Did you know that black-market fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent? Prescription fentanyl has a legitimate medical use for those with severe pain, especially after surgery, or for those who don’t tolerate other painkilling opioids well.
But it’s the synthetic type of fentanyl that is now the most common drug involved in drug overdose deaths in the US. Read on to learn more about addiction to fentanyl, detox, and medications to help with withdrawal.
Understanding Fentanyl Addiction
Prescription fentanyl can be given as a shot, a skin patch, or lozenges, or sucked like a cough drop. Synthetic fentanyl, associated most often with overdose, is made in underground labs. It is sold as a white powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills to look like prescription opioids.
More recently, fentanyl is also mixed with other drugs such as heroin, meth, ecstasy, and cocaine, among others. It takes very little fentanyl to produce a high, making it cheaper. This is especially risky as many people don’t realize other drugs are cut with fentanyl. As a result, they may be taking stronger opioids than their bodies are used to or can tolerate, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
Similar to heroin and other opioid drugs, fentanyl binds to the brain’s opioid receptors in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. After repeatedly taking opioids, the brain adapts, diminishing its sensitivity and making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug [1].
Fentanyl is highly addictive because it is so potent. A fentanyl overdose amount can be as small as 2 mg of the drug. It’s possible to become dependent, with withdrawal symptoms, when the drug is stopped. This dependence can lead to addiction with compulsive drug seeking and drug use that is hard to control despite harmful consequences.
How Long Does Fentanyl Withdrawal Last?
When people addicted to fentanyl stop using it, they can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin within 6 to 12 hours of taking the last dose and, in some cases, within 1 to 2 hours. They include:
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Acute withdrawal symptoms tend to peak within 1 to 3 days after the last dose. They typically subside over 5 to 7 days. For those with more chronic withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, mood changes, and insomnia, it can last for weeks or even months.
Factors which shape the onset and length of fentanyl withdrawal include:
- How long you have been using opioids
- How much you typically use daily
- How long you usually go between doses
Effects of Fentanyl Detox
Quitting fentanyl is difficult due to the extreme withdrawal symptoms it causes.
Some studies report that those withdrawing from fentanyl experience symptoms more severe, more enduring, and have a faster onset than heroin withdrawal, which may be causing premature exits from treatment.
Another study found that those testing positive for fentanyl at the start of treatment are 11 times less likely to be successfully started onto extended-release naltrexone than those testing negative for fentanyl. These factors significantly increase the risk of opioid-related overdose [2].
Medications to Reduce Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
As with other opioid addictions, medicine with behavioral therapies is effective for those with a fentanyl addiction. Medications for opioid use disorder, including fentanyl, are safe, effective and save lives. They interact with the same opioid receptors in the brain as fentanyl acts but don’t produce the same effects. The three main medications are:
- Methadone is an opioid receptor full agonist that attaches to and activates opioid receptors to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- Buprenorphine, an opioid receptor partial agonist, attaches to and partially activates opioid receptors to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- Naltrexone, an opioid receptor agonist, prevents fentanyl from attaching to opioid receptors, thus blocking the effects.
Methadone is currently the medication of choice for treating fentanyl addiction. In a 2020 study, 53% of patients admitted to methadone treatment who tested positive for fentanyl at intake were still in treatment a year later, compared to 47% of patients who tested negative—almost all (99%) of those retained in treatment achieved remission [3].
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Michigan
Rushton Recovery understands the complex nature of drug & alcohol recovery. We prioritize your well-being, safety, and comfort during treatment. Our detox and residential treatment center in Michigan offers a healing space to embark on your journey toward sobriety.
We offer evidence-based therapies designed to evolve with your individual needs and address the root of your substance abuse. Let our team help you get clean, repair relationships, and equip you with the skills to achieve long-term recovery. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
Sources
[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts.
[2] Luba R, Jones J, Choi CJ, Comer S.2023. Fentanyl withdrawal: Understanding symptom severity and exploring the role of body mass index on withdrawal symptoms and clearance. Addiction. 2023 Apr;118(4):719-726.
[3] National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2024. To address the fentanyl crisis, greater access to methadone is needed.