Fentanyl detox to overcome fentanyl addiction

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than any other opioids. It is more addictive than morphine, heroin, or oxycodone. Fentanyl is used to mitigate moderate to severe pain. The drug fentanyl belongs to the narcotic analgesics group.

Fentanyl is a strong analgesic. It comes in different forms and is addictive. The addictions lead to drastic fentanyl withdrawal symptoms which can be deadly. However, there are several fentanyl detox treatments available to help patients fight addiction.

Different methods of fentanyl usage

●     Fentanyl Patch

Fentanyl helps in treating moderate to severe chronic pain. Fentanyl patches are placed on the skin. In addition, when other pain medications are ineffective in treating the pain, fentanyl patches provide relief.

Fentanyl patches should not be used to address minor, infrequent, or post-surgical pain. It is used to cure continuous, nonstop pain. A new fentanyl patch is applied after 72 hours.

Fentanyl Sublingual Spray

Subsys is a brand name for fentanyl sublingual spray. It is used to treat constant cancer pain resistant to other medications. Fentanyl Spray is put under the tongue to treat pain. Then, for about 30 and 60 seconds, the drug is placed under the tongue. It is not to be swallowed, spit, or rinsed.

Fentanyl Buccal Tablets

Fentanyl tablets help treat persistent cancer pain that other painkillers cannot treat. The tablet is placed in the mouth and allowed to dissolve. Therefore, the fentanyl tablets are not ingested whole.

Fentanyl Lollipops or Lozenges

Fentanyl lollipops are fentanyl-citrate tablets in the form of lollipops. The patients must rotate the lollipop in the mouth to transfer the drug.

You will need to take a different dose if you transition from tablet to other forms of fentanyl. Many fentanyl dosages other than those used in tablets are lower. If patients use the same amount of fentanyl in different forms, it can lead to an overdose.

Fentanyl Nasal Spray

Fentanyl nasal spray is a nasal spray that contains fentanyl. It is one single spray into one nostril. The doctor may change the doses according to the pain. The spray can slow or stop breathing. The spray should not be used for longer than prescribed.

Fentanyl Injections

Fentanyl injections are analgesics or anesthetics used during surgery.

General fentanyl dosing information

• Only use fentanyl if your body is used to a similar opioid pain medicine
• . If you are unsure whether you are opioid-tolerant, speak with your doctor.
• Follow the doctor’s instructions for fentanyl usage precisely.
• Read all the guidelines for fentanyl usage. Stick to the guidelines on the prescription label.
• Never use more fentanyl than is recommended or for longer than is advised. However, if you strongly desire to use more fentanyl, let your doctor know.
• Do not provide opioid medication to someone else. Especially to someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction.
• It is to be kept out of the reach of others. It is not legal to sell or give away any kind of opioid medications.
• Replace one type of fentanyl with no more than one other type. Use only one fentanyl usage method at once.
• Keep fentanyl at room temperature in its original container.
• Keep pets and children away from fentanyl. A child or cat who unintentionally consumes or absorbs fentanyl can die from even a tiny amount.

Fentanyl overdose and abuse

Fentanyl is a legitimate prescription medicine for cancer, chronic, and surgery pain. However, it is also produced illegally. Legal prescriptions are used to obtain extra drugs to abuse. In addition, it is used for its euphoric effects.

Fentanyl can also be added to street narcotics like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Often users do not know that illegal drugs contain fentanyl. Fentanyl strips help in detecting the presence of fentanyl in drugs.

Due to fentanyl’s high potency, merely 2 to 3 milligrams of the medication can cause breathing issues. In addition, it can quickly result in a coma and death. In the United States, there were 71,238 fatal fentanyl overdoses in 2021.

Can fentanyl use lead to addiction?

Fentanyl’s potency makes it addictive. Unfortunately, prescription fentanyl can also lead to dependence and fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. As a result, the most severe type of substance use disease is addiction (SUD).

SUDs are characterized by obsessive drug-seeking behavior. A person with a drug addiction continues to take drugs even though they harm their health. Fentanyl addiction causes problems at their job, school, or family.

When fentanyl addicts quit taking the drug, they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms.  The fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can start a few hours after the last dose. These signs consist of the following:

• Bone and muscle aches
• Insomnia
• Constipation and vomiting
• Shivering and goosebumps
• Involuntary leg movements
• Powerful cravings

Addiction to fentanyl can be treated with medication and behavioral therapy, just like other opioid addictions.

Fentanyl withdrawal treatment

Drugs for fentanyl use disorder are safe, efficient, and lifesaving. These drugs affect the same opioid receptors in the brain that fentanyl does, but they have different outcomes.

Methadone: methadone reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is an opioid receptor agonist that binds to and activates opioid receptors.

Buprenorphine: Buprenorphine reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is an opioid receptor partial agonist.

Naltrexone: naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist. It stops fentanyl from binding to opioid receptors, obstructing its effects.

Counseling: Behavioral therapy for opioid addiction, including fentanyl addiction, can help people change their attitudes. They treat drug-related behaviors, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and maintain adherence to medicine. Several instances include:

Contingency management: Patients get rewards based on drug-free tests in this treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps in handling triggers and stress. The things that promote healthy life can be obtained with points.

Motivational interviewing: motivational interviewing centers around a patient’s sentiment to change. It is a patient-centered counseling technique.

Fentanyl withdrawal treatment comprises behavioral therapies and medications. Behavioral treatment strategies are successful in treating fentanyl addiction when combined with medication. At BuprenorhineDoctors, you can find personalized fentanyl detox methods to overcome addiction. If you or your loved ones are struggling with addiction connect with us.