Fentanyl Withdrawal
Fentanyl is one of the drugs with very high addiction potential. These drugs can be obtained from a doctor when a diagnosis was given, and it was determined that a fentanyl prescription can help. Fentanyl helps relieve pain, whether it’s in cancer patients, patients who went through surgery and are experiencing pain, or people dealing with chronic pain.
Whereas fentanyl may be extremely useful in the right situations, it also comes with several risks, one of them being the addiction potential. The substance can create dependence, mainly because it makes someone feel more euphoric and relaxed. The body becomes tolerant to the amounts consumed and will require more in order to get the pleasant feelings again.
But increasing the amount and becoming addicted will make it harder for someone to discontinue the substance abuse. When someone stops, they may experience withdrawal, which can be hard to take care of alone.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a very powerful drug that is part of the synthetic opioid group of drugs. It is used as a painkiller when intense pain appears in various patients. The doctor offers a prescription for the drug, and this is what makes some people start using it. This way, they will rely on it to make them feel better.
The substance is made in various drug labs from overseas and from Canada. It is sold just as fentanyl most of the time, but some other drugs may contain certain quantities of fentanyl. For instance, drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack, meth, and oxycodone contain the substance.
Fentanyl binds to some receptors in the brain that take care of emotion and pain, and this is how pain relief happens. The drug is more potent than morphine and may have a quicker or more intense effect. If used for too long, it can make the patient develop an addiction.
Side Effects of Fentanyl Addiction
As a powerful synthetic opiate, fentanyl can give numerous uncomfortable symptoms to people who become addicted to the substance.
Although in the beginning the relaxation and pleasure will be the thriving effects, over time, there will also be some side effects that will make life harder for the addict. Even worse, they will be present at all times since the addiction makes it almost impossible for the user to quit.
Some side effects caused by fentanyl addiction include:
- Cough
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dark stools
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- A tight chest feeling
- Less urine flow
- Lightheadedness and dizziness
- Side or back pain
- Changes in the mood of the user
- Appetite loss
- Fatigue
- Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth
- Ankle, hand, foot, and calf swelling
- Pale skin
- Pounding ears
- Nervousness
- Numbness or tingling in feet, lips, or hands
- Sunken eyes, sore throat, or sneezing
- Chills or fever
- Labored breathing
What You Need to Know About The WIthdrawals
Withdrawal appears when a person who has been using fentanyl for a considerable amount of time reduces the dose or discontinues the use. The body and brain are used to getting the euphoric feelings from fentanyl, and when these feelings are gone, some uncomfortable symptoms will show up.
Withdrawal is not easy to deal with, and more often than not, when the symptoms are way too intense, the individual may end up picking up fentanyl again. Getting back to consuming the drug will get rid of the withdrawal symptoms but will continue the unhealthy habit.
Even though there are people who have mild withdrawal symptoms, others have it worse. For some, withdrawal is very intense, and they cannot handle it without professional help from someone. This is why medical attention is necessary, and long-term addiction treatment is highly suggest.
Symptoms of Withdrawals
Various symptoms may appear due to fentanyl withdrawal, and every person will experience withdrawal differently. That being said, just because someone has specific symptoms, it doesn’t mean another person will have the same symptom combination. The experience will be different for everyone.
Some withdrawal symptoms that will make themselves known include:
- Muscle pains
- Anxiety and agitation
- Inability to fall asleep
- Abdominal cramps
- Increased heartbeat
- Increased blood pressure
- Body pain
Some people may end up experiencing depression, anxiety, or hallucinations. Getting medical attention is crucial.
Withdrawal Timelines
Fentanyl withdrawal will be different for everyone. Still, there will be a withdrawal timeline that most people will go through once they discontinue fentanyl use.
- 12-24 hours after the last fentanyl dose, the symptoms will appear.
- After 2 days, the symptoms will reach their peak. This stage will last for up to a week.
- After the second stage, the symptoms start decreasing. However, some former addicts can experience post-acute symptoms for several months or years.
After the worst has passed and the most intense symptoms have started to go away, the former addict may still experience things like anxiety, depression, and cravings.
Finding Treatment
Medical care is necessary when fentanyl withdrawal occurs. Usually, a rehabilitation center will be the place where an individual is treated during the withdrawal process, but also where they can treat the addiction.
Replacement drugs like Buprenorphine and Naltrexone may be used to decrease cravings during the withdrawal phase. The person will also go through detoxification so they can return to their life without being hooked to fentanyl anymore.
How to Detox Safely
During detox, it is safe for a patient to take fentanyl replacements. Also, they may take short-term sleep aids, beta-blockers, as well as antidepressants, which are all safe under medical supervision.
It is important to know that detoxing without help is unsafe due to how painful withdrawal symptoms can be and how dangerous they are. To be clear, the withdrawal symptoms can be debilitating. However, they are not the same thing as an overdose. If you or someone you know may be experiencing an overdose, it’s important to call 9-11 immediately.
We Can Help
Real Deal will ensure you get back on your feet. If you are going through fentanyl withdrawal, we can help you detox and deal with all the symptoms in a safe environment.
Moreover, we can treat any underlying issues that may have caused the addiction in the first place. All you have to do is contact us and you will have the benefit of receiving professional services that can improve your life.
Fentanyl withdrawal can be dangerous – therefore, nobody should handle it alone. Make sure to contact the nearest rehab center if you or someone else is experiencing fentanyl withdrawal.