For those wanting to quit heroin, heroin withdrawal is the dark cloud that produces a sense of dread and hesitation towards quitting. This article will highlight some of the treatment options that people will use for quitting heroin. We strongly recommend that you check into a rehab center where these forms of medication will be properly prescribed and administered for your individual needs.
Methadone is the most commonly used medication and is an opiate medication that acts very similarly to heroin. However, when it is orally consumed it acts much more gradually than heroin and will not produce the same high, but will help to prevent withdrawal symptoms. People who undergo methadone treatment will usually attend individual and group counseling sessions at the rehab center. Methadone has been used for over 30 years and is generally accepted as an effective way to treat and help someone trying to quit heroin and dealing with heroin withdrawal symptoms. It is possible to overdose or become addicted to Methadone so we strongly recommend that you follow the rehab center’s instructions when using Methadone.
Buprenorphine is a more recent form of treatment than Methadone. It has less risk of an overdose and risk of addiction than Methadone. However, it is still possible to overdose or become addicted to Buprenorphine so even when taking Buprenorphine it is very important to follow the doctor’s exact advice. Over the course of its shorter lifetime, Buprenorphine has not always produced effects on people undergoing heroin withdrawal so some have decided to remain on Methadone.
Naltrexone is the least used of the three treatment drugs mentioned in this article. Naltrexone is usually used later in the recovery process and is commonly prescribed to patients that have moved out of the rehab facility but are still recovering. The medication works by blocking opioids from binding to receptors, preventing the addicted individual from feeling the effects of the drug. The person must be opioid free for multiple days before taking this medication.
