Heroin is one of the world’s most well-known and most addictive drugs. It belongs to a large class of drugs and medications known as opioids. If you’re addicted to heroin, recovery typically begins with a period of detox and withdrawal. There are a number of common heroin withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms appear early in the process, while others only appear as withdrawal proceeds over time.
Experts universally recommend that you rely on professionals to help you break a heroin addiction. At Memphis Recovery Centers, we specialize in treating heroin addiction. With our help, you can ease heroin withdrawal symptoms and establish a foundation for your long-term recovery. Learn more when you contact our team today by calling 901-272-7751 or completing our online form.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
Knowing what to look for is essential to knowing when it’s time to get yourself or a loved one treatment for heroin addiction. Some warning signs and symptoms of heroin addiction include:
- Red, glassy eyes
- Impaired speech, coordination, or balance
- Chronic runny nose
- Needle (track) marks
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Shaking and sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- New or worsening problems at home, work, or school
- Extreme mood swings
- New or worsening paranoia, anxiety, or aggression
- Dishonesty about risky behavior, finances, or drug use
- Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
Heroin addiction comes with some pretty severe risks, such as accidental overdose and death, or intense withdrawal symptoms when the drug cannot be accessed.
Early Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
When you stop taking heroin, you will soon start feeling the urge to take it again. As the drug leaves your system, this urge will almost certainly grow worse. Other common symptoms at this early stage of withdrawal include:
- Anxiety
- Muscle aches
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Frustration or agitation
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
Peak Heroin Withdrawal
As withdrawal proceeds, you will start to feel more and more ill. Eventually, your symptoms will reach the peak of their intensity. These peak withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Constipation or diarrhea
- A sense of feeling unusually hot or cold
- A powerful urge to use more heroin
- Abdominal cramps
- Pupil dilation
- Rapid heartbeat
- Increasing feelings of anxiety
The combined effects of these heroin withdrawal symptoms may feel overwhelming. In fact, when trying to quit on their own, many people can’t tolerate the withdrawal symptoms. Instead, they return to heroin use just to make their withdrawal symptoms stop. This is a major reason why all experts recommend supervised withdrawal. The treatment you receive in supervised care will help decrease the intensity of your peak symptoms. In this way, it will help you avoid relapse and complete the withdrawal process.
In a matter of days, your peak withdrawal symptoms will begin to decrease in severity. At this point, you have entered the late stage of heroin withdrawal. Physical symptoms tend to ease more quickly than psychological symptoms. Be aware that your cravings for heroin, although less intense than before, will likely continue to linger.
Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline
No one can say for sure exactly what your heroin withdrawal symptoms timeline will look like. As a general rule, early withdrawal lasts for six to twelve hours. Most people make it through peak withdrawal within a day to three days. The entire process of withdrawal is usually complete in a week to ten days.
However, a number of factors may alter your specific timeline. These factors include the length of time you have been using heroin and the strength of your addiction. They also include your state of overall health. Genetic factors and your medical history may also have an impact.
Overcome Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms at Memphis Recovery Centers
When you turn to the specialists at Memphis Recovery Centers, you find out more about heroin withdrawal symptoms. We can answer your questions and help you prepare for what’s to come. At Memphis Recovery Centers, we also feature targeted treatment for heroin addiction and all other opioid abuse issues. We provide high-quality programs to fit every situation. Whether you need inpatient care, outpatient care, or aftercare, you’ll find customized plans that suit your requirements. Our team has years of experience guiding people through the difficult initial stage of recovery, and we can help you too. For more information on our many options, just fill out our online form or call us today at 901-272-7751.
