How Long Does It Take To Recover From Opioid Addiction?

How Long Does It Take?

Anyone that has been addicted to drugs will know that withdrawing from that addiction is a different process for everyone. Whilst the symptoms are similar and the stories sound the same, each person’s recovery journey is different; it’s a very personal experience and how long it takes to recover from opioid addiction is not set in stone.

There is no set answer as to how long it takes to withdraw from opioid addiction. The withdrawal timeline is dependent on different factors. Where one person’s withdrawal symptoms will last a few days to a week, another person’s symptoms may last for a month. In some rare cases, the timeline could be a lot longer.

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Factors That Contribute To The Opioid Withdrawal Timeline

The symptoms of opiate withdrawal can range from mild to severe, depending on how addicted to the drug the user is. A person’s dependency can be linked directly to a number of factors:

How long the drug user has been taking the opiate.

The level of the dose. Which particular opiate was being taken.

How the opiate was being taken.

Any underlying medical conditions and/or any mental health issues.

Some environmental and biological factors, i.e. any family history of addiction.

Any previous trauma experienced and/or unsupportive, stressful surroundings or lifestyle. The age of the person. The older person may suffer withdrawal symptoms that are more severe and this could be down to their organs health and immune system.

Learn More About Opiate Detox

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Opioid Addiction Treatment Options

Like other chronic diseases, addiction takes ongoing care and attention to prevent relapse.

Individuals who go through and complete at least a 30-day addiction treatment program have a higher success rate in achieving long term recovery. Those who leave a treatment program with a comprehensive aftercare plan, such as sober living, outpatient program, or AA will transition to long-term recovery more successfully.

Opioid Detox

Opioid Rehab

Can You Quit Opioids Cold Turkey?

Suddenly stopping opioid or heroin use is not recommended. It can cause an onset of very severe withdrawal symptoms. Those who do try to taper off of these types of drugs seldomly succeed. Relapsing during withdrawal is one of the causes of overdose. If is important to experience withdrawal in a medically assisted detox where it is safe.

Opioid And Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioid Symptoms

At first, the symptoms when withdrawing from opiates are fairly mild. These include:

Watery eyes
Runny nose
Sleeplessness
Restlessness

However, these symptoms may get worsen after a couple days and could include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Blurred vision
Rapid heartbeat

As with any addictive substance, the longer one has been using and the larger the amount used, the more dependent the body becomes on the substance. In severe cases, withdrawal from opiates can include extreme sweating and anxiety.

Heroin Symptoms

Cravings for heroin are much stronger when withdrawing from the drug. This is often why it’s so hard for addicts to get out of the using cycle. Withdrawal can be extremely unpleasant and may include:

Depression, anxiety and irritability
Aches and pains
Excessive sweating, tears and runny nose
Diarrhea and stomach pain
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Restlessness

Medications For Opiate Withdrawal

In a medically assisted detox, there are a few medications that are used to help the individual withdrawal symptoms become less severe and more tolerable. Some of these medications could include:

Methadone

These can promote the relief of stress and anxiety, and also allow the individual to sleep.

Buprenorphine

The most common type of buprenorphine used is Suboxone. This contains naloxone which prevents attempts of abuse.

Benzodiazepines

Sedatives to dull senses, create a sense of calmness and allows them to sleep.

Clonidine

This is also a type of sedative that reduces the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms.

Other Options For Detox

Entering into an opiate detox program is a big step for opiate addicts. Here are a few tips to help ensure the program is successful. Although it will feel like life is ending, it’s not. A detox program is the start of a new life. If possible, enter a detox program at an inpatient medical facility or a qualified treatment/recovery center. Here are a few tips to help:

Get a sleep aid from a qualified medical practitioner, if needed.
Talk to family and friends about wanting to stop using opiates; they can be your greatest support.
Before starting a detox program, arrange treatment to take place once detox is finished.
Go straight to ongoing treatment following detox.

When a person wants to cease an addiction to opioid medications, such as Oxycontin or Vicodin, it is vitally important to know what the options are in order to help them come off the medication for good. The transition period is understandably the most traumatic. Many patients might benefit from becoming an in-patient at a detox or rehabilitation center that is fully equipped and experienced in dealing with opioid detoxification. Checking into a facility such as this is very beneficial because it will remove environmental stresses that might motivate the patient to seek out illegal supplies of the drug and relapse or form other addictions as a substitute.

Naturally, there are a variety of medications available on prescription that can help a patient withdraw more comfortably from an opiate such as Oxycontin, making it more tolerable. In some instances, medical professionals may prescribe doses of methadone – a heroin substitute – or buprenorphine to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Clinically, it might be more successful for an individual to go through the withdrawal slowly with reduced doses rather than being forced into a ‘cold turkey’ situation. Further, it might be prudent to offer the patient psychiatric medication to treat depression or anxiety – a common side effect of opiate abuse and withdrawal.

For example, Clonidine is one of the more commonly prescribed medicines that can ease the patients’ psychological discomfort during Oxycontin withdrawal. These medications are useful because they help alleviate some of the more unpleasant symptoms like sweating, cold- or flu-like symptoms such as: muscle cramps and aches, agitation, and anxiety. Naloxone has not been recommended as a primary treatment for Oxycontin or other opioid withdrawal, but medical researchers are investigating the possibility that it might eventually be viable. The way this medication works is to bind the opioid receptors in the brain faster than the opioid medications themselves do. This drug is currently being used by paramedics in several states throughout America to halt overdose symptoms long enough for the user to be taken to the hospital.
In trials, Naloxone has been shown to leave the body faster than opioid drugs, so overdose symptoms aren’t eradicated, just temporarily stopped. Medical research is currently being conducted on how Naloxone could be used in association with withdrawal or addiction treatment, but so far, no guidelines have been approved.

Opioid Rehab Services

Detoxing from opioids or heroin is the first step toward recovery. However, the evidence is clear that the longer a person distances themselves from their last use of opioids or heroin, the greater chance of recovery. At Peaks Recovery Centers, the next step in our recovery process is transitioning into our residential inpatient rehab.