Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills often resembling prescription drugs have risen in popularity on the black market. While users may think that they’re getting a cheap high by buying these substances, they are also getting something extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. 2 to 3 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to cause a fatal overdose.
The sad fact is that many users will take fentanyl unknowingly, consuming it under the pretense that it is a different, less powerful opioid. Unsurprisingly, the CDC has reported that fentanyl is
The role of fentanyl in the US – a culture of substance use disorders
fentanyl has legally recognized medicinal uses in the United States and is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Schedule II drugs often have a very high potential for drug abuse, dependency, and addiction. They also possess a high risk of overdose, despite their indicated medical uses.
What is fentanyl withdrawal?
Fentanyl behaves similarly to other opioids. It binds with neurochemical transmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) and brain, blocking the transmission of pain. It binds to the same pleasure receptors that endorphins do, allowing it to produce feelings of euphoria. With extended use of the drug, the brain will eventually adapt to this increased endorphin and produce additional endorphin receptors. However, when (instance someone quits cold turkey, pain symptoms, mental illness, and physical cravings occur. These neurochemical changes are the physiological cause of opiate addiction, and subsequently, withdrawal.
If dependence kicks in and the user wants to quit but feels that withdrawal symptoms may be too much to bear, it is advised to seek treatment from medical professionals. Opiate detoxification through medical care gives the patient the resources they need to quit drugs like fentanyl in a safe environment such as a. This approach gives them the best chance of success.
Why do medical professionals prescribe fentanyl for health reasons?
Physicians will usually prescribe fentanyl to patients who need pain relief following or due to chronic pain caused by cancer or other severe illnesses. If one to other opioids, they may be prescribed fentanyl to manage their pain. Lozenges, sublingual tablets, nasal spray, swabs, intravenous injections, or transdermal patches are all ways that fentanyl can be delivered to the patient.
Fentanyl facts:
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, also known by the brand names Sublimaze, Duragesic, Fentora, Actiq, Subsys, and Abstral.
- Fentanyl is also known by street names such as Apache, China white, Crazy One, Butter, Jacket, Fent, and Fenty.
- It is often used as a cutting agent for heroin or other opiates.
- While heroin is derived from morphine, a natural substance removed from the seed of the opium poppy plant, fentanyl is synthetic and can be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms and their intensity are largely dependent on the individual who is experiencing them. Height, body weight, preexisting health level, and the patient’s mental health condition are all factors that can influence the withdrawal process. Additionally, the type of detox plan that the patient uses can play a pivotal role in their withdrawal experience.
While a patient isn’t expected to experience all of these symptoms, they should expect some of the following:
- Flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, headache, and fever.
- Restlessness, sleeping problems, and insomnia.
- Muscle aches and cramps
- Stomach cramps, pains, or gastrointestinal issues.
- Joint/bone pain
- Weakness and lethargy
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
- Changes in blood pressure
- Respiratory changes
- Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
When someone exhibits these symptoms they must be given adequate medical supervision. If they do not get adequate clinical care during a period of opioid use, the intensity of withdrawal symptoms could increase substantially.
Fentanyl withdrawal timeline
The fentanyl withdrawal process will usually last 2 weeks. It’s important to note, that the road to recovery is largely influenced by the patient’s physical and psychological condition. Additionally, the severity of their opioid dependence and the treatment options that they use also play a role in determining what the road to recovery will look like. The ANR rehab method is the fastest substance abuse treatment, with patients typically recovering in a few days.
More factors that can influence the duration of opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
- The method used to take the drug (pill/tablet, intravenous injection, snorting, fentanyl patch, etc.)
- If the substance was taken with any other drugs or alcohol.
- The length of time the user had been taking the substance and their level of fentanyl dependence.
- The doses of fentanyl the user had been taking.
- If the patient has a history of addiction or substance abuse.
Days 1-2
The patient can expect to begin feeling opioid withdrawal symptoms 12 to 48 hours after their last dose of fentanyl. may include insomnia, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, and muscle pain.
