Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline

Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that has recently become the most commonly abused street drug in America. Like all opioids, people who continue to use fentanyl for a prolonged period of time will begin to experience a tolerance to the drug which means that they need more and more of it to experience the same effects.

After cessation of fentanyl and other opioids, a person will experience fentanyl withdrawal symptoms that can be extremely uncomfortable akin to an extremely bad flu with muscle aches. Depending on the fentanyl withdrawal timeline, medication-assisted treatment and other options can help make the process as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

Many people will need help to get through the fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, which is typically achieved through attending a medical detox.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to fentanyl, it can be like playing Russian roulette each and every time it is used. The amount it takes to cause an overdose is incredibly small.

Icarus Behavioral Health has many different treatment options, following detox elsewhere, that offer clients a much higher chance of achieving sustained recovery. Give their admissions department a call today to discuss which option is right for you. If you prefer texting to talking, you can send them an email as well.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It has quickly become the most common drug abused that is opioid in the United States due to the cheap manufacturing costs of fentanyl.

Fentanyl precursor chemicals are typically purchased from China by chemists in Mexico where they process the precursors into either fentanyl powder or counterfeit oxy-contin pills typically called “M Box 30’s” due to the design of the pill.

This powder and these pills then make their way across the border to American users who consume the drugs. Pills and powder can be either smoked, snorted, injected, or consumed orally.

The bottom line is that fentanyl is extremely potent and extremely deadly. If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to fentanyl or needs another substance abuse treatment, the best thing to do would be to get treatment and distance yourself from the drug.

Icarus Behavioral Health has many treatment options to help a person fighting a substance abuse disorder. Give them a call today to discuss their different treatment options. As for those who prefer texting to talking, it is also possible to send them an email.

Is Fentanyl Addictive?

Yes, fentanyl, like all opioids, is very addictive both physically and psychologically. When used continuously for some period of time, the physical addiction begins as opioids attach to the opioid receptors which will force a person to continue using or face severe opioid withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to the physical fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, fentanyl is also psychologically addictive and simply getting through the withdrawal symptoms does not mean a person will not go back to drug abuse of fentanyl.

It is because of the physical addiction that a person would benefit greatly from a medically supervised detox and then fentanyl addiction treatment rather than quitting cold turkey. However, because of the psychological addiction, inpatient treatment is a very useful follow-up to a medical detox to improve a person’s chance of continued recovery.

Typically, the longer a person stays in treatment, the greater their chances of sustained recovery, which is why most treatment centers offer multiple levels of care. A patient first attends a medical detox, and then the withdrawal symptoms are over they will spend anywhere from 30 to 90 days in inpatient or residential treatment followed by months of outpatient or partial hospitalization treatment.

Following this treatment plan of dropping down in lower levels of care has been statistically proven to increase a person’s chances at life in recovery.

Icarus Behavioral Health offers treatment plans that follow the progressively lower level of care plan as well as many other modalities that are scientifically proven to work. Call now to get treatment options and give yourself or your loved one a foundation for lasting recovery.

Does Fentanyl Cause Withdrawals?

Among the opioid family of drugs, they all cause opioid withdrawal symptoms. In the case of fentanyl, the extreme potency and short half-life are two reasons that the withdrawal symptoms are extremely painful.

Another factor that plays a role is the fact that people must dose every one to two hours in order to avoid going into withdrawal. The incredibly short half-life means that a person must dose five to eight times a day just to remain opioid withdrawal-free.

This is extremely dangerous as each time a person uses fentanyl, they have no idea of the purity of the drug abuse. One bag or pill might not even get them high, and the very next bag or pill could be strong enough to be there last. There is no quality control.

Fentanyl is the most dangerous drug to hit the streets, ever. I plead for anyone struggling with a fentanyl addiction to reach out and begin the process of getting help. Call Icarus Behavioral Health today, discuss their treatment options, and stop playing Russian roulette on a daily basis, as one of these times is going to be your last., and you won’t even get the chance for another opioid withdrawal.

What is the Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline?

As previously stated, fentanyl has a remarkably short half-life. This combined with the incredible strength of fentanyl makes it unique in the opioid family of drugs. After using fentanyl, within an hour to two hours, the person will already be in full withdrawal and will need more fentanyl in order to reduce withdrawal symptoms, the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

The first symptoms that begin in the first 2-10 hours include cold-like symptoms, runny nose, and yawning. After 24 hours since the last dose, the extreme symptoms will begin to rear their ugly head, which include vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. This will be when the intense insomnia begins as well.

