Have you or a loved one been using opioids for a while? If so, maybe you’ve noticed something different after taking a pause or getting off your prescription. Perhaps its unexpected muscle aches, chills, or nausea. Consequently, Googling “opioid withdrawal symptoms and timeline” probably brought you here. You may even be surprised to know that opioid withdrawal exists and that it could happen to you. And while it’s very real, what you do about it next is incredibly important to how it impacts your recovery—and your life moving forward.
A Quick Look into Opioid Dependence and Addiction
How in the world did you get to this point? That’s a question you may be wondering, especially if you’ve been following your doctor’s prescription for opioids. It’s just a pain medication, right?
Actually, prescription opioids like Oxycodone, Vicodin, Codeine, and Opana do have addictive properties. Though opioids are made to be painkillers, the way they do this in your body can lead to a chemical dependency on the drugs.
As you take opioids, they attach themselves to the receptors in your brain and disrupt any pain signals. At the same time, they release dopamine in your brain, the chemical associated with pleasure and reward. That’s why you may feel a sense of euphoria when you take your medication. But over time, as you take more and more pills, your body gets used to the dopamine release the opioids have caused, so stopping any medication throws your body out of whack.
Understanding the Common Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline for Recovery
Opioid dependence and addiction can happen to anyone, even if you’re following your medication. So when your brain has become dependent on the pills you’re taking, it has to adjust to their absence when you stop. This is called opioid withdrawal, and it can be an unpleasant experience associated with challenging opioid withdrawal symptoms. So what opioid withdrawal symptoms and timeline for recovery can you expect?
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms to Keep in Mind
Your opioid withdrawal symptoms and timeline will vary, depending on the person, the medication, and how long you’ve been taking the drug. When it comes to opioid withdrawal symptoms, they can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms can include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Intense cravings for opioids
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Appetite loss
- Pupil dilation
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
For some, opioid withdrawal symptoms are one of the telltale signs of opioid abuse, and they can often be confused for mysterious flu-like symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can also occur even when reducing your dosage. However, while withdrawal can be unpleasant, it’s usually not life-threatening. But when it does happen, how long does opioid withdrawal last?
How Long Does Opioid Withdrawal Last?
Here’s the short answer: it depends. Like the symptoms themselves, your opioid withdrawal timeline will vary based on the opioid you’ve been using, your dosage, and how long you’ve been on the medication. Fast-acting opioids like oxycodone and fentanyl can generate withdrawal symptoms within the first day after stopping your usage. Longer-acting or extended-release opioids may produce withdrawal symptoms around three days after your last use.
Considering the factors above, your opioid detox timeline can last for a few days to a few weeks. After your opioid withdrawal timeline begins, you can begin to experience acute withdrawal symptoms that will peak in a few days. Normally, they will taper off and lessen in severity within a week, but they could continue on for an additional week or even a month. Some people may even struggle with ongoing opioid withdrawal symptoms for months at a time, including continued drug cravings and depression.
Your Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline: What to Do Next
One in six patients with opioid use disorder (opioid addiction) leave the hospital before completing treatment, potentially due to untreated opioid withdrawal symptoms, shares the University of Pennsylvania. They can become so desperate for opioids to find relief that they’ll stop treatment for addiction unexpectedly. Just let that sink in for a moment.
Considering the gravity of this situation, it’s imperative that you take your opioid withdrawal symptoms and timeline seriously. After all, the drug dependence you’ve developed (even at no fault of your own) can lead to a full-blown addiction. At that point, you’re stealing opioids. forging subscriptions, buying drugs off the street, or eventually transitioning to more dangerous drugs like heroin.
So what’s your best course of action to take? If you’re trying to get off opioids, it’s important to detox from opioids under medical supervision. This means weaning off the drug at an opioid detox center so you can get the help you need to manage difficult symptoms and avoid a relapse into continued opioid abuse. But if you’ve developed an opioid addiction, it’s critical to get professional help so you can reclaim your life.
Navigate Your Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline at Sana at Stowe
If you’re dealing with opioid withdrawal, don’t leave things to chance. With professional treatment, you can navigate your recovery successfully. At Sana at Stowe, our New England-based opioid addiction treatment facility provides the help you need to heal, from detox to residential treatment and more. To get started, contact our team today.
