If you have been addicted to Heroin for quite some time and want to stop consuming it, or have already finished it, you can expect to have some withdrawal symptoms. On an average, the withdrawal symptoms start from 6-12 hours after your last dose and will be at maximum for the first three days, after which it will begin to subsiding slowly. In a week’s time, you should see a few symptoms. In some users, the symptoms last for weeks or months as well. This is also called as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
Table of Content
- Strong Desire For Heroin
- Depression And Anxiety
- Body Pain
- Excessive Body Fluids
- Stomach Pain
- Nausea And Vomiting
- Insomnia And Uneasiness
The comedown of withdrawal is called the rebound effect, and it is the body’s mechanism of maintaining homeostasis. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms is not easy, so it is essential to learn about the withdrawal timeline for heroin addiction to manage things properly. Some of the withdrawal symptoms are listed below (though there can be many others not listed here) –
Your body will start producing more fluids than it usually does – sweat, tears, running nose. You may also feel your hands standing in the end. This means the body is making efforts to bring itself back to the natural state of balance.

Strong Desire For Heroin
It is only natural for you to crave for heroin during the initial stages. This is true for any addiction, and it takes a lot of willpower to not give in to the cravings. The mind is set to get its daily dose and will try its best to continue the same, but once you can control the brain, the cravings will soon die.Depression And Anxiety
Depression, anxiety, and irritability are common withdrawal symptoms known as having ‘dysphoric mood’, and occur because the brain is tuned to receive the drug at regular intervals and not getting it now. It is essential for you to get emotional support from someone who can guide you and understand you when you are going through the withdrawal phase. The mood changes could also be due to long-suppressed feelings related to past incidents that come off once you stop consuming heroin. If you are recovering in a treatment centre, you will undoubtedly have people who will support you. If the suppressed feelings of distress and pain do not pass entirely, you will need to consult a doctor immediately.Body Pain
One of the effects of Heroin is to suppress body aches. Once you stop consuming it, the rebound effect comes into action, and you feel the pain, mostly in your back and legs. You might even become more sensitive to pain than you were before.
Excessive Body Fluids
Your body will start producing more fluids than it usually does – sweat, tears, running nose. You may also feel your hands standing in the end. This means the body is making efforts to bring itself back to the natural state of balance.Stomach Pain
There are a lot of internal changes happening in your body due to the absence of Heroin in your life. This can result in stomach pain caused by spasms in the digestive tract, followed by diarrhoea.