Opioid Withdrawal Explained in 10 Minutes

Today’s video is called Opioid Withdrawal Explained in 10 Minutes. By the end of this video, you will have a better understanding of what someone can expect to go through during opioid withdrawal. Topics covered will include:

What is an opiate vs opioid?
How long does it take to develop tolerance?
How soon does withdrawal start happening once you stop using?
What are the common signs and symptoms of withdrawal?
How long does withdrawal last for?

This video is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your own personal physician or qualified licensed medical professional when discussing options for opioid detox, treatment, and recovery.

For those of you who may be struggling with opioid dependence and struggling to find the motivation to take the next step in your recovery, here are some links below with information and resources to consider.

Online Addiction Recovery Resources:
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Thanks for watching and please like, share, and subscribe!
~Dr. Andrew Kim M.D.

Let's connect:

** The information in this video, including but not limited to, videos, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this video channel and its affiliated websites (such as AndrewKimMD.com) are for informational and entertainment purposes only. No material on this channel is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website or its affiliated social media sites & channels. **

**Disclosures: At the time of creating this video, Dr. Andrew Kim M.D. was an independent contractor on the Janssen Speakers Bureau and works as a Principal Investigator on FDA clinical trials for pharmaceutical sponsors. **

[pepsicola]

I hope anyone reading this knows you are not suffering alone. Youre important, needed, loved. You will get through this.

[petercarioscia]

I went to detox in 2020 for heroin/fentanyl use and I only went there to get Suboxone. I never got it, and had to kick the old fashion way...sweating while being ice cold, shivering with a fever, no bowel control, having to pee ever 10 minutes, no sleep, restless legs and arms....

I am so SO glad I had to do it that way. I went on to a PHP program, and into an IOP program with sober living. Now I'm a member of AA, I have an apartment, a newborn and I now work in treatment trying to help the next ones, they way I was helped and guided

Edit/update. We just bought a house.

[BigBaller-hedz]

The average person cannot understand how horrible opiod withdrawal is until they go through it themselves. Hell on earth. I never knew a human being could feel so bad.

[JenniferTPugh]

I quit opioids 9 years ago and it was miserable. It really did feel like hell. 9 years later and it was all worth it to be sober from it❤️

[ProtectTheSecond]

The absolute worst pain and suffering I've ever been through was trying to kick fentanyl. Went through detox and rehab so many times to just go right back and do it all over. Coming up on 5 years clean, I got my life back. If I can do it, you can too.

[Yzerman]

I have the utmost respect for people with the courage to go through this to change their life for the better. If anyone reading this is in the midst of Withdrawal, I'm rooting so hard for you. Stay strong, battle, you will come out the other side infinitely better, healthier and happy.

[christopherhide]

Fighting stage 4 liver/colon cancer. Was one around 220mg’s/day. I didn’t realize the power, and decided to stop. Done with cancer, done with these pills. It was hell, but I managed like 10 full days of zero painkillers. But then realized 1) my quality of life was suffering, the pain from the cancer was loud and clear. So I started back up, but at a much lower dose. I can’t wait for this absolute hell, once I beat this cancer.

[LemonTree]

I just relapsed after 6 years of opiate sobriety. Not only am I now "resetting" my sobriety, but the withdrawal nightmare has started again and I just feel like a total failure. Addiction never ends

[Bamagirl]

My Dr over prescribed opioids for my back injury that resulted in spinal fusion. OxyContin, opana, fentanyl (oral and the patch). After 8 years of dr prescribed addiction I detoxed my self at home in 2011. Horrible detox!!! Pure hell but worth it!

By God’s grace I’m still here and haven’t relapsed EVER!

Prayers for anyone going through that hell!!♥️🙏

[vblake]

I was the Medical Director of a Substance Abuse Treatment Program more than 30 years ago. And the battle has not changed. The only thing we had to work with was Methadone for the most part to help. Our colleagues looked down on us because they felt we were addicting them to yet another drug. But watching these folks pull there lives together slowly but surely, and even get off the Methadone, build homes and families. I knew we were doing some good.

[UAWbro]

4 days cold turkey, im hurting yall but I ain't going back i reached bottom, please pray for me

[AllHaiLKINGTIsHeRe]

Opioid withdrawal is one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever been through, and I have a lot of painful physical conditions. There's just no way that the words "nausea, insomnia, sweating, chills, etc" can do it justice. It's like the worst fever you've ever had, but multiplied by 100. You just cannot get comfortable no matter what you do. At least that's how it was for me on a full agonist, but more mild ones definitely aren't as bad, but that full-blown opioid withdrawal is so, so horrible.

[WYE.]

