What Helps With Fentanyl Withdrawal?
Common Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
Fentanyl is a type of prescription synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain, such as after surgery or cancer pain. Like other opioid pain medications, it is highly addictive, and fentanyl addiction is a complex opioid use disorder that requires professional treatment approaches. Fentanyl abuse will very likely cause withdrawal symptoms and cravings which makes stopping the use of cold turkey difficult. Some people can even develop opioid dependence when using fentanyl as directed. Often, they will not notice until their prescription runs out and they develop withdrawal symptoms when they stop using.
Although the effects of fentanyl withdrawal can be severe and difficult to go through, drug and alcohol detox centers can provide withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment, and other drug detox therapies to make the process much easier and safer.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with attempting to stop fentanyl abuse are similar to opiate withdrawal in general. Intense withdrawals can cause severe pain and put individuals in dangerous situations. Symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal include:
- Intense cravings
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Increased body temperature
- Severe pain in bones and extreme muscle aches
- Runny nose, watery eyes, and yawing
- Chills and goosebumps
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Every person’s experience with the withdrawal process will be different however there is a general withdrawal timeline. Mild symptoms will start 8 to 30 hours after the last dose with symptoms peaking at 36 to 72 hours into drug detox, and acute withdrawal symptoms should end within a week. Some people experience mild, lingering withdrawal symptoms for weeks or months later, known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
Fentanyl Withdrawal Management
Managing addiction and withdrawal is most successful through a medical detox program. Addiction treatment centers with drug detox programs can offer around-the-clock care and medication-assisted treatment to ease opioid withdrawal and cravings. FDA-approved medications to ease opiate withdrawal and management of severe cravings include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
Over-the-counter medications can also help treat mild fentanyl withdrawals such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rehab centers can also provide behavioral health therapy to help with initial psychological effects during fentanyl withdrawals. Holistic treatments are also available at some medical detox centers including acupuncture, massage, and vitamin therapy can also help ease symptoms of addiction and withdrawal.
Is Fentanyl Withdrawal Lethal?
Symptoms during opiate withdrawal are not usually lethal. However, they can lead to dangerous situations. For example, severe vomiting and diarrhea can lead to extreme dehydration which can cause blood sodium levels to rise and result in cardiac arrest or renal failure. You can also accidentally choke on vomit during drug or alcohol detox. Fentanyl withdrawals can also cause intense psychological symptoms including depression, agitation, extreme fear, and suicidal tendencies, which can cause a person to harm themselves. A recovery center offers around-the-clock medical care to monitor patients and ensure their safety during fentanyl detox.
Safe Fentanyl Withdrawal Treatment at Novo Detox
The safest and easiest way to go through opioid withdrawal is with the help of medical detox programs. Novo Detox provides effective, evidence-based addiction treatments and drug detox programs to help individuals overcome fentanyl addiction. Our treatment programs are personalized to each patient. If you are only struggling with opioid dependence from pain medications, Novo Detox can personalize a treatment plan for the withdrawal process in our residential treatment facility to overcome symptoms easily.
For those struggling with fentanyl use disorders, you can easily transition into our drug rehab program after completing medical detox where we will address the complexities of your opioid addiction. We provide dual diagnosis treatment for those with co-occurring disorders to successfully recover from long-term addiction. Our luxury residential treatment drug rehab offers resort-like accommodations, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping services, and holistic treatments to help patients go through fentanyl detox more comfortably.
If you or your loved one is struggling with fentanyl addiction or opioid dependence, you do not have to suffer alone. Please call us at (844) 834-1777 today to learn more about our substance abuse treatment programs.