After about day 4 the withdrawal symptoms begin to subside, slowly but surely. It can take several weeks for the withdrawal to subside completely, but the symptoms will diminish the more time goes on.

A medical detox can make the withdrawal symptoms much easier, as the medications they use take away most of the pain of withdrawal from opioid use disorder. This helps addiction treatment programs. Many people find it next to impossible to quit cold turkey and end up relapsing before the withdrawal symptoms are over.

This is why calling Icarus Behavioral Health and making an opioid use disorder addiction treatment plan that begins with a medical detox can be so beneficial.

Dual Diagnosis and Fentanyl Withdrawal

Dual Diagnosis is a co-occurring mental disorder that goes along with addiction. Examples can be depression, anxiety, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and many, many others. The commonality of dual diagnosis is the presence of a substance abuse disorder on top of the mental disorders.

Dual diagnosis requires treatment specific to the mental condition in order to be effective. Treatment of the addiction without treating the accompanying mental disorder has proven ineffective in studies.

According to one specific study published on the National Library of Medicine website, “Improved diagnostic criteria are available, and research has demonstrated that both disorders must be addressed if the dually diagnosed patient is to have the best chance for a good outcome. The best type of treatment program is an integrated approach, assuring that treatments will be coordinated for best effect.”

The rehab facility Icarus Behavioral Health understands this complex relationship between mental health diagnosis and substance abuse disorders. Their comprehensive treatment plans include some that are specifically designed for dual-diagnosis patients. Anyone suffering from a substance abuse disorder should give them a call to discuss substance abuse treatment or dual diagnosis options today.

Forms of Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

There are a few different forms of fentanyl treatment that have proven to be effective in combatting the lethally potent opioid by treatment improvement protocol.

One of these treatments is medication assisted treatment (MAT). MAT is designed specifically for opioids, as it is a treatment in which a shorter-acting, more dangerous opioid like fentanyl or heroin, is replaced with a more manageable, safer, and longer-acting prescribed medication like buprenorphine or methadone.

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist and partial opioid antagonist, while methadone is a complete agonist.

MAT treatment can be very effective at helping a patient live a much more stable life without having to go through the painful withdrawal process as it completely takes care of all drug cravings.

The downside to MAT treatment is that the patient is still dependent on an opioid, and if they are for some reason unable to access this medication, they are going to go through intolerable withdrawal symptoms.

Other treatment options and addiction medicine can also be applied to many other drugs, and not just opioids like fentanyl. These other addiction programs include therapies like relapse prevention, post-acute withdrawal management, and support groups. Inpatient treatment can also include MAT, but most of the time MAT is an outpatient modality.

Does Insurance Cover Fentanyl Detox?

Ever since its inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), addiction treatment, including fentanyl detox is typically covered by insurance. People are also covered for fentanyl addiction.

The Icarus Behavioral Health website has a function to enter your insurance information in order to get an initial pre-authorization to see if they accept your insurance.

If you or a loved one is considering treatment, and have insurance, use this feature now to begin your road to a life in recovery.

Medically Supervised Detox for Fentanyl

A medically supervised detox for fentanyl will typically be needed in order to get the patient’s mental health stabilized and ready for addiction treatment.

A medically supervised detox is always the first step in getting a person’s mental health ready to begin the recovery process. It isn’t until they have a clear mind that they can actually begin to do the work necessary for lasting recovery.

Icarus Behavioral Health will soon offer medically supervised detox for fentanyl which will be an integral first step on any person’s road to recovery. At this point, they encourage clients to reach out regarding the best medical detox to begin with before transferring to their inpatient offerings.

Find a Firm Foundation for Recovery from Fentanyl

Here at Icarus Behavioral Health, many people are finding a foundation for lasting recovery from fentanyl addiction through the many different program options.

Recovery can start today. All it takes is to read some of the immensely positive reviews to understand the role Icarus has played in the lives who took the first steps to start your admission process online today.

Give yourself a break from fentanyl and give Icarus Behavioral Health a call to discuss treatment options and start your admission process. Recovery can start or start again as soon as today… It may be the most important call you make in your life, give a call to Icarus today!