Fentanyl is an extremely addictive opioid that targets the section of the brain responsible for emotion, pain and reward. This powerful drug is up to 100 times stronger than heroin or morphine which leads to higher risk of overdosing and rapidly forming addiction. Due to the strength and nature of fentanyl, proper medically-assisted detox is required in order to avoid life-threatening issues during the period of withdrawal symptoms.
What Exactly Is Fentanyl Drug Detox?
When any substance is abused, the mind and body develop dependencies on the presence of the substance in order to function properly. Once the substance is no longer there, the body goes into overdrive as it has already adjusted its processes to accommodate the drug or alcohol. Fentanyl detox is the process of slowly reducing the presence of the drug in order to decrease the level of cravings and severity of withdrawal symptoms.
How Does Medically-Assisted Fentanyl Detox Work?
Seeking professional help for fentanyl detox means visiting an addiction recovery center that has the staff and resources available to conduct the detox. FDA-approved medications that trigger the same receptors in the brain are used to replace fentanyl and slowly wean the body off of it. Methadone is one of the most common choices but buprenorphine and Suboxone are also effective options.
Should I Get Help With Fentanyl Detox?
Fentanyl detox can be extremely unpleasant and painful if done alone without proper medication and supervision to help address withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms are often why individuals fail to detox on their own and can include:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Profuse sweating
- Muscle aches and pains
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
Depending on the level of tolerance and dependency the body has for fentanyl, these symptoms can range from feeling like a bad cold or flu to hospitalization levels of pain and internal distress. What’s more concerning is that those who relapse will often return to the same dosage as before they attempted detox which can cause one to overdose due to the break in usage.
How Long Will Fentanyl Detox Take?
The amount of time it takes for the body to recover during fentanyl detox will vary person to person. The dosage taken, frequency it’s taken, how long it’s been used and personal health all play a part in the withdrawal timeline. Typically the process takes up to two weeks but may be longer for those who have severely abused the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms will begin anywhere from 12-32 hours after the last dose. The first 2-3 days are often the most severe in terms of the strength of withdrawal symptoms but can be fully managed with medical detox.
Find Fentanyl Detox Today
Whether you or a loved one are struggling with fentanyl abuse or addiction, Hickory Treatment Centers is here to provide detox support. Our goal is to create a safe and comfortable environment for each individual to promote the best chances of successful detox.
We strongly encourage you to reach out to our team of compassionate recovery specialists for a free and fully-confidential consultation.
