Heroin is a highly addictive substance. If it hooked you, you’re probably no longer using it for the high, which becomes increasingly elusive. Instead, you’re trying to keep symptoms of heroin withdrawal at bay.
At Promises Behavioral Health, our heroin addiction treatment centers provide support during detox and beyond. Our team of compassionate clinicians will work with you to address your unique symptoms and help you get on the road to recovery. Call 844.875.5609 to speak with someone from our experienced and knowledgeable staff about opioid addiction treatment that includes reducing symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
Signs of Heroin Withdrawal
How soon you feel the symptoms of heroin withdrawal depends on your heroin abuse history and overall health.
Eight to 12 Hours After the Last Dose
As the last dose wears off, the first symptoms begin to arise. You may experience the following:
- A runny nose
- An intense urge to yawn
- Slight nausea
From there, the discomfort progresses. Addiction rehab specialists routinely work with people struggling with heroin addiction who dread the next stage of withdrawal.
24 to 72 Hours After the Last Dose
Signs of heroin withdrawal that occur 24 to 72 hours after the last dose include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive sweating
- Goosebumps on the skin
- Hypertension
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- Tearing eyes
During this period, gastrointestinal upset is common. Your hands shake, you can’t rest, and you seem unable to concentrate on what’s going on. You’d love to sleep, but you can’t. Your bones hurt. This is the most challenging part of the withdrawal. By day four, the worst of the physical heroin withdrawal symptoms subside. You no longer have the pains. However, you now struggle with the psychological aspects of quitting the drug.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Starts with Medical Detox
You’ll most likely experience symptoms of heroin withdrawal if you try to self-detox. Typically, it leads to almost instant relapse. Therefore, consider the benefits of medical detox.
For starters, medications exist that take away the discomfort and pain. You might still experience some discomfort. However, it won’t be as bad as what you deal with on your own. Besides that, there are prescriptions to help curb the cravings, such as:
- Buprenorphine – This is a partial agonist. It prevents symptoms of withdrawal and eases cravings.
- Naltrexone – An opioid antagonist, this drug works by preventing the effects of opioids in the brain.
Medical detox allows you to start therapy that could last long after you leave a medical detox center.
The Basics of Heroin Addiction Treatment
After going through the detox process and being physically stabilized, you will most likely be offered addiction therapy to treat the psychological symptoms of heroin withdrawal. These symptoms include anxiety, depression, mood swings, panic attacks, paranoia, and psychosis.
However, seasoned and trained therapists can customize a care protocol for you. Possible methods include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – This therapy can empower you to deal with dysfunctional connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – This therapy provides tools for gaining control over emotions that typically run rampant.
- Dual diagnosis treatment – This specific treatment is required when addiction has co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Group therapy – This therapeutic approach focuses your attention on problem-solving, peer accountability, and social skills development.
Some therapists may also use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to address the whole person in treatment. An example of CAM is meditation, a practice that can help you intentionally deal with stressors and triggers.
Learn More About Heroin Addiction Treatment at Promises Behavioral Health
With the help of medical drug detox, you can overcome the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. After taking that first step, you can go further along your addiction recovery path with a comprehensive and customized heroin addiction treatment plan. At Promises Behavioral Health, our staff’s caring and compassionate therapists routinely work with people like you. Call 844.875.5609 to find out how you can start treatment as soon as possible.