Medically Reviewed

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox for Heroin

3 min read · 5 sections
Evidence-Based Care
Expert Staff
Heroin is an illicit opioid drug derived from morphine, a natural  the opium poppy plant.1 In 2020, an estimated 902,000 people ages 12 and older used heroin within the past year.2 After regular use of heroin, people often develop a tolerance and physical dependence on this drug. Tolerance occurs when the body adapts to heroin’s presence and a person needs more heroin to achieve the desired effect or the person experiences drug withdrawal symptoms associated with physiological dependence when they abruptly reduce or quit using heroin.3,4
What you will learn:
What heroin withdrawal is.
Signs and symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
Available treatments for heroin withdrawal and opioid use disorder.
The dangers of heroin withdrawal and how to get help if you or a loved one are struggling with heroin misuse or addiction.

What is Heroin Withdrawal?

Heroin and other opioids are highly addictive substances that can lead to physiologic changes in the brain and alterations in behavior.5 Heroin binds to the body’s opioid receptors in the brain and central nervous system, activating certain cells (neurons) because their chemical structure mimics the body’s natural opioids (e.g., endorphins).6 However, heroin activates opioid receptors in a different way than an endogenous, or naturally occurring, opioids, leading to abnormal signals being sent to the brain and the brain stem, which controls basic function such as heart rate, breathing, and sleeping.

The brain begins to adapt with regular heroin use, leading to tolerance (where a person needs to take higher doses of heroin to feel the same effects) and physiological dependence. Dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms which occur when someone attempts to cut back on their heroin use or stop using it entirely. Withdrawal symptoms are not typically life-threatening but very unpleasant and even painful, making it difficult for many people to quit using heroin.5 Withdrawal is a phenomenon characterized by a set of symptoms that happen when someone stops using a substance that their body has become dependent on, such as heroin.7

The withdrawal symptoms across all opioids are comparable, though there can be wide variations in the time of onset, the severity of symptoms, and how long withdrawal symptoms take to subside. These factors generally depend on the specific opioid(s) someone used, as well as how much they used (the dosage), how long they used it, other substances they use, and the time between doses.5

Although heroin withdrawal symptoms alone are not usually dangerous, the gastrointestinal symptoms produced by heroin withdrawal (such as diarrhea and vomiting) can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and potentially life-threatening symptoms based on the possibility of these effects.5

Protracted (Long-Term) Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Long-term heroin withdrawal symptoms, sometimes called “protracted withdrawal.9 occurs when persistent impairments  are felt even after a period acute withdrawal.10

Withdrawal symptoms that may persist after acute withdrawal from heroin and other opioids may include:10

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

People may want to alleviate these distressing post-acute withdrawal symptoms by returning to heroin use. 10 It is critical, however, for people who have withdrawn from heroin or other opioids to know that they have a reduced tolerance to opioids following acute withdrawal, and they are at a greater risk of a heroin overdose if they return to use after a period of abstinence.9

Take Our “Am I a Drug Addict?” Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute “Am I A Drug Addict?” self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with drug addiction. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

Detox for Heroin & Withdrawal Treatment

Opioid detoxification (commonly referred to as simply “detox” or medically supervised withdrawal) can be an initial first step in more comprehensive treatment for heroin addiction or an opioid use disorder.11

Medically supervised withdrawal is a treatment approach where doctors or other clinical staff provide monitoring, medication, and other treatment interventions to help manage and ease the discomfort of withdrawal signs and symptoms.12 Commonly prescribed medications for treating heroin withdrawal are also used to manage opioid use disorder and include methadone or buprenorphine.13 These medications are opioid agonists, which means they bind to the same brain receptors as heroin and work similarly but do so in a way that eliminates or reduces withdrawal symptoms without the high or euphoria of illicit opioid use. Methadone and buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone) help eliminate or reduce withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings for heroin and other opioids, and aid in preventing relapse or a return to opioid use.14

How to Quit Heroin

After someone has successfully detoxed from heroin and is medically stable, they may benefit from further treatment of an opioid use disorder. Ongoing treatment can help manage the behavioral and psychological aspects of heroin misuse or heroin addiction and may also include a continuation of medications used during detox or prescribed after detox to help manage opioid use disorder. There are different treatment options in various treatment settings (including inpatient/residential rehab, outpatient rehab, and other more nuanced levels of care). Some common treatments for heroin and opioid use disorder include:

  • Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUDs). Medications have been developed to effectively treat opioid use disorder. They include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Methadone and buprenorphine can eliminate or blunt the euphoric effects of illicit opioids and reduce cravings for heroin and other opioids.15 the effects of opioids entirely.15
  • Behavioral therapies. There are a wide range of behavioral therapies often employed to treat substance use disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often used in substance use disorder treatment and helps people learn healthy coping skills and change the way people think about and behave toward substance use.15
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