Opiate Withdrawal

There is a broad spectrum of opiate withdrawal symptoms and dependent individuals may experience some or all of the following symptoms in varying intensities. The number, durantion and intensity of the symptom is alrgely dtermined by the length of use and the amount of the drug used. The most common opiate withdrawal symptoms are:

• Muscle aches
• Chills
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Twitching, and/or muscle spasms

A less intense habit may result in a relatively short withdrawal period of 3 or 4 days and only produce a few of the aforementioned symptoms.

More intense habits may cause symptoms that last for many days or even weeks. The typical opiate withdrawal period is around 7 days, with the most intense symptoms peaking about 72 hours after last use. Because of the length of the physical and psychological withdrawal process, it is extremely difficult for people to get through it without the help of a detox center.