The last time I did detox from heroin was in 2013. I tapered down from about a gram a day habit all the way down to a few bags a day (bag = about 0.1 g) but couldn't/didn't want to suffer. I'd make it about 24-48 hours and knowing for me day 3 was worst I'd give up. (I had kicked previously cold turkey; all but one was locked up)
Anyway for me detox was so much easier. I was on phenobarbital which literally knocked me out. I slept in a sort of delirious haze, I'd wake up to go to the bathroom or change cause I was soaking wet from sweat which then got cold and would have me freezing, but within 5 minutes I was out again. For about 3 days I just slept/was knocked out. I had to tell someone to make sure I was up for food after the first 2 days (yep I even could eat)
It was a detox that used subutex after you were on grounds 12 hours, but I was given the phenobarbital within the first few hours and I never woke up to go get the sub lol. I figured why even mess with it when I'm knocked out and for the most part unaware. I figured this way I wouldn't have to deal with the sub comedown however slight as they only give it for 4-5 days. I really don't like subs much anyway; I always preferred methadone
Anyway I went in on a Monday; by Saturday I felt about 80 percent--not sick at all just a little weak. Took about a week to feel up to full strength, but I did play some baseball that Saturday lol.
For me, detox made getting off the heroin much easier.
Now, I've detoxes cold turkey off of both heroin and methadone. I've also tapered methadone.
If you can go to a detox, go. Why suffer if you don't have to.
And, for the record, after getting off methadone last time I stayed clean--completely clean--for almost 9 years. I relapsed in 2011, had an up and down 2 years, detoxed and stayed clean 6 months, relapsed and got back into a methadone clinic. Currently doing slow taper, down to 40 currently (from 95), and haven't used anything other than the methadone since 2014. (Really 2013 but there was a 6 week period I couldn't dose in morning and had to supplement...) but you get my point. It can be done, and it's not even a struggle anymore for me. And I was the completely out-there addict, not functional. If I can get off and stay off, anyone can. I went from a fairly successful university student to staying in a cheap rooming house with needle caps all over the bathroom to homeless to a convicted felon doing time upstate. Now I'm what you'd call respectable, work full time, have an apartment and car, most other creature comforts, etc. and most of all--peace of mind and contentment.
Good luck to you. If you want off, use any help available. Like I said--why suffer needlessly?