What Medications Are Prescribed to Treat Heroin Withdrawal Syndrome?
Within heroin detox programs, there are several heroin withdrawal syndrome medications prescribed to assist with managing your heroin withdrawal syndrome symptoms. Healthcare providers will give you certain medications based on the severity of your heroin addiction. Here are medications that are commonly used during a detox for the stimulant heroin:
Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication that healthcare providers prescribe to treat opioid use disorders (OUDs) like heroin addiction. It will help decrease your cravings and heroin withdrawal symptoms, allowing your body to stabilize. Additionally, it reduces your risk of relapse.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist, will help you manage your heroin withdrawal symptoms, reduce heroin cravings, diminish your risk of overdose, and help you as you make the shift into a heroin abuse recovery facility.
Naltrexone
Since naltrexone works as an opioid receptor antagonist, it blocks the effects of opioids, such as heroin, by binding to the same brain receptors but without activating them. By reducing the capability to get high from heroin, it will help reduce your cravings and potential for relapse. To take naltrexone, you must be completely heroin/opioid-free for seven to ten days before you can take this medication.