Heroin Withdrawal Treatment

There are many different heroin detoxification options to rid one’s body of the substance. These treatment options include medical detox (rapid detox), ultra rapid detox, methadone, buprenorphine(Suboxone), and naltrexone. These physical treatments for addiction are highly encouraged to be followed by psychological treatments such as behavioral therapies and support groups. To choose how to detox from heroin is based on each individual; no one form of treatment will work for everyone. Some people choose only physical detoxification, while others choose only therapy and group sessions, or do both. However, it has been statistically shown that in general, the greatest success comes from combining methadone or Suboxone detox with behavioral therapies and participation in support groups.

The most common form of heroin addiction treatment is medical detox, also known as rapid detox. In this type of program, an individual will be under medical supervision and use medications to minimize the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Here, there will be 24 hour observation and supervision to ensure comfort and safety. Usually, medical detoxification programs will use Suboxone or methadone to ease the transition away from the initial opiate addiction.

An option similar to medical detox is ultra rapid detox. This can be extremely dangerous, but very accommodating to one’s life plans. The idea is that the opioid addict is placed under anesthesia and given medication to speed up the withdrawal process. They wake up and recuperate for a few days, and then head back to their regular lives now that the worst is over. However, people have died because of the physical toll ultra rapid detox takes on one’s body. It is far more expensive, both in monetary value and one’s life, than the safe and more common medical detox.

To explore a different perspective of heroin addiction treatment, methadone has been proven to be the best way to keep people free from opiate relapse. Instead of subjecting oneself to the exhausting and uncomfortable effects of opioid withdrawal, methadone is a legal opiate that allows a person to function normally in society. By taking methadone, one would be using a form of opiate substitution therapy. Because taking large doses of methadone can lead to intoxication, individuals who choose to use methadone must travel to a methadone clinic everyday for their supervised dosage. Methadone helps to avoid drug cravings, and people who use methadone must participate in therapy because this will help them decide if they want to stay on the drug indefinitely, or if they would like to gradually reduce their dosage until they are able to quit completely. However, quitting methadone is described as having a worse withdrawal period than heroin. Many users will decide to transition to buprenorphine, orSuboxone.

Suboxone functions similarly to methadone, as it also deters drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms.Suboxone contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine causes the brain to react as it would to opiates, but naloxone stops the euphoric high feelings that make opiates attractive, thus making abuse of Suboxone unattractive. It is arguable that Suboxone does not work as well as methadone in blocking the withdrawal and cravings, but Suboxone does allow much more freedom as far as having a prescription and not needing to be under medical supervision for each dose.

Naltrexone is another option. This drug binds to the opiate receptors in the brain and blocks all activity in that area. This is used to discourage people from using heroin after they receive their preferred form of detox, as it does not block any withdrawal symptoms or drug cravings. However, if the drug addictwishes to continue their use of heroin, they can simply stop taking Naltrexone.

A heroin addiction is one of the hardest addictions to treat. Withdrawal symptoms will begin to show within around 12 hours of the last dose. These symptoms will reach a peak of intensity after about 2 or 3 days and last for over a week. Signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal include symptoms similar to the flu – runny nose, watery eyes, goose bumps, chills, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shaking, and profuse sweating. There will be other symptoms as well, including dilated pupils, panic, tremors, irritability, and jitters. Although the symptoms of opioid withdrawal are rarely dangerous, the detox period an individual will have to go through during a heroin addiction is extremely hard to do alone. It is important that a heroin addict finds the treatment program that fits their needs so that they can receive the medical attention they need.