There’s a lot of folk advice about withdrawal, not all of it useful. Here’s what has a reasonable evidence or clinical-consensus basis, organized by symptom, with links to the detailed pages.
| Symptom | What tends to help |
|—|—|
| Muscle aches | Heat, gentle movement, OTC pain relievers [link] |
| Insomnia | Consistent sleep timing, addressing other symptoms first [link] |
| Nausea | Small sips of fluids, bland food, OTC anti-nausea medication [link] |
| Diarrhea | Standard-dose loperamide, hydration, electrolytes [link] |
| Anxiety | Grounding techniques, physical comfort measures [link] |
| Restless legs | Movement, warm baths, massage [link] |
What doesn’t have good evidence, despite being commonly suggested: Most supplements marketed specifically as “withdrawal remedies” (see our evidence review of supplements marketed for withdrawal) lack meaningful clinical evidence, and some (like kratom or high-dose loperamide) carry real risks of their own.
The most effective thing on this entire list: None of these comfort measures address the underlying cause the way medication for opioid use disorder does. [MAT comparison tool] Comfort measures make an uncomfortable process more bearable; they don’t shorten it or address why it’s happening in the way MOUD does.
Medically reviewed by [pending]. Source: SAMHSA TIP 63.