Fentanyl
Detox

Fentanyl is one of the most powerful opioids out there. It’s up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is incredibly addictive and produces painful withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. Therefore, fentanyl detox is necessary for anyone who wants to stop using the substance.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid. It’s used primarily as a painkiller for moderate or severe pain. The drug is often prescribed to people with cancer pain.

It mimics the effects of naturally derived opioids, such as morphine and codeine. Only a small amount of the substance is necessary to relieve pain. Some fentanyl analogs are even more potent than the pharmaceutical-grade substance. Carfentanil, for example, is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine.

In prescription form, fentanyl typically comes as a lozenge, tablet, spray, injectable formula or transdermal patch. However, many people manipulate those methods of administration to increase the potency or deliberately misuse the product.

Most incidences of fentanyl-related fatalities are associated with illegally made forms of the drug. Other ingredients may be added. These ingredients can intensify the high, but they can also increase the risk of addiction and overdose.

Signs of Fentanyl Addiction

It can be difficult to tell when an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol, especially in the early stages of their addiction. But, when aware of what to look for, identifying a fentanyl addiction can be much easier.

Each individual person who is addicted to fentanyl is going to have their own set of symptoms they exhibit. The symptoms they develop can be influenced by factors specific to them, such as their age, mental health status, and history with substance abuse, for example. But, the most common symptoms that are seemingly shared among nearly all those who are addicted to fentanyl include the following:

• Inability to stop abusing fentanyl despite physical or psychological consequences
• Failed attempts to try to cut back or stop fentanyl abuse
• Continuing to use fentanyl despite legal, personal, or professional repercussions of doing so
• Neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school due to preoccupation with fentanyl acquisition and use
• Experiencing financial problems as a result of funding a fentanyl addiction
• Deceitful behavior, such as omitting information from loved ones, lying about whereabouts, stealing, etc.
• Abusing other addictive, mind-altering substances to combat the undesirable effects of fentanyl
• Changes in physical appearance, such as weight gain/loss, poor hygiene, disheveled appearance, etc.

Someone who is addicted to fentanyl will have a difficult time avoiding some or all of these symptoms, especially considering the potency of this substance. Fentanyl is highly addictive and extremely destructive to one’s wellbeing. It does not need to be abused for long before an addiction develops, making it a very dangerous substance.

How Do You Know If You Need Fentanyl Detox?

It’s easy to become physically dependent on fentanyl. If you don’t use opioids, your body secretes chemicals that naturally reduce pain and make you feel good. These neurotransmitters bind to the opioid receptors in your central nervous system. They help keep your system in balance.

However, they’re not strong enough to relieve intense pain. Also, you can’t overdose on your body’s own chemicals.

Whether you take fentanyl for pain relief or just to get high, it binds to the same opioid receptors that are normally activated by your body’s own chemicals. In doing so, it blocks pain signals.

Because those receptors are triggered by the drug, your body reduces its production of natural feel-good neurotransmitters. It thinks that you don’t need them anymore.

When you stop taking fentanyl, you experience withdrawal symptoms because your body isn’t used to managing its own chemical levels. This is how you become physically dependent on fentanyl. You can become dependent on the substance even if you take a prescription as directed by a doctor.

Eventually, the fentanyl stops working as well as it once did. You might need more of it just to feel normal. Dependency can quickly lead to addiction. The chances of becoming addicted increase if you abuse or misuse the drug.

The only way to bring your body back into balance is to stop using the substance. However, you might be afraid of doing so because you know that you’ll experience fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. That’s when fentanyl detox is necessary.

What Does Fentanyl Detox Entail?

Most people have trouble going through fentanyl detox without support. Approximately 6 to 36 hours after the last dose, they begin to have withdrawal symptoms. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can range from moderate to agonizing depending on your history with the drug.

Some of the most common initial withdrawal symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Chills
• Sweating
• Restlessness
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Cramps

Within another day or two, your symptoms may peak. Other withdrawal symptoms that you can experience at that time are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Shaking

These symptoms may subside within about 10 days. For some users, protracted withdrawal symptoms continue for weeks or months.

During the fentanyl detox process, you should be medically supervised. Make sure that you have adequate psychological and physical support.

Many people don’t want to have to leave their homes to enter an unfamiliar and uncomfortable rehab facility. When you’re sick, all you want to do is stay in bed. Our home detox program allows you to do that.

We send our professionals to you to provide support, ease your withdrawal symptoms and make sure that you detox safely. Our medical professionals can administer medications to reduce the side effects of fentanyl detox. We also make sure that you get through each phase of fentanyl detox successfully.

Home detox is an ideal option for people who find solace in their own space. You may also be able to get through the fentanyl detox process more quickly when you’re relaxed and at ease. Contact us today to learn more about fentanyl detox at home and find out if our methods are right for you.

How Long Does it Take to Detox From Fentanyl?

Detoxing from fentanyl is not always the easiest process. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms begin to set in within 12-30 hours after one’s last use. If an individual is attempting to detox from a fentanyl patch, they might not see withdrawal symptoms develop until up to 72 hours after removal due to its extended release. Like most addictive substances, fentanyl causes symptoms to develop quickly and then peak over the next few days. It is common for withdrawal symptoms to dissipate after one week post use. However, the length of time that a person spends detoxing from fentanyl can depend on several factors, including how much fentanyl they were abusing, how long they were using for, and what other mental/physical health complications they are experiencing.

Fentanyl Detox in Los Angeles

If you or someone you love is addicted to fentanyl, know that you are not alone. Fentanyl is one of the most commonly abused substance in the country and it is impacting millions on a daily basis. There is no shame in struggling with an addiction to fentanyl. If you or a loved one need help ending a fentanyl addiction, reach out to us right now to learn more about how we can help you.