| Help for heroin withdrawal symptoms is necessary to | | | | used heroin through IV or injection, and who have |
| assist an addicted person in the cessation of heroin | | | | made previous, unsuccessful attempts to stop their |
| use. In the short term, withdrawal symptoms include | | | | drug use. |
| anxiety, agitation and insomnia. In the long term, they | | | | Some doctors will also prescribe benzodiazepines or |
| include abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and | | | | anti-anxiety medications such during the withdrawal |
| diarrhea. While almost never life threatening, these | | | | period. These medications should be used cautiously |
| symptoms are unpleasant, and without supportive | | | | since they carry a high risk of addiction. They are |
| treatment, a person going through withdrawal is likely | | | | most effective if a person is simultaneously |
| to return to heroin just to get some relief. | | | | withdrawing from heroin and alcohol. |
| There are a few kinds of treatment available. A high | | | | A final kind of treatment, sometimes advertised by |
| blood pressure medication is one used quite, has | | | | private drug clinics, is known as rapid opiate detox. |
| been found to work well on the short term | | | | This consists of sedating the patient heavily and |
| symptoms of withdrawal such as agitation. It is often | | | | giving him or her high doses of medications that block |
| used in combination with a prescription or | | | | the effects of heroin. This is said to shorten the |
| over-the-counter anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea drug. | | | | detoxification period while the patient sleeps |
| This high blood pressure medication I am speaking of | | | | comfortably through any withdrawal symptoms. |
| works best for people who do not have a long | | | | There is little or no scientific support, however, that |
| history of drug use and who are highly motivated to | | | | this method actually works. Furthermore, it may place |
| stop using heroin. | | | | the patient in danger of choking on his own vomit. |
| A second type of treatment requires the addict to | | | | Heroin withdrawal is certainly difficult to go through, |
| visit a clinic daily where they are put on a | | | | but with proper medical support, the symptoms can |
| maintenance program and medicated daily. This drug | | | | be managed and healing can begin. Once the person |
| is similar to, heroin, is an opiate, but it is a more | | | | is free from heroin they will have to devise a plan of |
| stable, longer acting drug that does not produce a | | | | how they intend to stay clean. This could include 12 |
| high. This drug is a more effective treatment for | | | | step meetings or individual drug addiction therapy. |
| people who have been addicted longer, who have | | | | |