How Severe Can Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms Get?
It’s widely known by now that among the list of opioids from strongest to weakest, there’s one that is without a doubt the most significant driver of fatal drug overdoses in the United States: Fentanyl. This potent synthetic opioid is a closely controlled prescription medication used only in limited cases, such as for severe pain or as an anesthetic. However, illicitly made fentanyl is cheap to make and has flooded the market, increasingly found as an additive in other drugs that people buy illegally and don’t even realize they’re potentially getting a fatal dose of this opioid as well. For those who have become addicted to this dangerous drug, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can be severe, distressing, and even life-threatening in some cases.
Table of contents
» How Does Fentanyl Affect the Brain and Body?
» How Soon Do Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms Begin?
» Why Is Medical Detox Recommended for Fentanyl Withdrawal?
» How Do Rehab Programs Support Long-Term Recovery After Withdrawal?
» Key Takeaways on Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
» Resources
How Does Fentanyl Affect the Brain and Body?
Before learning about what to expect during treatment for fentanyl withdrawal, it’s helpful to have a better understanding of what fentanyl is and how it affects users’ brains and bodies in powerful ways. This synthetic opioid is made in labs and doesn’t contain natural ingredients.
Originally developed as a treatment for severe pain after surgery or accidents, it’s also an effective treatment option for cancer pain or chronic pain that can’t be managed with other medications.
While it started as a closely regulated prescription, it’s relatively cheap and easy to make, which has led to an explosion of illicit fentanyl on the black market today, and that’s why it’s become such a big piece of the overdose epidemic across America.
Fentanyl and other opioids can make users feel happy, relaxed, and even euphoric, and these feelings can reinforce repeated use and make someone hooked on the drug extremely quickly. Over a brief period of time, the brain can start to adapt to and crave these feelings and surges of chemicals more and more, paving the way to tolerance, dependence, and addiction that can make it feel hard to quit.
Here’s a deeper look at how fentanyl affects the brain and what it does to users:
- Intense euphoria caused by a surge of dopamine, a neurotransmitter.
- Drowsiness, dizziness, sedation, and confusion.
- Slowed or stopped breathing as the areas of the brain that regulate breathing are slowed and affected. Respiratory depression and lack of oxygen to the brain are the main reasons why fentanyl has become widely responsible for fatal drug overdoses.
- Mood swings, anxiety, and depression are common as the levels of neurotransmitters change and swing back and forth.
In addition to those short-term effects on the brain, over a more extended period of use, the person’s brain can actually start to adapt to the drug, meaning they’ll need more to feel the same effects. This can pave the way to addiction and dependency, reinforcing continued usage.
In addition, fentanyl can alter the brain systems that relate to pleasure and sense of rewards, which makes anything other than the drug feel less pleasurable and desired. Over time, heavy use of opioids like fentanyl can harm a person’s memory and attention, and it can even cause brain damage with repeated use.
Fentanyl also has profound effects on the body, leading to problems like:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Narrowed pupils
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Losing consciousness
- Itching or warm skin sensations
- Severe constipation
- Heart attacks and heart failure
- Breathing difficulties, especially during sleep
- Reproductive problems and hormone imbalances
- Suppressed and weakened immune system
- Higher risk of fractures due to reduced bone density (osteoporosis)
How Soon Do Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms Begin?
If someone has used opioids for longer than seven to 10 days, they’re at risk of suffering from intense withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly quit due to their bodies struggling to adjust to the sudden absence of these drugs. That risk is even higher if they’ve been using fentanyl, an especially potent version of opioids that can quickly become addictive.
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can include things like:
- Hot or cold flashes
- Excessive sweating
- Anxiety and irritation
- Powerful cravings to use more opioids
- Nausea or vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Diarrhea
- Runny noose
- Sneezing
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Dilated pupils
- Cramps
- Agitation
The onset of opioid withdrawal symptoms can vary based on the type of drug that was being used. For example, people who were taking fast-acting opioids like oxycodone or heroin can start to suffer from withdrawal symptoms just six to 12 hours after their last use of the drug, while people who were using slower-acting opioids like methadone might not experience withdrawal symptoms until one to three days later.
Generally, people who are suffering from opioid withdrawal will see their symptoms peak about two to three days after the last use, with symptoms typically resolved about five to seven days after quitting.
However, withdrawal often includes powerful cravings to use more of the drug to feel better, and that’s why so many people will relapse early in the process as they try to feel better again and relieve the severe withdrawal symptoms.
Why Is Medical Detox Recommended for Fentanyl Withdrawal?
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and distressing, and the addition of intense cravings and powerful urges to use more of the drug to feel better can often drive people to start using the opioid again to feel better and stop the withdrawal process.
On top of that, it’s possible to suffer from especially severe withdrawal symptoms that can become dangerous, such as severe dehydration and cardiac problems. That’s why it’s recommended to get professional help to quit this drug, as quitting cold turkey on your own at home can be uncomfortable and even dangerous.
By getting help from a medical drug detox program in Florida, patients can access round-the-clock medical support and medications that can help manage and minimize withdrawal symptoms. During this short stay in a specialized facility, patients can physically and mentally stabilize and get through the worst of withdrawal so they’re ready to focus on the work of dealing with their addiction in a drug rehab program.
What our customers are saying
How Do Rehab Programs Support Long-Term Recovery After Withdrawal?
Simply getting through the brief period of fentanyl withdrawal isn’t the only step to beating addiction, and people must continue with comprehensive drug rehab programs after completing medical detox. During rehab, patients get intensive therapy, including individual and group therapy, as well as access to life skills training, relapse prevention training, and much more.
These treatment options help people gain the strength and knowledge they’ll need to resist temptation and remain on the road to long-term recovery once they complete rehab and return to their daily lives.
Key Takeaways on Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
- Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is often illegally made.
- This powerful drug is a primary driver of drug overdose deaths in the United States.
- People who are addicted to fentanyl can suffer from fentanyl withdrawal symptoms just hours or days after their last use of the drug.
- Withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous, and powerful cravings will often drive people to use the drug again.
- Medical detox and drug rehab programs can help people get through withdrawal and achieve long-term recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, WhiteSands Treatment Center can help. We offer a comprehensive mix of treatment programs designed to help people get through fentanyl withdrawal and learn what they need to break the chains of addiction. Call us at 877-855-3470 and get started on the road to your recovery today.
Resources
- MedlinePlus – Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Fentanyl
- Mayo Clinic – Tapering Off Opioids: When and How
- HealthDirect – Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
