several studies demonstrated reduced withdrawal symptoms when combined with certain medicines. The report of studies on Chinese herbal medications found that the herbs were actually more effective at managing withdrawal symptoms than clonidine was.
People who have gone through withdrawal recommend trying to stay as comfortable as possible. Keep your mind occupied with movies, books, or other distractions. Make sure you have soft blankets, a fan, and extra sheets. You may need to change your bedding due to excessive sweating.
It can be dangerous to go through withdrawal alone. Seek help from your doctor or other medical professionals. They can even prescribe you medications to help ease the symptoms you may experience and make the withdrawal period easier to manage.
Food and drink may seem repulsive during severe withdrawal. This can lead to dehydration and other complications. You should call your doctor if you are vomiting or unable to eat. It may be impossible for you to go through withdrawal at home.
Opiate withdrawal can be a frustrating process with symptoms that, while typically not life threatening, are difficult to manage. Your doctor can help you to manage the symptoms you may experience with personalized recommendations and prescription medications to ease the process. They can also run tests like blood work to evaluate any damage to your system caused by the opiates.
Research suggests that daily opioid use can lead to physical dependence within days or weeks, depending on the individual. Some experts advise that withdrawal symptoms can occur after regularly using them for 2 weeks.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends motivational incentives to help manage withdrawal from heroin or prescription opioids. Therapists and recovery experts can recommend other tips and techniques to help someone overcome their cravings in the long term.
Naltrexone has approval from the FDA for treating opioid use disorder. It is not an opioid, and there is no risk of dependency. It blocks opioid receptors, prevents the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids, and suppresses cravings. However, it will not reduce withdrawal symptoms and may make them worse for a while.
Discontinuing opioids, including heroin, can be life threatening and requires medical intervention. During the withdrawal process, a person may experience symptoms of opioid withdrawal syndrome, such as sweating, chills, cravings, and anxiety.
How long withdrawal symptoms last is different between individuals. It depends on the type of substance they have used, how much they were taking and for how long, and how their body metabolizes the substance.
Anyone who wishes to stop taking opioids should seek help from a specialist doctor. They can provide medications to support a person through the withdrawal process. At the same time, people can use some home and natural remedies to manage their symptoms, such as staying hydrated, meditation, and distraction techniques.
In the last section, we covered that heroin withdrawal symptoms are incredibly severe and often keep an individual addicted to the substance. A heroin user may try to quit, but then fall back into the cycle of using just to subside the discomfort from withdrawal.So how long does the withdrawal process last? The short answer is that it depends on the person. In heavy users, the first onset of symptoms might materialize within 12 to 24 hours4 after they stop taking the substance. Other people might experience withdrawal symptoms even sooner than that.In the early stages, someone going through withdrawal can expect to experience the following symptoms:
As you can imagine, an individual going through this process would be depressed, anxious, and possibly agitated.A person going through withdrawal can expect the peak of the worst to happen within 1 to 2 days after symptoms can begin. Users often relapse during the peak or the initial onset of symptoms. However, if they can make it 3 to 5 days without using, the symptoms will begin to become less and less severe most of the time. A person going through withdrawal would still have aches, pains, anxiety, and irritability, but the symptoms would not be as intense as they were earlier in the process.Most people going through this process will see their symptoms decline drastically after a week. They might still have ongoing issues with depression, anxiety, or apathy, but the other symptoms should decrease or subside altogether.However, some people will continue to deal with issues with their mood, motivation, cravings, and sensitivity to stress for a prolonged period after they stop using heroin. When this happens, that person could be experiencing post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms, or also known as protracted withdrawal, is a condition that might go on for months or even years. Some researchers have identified it as an aspect of withdrawal; however, it is likely to be related to other psychological issues and is not part of the withdrawal process. Research studies have not been able to identify whether these symptoms are part of the biological withdrawal process.Heroin withdrawal symptoms are not considered dangerous in that they do not typically have fatal consequences. However, there is a real risk of falling back into that cycle of using. Overusing heroin can also lead to overdose, so it is best to not attempt a heroin cleanse on your own.If you or someone you care for needs help with a medical heroin detoxification, our dedicated staff of professionals is here to guide you through the process. Please contact us to get started on our journey to recovery today. Fill out this form or call us at (855) 491-7694 to schedule a free initial consultation. We are located in the Midwest in Franklin, California, but we proudly serve patients from across the United States.
After reading about the timeline of a heroin withdrawal, you may wonder if you could quit heroin cold turkey on your own. However, quitting heroin cold turkey and without medical professionals present is not recommended. Even though an attempt to get heroin out of your system would likely not be fatal, there are other factors to consider before attempting withdrawal without medical help.Please consider the following points before attempting a heroin withdrawal on your own:
There are a lot of risks associated with a heroin withdrawal. It is always best to consult medical professionals when planning a detoxification. Our caring and compassionate staff are here to aid you in recovery. One does not have to go through this process alone, and most certainly does not have to be in pain. Fill out this form or call us at (855) 491-7694 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Heroin withdrawal management is when a medically licensed physician is present to aid with withdrawal symptoms. This process is also known as medical detoxification. So what exactly happens during a medical detoxification? Here is what you can expect during the withdrawal management process:
Before the withdrawal management process can begin, safe conditions need to be established for the patient. Medical professionals will be available to provide support during the medical detoxification and establish ongoing treatment for any co-occurring conditions. It is also beneficial to have someone there who has gone through the detoxification process before. If a patient struggles with severe cravings or begin experiencing suicidal ideation, there will be a comforting expert at their side to keep them safe.
As we mentioned earlier, you do not have to be in pain through the withdrawal process. You may believe the symptoms are your burden to bear for even using in the first place. However, that does not have to be the case. Our team of dedicated professionals is here to guide you through the process and be your anchor as you work toward a sober lifestyle. You can reach us by calling (855) 491-7694 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our staff is available 24/7 to take your call and provide assistance. We are located in the Midwest in Franklin, California, but we proudly serve patients from across the United States.
It is not impossible for someone to detoxify from heroin through the cold-turkey approach. We understand that some people might be reluctant about the idea of taking another substance while they are detoxifying from heroin. Logically, you might think it makes more sense to stop taking substances altogether. However, a medical detoxification is much safer than a cold-turkey detoxification. There is the added benefit of having a physician on-site to aid with the withdrawal management process. You would also have someone with you that has been through this process and successfully seen it through. Empirical studies also show that medical detoxification with a physician provide greater chances for success than any of the alternative choices.If you are still thinking of going through a cold-turkey detox, we advise you to reconsider. While you may have found an anecdotal report online of one who has successfully completed the withdrawal process without help, many people who try this will relapse during detoxification and could even possibly overdose. You might not find information about these complications through exploring perspectives on the Internet. A significant portion of people who experience a relapse will not take the time to write about their experiences on the Internet, as they may have fallen back into the cycle of addiction.Ultimately, choosing a medical detoxification over a cold-turkey detoxification is more than likely going to provide a positive result. A medically assisted withdrawal program will help you get a head start and have a better chance at long-term recovery. Medical detoxification also helps prevent relapse and prepares you for the long road to recovery.You do not have to go through this process on your own. Our staff in Franklin, California are available any time day or night to answer your call. To get in touch with us at Windward Way Recovery, fill out this form or call us at (888) 675-2203 to schedule a free initial consultation. 2ff7e9595c
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