How Long Does It Take to Detox from Fentanyl?

Get to Know the Process of Starting Fentanyl Recovery

Many people who are entrenched in drug addiction, particularly those who have become hooked on fentanyl, want to know what to expect if they decide to embark on the path to recovery. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be quite severe, but knowing what to anticipate and when can help you through the process. How long does it take to detox from fentanyl?

If you or a loved one are struggling with this powerful synthetic opioid, do not despair. Help and answers are found here.

Icarus Behavioral Health knows how intense the symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal can be. If you know that you will experience some of these symptoms, you might want to go through a professional medical detox in our facility. We can take actionable steps to make you more comfortable at every stage of your detox.

Let us help you through this process and guide you toward recovery from your substance abuse!

What are the Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms?

Before we dive into the fentanyl withdrawal timeline, it is helpful to understand the withdrawal symptoms that you are likely to face in beginning substance abuse treatment and early recovery.

Fentanyl withdrawal is similar to other types of opioid withdrawal, so you may already be familiar with what you will experience.

The Physical Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

Consider how uncomfortable some of these symptoms might make you:

• Body aches and pains, similar to the flu
• Fever
• Sleep disturbances (typically insomnia)
• General feelings of pain
• The return of lingering injuries or chronic pain
• Mood swings and irritability
• Leg movements
• Chills and goosebumps or uncontrollable sweating
• Enlarged pupils
• Runny nose or eyes
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

Medication-assisted treatment may not take away all of these symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal, but it can make you more comfortable. Icarus Behavioral Health can provide what you need to detox safely from any type of opioid and get you into addiction treatment programs so that you can find long-term success.

How Long Does it Take to Detox from Fentanyl: A Typical Timeline

With an awareness of the withdrawal symptoms you are likely to face when you discontinue fentanyl use, it is time to turn your attention to when you can expect to experience these symptoms. Most notably, you may want to know when you can expect the worst of the withdrawal to be over.

Here is what you need to know.

Symptoms Come on Early: 6 to 12 Hours

Unfortunately, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms come on quickly once the drug starts to work its way out of your system. In many cases, you will feel the first signs of withdrawal a mere six to twelve hours after your final dose of the drug. This means that as soon as you commit to getting sober, you likely need to head out to detox programs that can help you cope.

Because the withdrawal symptoms can be so intense and happen so quickly, many people wait until they are already uncomfortable to head to detox. Alternatively, many of them will abandon the idea of sobriety because it is simply too uncomfortable.

When you know that you will detox from fentanyl soon, contact Icarus Behavioral Health right away.

The Worst of the Withdrawal Symptoms: Days One through Three

Opioid withdrawal symptoms surface very quickly, even when taking a synthetic opioid like fentanyl. If you have started to experience the symptoms caused by fentanyl withdrawal, you are already making progress toward a healthier lifestyle. The worst of the symptoms does not last forever and starts to subside rather quickly.

Days one through three tend to be the most intense time for opioid withdrawal symptoms. You can white-knuckle it for a little while to get through the worst of the cravings as well as the physical and emotional symptoms. Three days may feel like a long time, but it is small in the grand scheme of things.

Medication-assisted treatment can help with symptoms like nausea and vomiting, can keep fevers under control, and can help with muscle aches and pains. There are lots of interventions that a professional detox center can employ to give you a greater chance of lasting success.

Turning the Corner on Fentanyl Abuse: One Week Out

Many people start to feel that they turn the corner on their withdrawal symptoms once they reach the one-week mark. Most of the intense severe withdrawal symptoms are gone physically, but you may still notice that the emotional side effects of opioid use disorder linger for a little while longer.

It may sound like it would be preferable to have emotional symptoms rather than physical ones, but these can still be some of the most unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Chances are that you used your fentanyl addiction to cope with the stressors of daily life. You might have a hard time handling daily stress for a while until you can implement new coping skills.

At the one-week mark, you might also still be experiencing insomnia and other sleep disturbances.

Two Weeks to Several Months Later

Unfortunately, fentanyl addiction treatment is not a week-long program that you can attend and never have to struggle with drug addiction again. By two weeks, most of your fentanyl detox will be over. That being said, you still have other things that you will need to deal with if you do not want to fall back into your opioid addiction.

Emotional side effects of fentanyl withdrawal can include anxiety and depression, both of which might require a little pharmaceutical assistance. Staying in an inpatient rehab facility or participating in a partial hospitalization program allows you to tap into resources like medication management that can help you long-term.

Ongoing Withdrawal Management for Drug Abuse

Not to mention, you are likely to continue experiencing cravings for the drug even months after your last use. Encountering triggers that would have prompted you to take fentanyl before will be challenging for you in a new sober lifestyle. You will need to put coping skills in place and find a solid support system through friends, family, or even 12-step meetings.

Even if you engage in inpatient rehab, you will eventually face cravings when you enter back into the real world. Do your best to prepare now and prevent relapse later by taking your treatment program seriously. The skills you learn in an intensive program will come in handy later on, so start practicing them as soon as you can to make them a habit.

At Icarus Behavioral Health, we offer one-on-one counseling and support groups to help you conquer your addiction. At every stage of your treatment program, we provide the support necessary to help you enter back into your life without an opioid addiction.

Get Help for Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms Now

If you are concerned about your opioid use disorder and want to get it under control before an accidental fentanyl overdose, you need help for substance abuse now. Medical detox can help you to more comfortably transition away from fentanyl use. Plus, it provides you with a safe environment where you know that you are not going to use it again.

Icarus Behavioral Health offers everything you need to beat your fentanyl addiction. From medical detox to an inpatient rehab center to outpatient programs, we are here for you every step of the way. Don’t allow substance abuse to take over your life. Seek treatment with us and contact our insurance verification department to learn more about what services we can offer you.

Reach out today for a confidential consult, and get options to overcome fentanyl now!