It wouldn’t be a stretch to declare heroin to be one of the most dangerous illegal drugs on the planet. The drug brings with it some harmful side effects as well as severe withdrawal symptoms. Before deciding to suddenly stop using heroin, it would be worthwhile to understand the possible heroin withdrawal timeline. This kind of information could play a big part in helping you decide how to approach quitting.
About the Heroin Withdrawal Timeline
The heroin withdrawal timeline varies from one person to the next. The time it takes a person to get through the process will usually depend on specific attributes of the heroin addiction. The primary considerations include the length and depth of the addiction as well as dosage. There is, however, a general guideline.
Heroin is highly addictive. It’s entirely possible for a user to develop an addiction within weeks of starting regular abuse. Once addiction sets in, withdrawal symptoms become a distinct probability.
The first phase of withdrawal will usually start 6-12 hours after the user’s last dose. During this time, the user might experience symptoms like restlessness, excessive sweating, muscle aches and mood swings. From the 13th hour through the next two days, the storm could be coming.
The withdrawal symptoms of heroin detox one can experience in the first couple of days of abstinence can be severe. They include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors and convulsions
- Significant sleeping issues
- Severe stomach and muscle cramping
- Rapid heartbeat and slowed breathing
- Hallucinations
- Severe anxiety and depression
One by one, these symptoms will begin to diminish. By the end of the first week, the individual should start feeling better. However, it’s worth noting that some withdrawal symptoms may reappear over the next few weeks. It’s because of this potential withdrawal process that doctors usually prescribe a reputable detox program.
About Heroin Detox
The possible severity of heroin withdrawal is great motivation for the user to seek help. The best support for getting through the heroin withdrawal timeline is a medication assisted treatment plan.
Under a doctor’s care, heroin addiction patients get the opportunity to go through the withdrawal process with a minimum of pain and discomfort. If there’s any sign of trouble, the doctor can prescribe certain relief medications. Of course, they must take great care to prescribe medications that won’t interfere with the heroin detox process.
For most people, the heroin detox process will take 5-7 days. For severe addictions, doctors may slow the process down by prescribing “tapering” medications. If this is the case, the detox process could take weeks. No matter what, the goal is the same. That is to remove residual cravings and toxins from the patient’s body. Then, they can adequately focus on therapy and addiction counseling.
Getting Help at Serenity House Detox & Recovery
As a premier detox treatment provider in South Florida, Serenity House Detox & Recovery puts forth top treatment services. The secret to our success lies in our charter to develop customer detox treatment programs for all our customers. Our medical staff makes decisions depending on each patient’s addiction. Our substances programs include:
- Heroin and prescription drugs
- Synthetic and designer drugs like meth and LSD
- Cocaine and crack addiction detox program
- Alcohol detox
- Amphetamine and barbiturates
- Other prescription medications
At the conclusion of detox, we are happy to provide referrals to some of South Florida’s premier treatment facilities.
If you have an addiction to heroin, you need to be aware of your potential heroin withdrawal timeline. For sure, you need assistance getting safely through the withdrawal process. That’s when enlisting the heroin detox services at Serenity House Detox & Recovery makes the most sense. For the best care possible, you should contact us at 866-294-5306. The level of care you receive will play a large part in your ability to stay clean.