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Help With Fentanyl Withdrawal

Fentanyl is an opiate drug similar to morphine, but much more potent. Typically this drug is administered to patients who are either experiencing chronic pain from a medical condition or for pain treatment immediately following surgery. Fentanyl works by binding certain receptors in the brain to make you feel a sense of euphoria. Although this drug can be legally prescribed, it can also be obtained on the street illegally. Fentanyl prescribed by a physician is often administered through injection, skin patch or in lozenge form.

  1. Withdrawal Symtpoms

    • The withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl are similar to the withdrawal symptoms of any other narcotic. Some of these symptoms include body aches, accelerated heartbeat, fever, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps, increased sweating and increased yawning. Other withdrawal symptoms include nervousness, restlessness, irritability, shivering or trembling, stomach cramps, difficulty sleeping and abnormal enlargement of the pupils in the eyes. These side effects should not be ignored, and you should receive treatment immediately for them if you are experiencing any of these withdrawal symptoms.

    Withdrawal Process

    • The withdrawal process can occur in two different ways. Either way, treatment should be administered via a narcotics withdrawal treatment facility. You can either be weaned off gradually by a reduction in dosage until you do not need the medication anymore, or you can be taken off completely and given other medication in its place. Another method of treating fentanyl withdrawal is to completely stop this medication altogether and not administer any other types of medication. The first days of treatment are the worst for fentanyl addicts, but they gradually get better. After the first few days of the withdrawal process are over, treatment facilities then provide 12-step programs and sober living houses to help those once addicted to fentanyl remain sober.

    Finding Help

    • There are a number of narcotic treatment centers all over the nation. Your doctor or local community advocacy organizations can provide you with a list of rehabilitation centers or you can do research online. The Good Drugs Guide provides helpful information when searching online for a facility for treatment. The website allows you to enter personal information, such as the city you live in, to determine the treatment center closest to you.

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