How Long Does Opioid Withdrawal Last

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Duration of Opiod Withdrawal

Opioids are a class of drugs that slow down activity in your central nervous system and relieve pain. Many opioids are available by prescription to treat pain after an injury or surgery. Examples of prescription opioids include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and more.

While many opioids are available by prescription, they are still habit-forming and addictive when used long-term. There are also illegal opioids like heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), both of which are sold on the streets and continue to fuel the opioid epidemic.

Regardless of the type of opioid, overcoming opioid addiction is extremely challenging. One of the first hurdles people who suffer from opioid addiction face when they decide to get sober is detoxification and withdrawal. While not life-threatening, opioid withdrawal is extremely painful and difficult to get through. How long opioid withdrawal lasts and how severe symptoms become depends on how long you’ve been taking opioids, the type of opioid you’ve been taking, and other factors.

If you or a loved one are addicted to opioids and need support during withdrawal, our outpatient detox program in San Antonio is here to help.

What are the Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal?

When you abuse opioids long-term, your body will begin to rely on them to function properly. If you suddenly stop taking the opioid you are addicted to, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur because your brain is trying to adjust to the absence of opioids.

The common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:[2]

  • Muscle aches
  • Yawning
  • Teary eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Excessive sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Cravings for opioids
  • Diarrhea
  • Cramps in the abdomen
  • Goosebumps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Blurry vision
  • Rapid heart rate
  • High blood pressure

While there are many different types of opioids, they will all cause similar withdrawal symptoms because they affect your brain in the same manner. However, there are short-acting and long-acting opioids, which means your withdrawal symptoms may last longer depending on which opioid you are addicted to. For example, short-acting opioids like heroin and prescription painkillers such as oxycodone tend to produce more intense but shorter-lived withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can begin within hours of the last dose and peak after a day or two, gradually improving over the course of a week.

On the other hand, long-acting opioids like methadone and extended-release prescription pain medications, such as OxyContin, result in withdrawal symptoms that may take longer to develop but can persist for an extended period. These symptoms can start within a day or two of the last dose and peak later, sometimes lasting for several weeks or even months.

The Opioid Withdrawal Timeline

While opioid withdrawal symptoms might last longer for some people, the timeline tends to be similar more often than not. If you were abusing a short-acting opioid like heroin, your symptoms might appear more quickly than someone who was taking a long-acting one like methadone. However, most people’s withdrawal symptoms subside after a week of detox.

The opioid withdrawal timeline is as follows:

8 to 24 Hours

If you were abusing a short-acting opioid, your withdrawal symptoms would begin 8 to 12 hours after your last dose. Long-acting opioids might cause your withdrawal symptoms to be delayed until 24 hours after you last consumed them.

During the early stages of withdrawal, your symptoms will be mild and usually include:

  • Anxiety
  • Cravings for opioids
  • Frustration or irritability
  • Slight physical symptoms like a runny nose or body aches

While these symptoms are mild, it is best to begin treatment for opioid addiction.

1 to 3 Days

Between 24 hours to 3 days after your last dose of opioids, your symptoms will peak. In other words, they will be at their most severe. If you are addicted to a short-acting opioid, peak symptoms will begin within 24 hours, while long-acting opioids can take up to 3 days.

The peak symptoms of opioid withdrawal may include:

  • Mood changes
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Intense drug cravings
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Feeling hot and cold at the same time
  • Excessive sweating
  • Flu-like symptoms

Because of the severity of these symptoms, you must be receiving treatment in a medical detox center. These programs can provide you with FDA-approved tapering medications to ensure your withdrawal symptoms stay mild and you remain medically stable.

1 Week or More

Most people’s withdrawal symptoms begin to subside 1 week after their last dose. However, individuals who were addicted to a long-acting opioid could experience mild symptoms for up to 14 days. Thankfully, opioid detox programs can provide you with medications like Suboxone to ensure that your symptoms are manageable, keeping you focused on recovery and preventing you from relapsing.

During the late stages of opioid withdrawal, you might experience psychological symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, or depression. You could feel irritable and restless as well. However, these symptoms can be managed easily within an opioid detox program.

Once your withdrawal symptoms subside, you will be able to transition into an inpatient or outpatient rehab program that can provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve long-term sobriety.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Opioid Detox Center

If you or a loved one suffers from opioid addiction, it’s time to seek help. When you are addicted to opioids, one of the most difficult parts of recovery is withdrawal. Thankfully, opioid detox programs can provide you with the medications, treatments, and support necessary to overcome withdrawal safely and comfortably.

At Flourishing Foundations Recovery, We are an outpatient detox center in San Antonio. What makes us unique is that we are able to provide a medical detox from drugs and alcohol in a safe, comfortable, and effective manner on an outpatient basis. We offer an intimate setting with a low staff-to-client ratio, providing each individual the privacy and personalized care they deserve.

To learn more about our opioid detox center in San Antonio, contact us today.

References:

  1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic, Retrieved October 2023 From https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/understanding-the-opioid-overdose-epidemic.html
  2. Medline Plus: Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal, Retrieved October 2023 From https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm