Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
If you stop or decrease the number of opioids you’re taking, you may experience physical symptoms of withdrawal. This is especially true if you’ve been using these medications at high doses for more than a few weeks. For those who have been using opioids for a long time, especially at high doses, seeking medical supervision is the safest approach. While home detox is possible for some, professional treatment provides the best chance of safely managing symptoms and preventing relapse. Research from Iran found that 74% of herbal products marketed for opiate withdrawal contained hidden drugs including tramadol and methadone.
Although it remains illegal in the U.S., advocates are working to expand access due to its effectiveness. Those considering ibogaine should seek experienced medical supervision to ensure safety. This cycle makes quitting extremely difficult, as individuals will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking opiates. I’m not a doctor, but I am someone who has personally gone through opioid withdrawal and come out the other side. I know how painful and exhausting this can be, but I also know that you can get through it.
Home Remedies for Opiate Withdrawal FAQ
If opioid detox becomes unmanageable, professional treatment can provide medications to treat symptoms and ensure safety. Detox centers offer medical monitoring, hydration support, and structured care, improving long-term recovery success. For some individuals, at-home opioid detox may be possible if their opiate withdrawal symptoms are mild to moderate and they do not have underlying medical conditions. This includes people who have not been using opioids for an extended period or at high doses. Seeking natural relief is admirable, but doing so safely requires diligence.
During withdrawal, your appetite might vanish, or your stomach might revolt at the sight of food. Bone broth or vegetable soups can be nourishing without being too heavy. Preparing for detox in advance can help you put safeguards in place for when you must fight the urge to quit the detox process.
Relief for fever, sweating, muscle pains, and chills
You may have taken opioids to manage pain from an injury and now find it hard to reduce your opioid use. Getting treatment for withdrawal can mean you don’t need to rely on opioids to manage pain or change your mood. If you take opioids for any reason, talk to a healthcare provider about ways to avoid opioid withdrawal when you stop taking the drugs. While most opiate withdrawal symptoms subside within a few weeks, some people experience long-term symptoms that can persist for months. Home remedies can include natural supplements, hydration, exercise, and diet adjustments.
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And herbs with sedative properties might compound the drowsiness already caused by opioid medications. Medical supervision during detox keeps you safe while medications like buprenorphine ease your body through the transition. Thoughtfully selected herbs and nutrients can address specific discomforts, while therapy helps you understand and change patterns.
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Methadone is an opioid that is often prescribed to treat pain but may also be used to treat withdrawal symptoms in people who have become addicted to opioids. Certain medications help treat withdrawal symptoms by easing discomfort and reducing cravings. Always consult an addiction specialist before using any medication.
- It doesn’t only help patients go back to their pre-dependence state, but it also allows them to go through the process without uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
- For those attempting to stop, withdrawal symptoms can feel like a full-body rebellion; nausea and muscle aches, chills, anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings that feel so overwhelming.
- Medical professionals provide important monitoring and can treat you if you have extreme side effects or if you experience dangerous complications.
- A clinical trial found that crocin (saffron’s active component) significantly reduced withdrawal scores in patients on methadone maintenance.
Always check for clear labeling with complete ingredient lists and amounts of active compounds. Finally, consider the country of origin—products from nations with strong regulatory oversight tend to be safer. Most studies used doses between 500mg to 1000mg daily, either as capsules or as oil (about a teaspoon daily). Because this is a complex formula with many ingredients, it’s best to work with a licensed TCM practitioner who can tailor the dosage to your specific needs. For best results, try passionflower as a soothing tea by steeping 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in hot water for 10 minutes. If tea isn’t your thing, tinctures work well too (2-4 ml, three times daily).
- If injected, it will cause immediate withdrawal, so the combination is less likely to be misused than other formulations.
- Elite Home Detox’ team of experts can help you or a loved one detoxify their body of opiates safely in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
- Medications such as loperamide (Imodium) can help with diarrhea and hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax) may ease nausea.
- At this stage, cravings begin to emerge, and mental and physical health effects become noticeable.
Common Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
The longer someone has been using opioids, the more long-term symptoms they may face after detox. When opioids are used regularly, they alter the brain’s dopamine system, which controls pleasure, pain relief, and motivation. Opioid receptors are flooded with artificial stimulation, leading the body to stop producing its own natural painkillers (endorphins). If you or someone you love is struggling with opiate dependence, we’re here to help you take that first step toward recovery with confidence, comfort, and complete support. At Summer House Detox Center, you’ll find not just effective treatment, but a team that genuinely cares about your wellbeing and success in recovery.
This is why it’s important to work with your doctor during the withdrawal period. If injected, it will cause immediate withdrawal, so the combination is less likely to be misused than other formulations. When taken by mouth, this combination can be used to treat symptoms of withdrawal and can shorten the intensity and length of detoxification from other, more dangerous, opioids. Also, the body never produces opioids in large enough quantities to cause an overdose. Opioid medications and recreational drugs mimic these naturally occurring opioids. The neurons in your brain change to the point where, without the drug, they don’t work the way they should.
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What’s impressive is that a double-blind trial showed passionflower extract significantly reduced withdrawal symptom Opiate Withdrawal Remedies severity compared to placebo. People reported feeling less anxious, less irritable, and sleeping better. Using any information provided by the website is solely at the viewers’ discretion.
Although these are widely used as part of the treatment protocol, it’s never advisable to rely on them or attempt to withdraw alone. It’s always best to seek professional help for opiate addiction and dependency. Inpatient detox centers provide 24/7 medical care for severe withdrawal, while outpatient programs allow individuals to receive treatment while living at home.