Home remedies for opiate withdrawal

As well as being illegal drugs, opiates are sometimes prescription medications that act on opioid receptors in the body. They can relieve pain while causing a sense of euphoria when taken.

When a person uses them as prescribed by a doctor, and ideally for a short time, opiates can be beneficial to their recovery from injury or illness. When used illegally or excessively, they are addictive and life-threatening.

While opiate withdrawal symptoms are not usually life-threatening, they can be uncomfortable and difficult to navigate.

In this article, we go through the common symptoms of opiate withdrawal and suggest home remedies and natural treatments to help with each one.

Fever and sweating

Withdrawing from opioids can cause symptoms that are similar to having the flu. These include fever, chills, and sweating.

Common treatments that can reduce a higher body temperature include over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. Examples of NSAIDS are ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Wearing loose, comfortable clothing made of absorbent materials, such as cotton, can help to absorb sweat.

If someone experiences chills associated with their symptoms, they can put on layers of clothing that they can remove one at a time.

Examples of these include:

• t-shirts
• cardigans
• bathrobes
• sweatshirts

Using cool compresses, such as washcloths dipped in cool water or cloth-covered ice packs, can also help a person reduce a high body temperature. Taking cool-temperature baths may prove beneficial, as well.

One proposed treatment for shaking is St. John’s wort. An animal study published in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology found that taking the herb Hypericum perforatum or St. John’s wort, helped to reduce opiate withdrawal-related shaking in rats.

The researchers also found that taking St. John’s wort helped to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in the rats. St. John’s wort is a yellow flower people use to treat conditions that range from depression to insomnia to wound healing.

Taking this herb has been known to interact with many medications, including other antidepressants, birth control pills, digoxin, the blood thinner warfarin, and some HIV medications, such as indinavir. As a result, people should take this supplement with caution.

Herbs are not monitored by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for quality or purity.

Try quitting caffeine

People may find that they shake less if they avoid caffeinated drinks, such as coffee or soda or if they drink decaffeinated alternatives.

Caffeinated drinks can worsen shaking and may stimulate tremors.

Use distraction techniques

Try not to “fight” or resist the tremors that may accompany withdrawal from drug addiction. Sometimes mentally focusing on reducing tremors can only make them feel more pronounced.

Using distraction techniques, such as holding heavier objects or watching television, may help people to lessen their awareness of tremors when they occur.

Take NSAIDs

People may want to try taking OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to reduce muscle aching that is related to tremors. These drugs may help deal with the process of coming off opiates.

While a person going through withdrawals from opioids can feel sleepy, they may find they have difficulty getting good-quality sleep.

Because rest can help them feel stronger, getting a good night’s sleep can be vital.

Some methods to promote better sleep and naps include:

Keeping to a schedule

Maintaining a sleep schedule of bedtime and waking up will assist the body in keeping its own “clock,” which can help make going to sleep easier.

Considering your sleeping environment

Promoting a better sleeping environment by keeping the room cool or between 60 and 67 degrees, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation, can make it easier for someone to get to sleep.

Keep the bedroom dark and consider using noise-blocking devices, such as earplugs or white noise machines to enhance sleep.

Creating a relaxing bedtime routine

It can be a good idea to spend about an hour before going to bed, relaxing and winding down. This can include refraining from looking at computer screens and phones.

Drinking warm, decaffeinated tea or milk, reading a book, and listening to relaxing music are all ways that can promote sleep.

Trying melatonin

Some people may choose to take the sleep hormone melatonin, which is available OTC as a dietary supplement.

However, melatonin supplements may not work in promoting sleep in all individuals, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Some people have reported its benefits when taken as recommended by the manufacturers. It is worth remembering, however, that the FDA does not regulate these supplements.

When to seek help for opiate withdrawals

While withdrawal from opiates is not life-threatening when it is a person’s sole addiction, the symptoms can be severe and sometimes warrant going to a medical facility for withdrawals.

If someone has a history of chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, lung problems, or other conditions that withdrawal can impact, they may benefit from going through the process at a professional treatment center.

Doctors at these specialist centers can prescribe medications to reduce the effects of opiate withdrawals. Examples include buprenorphine and methadone. These prescription medications can help reduce cravings without giving the same “high” that taking opiates can.

For more information or treatment referrals, a person should call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This hotline is available 24 hours a day, year-round, to help those struggling with addiction.

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