Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is classified as a Schedule II drug. The opioid is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and has a substantial risk of addiction. It is often recommended for patients with both chronic pain and tolerance to other opioids. It is a very powerful analgesic, up to 100 times as effective as morphine at certain doses. Medical professionals often keep careful tabs on fentanyl users. Street heroin may occasionally be laced with it; thus, some individuals have abused it without realizing it.
Regular users of fentanyl may develop a dependency, which means they may experience withdrawal when they suddenly cease or significantly reduce their usage. In most cases, these symptoms do not result in death. However, they have the potential to be very unpleasant and contribute to relapse. Fentanyl is addicting due to its euphoric effects and the high it gives you after using it.
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms vary greatly depending on a few factors such as the amount abused, the frequency, and whether or not the abuser used other substances at the same time. In the same way, fentanyl withdrawal timeline varies both in terms of formulation and the person experiencing them, however, a rough schedule looks like this:
This stage is characterized by mild withdrawal symptoms.
This stage is characterized by the worst bodily symptoms. The situation starts to improve to improve after the peak.
Around this time, the individual should start to feel more like themselves, and the withdrawal symptoms should have subsided. However, it may take a few weeks for some people.
The post-acute withdrawal syndrome may persist at this stage for some individuals. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (also called a protracted withdrawal phase) is a condition in which some physical withdrawal symptoms (such as elevated sensitivity to pain), as well as several psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, and anxiety), persist. Reports suggest this may continue for even years.
Timelines and severity of withdrawal might differ from one person to the next dependent on characteristics such as dosage, frequency, and duration of usage. Contact a medical practitioner if you are experiencing withdrawal or if you wish to stop taking fentanyl.
Withdrawal symptoms occur after a sudden withdrawal of a substance by someone with a moderate to severe addiction to that substance. Below are the common fentanyl withdrawal symptoms.
• Anxiety. • General body weakness. • Muscles pains. • Sweating. • Anorexia. • Abdominal pain. • Irritability. • Nausea. • Vomiting. • Eye irritation/tears. • Elevated breathing and heartbeat rates.
These side effects might be more or less severe depending on how much fentanyl the individual is abusing. The likelihood that withdrawal symptoms may become uncomfortable increases with the size and frequency of the dosage.
Skyward Treatment Center is here to assist you or a loved one with opioid dependence or addiction. Our trained and certified addiction specialists offer detoxification and rehabilitation services for drug use disorders. Contact Skyward Center for more information regarding fentanyl addiction and therapy options.
