Opiate and Heroin Detox
If you or a loved one is struggling with an opioid or heroin use disorder, detox can be the first step towards long-term recovery. Opioid withdrawal is painful and uncomfortable, but there are medications that can reduce symptoms.
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A professional detox program offers medically supervised withdrawal with counseling and medication-assisted treatment to break your dependence on opiates. This can help you avoid relapse and move into addiction treatment quickly.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
When you stop using opioids or heroin, you’ll likely experience withdrawal symptoms. These can range from mild to severe, but they are usually temporary and not dangerous.
Symptoms of opioid withdrawal typically begin within six to 48 hours after the last dose. They may last for a week or more.
You may need to use prescription medications to manage these symptoms. Medications such as clonidine can ease agitation, while medications like Librium and chloral hydrate can help you sleep.
Often, a medically-supervised detox facility is the best option. This is because it provides a safe environment with 24/7 supervision from doctors who are trained to treat any co-occurring conditions you have. They will also provide medication to help you through the withdrawal process.
Symptoms of Long-Term Withdrawal
When a person stops using opioids or heroin, their body enters a withdrawal state. These symptoms can last for days and even weeks, depending on the type of opiate and how long the user has been using it.
During the withdrawal process, your brain changes to become unaccustomed to opioids’ effects. This causes mood swings and cravings, and you may experience anxiety and depression.
Withdrawal symptoms also cause your body to release a lot of fluids. This can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Your doctor might prescribe medications to help with these symptoms. These medicines include clonidine, loperamide (Imodium), and lofexidine.
Symptoms of Co-Occurring Disorders
The symptoms of opioid withdrawal include a range of physical and mental health conditions. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors, including addiction to drugs or alcohol, medical conditions, and co-occurring disorders like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, psychotic disorder, or personality disorder.
In addition, long-term use of opiates may lead to a buildup of tolerance. This means you need to take more of the drug to achieve the same effect.
The symptoms of opioid withdrawal can also be associated with a number of psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This condition is more common in people who use opiate pain medications, such as heroin or prescription opioids like oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone, than in people who use other types of drugs.
Symptoms of Overdose
Symptoms of overdose from opioids and heroin vary depending on the type of substance and how it was taken. For example, snorting or injecting heroin can take effect within 60 seconds, while nasal insufflation takes about ten minutes to reach peak effects.
Taking too much of an opioid or mixing it with other substances can cause respiratory failure and death. Overdose symptoms can include difficulty breathing, a slow heart rate and unconsciousness.
Opiate overdoses have become more common, particularly in the United States. This is due to an increase in the use of prescription narcotics as painkillers and the contamination of nonmedical opioids with very potent drugs like fentanyl. People who are new to using a drug, those who mix substances or those who have low tolerance for the drug can all be at risk of overdose.
Treatment Options
While detoxing is not a cure, it can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. It also helps remove factors that may trigger a relapse such as spending time with people who use heroin, living in a neighborhood with regular drug use or having an inability to manage stressors and triggers.
Detoxification is usually the first step in recovery from an addiction to opioids. It involves a medically supervised process that helps remove the body's tolerance to drugs and reduces withdrawal symptoms.
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