Heroin Detox Treatment Options

Cold-Turkey

Enduring withdrawal symptoms on your own is called a cold-turkey detox.

Medical Detox – During a medicated detox, you will be given certain medications which can reduce the severity of some of the withdrawal symptoms. Clonidine is a commonly used medication which reduces the anxiety and agitation, muscle aches, runny nose and cramping or the withdrawal period. Other medications which may be given include anti diarrhea and anti vomiting drugs and the very short term use of opiate substitution drugs like methadone.

Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox

While the concept of a pain free detox while under anesthesia sounds pretty attractive, critics of the technique warn prospective customers to be wary of the hype and to think twice before shelling out for the high price tag of this rapid detox procedure. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), rapid opiate detox programs do not necessarily reduce the duration of a detox period as claimed. People have died while undergoing the procedure and since there is a risk of vomiting while under anesthesia, the possible benefits of the technique are likely outweighed by the dangers.¹

Methadone

Methadone is an opiate that is used as a medication to treat opiate addiction. Once properly dosed on methadone you feel no withdrawal symptoms, no drug cravings and no intoxication. Methadone is recommended for longer periods of treatment, at least a year in duration. As methadone is an opiate, discontinuing the use of this medication will result in withdrawal symptoms similar to heroin withdrawal symptoms, although these can be lessened by a gradual dose tapering regimen over a period of months or even years.

Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

Suboxone is a newer form of opiate substitution medication that works similarly to methadone. Suboxone has some advantages over methadone, but since it has a limited ceiling of efficacy, it won’t likely be strong enough to provide full withdrawal symptoms relief for heavy heroin users.

Heroin Detox for Pregnant Women

Although it’s natural for a pregnant woman to want to get off all drugs for the health and wellbeing of her baby to come, the reality of a heroin detox makes that well intentioned wish quite difficult.

Heroin detox is very hard on the fetus, and it can result in miscarriage - but continued heroin use can also result in miscarriage, as well as premature birth, low birth weights, neonatal abstinence syndrome and a host of infections diseases that can be passed from mother to child.

So what’s the answer? – The answer is methadone, and in some cases, buprenorphine.

According to a National Institute of Health consensus panel, treatment with methadone is the gold standard of care for opiate addicted pregnant women. Methadone has been extensively tested as safe for baby and mom and has been found to greatly increase prenatal care and obstetric outcomes. Although buprenorphine hasn’t been as extensively tested on pregnant women, initial evidence indicates safety for baby and mom, as well as efficacy, and so it is recommended as an alternate to methadone when warranted.²