Heroin Withdrawal: Detox Treatment, Symptoms, and Timeline
Heroin is a highly addictive, illicitly-manufactured opioid drug associated with several adverse health effects.1 People who use heroin risk developing significant physiological opioid dependence, at which point they may experience symptoms of heroin withdrawal if they cut down or stop their use.2, 3 People who use heroin are also at risk of developing an opioid use disorder (OUD), the diagnostic term for opioid addiction.3 If you or someone you know use heroin and want to quit, you may wish to learn more about withdrawal symptoms for heroin, the heroin withdrawal timeline, and how detox can help you start the path to recovery.
What Is Heroin Withdrawal?
People who have a heroin addiction and cut back on their use or stop using altogether may experience withdrawal.2 Withdrawal from opioids like heroin may be severe and can involve various physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.3,6 One of the 11 criteria that healthcare professionals assess prior to diagnosing an opioid use disorder (OUD), or addiction, is the presence of opioid withdrawal symptoms when opioid use slows or stops, or conversely, the need to continue using opioids to avoid the onset of such symptoms.5 Withdrawal alone doesn’t necessarily equate with addiction or OUD (for example, people on prescription opioid regimens with no otherwise problematic patterns of use may experience some magnitude of withdrawal when they stop taking their medications), however, it is something that many with OUD also experience.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, which is one of the reasons why people continue to use the drug or experience relapse after first trying to quit.7 People who are struggling with heroin addiction commonly develop significant opioid dependence and, should they suddenly stop using the drug, may develop severe heroin withdrawal symptoms.2
What are Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal?
Chronic heroin use can lead to withdrawal symptoms that, while not typically medically dangerous, can cause significant discomfort.8 Genetic, physiological, and psychological factors can impact withdrawal severity.8
Heroin withdrawal symptoms can include:2, 5, 7
- Anxiety
- Depressed mood
- Bone and muscle pain
- Muscle cramps
- Difficulty sleeping
- Restlessness
- Chills and goosebumps
- Fever and sweating
- Teary eyes
- Runny nose
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Yawning
- Uncontrollable leg movements
- Severe heroin cravings
Withdrawal symptoms may also be affected by substances heroin may be cut with.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends against clinicians attempting to manage opioid withdrawal without medication, as doing so could result in needless suffering.8 There can be a risk of certain medical complications that, while not usually life-threatening, should be addressed and treated quickly if they occur.8
Again, based on principles of humanitarian and safety concerns, SAMHSA indicates that if you can’t enter a hospital, receiving withdrawal services in a setting that provides a high level of nursing and medical backup can help ensure you withdraw comfortably and safely.8
Because withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and potentially painful, it is not recommended that individuals attempt to quit heroin “cold turkey.”
How Long Does Heroin Withdrawal Last?
When it comes to how long does heroin withdrawal last, the onset, duration, and severity of heroin withdrawal can depend on different factors, such as the half-life of the opioid, the duration of use, the daily dose, and the interval between doses.8 Heroin is a short-acting opioid, and acute withdrawal often lasts around 5 to 7 days.5
Heroin withdrawal signs and symptoms typically increase in severity when left untreated, but then subside on their own.8 The following information can help you understand the average timelines for initial, peak, and post-peak heroin withdrawal.
Initial Heroin Withdrawal
As heroin is a short-acting opioid, withdrawal symptoms typically begin 6 to 12 hours after a person’s last dose, but some people can develop symptoms up to 24 hours later.5, 7, 9 Symptoms can be uncomfortable in the beginning phases of withdrawal, and can continue to escalate.9 It’s recommended that people are monitored 3 to 4 times a day beginning with this phase of withdrawal to check for symptoms and complications.7 Medications may be used to manage acute withdrawal.3
Peak Heroin Withdrawal
Heroin withdrawal symptoms usually peak in severity anywhere from 1 to 3 days after a person’s last use and gradually resolve over a period of 5-7 days.5 You might feel the above-mentioned withdrawal symptoms at a very intense level, and you might feel like you have a very bad flu.7
Post-Peak Heroin Withdrawal
Post-peak heroin withdrawal refers to symptoms that occur beyond the typical acute withdrawal timeframe, or symptoms that last longer than 7 days.5, 10 The DSM-5 explains that these less acute withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from weeks to months.5 These symptoms usually include anxiety, anhedonia (an inability to feel pleasure), dysphoria, and insomnia.5
Getting Help for Heroin Withdrawal
As mentioned earlier, heroin withdrawal may include several unpleasant symptoms but is typically not life-threatening.8 However, stopping heroin cold turkey and without medical assistance is not typically recommended. Although withdrawal symptoms that may occur are not considered to be dangerous, there are various factors that should stop people from attempting withdrawal with medical supervision. When it comes to how to cope with heroin withdrawal, most clinicians believe that heroin withdrawal should be treated with a medically monitored detox.8 Medical detox for heroin can help people comfortably and safely withdraw from heroin by providing medication, monitoring, and support.8 It can also address medical complications that can arise because of withdrawal.8
Some of the medications that people may receive during detox can include:2, 7, 8, 12
- Methadone. Methadone activates the same opioid receptors that heroin and other opioids activate to minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. A person may remain on methadone after detox for a long time as a part of a methadone maintenance program. This can help prevent relapse.
- Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist medication with a ceiling to its opioid effects, resulting in an improved safety profile and inherently lower potential for misuse. Like methadone, buprenorphine helps to reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. Also like methadone, a person may remain on buprenorphine for maintenance long after the initial detox and rehabilitation period.
- Clonidine. This medication does not have the potential for misuse and is not an opioid. It is not FDA-approved for opioid withdrawal but is sometimes used off-label during detox to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
- Lofexidine. With a mechanism of action similar to clonidine, this is an FDA-approved, non-opioid medication that can reduce certain opioid withdrawal symptoms.
While detox for heroin is an important part of the recovery process for many people, it is not a substitute for more comprehensive heroin addiction treatment efforts. Rather, detox can be the first step in preparing a person for additional rehabilitation or treatment for substance use disorders.11
Research has shown that people who receive some form of continuing care following detox from heroin have better drug abstinence and rates of readmission outcomes than people who do not continue with post-detox treatment.8 This might mean entering an inpatient addiction treatment rehab or outpatient addiction treatment programs, depending on your specific needs and the recommendations of your treatment team.
If you are unsure about where to start when it comes to choosing a local or out-of-state rehab, contact one of our admission navigators at and they can help you figure out which program will be the right fit for you. You can also look at some of the facilities listed below to see if they provide the program you are looking for:
- California: Laguna Treatment Center
- Florida: Recovery First Treatment Center
- Florida: River Oaks Treatment Center
- Nevada: Desert Hope Treatment Center
- Mississippi: Oxford Treatment Center
- Texas: Greenhouse Treatment Center
- Other locations: Rehabs Near Me
Find Out if Your Insurance Covers Rehab for Heroin Addiction
If you or someone you care about are struggling with heroin use, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. American Addiction Centers rehabs can help people recover from substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs). To find out if your insurance covers treatment and rehab, for you or your loved one at an American Addiction Centers facility, click here, or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also learn more about alternative payment options for treatment, and you can click here to find a local rehab treatment center near me.