Author: John Carter
Fentanyl Withdrawal: Symptoms, Detox, Timeline and Treatment
They also create a temporary sense of intense well-being or euphoria. That sensation wears off as the drugs leave your system, but the desire to reproduce that feeling may linger. If you then seek out more opioids, you can kick off a cycle of drug use that is very hard to break. It’s a synthetic opioid that pharmaceutical makers developed for treating severe pain.
However, given the compulsive nature of addiction, most people find self-regulated tapering to be impossible. These cases occur when people withdraw from fentanyl on their own, usually in a jail setting. Such deaths can be prevented by medical supervision in a detox facility. Other medications may also be used during fentanyl detox in order to help with specific symptoms. These include sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, and the medication clonidine, which helps reduce some withdrawal symptoms.
How Do You Manage Fentanyl Withdrawal?
When it’s time for you to stop taking opioids, ask for your healthcare professional’s help. Together you can create a plan to stop opioids slowly, called a taper. Tapering means slowly lowering over time the amount of opioid medicine you take until you stop completely. Medical detox involves the use of medications and medical supervision to safely withdraw from fentanyl or other substance use.
- If you have a couple weeks’ worth of medications, you can avoid the need to go out for more.
- But ask about all nonopioid pain medicine options to treat your pain, including the benefits and risks.
- Dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea is common and could lead to serious health complications.
- You may find that medications like clonidine can diminish some of your symptoms.
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Addiction to fentanyl is a highly damaging and potentially fatal condition, and recovering from such addiction is an urgent issue. Remember that detox does not in any way constitute treatment for fentanyl addiction. People should find treatment to address the reasons behind the substance use and recover from the mental and physical damage caused by drug use. Many people are addicted to fentanyl without even realizing it.
Your healthcare professional may recommend that you have naloxone available to lower your risk of an overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids during an emergency if you stop breathing. Narcan and Revive are naloxone nasal sprays you can buy without a prescription. It’s important that your family members know how to use naloxone. A detox facility can provide medications to help ease the withdrawal process.
Finding support
Withdrawal from opioids can make a person feel sleepy, but they may also have difficulty getting good quality sleep. People withdrawing from opioids may experience strong cravings and a desire to return to the drug they are quitting. Synthetic and semi-synthetic opioids include tramadol, oxycodone (Oxycontin), methadone, and hydromorphone.
Before helping a loved one through the withdrawal process, it is best to talk to a medical professional who is familiar with fentanyl addiction detox. Fortunately, withdrawal and detox symptoms can be managed in a medical setting. By participating in an inpatient detox and withdrawal program, people can get through the experience safely and more comfortably.
If you or a loved one are seeking help for addiction, our network of addiction facilities are ready to welcome you.
Your body might also build up a tolerance to many of the drug’s side effects, like skin dryness and constipation. Suddenly cutting yourself off from opiates may cause a strong reaction. These initial phases, which can last anywhere from a week to a month, can be followed by long-term withdrawal symptoms.
Because the effects of fentanyl are so powerful, you only need small doses to alleviate pain. If you find yourself having difficulty during your taper, support from others can be very helpful. If you and your healthcare professional think you have an opioid use disorder, voluntary groups such as Narcotics Anonymous are structured support groups. They are led by other people who have been dependent on addictive substances.
This can last longer than many of the other side effects of withdrawal. Many people who use substances want to escape their addiction, but fear of withdrawal keeps them from trying. However, millions of people have found long-term recovery, and that period of detox and was a small but necessary price to pay for huge rewards. A person may feel generally unwell and continue to crave opioids for up to 6 months or more. How long withdrawal symptoms last depends on the type of substance, the length and frequency of use, and individual metabolism.
A few examples are ice or heat therapy, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and nerve stimulation. People who have gone through withdrawal recommend trying to stay as comfortable as possible. Keep your mind occupied with movies, books, or other distractions. You may need to change your bedding due to excessive sweating. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. This type of treatment program requires medical supervision. Your doctor will determine your dosage, how often you take the replacement drugs, and how long you will be on the program. You may be able to slowly taper off methadone or buprenorphine. The treatment can also be a long-term approach to managing opioid addiction.
This is very dangerous, though, because illicitly-produced fentanyl is not regulated. You may get a dose that is significantly higher than what is safe. Endorphins mute the sensation of pain, which is why opioids are useful as prescription pain killers.
Withdrawal symptoms can start as soon as 12 to 30 hours after your last dose. Many people who develop fentanyl dependence do so after a doctor prescribes it for medical reasons. Taking any opioid for more than a couple of weeks can lead to addiction. Some doctors are hesitant to prescribe opioids for long-term pain management because of the risk of addiction.