Heroin is a highly addictive drug that takes many forms. Heroin may look like a white powder or an amber-colored liquid. It can be injected, snorted, smoked, or swallowed. Heroin is pervasive in the United States, and the first step to recovering from heroin addiction is heroin detox and withdrawal. A heroin detox center can provide the necessary care and support to detox successfully and continue on the course of addiction recovery.
Fort Behavioral Health in Fort Worth, Texas, offers one of the country’s leading detox and heroin addiction treatment programs. For more information about our heroin detox center and how it can help you or someone you care about, call 844.332.1807 or fill out our online contact form.
What Is Heroin Withdrawal?
Heroin withdrawal is the body’s response to removing heroin from its blood supply. As long as heroin is in the blood system, withdrawal symptoms will continue.
Common symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating and chills
- Muscle pains and cramps
- Depression
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Insomnia
Symptoms are most intense during the first phase of withdrawal and usually lessen with time until they are gone entirely. These typically last eighteen to thirty-six hours. However, there may be some residual effects from withdrawal for up to several weeks afterward.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms are usually treated with anti-nausea medication and fluids. These medications can make heroin withdrawal feel more bearable. In addition, depending on age and health, withdrawal treatment may include prescription anti-nausea medications called benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax. Benzodiazepines can make the process of withdrawing more comfortable so that the body isn’t fighting against them as it would with a natural painkiller like morphine.
Heroin detoxification can be dangerous. It is possible to enter a state of shock or complete withdrawal when attempting heroin detox without being adequately supervised by a health care professional. In addition, if prescription medications are used to control withdrawal symptoms, and without proper supervision, there is a risk of becoming addicted to a natural painkiller again very quickly and negatively affecting your health for years to come.
During the period of detoxification, your body undergoes a process that helps clear out any remaining toxins from your system and make room for new ones. With the proper professional support, this process can be relatively painless.
What to Do When You Recognize the Symptoms of Heroin Detox
Heroin withdrawal occurs when someone ceases to use heroin. It refers to an acute response to the abrupt cessation of a drug. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal are often more severe than those experienced during alcohol or cocaine addiction. Without adequate rehab support, this withdrawal may prove fatal.
Those recovering from long-term heroin addiction may have more intense withdrawal symptoms that also include respiratory depression, euphoria, anxiety, paranoia, and extreme depression.
The first thing you should do if you notice symptoms of heroin withdrawal is call for medical help. Depending on your detoxification stage, a doctor will note the condition and help treat it accordingly. If vital signs indicate you might be heading towards an overdose, call an ambulance immediately. Heroin withdrawal can cause serious health problems if not treated properly, so contact our professionals at Fort Behavioral Health for help.
Overcome Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal at Fort Behavioral Health
Heroin detox doesn’t have to be painful or scary. It is the first and most necessary step in heroin addiction recovery, and with the proper support can be done safely. At Fort Behavioral Health, our team of experienced professionals regularly supports people experiencing heroin withdrawal in the most compassionate manner possible. In addition, our addiction treatment programs are uniquely structured to facilitate a smooth transition from detox to recovery. Contact our Fort Behavioral Health team today by calling 844.332.1807 or completing our online form.
