Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly StagePeak StageLate StageTypes of OpioidsRisks of Opioid UseTreatmentContacing a Medical Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Early Stage

Peak Stage

Late Stage

Types of Opioids

Risks of Opioid Use

Treatment

Contacing a Medical Provider

Opioids (formerly called “narcotics”) are a class of drugs used to treat moderate to severe pain.However, opioids are highly addictive drugs that can cause painful and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

The withdrawal timeline ranges from days to weeks after discontinuing use. Examples of physical withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and more, and can deter some people from seeking help for substance use disorder. The symptoms can become so unbearable that some start using opioids again to get relief from these symptoms.

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how long does opioid withdrawal last - healthcare provider holding the hand of an unrecognizable patient.

Assistance HelplineIf you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

Assistance Helpline

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

Early Stage: Stopping Opioids and Cravings

Each person’s opioid withdrawal timeline, including the start ofsymptoms, can differ from others' based on the type and dose. Withdrawal from short-acting opioids (such as heroin) can begin between eight and 24 hours after the last use and can last between four and 10 days.

One of the first signs of opioid withdrawal is drug craving. Other initial symptoms are:

Peak Stage: Intense Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawalsymptoms typically worsen after onset and peak around 24 to 48 hours after they begin.Worsening symptoms include your initial symptoms and new ones, such as:

Late Stage: Gradually Improving Symptoms

After approximately 10 days, most of the more intense withdrawal symptoms will resolve. However, weeks or months of long-term withdrawal symptoms may affect some people. These lower-intensity symptoms include:

Opioids are compounds that act on the brain’s opioid receptors.There are both synthetic and plant-derived versions.

Opioid-based medicationsinclude the generic drugs:

Of the above medications, healthcare providers prescribe various brands of methadone and buprenorphine to help treat opioid use disorder during withdrawal.

Heroin is also a type of opioid. It is an illegal drug used recreationally. Illegally manufactured fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are also used recreationally and are responsible for overdoses.

Naloxone(with the brand name Narcan) is another substance that is technically classified as an opioid, but it works in the opposite way as other opioids. It is used as an emergency reversal treatment for opioid overdose.

Risks of opioid use include breathing difficulty, overdose, and death.Opioids can also cause tolerance (stronger doses are required to affect pain) and hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain).

People who are dependent on opioids are at an increased risk of intense withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, and suicide if they suddenly stop using opioids.

What’s Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Like?

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Contact a healthcare provider if you are using opioids, getting ready to come off them, or are actively in withdrawal. Withdrawal on your own can be challenging and even dangerous, so you may benefit from medically supervised withdrawal, in which drugs are used to lessen symptoms.

The risk of opioid overdose is greatest after withdrawal when a person is craving opioids yet more sensitive to them and unable to handle their previous dosages. Seek help from a healthcare provider for supervision and support if you struggle during maintenance.

Summary

Opioid withdrawal can be different from person to person, but there are some common characteristics. It typically feels like a very bad flu, with symptoms ranging from sweating and muscle aches to diarrhea and vomiting. Withdrawal symptoms start within a few hours of withdrawal from short-acting opioids (like heroin or oxycodone) and a few days from long-acting opioids. Symptoms peak around 24 to 48 hours after they start and end within four to 10 days, although some people may experience ongoing symptoms like fatigue for months afterward.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioids.National Cancer Institute.Narcotics.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Opioid withdrawal management in the acute care setting: quick treatment tips.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.Schuckit MA.Treatment of opioid-use disorders. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(4):357-368. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1604339U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering.World Health Organization.Opioid overdose.Alcohol and Drug Foundation.What are opioids?GOV.UK.Opioids: risk of dependence and addiction.MedlinePlus.Opiate and opioid withdrawal.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioids.National Cancer Institute.Narcotics.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Opioid withdrawal management in the acute care setting: quick treatment tips.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.Schuckit MA.Treatment of opioid-use disorders. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(4):357-368. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1604339U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering.World Health Organization.Opioid overdose.Alcohol and Drug Foundation.What are opioids?GOV.UK.Opioids: risk of dependence and addiction.MedlinePlus.Opiate and opioid withdrawal.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioids.National Cancer Institute.Narcotics.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Opioid withdrawal management in the acute care setting: quick treatment tips.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.Schuckit MA.Treatment of opioid-use disorders. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(4):357-368. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1604339U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering.World Health Organization.Opioid overdose.Alcohol and Drug Foundation.What are opioids?GOV.UK.Opioids: risk of dependence and addiction.MedlinePlus.Opiate and opioid withdrawal.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioids.

National Cancer Institute.Narcotics.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Opioid withdrawal management in the acute care setting: quick treatment tips.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults.

Schuckit MA.Treatment of opioid-use disorders. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2016;375(4):357-368. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1604339

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering.

World Health Organization.Opioid overdose.

Alcohol and Drug Foundation.What are opioids?

GOV.UK.Opioids: risk of dependence and addiction.

MedlinePlus.Opiate and opioid withdrawal.

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