Heroin Withdrawals: Understanding Symptoms, Cravings, and Timelines

“You can come out of the furnace of trouble two ways: if you let it consume you, you come out a cinder; but there is a kind of metal which refuses to be consumed, and comes out a star.”

– Jean Church

The National Survey on Drug Use estimated that 42,000 Floridians used heroin in 2021. Many of those people have a physical and psychological reliance on the substance.

At Real Recovery Solutions, we’ve seen firsthand just how much work it takes to quit taking heroin. One of the things that makes it so difficult is withdrawal. The best way to deal with anything difficult is to prepare for it. That’s why we believe it’s important to educate our community on the symptoms associated with heroin withdrawal.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine.  Morphine comes from the opium in poppy plants, which grow throughout Columbia, Mexico, and East Asia. A lot of the heroin bought and sold in Florida is produced in other countries and imported to port cities like Miami and Tampa.

Heroin is a depressant and is known for the relaxing, euphoric effects it produces in the people who take it. It is usually sold as a white powder and is often cut with other substances, ranging from sugar to rat poison. Heroin can be snorted as a powder, heated up and smoked, or mixed into a liquid and injected.

The opioids in heroin bind with opioid receptors throughout the central nervous system, which interferes with the natural opioid production in your body. Excess dopamine builds up in the brain, activating the reward center. Eventually, the natural opioids your body produces no longer feel like enough, and your body craves more and more opioids. When you stop taking an opioid, like heroin, your body goes into withdrawal.

What Are Heroin Withdrawals?

Heroin withdrawals are your body’s response to heroin no longer being present after you’ve become dependent on it. After your body becomes accustomed to having heroin (and the opioids associated with it) in your system, it must go through the process of readjusting.

Thankfully, this process is not usually dangerous, but it can be painful. Withdrawal can make it very difficult to quit opioids on your own. If you have tried to quit opioids and have had a hard time managing withdrawal symptoms, that’s not anything to be ashamed of. You need proper support to make it through withdrawal and other difficult parts of recovery.

What Are Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?

Everyone will experience withdrawal symptoms differently. The intensity of withdrawal symptoms differs from person to person, depending on how much heroin you’ve been taking and for how long. It’s important to remember that withdrawal symptoms are a temporary part of recovery.

Mild Symptoms of Withdrawal

Some milder withdrawal symptoms include runny nose, watery eyes, yawning, and restlessness. These physical symptoms, while not very painful, are irritating. The good news is that these symptoms are manageable and don’t take away much from your ability to function.

Other symptoms like mood swings, nausea, muscle aches, and anxiety could interfere with your daily life, including your sleep. Take care of your body during this time. Eat well and consider using medications after talking to your doctor.

Moderate Symptoms of Withdrawal

You might have more moderate symptoms right from the beginning. This could include vomiting,  abdominal cramping, and diarrhea as the opioid receptors in your digestive system try to readjust. Other examples of moderate withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, chills, rapid heart rate, tremors, muscle twitching, and dilated eyes.

These symptoms are a bit more intense and make it more difficult to take a “power through” approach. With moderate withdrawal symptoms, taking it easy and resting are good ideas. If you can, spend time in bed and take care of your mental health as well as your body. Seeing a therapist during this time can do wonders for the healing process.

Severe Symptoms of Withdrawal

Not everyone who goes through heroin withdrawal will experience the most severe symptoms. One of the biggest health concerns associated with withdrawal is dehydration. When you’re going through opioid withdrawal, it’s important to stay hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. In some cases, seizures can also occur. You’re also at risk of returning to use when you have severe withdrawal symptoms, so finding a great treatment program is paramount.

Heroin Cravings During Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin cravings are one of the most concerning parts of withdrawals. Your body is used to having a high level of opioids and will want more of them. For some people, cravings are mild, but for many, cravings are extreme. Cravings can leave you feeling like more heroin is an absolute necessity. When you’re craving, you will likely think obsessively about heroin. They can also be more physical, as your body craves the feeling heroin gives you.

Cravings are difficult to manage on your own. If your cravings have prevented you from successfully quitting heroin in the past, that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed this time. You can get through your cravings with the right support.

It’s important to remember that cravings will eventually end as you make it through withdrawal. In the meantime, staying with a trusted loved one can be extremely helpful. Tell them what you’re going through and ask them to help you hold yourself accountable. It’s also important to distract yourself during this time. Take care of yourself and focus on things you enjoy, like watching a comforting movie. If distractions don’t help, consider journaling about the reasons why not returning to use is important to you.

The Dangers of Heroin Cravings

If your cravings pushed you to return to use, you’re not alone. This can be dangerous if your tolerance for heroin has lessened. If you return to your regular dose, you risk overdosing. A slow heart rate, slow or stopped breath, a blue tint to the lips and fingertips, and unresponsiveness accompany an overdose.

If you or someone you love is experiencing an overdose, get medical attention immediately. Naloxone can be used to reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and Heroin

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) refers to the symptoms people with heroin use disorder are likely to experience after their initial detox. These symptoms sometimes occur immediately after your initial detox. Othertimes, you may go weeks or even months without a PAWS episode. Like other withdrawal symptoms, these are a temporary part of your brain and body readjusting to its normal dopamine levels.

Common PAWS symptoms include:

• Cravings for heroin
• Difficulty focusing
• Memory problems
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety or depression
• Irritability or hostility
• Trouble with fine motor skills

PAWS episodes can come and go over time. The good news is that they typically lessen the longer you go without returning to heroin use.

A Timeline of Heroin Withdrawal

The timeline of heroin withdrawal is not an exact science. Your metabolism and standard dose could alter how you experience withdrawal. That being said, there is a general timeline for heroin withdrawal.

Mild to moderate symptoms usually begin between 6 and 12 hours after your last dose. They will ramp up over the next day or so. Severe withdrawal symptoms usually hit their peak between 48 and 72 hours after your last dose. Then, symptoms will begin to dissipate. Most of your acute withdrawal symptoms will end within 7 days of your last dose. 

Heroin Withdrawal Treatment in the Tampa Bay Area

The idea of going through heroin withdrawal might seem daunting, especially if you don’t have time to manage your symptoms. But beyond that week of withdrawal symptoms is a whole life free from heroin.

Heroin withdrawals are easier to manage with help. If you’re looking to stop taking heroin, treatment for heroin addiction will help. You can receive 24/7 support and medical monitoring at an inpatient treatment center.

Real Recovery Solutions is Florida’s largest sober living network, with countless alumni testimonials on the effectiveness of our treatments. Between our substance use disorder treatment facility in Tampa and various sober living homes across the Sun Coast, there’s a spot for you in the Real Recovery community. If you’re ready to make real progress in your recovery from heroin use disorder, we’re ready to see you all the way from inpatient care through a full year of sober living. Call us at 813-373-6762 to learn more about how we can help today. 

Real people. Real solutions. Real results.