Opioid Withdrawal and MAT Options in Virginia
November 6, 2026 · 8 min read
Medically reviewed by Jeffrey H. Simon, M.D.
Medical Director, Virginia Addiction & Mental Health Center · Last reviewed November 6, 2026
Opioid withdrawal feels like the worst flu of your life, and fear of it keeps many people using. Medication can take most of that fear away — and it's the most effective treatment we have for opioid use disorder.
What withdrawal feels like
- Muscle aches, yawning, runny nose and watery eyes
- Sweating, chills and goosebumps
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps
- Anxiety, restlessness and insomnia
- Intense cravings
Physical symptoms usually fade within about a week; sleep, mood and cravings can linger for weeks. That long tail is why detox alone so often ends in relapse — see MAT vs. detox.
Your medication options
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade)
Prescribed in a doctor's office or by telemedicine and filled at a pharmacy. Daily film or tablet, or a monthly injection. Eases withdrawal and cravings.
Methadone
Dispensed only through a federally certified opioid treatment program (OTP), usually starting with daily clinic visits. Can't be prescribed by an outpatient office for addiction.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
A monthly injection that blocks opioids. Not addictive, but you must be opioid-free — usually 7 to 10 days — before the first dose.
Stay safe while you get started
- Keep naloxone (Narcan) at home — it's available at Virginia pharmacies without a prescription.
- Don't use alone, and don't combine opioids with benzodiazepines, gabapentin or alcohol.
- If someone won't wake up or isn't breathing normally, give naloxone and call 911.
MAT at our center
Our physicians offer buprenorphine and naltrexone as part of medication-assisted treatment, paired with therapy in PHP, IOP or outpatient care. If methadone or inpatient withdrawal management is the better fit, we connect you with trusted, vetted providers. Call (571) 586-2883.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does opioid withdrawal last?
- With short-acting opioids like heroin or oxycodone, symptoms often start 8 to 24 hours after the last use, peak around days two and three, and ease within about a week. Fentanyl and methadone can follow a longer, less predictable course.
- Can opioid withdrawal kill you?
- Withdrawal itself is rarely life-threatening, though vomiting and diarrhea can cause dangerous dehydration. The bigger danger is afterward: tolerance drops quickly, so returning to a previous dose can cause a fatal overdose.
- Do I have to be in withdrawal to start Suboxone?
- Usually you need to be in mild-to-moderate withdrawal so buprenorphine doesn't trigger precipitated withdrawal. With fentanyl, prescribers sometimes use low-dose or other start methods. Your prescriber will give you a plan.
- Which medication is best?
- All three FDA-approved medications work. Buprenorphine and methadone have the strongest evidence for reducing overdose deaths. The right one depends on your history, your schedule, and what you can stick with.
Talk with our admissions team
A benefits check takes about five to ten minutes and there is no obligation to enroll. We are in-network with major commercial plans and can tell you what your policy covers before you commit.