The intensity and duration of fentanyl withdrawal can vary based on the length of your fentanyl or opioid addiction, your overall health, and other factors.
To ensure your safety and comfort during this challenging process, addiction withdrawal should be managed in a medical detox center where you can receive appropriate care and treatment.
What Are Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms?
The symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal can vary widely from person to person, influenced by several factors. For instance, the duration of fentanyl use and the typical dosage strength play significant roles in determining the severity of your withdrawal symptoms.
The difference between fentanyl and other withdrawal symptoms is that fentanyl withdrawal tends to be more intense and rapid compared to other opioids due to its high potency and short half-life.
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms that include a runny nose, headache, and fever
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches, pains (even chronic pain), and spasms
- Stomach pain and other gastrointestinal issues
- Joint and bone pain
- Weakness
- Lethargy or tiredness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased heart rate and changes in blood pressure
- Respiratory issues
- Mental effects like anxiety and depression
Although fentanyl withdrawal isn’t inherently life-threatening, detoxing at home can be extremely dangerous. Without ongoing support, the right medications, and proper treatment, withdrawal symptoms can become so intense that it could lead to relapse.
Relapsing on fentanyl addiction after a period of abstinence is particularly risky. It can be fatal, as your body’s tolerance decreases during an extended period of recovery from an opioid dependence, making an overdose much more likely.
What Factors Play a Role in the Timeline?
The exact timeline you experience withdrawal symptoms when quitting fentanyl addiction is dependent on a variety of factors, including:
- The length of time you abused fentanyl
- The dose of fentanyl you typically took
- How frequently you abused the substance
- Your age and weight
- The rate of your metabolism
- Your overall health
- Whether you abused other substances
- The functionality of your liver and kidneys
Because all of these factors can influence how long fentanyl withdrawal lasts, the process can be uncomfortable, and it’s best to attend a medical detox program.
The medical team can thoroughly assess your needs and make an educated inference on the type and length of treatment you would most benefit from.
If you attempted to detox at home without medical supervision, it would be difficult to determine the withdrawal timeline you may experience.
Understanding the Timeline
While the specifics of fentanyl withdrawal can vary, most individuals experience the same general timeline. Knowing this timeline can help you better prepare for withdrawal management. Any withdrawal attempts should be under the care of a doctor or medical facility to reduce risk.
1 to 2 Days
Sometime between 12 to 48 hours after your last dose of fentanyl, you will begin to experience the symptoms of withdrawal.
The initial symptoms are typically mild, often including insomnia, loss of appetite, flu-like symptoms, and cravings.
2 to 4 Days
Between 2 to 4 days after you last used fentanyl, your symptoms will begin to peak. This means they will be at their most intense, making it vital that you are within a detox facility at this time.
It is common to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme mood swings, body aches or even severe pain, and nearly insatiable cravings for fentanyl.
5 to 14 Days
5 to 14 days after your last dose, your symptoms will begin to subside. While the physical symptoms of withdrawal are usually gone by this time, you might still experience psychological effects. Symptoms may include anxiety, insomnia, depression, and irritability.
Treatment remains vital at this point of recovery. Withdrawal symptoms could lead you to experience a relapse in drug use without professional support, putting you at risk of experiencing a life-threatening fentanyl overdose.
How is Fentanyl or Opioid Withdrawal Treated During Detox?
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are not directly life-threatening. However, they present serious symptoms, including a significant risk of relapse, making it essential to seek professional treatment and support.
Drug detox centers can prescribe FDA-approved medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent you from experiencing cravings.
The medications provided during the withdrawal process will keep you medically stable and comfortable, allowing you to fully focus on building a solid foundation of recovery. Some of the prescriptions, including opioid medications, used during fentanyl detox include:[3]
- Buprenorphine (Sublocade)
- Buprenorphine and naloxone (Suboxone and Zubsolv)
- Methadone (Dolophine and Methadose)
- Lofexidine (Lucemyra)
In addition to providing medication-assisted treatment, the medical team will provide 24/7 support and supervision, ensuring you receive the comprehensive care you need to stay sober.
Find Help for Fentanyl Withdrawal
If you or a loved one suffer from fentanyl addiction, you should never attempt to detox on your own. Drug detox centers can provide you with the treatment and tools necessary to progress past fentanyl withdrawal safely and comfortably.
If you are looking for a rehab center in MA, speak with a team member at Elevate Recovery Center today to find a trusted fentanyl detox center near you.
