Methadone Withdrawal Timeline

Methadone withdrawal timeline at a glance

When did you last use or take it?

⚠ Medical warning (read before using this)

Don’t go through opioid withdrawal alone. It is very hard to get through, and the biggest danger comes afterward: once your tolerance drops, using your old amount can cause a fatal overdose. Get medical help to stop. Medicines such as buprenorphine and methadone work. Call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357, or 911 in an emergency. If the opioid is prescribed, don’t stop it suddenly: ask your prescriber about a taper.

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This places the typical ranges from this article's sources on your date. It is not a prediction or a diagnosis, and being past a phase does not mean symptoms or risks are over.

A rough guide from published sources, not medical advice. Everyone is different.

Phase	When	What you may feel	Severity	Red flags
Early withdrawal	Up to 36 hours after last use	Watery eyes, runny nose; Sweating, yawning; Restlessness, anxiety, insomnia; Muscle aches	Moderate	—
Fully developed withdrawal	72 to 96 hours after last use	Dilated pupils, goosebumps; Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; Muscle twitching, joint and muscle pain; Fast heart rate, higher blood pressure	Severe	Vomiting or diarrhea you can’t keep up with, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, very little urine); Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now
Easing	Through about day 14 or longer	Physical symptoms slowly fade; Tiredness, poor sleep	Moderate	Signs of overdose (slow or stopped breathing, can’t wake up, blue lips): call 911 and use naloxone if you have it
Protracted phase	Weeks to months	Low mood (dysphoria); Cravings; Insomnia; Increased sensitivity to pain	Moderate	Signs of overdose (slow or stopped breathing, can’t wake up, blue lips): call 911 and use naloxone if you have it; Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now

Print a daily symptom log for this timeline · My quit tracker

Fully developed withdrawal

3 days – 4 days

Easing

4 days – 2 wk

1 h6 h1 day3 days1 week2 weeks

MildModerateSevereCan be life-threatening

Symptoms, phase by phase

SAMHSA’s TIP 63 describes opioid withdrawal in stages. Early signs are watery eyes, runny nose, sweating, yawning, restlessness and insomnia, followed by dilated pupils, goosebumps, muscle twitching and aches. Fully developed withdrawal adds fast heart rate, high blood pressure, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and extreme restlessness. TIP 63 says it feels like gastroenteritis, severe flu, anxiety and dysphoria all at once. MedlinePlus calls the symptoms very uncomfortable but usually not life-threatening on their own. Complications such as dehydration and breathing vomit into the lungs can be serious, and the biggest risk is overdose after withdrawal, because tolerance drops. Methadone’s half-life is highly variable (the FDA label gives 8 to 59 hours), which is one reason timing differs so much between people.

Early withdrawal: Up to 36 hours after last use

• Watery eyes, runny nose
• Sweating, yawning
• Restlessness, anxiety, insomnia
• Muscle aches

Fully developed withdrawal: 72 to 96 hours after last use

• Dilated pupils, goosebumps
• Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Muscle twitching, joint and muscle pain
• Fast heart rate, higher blood pressure

Easing: Through about day 14 or longer

• Physical symptoms slowly fade
• Tiredness, poor sleep

Protracted phase: Weeks to months

• Low mood (dysphoria)
• Cravings
• Insomnia
• Increased sensitivity to pain

What makes withdrawal longer or shorter

• Dose and time in treatment. SAMHSA’s TIP 63 says the severity of withdrawal reflects how physically dependent you are.
• Highly variable half-life. 8 to 59 hours, per the label.
• Taper speed. Rapid reductions are more likely to cause severe symptoms.
• Other medicines. Many drugs change methadone levels.

When to see a doctor or get help now

• Before reducing or stopping methadone.
• If you miss doses at a clinic, contact them quickly rather than waiting it out.
• Call 911 for overdose signs. Tolerance drops after withdrawal.
• Call or text 988 for thoughts of suicide.

Not sure where to start? Call SAMHSA’s free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357, 24/7. See Get Help.

Tapering

The FDA label says not to rapidly reduce or abruptly discontinue methadone in physically dependent patients, and warns that stopping maintenance treatment carries a high risk of relapse. Your clinic or prescriber should plan any taper with you. We don’t publish dose schedules. Staying on methadone long-term is an evidence-based option.

Tips for getting through it

• Get medical help and ask about buprenorphine or methadone
• Keep naloxone (Narcan) on hand and tell someone where it is
• Drink enough fluids and eat several small meals, as NSW Health’s opioid withdrawal guidance advises; skip alcohol and go easy on caffeine
• Never use alone, and know that tolerance drops fast after withdrawal
• Find treatment at FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357

Frequently asked questions

How long does methadone withdrawal last?

SAMHSA says long-acting opioid withdrawal lasts 14 days or more, and MedlinePlus says symptoms usually start within 30 hours of the last dose. Low mood and cravings can last weeks to months.

Why does methadone withdrawal last longer than heroin withdrawal?

Methadone is long-acting and leaves the body slowly, with a half-life of 8 to 59 hours.

Can I switch from methadone to Suboxone?

Sometimes, under medical supervision. The Suboxone label says people dependent on methadone may be more susceptible to precipitated and prolonged withdrawal when starting buprenorphine, so the switch has to be timed carefully.

Is it dangerous to stop methadone?

Withdrawal itself is usually not life-threatening, but the label warns of a high risk of relapse, and relapse after lost tolerance can be fatal.

Next steps

• Track your dayEnter when you stopped to see where you are on the timeline
• Combine timelinesAdd other things you are stopping and see them on one chart
• Talk to othersAsk questions on our community forum (peer support, not medical advice)
• Read nextOpioid Withdrawal Timeline: Short-Acting vs Long-Acting
• Get helpFree, confidential helplines and when to see a doctor

Related timelines

• Opioid Withdrawal Timeline: Short-Acting vs Long-Acting
• Suboxone Withdrawal Timeline
• Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline

Sources

1. FDA-approved label: methadone hydrochloride, via DailyMed
2. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine): Opiate and opioid withdrawal
3. SAMHSA: TIP 63, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (updated 2021), Exhibit 2.10
4. SAMHSA National Helpline
5. NSW Health: NSW Clinical Guidelines: Treatment of Opioid Dependence, abbreviated version (2018)
6. FDA-approved label: SUBOXONE (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film, via DailyMed

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Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Researched and written by Withdrawal Timelines from the cited sources. This article has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional. See How We Review and our Medical Disclaimer. This is general information, not medical advice.