Heroin Withdrawal: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: How to treat heroin withdrawal symptoms?

(Posted by: YOU MAKE ME _______ on 2008-11-17 20:44:56)

I have a very close friend who has been doing heroin (not sure how long) and he is trying to get off it. Pretty sure he has been clean for the last 2 weeks. It is very hard for him, but he is staying at my apartment for a while, so he has a lot of support from my room mate and me. I think he is beginning to have withdrawal because he is very cold and has vomited a couple of times today. His doctor and therapist told us this would happen, but I don't like to see him feeling like this. He is doing well as far as staying away from drugs, especially opiates. But I want to know how I can make the withdrawal less painful, because it seems to be hurting him a lot. Any ideas? And will it get any worse???

Posted by: mtwaites on 2008-11-17, 20:49:54

It is possible that it will turn a lot worse before it gets better. Sometimes it is the enzyme receptors in the brain that needs to get used to not having heroin anymore. I would also try to get him into a support group that will allow him to see other people that are going through the same thing as him, and they will be able to support each other as well.

Posted by: out of the game on 2008-11-17, 20:50:35

Get him to his doctor. withdrawal from heroin is not only mental it is a very physical withdrawal and could lead to death or try methadone

Posted by: Anyadlia on 2008-11-17, 21:11:47

Look into suboxone he'll need a prescription though.

Posted by: ? on 2008-11-18, 10:40:14

After a couple weeks you are actually past the vomiting and diarreah part of it. Unfortunately as soon as you start feeling better, your body tells you it's time to get high. If you resist, it's like a crazy voice in your head, complaining and complaining... I don't feel good, I'm sad, I can still hang out with my friends, I want to play, I been good, please please please can we get high just ONE time So by 2 weeks your tolerance is down and you say "well I could just get a LITTLE bit and be ok " so you go to your guy and get the same amount you always do because you have money now. THEN you go home and get so super wasted that... You throw up, turn pale, shiver, nod out, withdraw, and then remember how F**kin awesome it is and so you start thinking about when and how you can get some next time. You can treat the withdrawal symptoms with maintenace, and that's getting high and not withdrawing. It's prefreble to the alternative. You can quit H but it never quits you. You think about getting high every single day.