What Are Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?

Heroin is a dangerous substance responsible for thousands of deaths annually nationwide. In 2021, 5,168 Pennsylvanians died from an overdose, which is the state’s number one public health and safety concern. If you know someone who is abusing heroin, you should be familiar with the common withdrawal symptoms that are associated with heroin addiction. Heroin withdrawals can be painful and have intense cravings that are impossible to resist without professional support.

At Arkview Recovery, our mission is to help Pennsylvania residents struggling with heroin addiction and ready to make life-saving changes. We offer inpatient and outpatient medical detox and behavioral and holistic therapies to create a whole-person recovery experience promoting a healthy and sober lifestyle. Each program is tailored to the individual and will include group and private therapy sessions in an intimate and comfortable setting. For more information about our heroin addiction treatment programs, call 717.744.0756 today to speak with one of our dedicated team members.

Understanding Withdrawal Symptoms

Abusing drugs and alcohol creates physical changes to your body and mind that cause it to require a steady supply of the substance of choice to continue to function normally. The chemicals in drugs and alcohol attach themselves to cell receptors that signal a massive release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters and give you that intoxicated effect. With continued use, your body stops producing these necessary neurotransmitters, and you will begin to go into withdrawals until you take more or give your body time to detox.

Common withdrawal symptoms include headaches, nausea and vomiting, confusion, body aches, and fatigue. Withdrawal symptoms generally begin 12 to 16 hours after your last use and can last anywhere from 3 days to several weeks, depending on the length of abuse and type of substance. With continual abuse, the body develops physical dependence, psychological symptoms, and cravings, making quitting extremely difficult.

At Arkview Recovery, we are familiar with all signs of heroin withdrawal and addiction and offer several effective treatment programs to stop the abuse safely. We can help you recognize common withdrawal symptoms and determine which programs will benefit you or a loved one the most.

Common Heroin Withdrawal Signs

Recognizing the signs of heroin withdrawal is necessary as people continue to abuse this deadly drug despite the common knowledge of its effects. The length and severity of withdrawal symptoms will depend on multiple factors. Some long-term heroin addiction withdrawal symptoms, like depression, anxiety, and cravings, can last several months or longer. Here are some of the common heroin withdrawal signs:

Short-Term Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 8-12 hours from your last dose of heroin. Early withdrawal symptoms will include insomnia, headaches, dilated pupils, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle spasms. Other symptoms that can appear at this time include:

• High blood pressure
• Fast heart rate
• High body temperatures
• Depression
• Excessive sweating
• Increasingly intense cravings

Withdrawal symptoms generally peak between 48 to 72 hours and can last several days. Those who try to detox alone are more likely to relapse and overdose if they don’t consider their lowered tolerance.

Long-Term Withdrawal Symptoms

After 7-10 days, symptoms will begin to dissipate slowly as your body continues to recover. Patients will experience several psychological withdrawal symptoms that can linger for several weeks to months. Long-term heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• A lack of interest
• Trouble focusing
• Continuing cravings for heroin

The best way to get through heroin withdrawal symptoms is by enrolling in a heroin treatment program offering medical detox and behavioral therapy sessions. Those who complete the program are more likely to avoid relapsing and develop healthy life skills that support sober living.

Find Help with Heroin Addiction Treatment at Arkview Recovery

At Arkview Recovery, we support men and women who are struggling with heroin addiction and need help stopping the abuse once and for all. We are a full-service addiction treatment facility that offers a wide range of treatment programs to see you through every step of the recovery process. Our addiction treatment programs include:

• Medical detox
• Residential treatment programs
• Partial hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Separate men’s and women’s rehab
• Dual-diagnosis treatment programs

If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, call 717.744.0756 today or fill out our online form for more information about our heroin addiction treatment programs.