Stages of Heroin Withdrawal

There are few drugs more misunderstood than heroin. We can largely thank the shock-and-awe tactics of movies and television for that.

While most of the pop culture portrayals of drug addiction make for good popcorn entertainment, they don’t make for accurate representations of what heroin withdrawal actually looks like. We’re here to rectify that.

In reality, heroin use is an ongoing problem and has risen drastically over the years. From 2014-2015, heroin overdose death rates increased over 20%. Heroin-related overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010. If you are experiencing heroin addiction, you might wonder if you’ll ever recover from it. It won’t be easy, but the stages of heroin withdrawal are pretty straight forward. If you can get through this, you can get through anything.

Stages of Heroin Withdrawal
Stages of Heroin Withdrawal

Day 1-2

The first couple days are the worst. 12 hours after your last dose, you may experience aches, discomfort, and body pain. You could also experience diarrhea, loss of appetite, insomnia, panic attacks and anxiety. You are likely to be in a lot of withdrawal pain, feeling sick and uncomfortable. Just remember that this pain doesn’t last forever, and if you stick with it you are one step closer to recovery.

Day 3-5

The discomfort gets better, but you still might experience aches and pains. You might also experience shivers, cramping, and vomiting. It’s important to eat healthy during this time, so you can build your immune system response.

Day 6+

You did it!! You are SO close to completing your detox. You still might experience nausea, anxiety, trouble eating and sleeping, but the symptoms should be a lot better. Detox lasts differently for each person depending on how severe the addiction is. It’s best to have doctor appointments scheduled and attend meetings when you are feeling comfortable in doing so. You should also plan an after care treatment, where it could be a sober living, rehab or a residential program.

If you are struggling with addiction and you’re feeling helpless about getting better, call us at 855-737-7363. We can help you get your foot in the door to recovery. We have both detox and residential programs and accept most insurances.

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