My husband is about to go in for a 6 week inpatient treatment for 20 years of prescribed opioid use. I hate the doctors for even starting him on these. I'm so so proud of him for making this step. Seeing the comments have helped me understand what he's about to go through.

[ATLmodK]

I saw his post on Alcohol Withdrawal. Something I went through, but learned to ask for medical assistance because it was not only hell, it was deadly. 26 years after my last drink, I have great sympathy for anyone caught in addiction of any kind. I wish all healthcare workers from Doctors to CNA’s knew about addiction medicine.

[wezilla]

Anyone who hasn't experienced this should try to have a little compassion for someone dealing with this. (set aside the fact that they put themselves there in the first place, they're quitting, give them some credit) Going through the withdrawals is extremely painful. It's all of these symptoms that you hear about, 10 times what you've ever felt. When you hear the fact that these symptoms last for a week... it's the whole week. Because you can't sleep, you feel this 24hrs a day for 7 days. This, right here, is the reason I and other people I know always have had a hard time quitting. If I could sleep that off even just for a few hours of each day it could be manageable, but there is no break from these symptoms. That's what makes it so difficult..

[JIMJAMSC]

My advice coming from 30 of my 56 years on legal opiates. I have started/stopped so many times I lost count. Some to see what pain from multiple surgeries from a helicopter accident are being hidden and also to reset my tolerance.
Never quit when out of opiates. Having that bail out is mentally important. Running out as you know is your worst fear while prescribed so eliminate that stressor. If tapering and you are beyond miserable, I would cut a IR "breakthrough" say 20 mg into 4 pieces and take one. IMPORTANT. NEVER again can you take more than that and remember the goal is to stop completely. Rolling around going from sweats to freezing in agony = failure leading to a "where that bottle" moment. That 1/4 will become 1/8 until the point it is a spec of opiate.
I always stopped, began taper when I was already SICK or felt horrible. Yes, you heard me. Horrible. Flu, some bug, even a horrible hangover. The physical addiction wds, body pains, tiredness blend into the horrible way you feel so take advantage of it. You are already miserable so ride it out with the opiate issues mixed in. I could write a book but if you have a Dr get something for anxiety, a muscle relaxer like Skelaxin or Zanaflex even Melatonin.
Remember, your brain will throw everything at you it can including pain before it gives up and starts learning how to make it's own chemicals and resetting.

[evanabbott]

I’ve put myself through hundreds of spontaneous withdrawals from opiates, it was a nightmare cycle. I have a deep, personal understanding of what withdrawal feels like, minute to minute. Until I finally put myself through a precipitated withdrawal and checked myself into a treatment center, did I ever had any success in staying clean. The rest is up to you. A.A. is helping me, personally. FYI 👍

[LifeCoachJesse]

I just shattered my elbow, tore ligaments, and broke my wrist in a freak basketball accident. I had never had surgery before. I was given morphine, and other pain killers. Currently decided to stop taking those oxytocin pills. I am currently 24 hours from not taking the medication. I'm glad I had the surgery, but man these withdrawals are strong. I know have a new perspective on this and can empathize with people who struggle with addiction. I am a man of faith, and this is just another battle I'm taking and giving to God. I'm 31 and 4 years sober from alcohol in May. I'm taking this battle seeious. It's so easy to just go take a pill and calm down. 4:01am here on socal and I'm trying to go to sleep. To anyone reading this, you are not alone, reach out to someone, talk about it, take your battles to God. In Jesus mighty name we will be healed. Never would of thought I end up on YouTube researching this. I feel much better letting it out and reading the comments here.

[lauriedavidson]

I'm sitting here with my daughter's ex; my grandson's father. He is a heroin addict and is going through withdrawals as we speak. We all three - him, my daughter, and myself - decided he would stay here during the process because I was addicted to opioids for sixteen years and have been sober since February 15, 2016, so I know the process personally, and he's been through it before, himself. We all want him alive to be a father to his son. All we can do is encourage him, be there for him, AND PRAY. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, THEN PRAISE GOD AND PRAY SOME MORE. HE can, and WILL get us through anything. He's under medical care, so his dr is aware (just so no to one thinks we've left out that part). Great guy when he is sober; crazy scary when he's not. Please pray with us.

[kdl]

I went through it yesterday and last night was one of the worst times I have went through. I have a disease of my pancreas that is incredibly painful. I have to take hydro. every day. On top of this I fell and fractured my hip. I ran out Sunday morning. And last night I was in such pain I wanted to hurt myself. But I made it through to this morning. My doctor refilled my meds today.
Withdrawal is the worst thing I have ever had to deal with. I pray that everyone who goes through it comes out safe.