Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is highly addictive, which can increase the risk of deadly overdoses. In fact, fentanyl is involved in a high number of overdose fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 10 western states in the U.S. had an increase of over 98 percent for deadly overdoses involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, from June 2019 through May 2020. Overcoming this type of addiction is important in order to decrease the risk of fentanyl overdoses, but those who plan to do so should learn more about fentanyl withdrawal.
Symptoms of Fentanyl Withdrawal
When you stop using fentanyl, your body needs time to recover or adjust. Just like other opioid substances, fentanyl can cause you to develop physical dependence. Stopping the use of this drug causes withdrawal symptoms to occur.
You might experience certain symptoms at first, such as the following:
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Anxiety
- Sore muscles
- Agitation
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia
- Yawning
- Sweating
As withdrawal continues, other symptoms might appear, such as the following:
- Pupil dilation
- Abdominal cramps
- Goosebumps
- Diarrhea
- Nausea with or without vomiting
Timeline for Fentanyl Withdrawal
When you stop using fentanyl, you might start experiencing early withdrawal symptoms within 12 to 30 hours after your last dose. Withdrawal effects usually peak within a few days after you stop using fentanyl. These effects might gradually ease up in about a week, although they might linger for a longer period of time in some cases. For example, you might experience withdrawal effects longer if you’ve been using fentanyl for a longer time.
Quitting Fentanyl Cold Turkey
Stopping the use of fentanyl suddenly can lead to greater discomfort when withdrawal symptoms start. Quitting cold turkey forces your body to abruptly adjust to being without fentanyl.
When you plan on trying to overcome fentanyl addiction, you should do so through a professional addiction treatment program. These programs typically use a tapering approach that makes it easier for your body to recover. The amount of time you’ll need to taper off can vary depending on certain factors, such as how long you’ve been using fentanyl and whether or not you’re also dealing with addiction to other substances.
Hallucinations During Withdrawal
While rare, fentanyl withdrawal can cause hallucinations to occur. In some cases, people who stop using fentanyl experience visual or auditory hallucinations. For example, they might hear voices, music or other sounds that aren’t there, or they might see things that aren’t there, including other people.
Hallucinations can be an alarming effect of withdrawal, which makes it important to seek professional care for overcoming fentanyl addiction.
Methadone for Fentanyl
Methadone can be used as part of a treatment plan for fentanyl addiction. Methadone is another opioid substance, although it is a long-lasting one compared to fentanyl. This drug can help prevent withdrawal symptoms due to its long-lasting effects. Methadone might make it easier for your body to adjust to the absence of fentanyl when you stop using it.
Since it’s important to take the right dosage of methadone for safe and effective treatment, you should only consider it while going through a professional treatment program. Professional rehab helps ensure that you’re able to safely go through fentanyl withdrawal and use methadone correctly in order to overcome addiction.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
First Step Behavioral Health is a licensed dual-diagnosis long-term care facility that treats patients struggling with fentanyl addiction. We are different from most facilities in that we have a truly unique family atmosphere that has proven time and time again to aid the healing process as you navigate through a difficult time.
We want to help you get your life back. If you’re looking for compassionate and effective treatment for fentanyl addiction for yourself or a loved one, please call us at (866) 971-5531 or contact us today.
