Recurrent use of the opiate heroin can cause your body to become physically dependent upon the drug. Estimates are 9 percent of the U.S. population abuses opiate drugs, which can include certain prescription drugs, at some point in their lives, according to MedlinePlus, a health information website provided as a service of the National Institutes of Health. If you stop taking this drug, even for a brief period, you can begin to experience some of the common withdrawal symptoms of heroin.
Stomach Upset
You can begin to experience symptoms of an upset stomach within a few hours after your last dose of heroin, explains Drug Free, the website for The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, a nonprofit organization. Withdrawal symptoms with heroin can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can occur in conjunction with abdominal pain, gas or discomfort. These heroin withdrawal symptoms might persist for up to a week.
Muscle and Bone Pain
Muscle, body and bone pain can develop as common withdrawal symptoms with heroin. Shortly after taking your last dose of heroin, you can experience achy, uncomfortable sensations within your joints and limbs, which can cause you to feel weak or fatigued. The severity of these withdrawal symptoms typically peak one to three days after you stop using heroin, explain Drs. Norman S. Miller and Mark S. Gold in a July 1998 article within "American Family Physician," a journal published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Restlessness and Insomnia
Restlessness and sleeping difficulties are common symptoms associated with heroin withdrawal, according to MedlinePlus. You can begin to feel unusually agitated or anxious, which can interfere with social, work, family or intimate relationships. These sensations can also make it difficult for you to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night while you are experiencing heroin withdrawal. These symptoms of withdrawal typically persist for five to seven days, warn Miller and Gold.
Chills and Sweating
Heroin withdrawal also includes frequent episodes of chills, even when you are in a warm climate. You can notice that your skin develops goose bumps or that you are unable to get warm. Episodes of chills are often followed by periods of intense sweating, according to Medline Plus, which can cause your bed linens or clothing to become damp or sticky. These heroin withdrawal side effects are uncomfortable but will resolve within a few days of onset.
Drug Craving
When you are experiencing heroin withdrawal, you'll crave the drug, according to Drug Free. Drug craving sensations can be overwhelming and often cause patients in drug treatment programs to relapse during the early stages of withdrawal. Miller and Gold explain that drug treatment counselors or doctors might prescribe certain medications, such as clonidine or methadone, to help alleviate these common withdrawal symptoms.
