Heroin Tolerance and Withdrawal

With regular heroin use, tolerance develops. This means the abuser must use more heroin to achieve the same intensity of effect. As higher doses are used over time, physical dependence and addiction develop. With physical dependence, the body has adapted to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms may occur if use is reduced or stopped.

Withdrawal, which in regular abusers may occur as early as a few hours after the last administration, produces drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), kicking movements ("kicking the habit"), and other symptoms. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is considered less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.
 

What's it like detoxing off heroin? It's difficult to say exactly what it will be like for each individual detoxing from heroin as the experience varies widely.  However, it is the experience of detoxing that keeps many people who want off heroin from being successful.  Detoxing off heroin you are likely to: Feel like you have a horrible case of flu Vomit Have diarrhea Suffer night sweats Experience difficulty sleeping have aches and pains