Dangers of Detoxing From Fentanyl at Home
Dangers of Fentanyl Addiction
The fentanyl epidemic has become a growing concern for Americans across the nation. The toxicity and unpredictability of fentanyl abuse have led to thousands of opioid overdose deaths and increasing the number of individuals facing a serious problem with an opioid addiction that is challenging to navigate your way out of. While drug addiction poses its own risks, fentanyl addiction is considered high risk due to how this illicit drug is manufactured and produced. Fentanyl originates from the prescription drug format typically used in medical settings requiring significant pain reduction after major surgery or life-threatening disease such as cancer. Once this substance hit the drug market, it began being made in illegal drug labs where the quantity of fentanyl is being placed within each pill of fentanyl. The range of doses changes from batch to batch making it difficult for substance abusers to know what they are taking each time leading to an increase in opioid overdoses.
Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine, and individuals abusing fentanyl find that they become addicted to this substance more quickly, leading to an intense physical dependency on it. The longer you abuse fentanyl, the more your body relies on this substance to function throughout the day. The tolerance developed to fentanyl leads substance abusers to increase the amount of fentanyl that they take to reach the same desired effects. This becomes dangerous as it exposes the drug abusers to larger quantities of drugs, increasing the risk of developing significant side effects from your drug abuse or, in some cases, leading to a fentanyl overdose. Although fentanyl addiction is highly addictive and can feel as though it is difficult to overcome, there is hope to safely and successfully overcome your drug addiction with the right support and treatment methods.
Why You Shouldn’t Try to Detox From Fentanyl at Home
While you know you are ready to begin your recovery journey and overcome your addiction to fentanyl, many questions arise for substance abusers about the best course of action for your drug detox and recovery program. Many will wonder if completing your fentanyl detox process from your own home is possible. Due to the severity of fentanyl addiction and its intense physical dependency, substance abusers should complete their opioid detox within a medical detox program that will monitor their safety and well-being throughout their drug detox process. Fentanyl addiction, similar to other opioid addictions, is known to produce severe withdrawal symptoms that are often unpleasant and, at times, painful. Attempting to quit cold turkey on your own becomes overwhelming for a person to manage the symptoms on their own leading many to return to abusing fentanyl to avoid experiencing any of the potentially painful or uncomfortable side effects. Choosing to detox within a medical detox setting will allow you the support you need from licensed medical professionals to uphold your comfort and safety throughout your recovery process.’
Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
Opioid addiction and the impacts of withdrawal symptoms have been heavily documented within mainstream media. Whether you have witnessed the impacts of withdrawal symptoms from mainstream media or if you have attempted to quit on your own, you know that withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl can be significantly uncomfortable. Your experience with fentanyl withdrawal symptoms will depend on your unique history of fentanyl abuse. Your withdrawal symptoms will range in severity depending on the length of time you have abused fentanyl, the quantity you use, and the frequency of your drug abuse. Withdrawal symptoms that fentanyl abusers may experience are:
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Agitation
- Dysphoric mood
- Excessive sweating
- Anxiety
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dilated pupils
- Muscle aches and pains
- Muscle spasms
- Tremors
- Stomach aches or cramping
- Fluctuating blood pressure
- Fever
- Extreme drug cravings
- Higher risk of overdose should you relapse after beginning your detox process
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Medical Detox for Fentanyl
Your relationship to fentanyl addiction is unique to you, and your experience in fentanyl detox will depend on your specific history of drug abuse. When you put your trust into a medical detox to support you in overcoming your fentanyl addiction, you will be provided with personalized care and treatment plans that are centered around your unique needs and circumstances for restoring your physical and mental health from the depths of drug addiction.
With the guidance and support of medical professionals, you will be provided with appropriate medical interventions and treatments that will assist in easing the detox process by significantly minimizing the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and reducing any presenting drug cravings. Patients will be provided with a comprehensive treatment program that will include evidence-based therapy methods and, in some cases, be offered the support of a medication-assisted treatment program.
As you experience withdrawal symptoms, medical professionals will closely monitor you, ensuring you remain safe and comfortable throughout your detox program. Once your withdrawal symptoms begin to subside, you will be provided with support in transitioning into a drug rehab program that will assist you in healing from the underlying causes of your drug addiction.
Medications Used in Fentanyl Detox
For many individuals within a medical detox setting for fentanyl detox, you will be provided with the option of participating in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. Throughout a MAT program, you will be provided with medications that will support in easing your withdrawal symptoms and reducing the onset of severe drug cravings allowing you to remain focused on your addiction recovery goals.
Medications offered within a fentanyl detox are:
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone) – Works to alleviate the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and reduce the onset of fentanyl cravings as this medication will block the opioid receptors within your brain
- Methadone – Works to reduce withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings as it is a short-term opioid that avoids producing any euphoric feelings that mirror getting high from opioids
- Naltrexone – This medication binds and blocks the opioid receptors in the brain, preventing substance abusers from feeling the effects of opioids should they engage in drug abuse. This medication also works to suppress any drug cravings.
How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?
The effects of fentanyl will occur within your body for a few hours after you take this illicit drug. However, if you were to complete a drug test, you would find traces of fentanyl in your system for longer. Depending on how you test for fentanyl whether it be hair, urine, or blood tests, Fentanyl will stay within your system typically for 24-72 hours. However, it can appear in drug tests that use hair as a sample for up to 3 months.
Opioid Detox at Novo
Novo Detox and treatment centers offer patients a whole-person integrated approach to healing from their opioid addiction. Patients within our drug detox and rehab programs will be provided with customized treatment plans that utilize the latest in addiction therapy methods including behavioral therapy, dual diagnosis treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and holistic therapy to support you in healing from your opioid addiction within your mind, body, and spirit. Our team of medical professionals and addiction therapists will support you every step of the way as you restore your body from the depths of addiction and begin on your new road to recovery that will lead you to long-term success in addiction recovery. Call us at (844) 834-1777 today to hear more about the opioid detox programs we can provide you and give yourself the gift of healing from addiction.