Days 2-4At this point, patients are likely to enter the acute withdrawal phase, where physical symptoms. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mood swings, and severe drug cravings.
Days 5-14
Physical symptoms of withdrawal will start to diminish within 5 to 14 days. Despite this, psychological symptoms can worsen, as the patient is left with the stress and emotional trauma caused by their drug-induced behavior. Symptoms can include nervousness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and irritability. These symptoms can cause a high risk of relapse. this, the patient must be given all the support they need from friends, loved ones, and medical professionals.
Delayed symptoms of opioid withdrawal – Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
Despite the withdrawal period lasting 1 to 2 weeks for most, outliers may experience continued symptoms known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). The post-acute withdrawal period is known to last several weeks, months, or even years. While post-acute symptoms can be physical, they are most often psychological. PAWS can leave the patient with anxiety, depression, mood swings, attention deficit, insomnia, indifference, lethargy, and act to further exacerbate existing mental illness.
Rapid Detox for Opioid Addiction
Advanced rapid detox is a medical treatment that usually involves general anesthesia and opioid antagonists to quickly cleanse out opioids, including fentanyl, from the body. Rapid detox under sedation can help minimize the intensity of fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, but there’s no evidence that it helps people make a lifelong recovery.
Many patients relapse after fentanyl rapid detox, as it only manages the symptoms of addiction without addressing its biological cause – the changes in brain chemistry. Since fentanyl rapid detox reduces your opioid tolerance, relapse can result in a potentially fatal overdose. As such, the disadvantages of rapid detox, including its high cost, often outweigh its benefits.
ANR Opioid Treatment – Treating Fentanyl Dependency with ANR
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is the only medical treatment that is shown to restore the endorphin-receptor balance in individuals struggling with fentanyl dependency.
What makes the ANR treatment unique from rapid detox and other opioid dependency treatments is that it tackles the biological root cause of dependency instead of simply counteracting its symptoms. As a result, it eliminates fentanyl dependency along with cravings and withdrawals.
Additionally, the ANR treatment offers a personalized approach to overcoming fentanyl addiction, which maximizes its safety. Our experienced medical professionals will evaluate your specific needs and medical history and tailor your treatment accordingly.
Not to mention, while most treatments need weeks to take effect, ANR allows patients to recover from fentanyl dependency in just a few days. Most patients enjoy healthy living without any risks of further symptoms or relapse after the treatment in one of our centers.
ANR Clinic offers healthcare facilities in:
- DeSoto Memorial Hospital, Arcadia, Florida
- ANR Europe Thun, Switzerland
- New Vision University Hospital, Tbilisi, Georgia
Contact us today for a free, 100% confidential consultation!
FAQ
Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid drug that can lead to physical dependence, addiction, and opiate withdrawal, especially if it is abused. Often, people attempting to acquire other opioids like heroin or morphine on the black market will be given fentanyl. If this is the case, they will eventually develop a tolerance to the stronger drug and feel that they must continue using it to satisfy their dependence/addiction.
In most instances, the first signs and symptoms of withdrawal will present themselves within 12 to 48 hours of the user’s last dose of fentanyl.
Withdrawal symptoms aren’t likely to last longer than two weeks for most people. However, if someone experiences post-acute opioid withdrawal syndrome, the road to recovery can take additional weeks, months, or even years. The withdrawal process is largely dependent on the individual, the nature of their drug use, and the method of treatment they use. The recovery period lasts only a few days at an ANR rehab center.
At the ANR Clinic, we offer an opioid addiction treatment program.Accelerated-Neuro Regulation (ANR) is an extremely effective treatment that treats addiction by restoring the endorphin-receptor balance to regular levels. It is only addiction treatment that deals with the root of the dependency versus other programs such as inpatient drug rehab, residential treatment programs, intensive outpatient rehab, cognitive behavioral therapy, and even medication-assisted treatment using medicines like methadone or buprenorphine.
There are many signs of withdrawal from fentanyl and other opioids. here for more health information and signs of fentanyl addiction.
