Heroin detox

Heroin addiction can take a heavy toll on every part of you. Long-term heroin use can collapse veins, cause major infections in the heart and blood, severely damage your liver and kidneys, and even stop your breathing completely.

It also leads to malnutrition, sleep problems, anxiety, depression and a higher risk of self-harm or overdose. Life often becomes consumed by chasing heroin, leaving your relationships, work and family life in ruins. You can also get in serious legal trouble for heroin possession or supply, and many people with completely clean criminal records end up involved in crime or in prison after becoming addicted to heroin.

Many people assume detox is only for those at rock bottom, but the truth is that anyone struggling with heroin use can benefit from professional support. Heroin can be unpredictable and is often now mixed with fentanyl and other dangerous substances, so any time you take heroin, you are risking your life.

It can be genuinely hard to recognise or admit that you are addicted to heroin. Even if you don’t think you have reached that point, heroin detox can help you make a change before it’s too late.

Predicting the heroin detox timeline exactly is not possible because factors like your health, how much you have been using and just how your body responds can all affect it. 

However, we usually see heroin withdrawal symptoms and cravings beginning within 6 to 12 hours. You have probably experienced these when you have missed a dose or tried to quit before, and they are your body’s way of saying it wants heroin back. 

The hardest stretch is normally around days two and three. This is when the flu-like symptoms hit hard, with shivers, goosebumps, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea, mixed with bone-deep aches and an inability to sleep. Heroin cravings can be relentless here, and it is when professional support is so important. 

There are various medications for heroin detox that our doctors can use to keep you safe during withdrawal and lower your risk of relapse once detox is over. In many cases, you will begin opioid replacement therapy with methadone or buprenorphine. They are like steady, longer-acting versions of heroin that stop the rollercoaster of highs and crashes.

Methadone sits on the same brain receptors as heroin and prevents withdrawal without the rapid “rush.” Doctors start you on a safe dose and taper it down over days, or keep you on it longer if maintenance is the safer plan.

Buprenorphine also blocks withdrawal and dampens cravings. Because it binds very strongly to the opioid receptor, however, you must usually be in mild–moderate withdrawal before the first dose because starting too soon can trigger worse symptoms.

You may also receive medicine for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, mild painkillers for muscle and bone aches, and sleep or anxiety medication on a short-term basis.

After you’re fully detoxed and opioid-free for a period, your doctor may prescribe you naltrexone. This blocks opioid effects, so if you do slip up once, you won’t feel a high. Naltrexone doesn’t stop cravings by itself, so it works best alongside the therapy and ongoing support that UKAT provides.

Crucially, you need to tell your doctors about every substance you have been using. Some drugs and even alcohol can have dangerous interactions with heroin detox medication, so be completely honest. There is no judgement, and it will keep you safe.

Heroin detox can feel terrifying, especially with all the myths you may have heard. But the reality is very different when you have the right care and people who truly understand what you’re going through. At UKAT, we have seen people arrive feeling hopeless and leave with their lives back in their hands. If you’re ready to change your story, reach out today, and we’ll make sure you’re supported every step of the way.