Fentanyl is an extremely powerful type of opioid. It is in the same family of drugs as morphine, codeine, and heroin. It does have limited prescription use, though it remains addictive due to its strength. Fentanyl is delivered in a variety of ways. Some people take it through a patch on their skin for all-day pain management. For example, cancer patients are often resistant to other forms of opioid-based pain relief. Fentanyl also comes in lozenge form and as an injection.
Even when used according to prescription guidelines, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are common between uses. Watching out for signs of fentanyl withdrawal is important for either seeking timely medical assistance, avoiding the development of an addiction, or both.
Contact Midwest Detox Center at 833.647.0392 to discover fentanyl addiction treatment that caters to your individual needs and takes your circumstances into account.
Common Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
Most people experience fentanyl withdrawal symptoms within a day following last use. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms and side effects include:
- Sweating
- Joint and muscle pain
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
These symptoms tend to peak in the first few days of withdrawal and level off over time. Watching for the signs of fentanyl withdrawal relies on an understanding of these fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. Since fentanyl is such a powerful drug, it is almost guaranteed that people who use fentanyl will experience fentanyl withdrawal symptoms during a gap in use. Nonetheless, these side effects may be minor or perceived as just the flu or a cold. Thus, it is critical to connect the signs of fentanyl detox to recent fentanyl use.
Keeping your experience with the side effects listed above in context is paramount. Certainly, anyone who is feeling sick could display those symptoms. But when they appear following a period of fentanyl use, your body is telling you that it is struggling to cope without fentanyl. Contacting your doctor right away and getting their opinion is critical. Do not simply double down by taking more fentanyl or going outside the bounds of your prescription when you notice signs of fentanyl withdrawal.
Fentanyl Detox Process
Most fentanyl addiction treatment providers in Ohio rely on tapering instead of having clients quit fentanyl cold turkey. Tapering is the process of having someone use less and less of a substance to allow their body to adjust to the drug’s decreasing presence. Not only does that help avoid the worst fentanyl detox symptoms, it means the ones that do appear are more easily managed.
Tapering schedules are determined by multiple factors like the level of dependence someone has developed to fentanyl, their history of fentanyl use, the presence of co-occurring disorders, and the presence of any other drugs in their system. Depending on how long someone has been using fentanyl or how severe their addiction is, it is possible that they won’t experience fentanyl withdrawal symptoms until going through detox.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Ohio
The first step in fentanyl addiction treatment is detox. That process removes fentanyl from the body and provides a clean foundation to build upon during recovery. Many times, fentanyl detox utilizes medication-assisted treatment to support the transition away from fentanyl use. Medications like buprenorphine and naloxone act on opioid receptors in the brain without producing the same type of dependence or side effects. They effectively trick the brain into thinking it has what it needs.
Detox is followed by lengthier addiction treatment in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. People in recovery from addiction receive dedicated therapy, resources, and ongoing support—therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy work to alter a person’s negative thoughts and behaviors that are prolonging addiction. Midwest Detox Center works with each client personally to customize therapeutic interventions and wraparound support to what they need to achieve recovery goals.
Find fentanyl addiction treatment options in Ohio by dialing 833.647.0392 today.
