When someone with opioid addiction tries to quit, they often experience harsh withdrawal symptoms. Usually, these withdrawals cause so much pain that people resume using opioids to ease the symptoms. For most people, it is impossible to stop abusing opioids without the help of an addiction doctor.
In This Article
How Long Do Withdrawals Last?
While withdrawal symptoms are very unpleasant and painful, they usually begin to improve within seventy-two hours.
Within a week, there should be a significant decrease in the acute symptoms.
Longer-term symptoms are usually more behavioral and emotional, though there can be mild physical symptoms (such as withdrawal insomnia) that may take several weeks to resolve.
Opioid Withdrawal Timeline
Generally:
- Symptoms start sometime between 8 and 24 hours after you last use the drugs.
- You feel worst between 48 and 72 hours (2-3 days) after your last use.
- Symptoms stop sometime between 4 to 10 days after you last used.
As you might suspect, timing depends on the individual and factors such as:
- Length of time using the substance
- The substance itself (ie. the new drug ISO detox vs. heroin detox vs. prescription painkiller detox like oxycodone or hydrocodone)
- Method of abuse (ie. snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing)
- Amount taken each time
- Family history of addiction and genetic makeup
- Medical and mental health history
Withdrawal Symptoms Lasting Longer Than 10 Days
What Are the Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal?
Initial Phase Withdrawal Symptoms
Most people start to feel these symptoms after not using opioids for around eight hours.
- Muscle aches
- Excessive sweating
- Lethargy and excessive yawning
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Extreme cravings and thoughts of using
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Restless leg syndrome
Second Phase Withdrawal Symptoms
The second phase, which can be more intense, begins after the first day or so. Symptoms in the second phase include:
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid heartbeat
- Diarrhea,nausea and vomiting
- Chills and goosebumps
- Abdominal cramps
- High blood pressure
What Happens During Withdrawal?
The body produces natural opioids that control pain, anxiety and depression. But, if a person gets a broken leg, for example, the body doesn’t produce enough opioids to treat the pain. External opioids treat the pain.
Over time and prolonged use, opioid receptors in the brain, the spinal cord and gastrointestinal tracts become desensitized. Higher dosages are needed to achieve the same effect. The increased consumption creates a dependency on the receptors, and when the person stops taking the opioid, the body can’t cope with the lack of the drug.
How can I feel better?
There’s no need to feel so terrible. Suboxone clinics use buprenorphine to feel better right away and get through withdrawal while you live at home. Though there are more side effects of methadone, it is also an option that provides immediate relief.
Without medical supervision, withdrawals are uncomfortable, stressful and too often result in overdose. The physical and mental toll caused by opioid withdrawal can be addressed.
Symetria Opiate Detox Centers
If you’ve tried to stop, it’s easy to feel like there is no hope of overcoming opioid addiction, but thousands of people are living healthily and happily without feeling high or sick. If you’ve been able to get past the detox phase, joining an IOP program or using medications like Suboxone or methadone helps you stay healthy long-term.
79 Comments
I have been on oxycodone for a year for cancer. I have been down to 7.5 mg a day for two months and I stopped completely 4 days ago. I have restless leg and constant jerking of body at night and can’t sleep. How long will these symptoms last?
The body jerking is horrible, I know. You are VERY close to having it stop at 4 days. Maybe 1 more day and things should get much better.
Lynne, I feel so bad for you because I’ve been through the withdrawals and I always describe them as “hell on earth” Omgosh, that, I swear is the worst feeling in the world in my opinion. The withdrawals will last for about 4-5 days maybe longer. Drink lots of water or just liquids in general but no alcohol! No…that would be the worst thing you can do..the more you drink, the more you’ll pee it out of your system faster. Good luck Dear!
I have been smoking fentynol for the last 7 months everyday. I decided to get methadone treatment about 3 -4 weeks ago. I had to move abruptly. So I only ended up taking the methadone for 2 1/2 weeks when I moved I had a very hard time getting into methadone treatment. So I haven’t had Anything to help with cravings. They are absolutely insane. They seem to be getting worse . Is that normal? All I want to do is use. I finally after 3 weeks of nothing, I was able to get a little money make an appointment with the clinic to get back on methadone. I feel like I need it. Again the cravings are beyond Insane. I’ve never felt anything like this at all. I’ve had a couple bouts of psychosis. I’m extremely irritable and I can cry at the the drop of a hat. I also shake uncontrollably like I’m an alcoholic. I can’t wait to go to my doctor appointment. Please tell me these cravings will eventually go away? As long as I have methadone, I am fine. I think I withdrawaled from the methadone and fentynol pretty much the same time. I feel awful and I need help ASAP. And 3 weeks later without anything to assist me. I feel I’m going mad!!!!!
I’m 24 hrs with no fentanyl. Been using opioids for at least 10 years straight. Why am I not dope sick?
I’m really scared ????
I’m feeling really shaky but otherwise good except for the feeling that satan herself is going to start to use me as his own marionette puppet.
Hate to say this but you could experience what I’m going through now. After 6 months of trying to get off the Oxy 60 mg 3 times per day for 13 years for cancer and chronic pain.
It’s been 3-4 months completely off and I’m still in withdrawal. I just cannot believe it. And I also take a lot of Imodium if I need to go somewhere for a short period. Then the next day it starts all over again I’m exhausted beyond , no more coffee cause the severe cramps and diarrhea will make no allowances for caffeine it seems. The only reason I’m replying is because most people only go through 5 days of total withdrawals. You and I seem like the exception to the rule. So not fair.
I
Hope you feel better soon !! I really do ????
Day 25 off Suboxone I feel so screwed up my nervous system is ruined I can’t stay still my legs are driving me crazy I think I should give up I was kept on them way to long I don’t think my body is going to go back to normal ever it’s sad to try so hard but see that I can’t be ok without Suboxone ever again I feel like I need a lawyer it’s not right to not Inform me of the damage they caused
Omg, how on earth are you possibly doing it with small kids to look after!! You must be incredibly strong, I’m day 1 it’s hell, & I live wit my whole family so my parents looking after my 16 month old, but just hearing him yelling or having the occasional tantrum puts me in to a severe panic attack and sweats severely & have to shut my door n shut everything out- as a mum that’s hard but I just can’t, it drives me to madness, & I’m not going back on my prescription Fentanyl- Strongest dose 100mcg- and 300mg in total of Oxy per day, I’m only at the end of day 1 & I feel like HELL on Earth… 🙁
I was on 10mg hydrocodone, 5 per day, for 20 years (low back injury from car accident). Stopped cold turkey 50 days ago. Worst withdrawal symptom still present is crawling skin when trying to sleep. How long will this last? I’m so tired….