Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline: Symptoms and the Dangers of Synthetic Opioid Abuse

While overdose rates have declined in recent years, opioids remain a leading cause of preventable drug abuse casualties in the country, accounting for the vast majority of the over 100,000 annual fatalities.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic substance that is a hundred-fold stronger than morphine, are responsible for roughly 57% of all opioid-related deaths.

For individuals trying to recover from an opioid use disorder, facing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms is a reality they have to grapple with. And without proper support, the risk of relapse is substantial.

In this guide, we’ll explain how long fentanyl and opioid withdrawal last and the treatment options available to help a person go through this sensitive period of recovery.

Why Is Fentanyl So Dangerous?

Synthetic fentanyl can be prescribed for treating chronic pain in patients who have undergone major surgeries or are suffering from advanced cancer. This is done under close medical supervision.

Recreational use, however, is dangerous because of fentanyl’s extreme potency, which exceeds both heroin and morphine combined. Even as small a dose as two milligrams of this illicit opioid can be lethal to most individuals.

But because it’s often manufactured illegally in the streets and without quality control, there’s no guaranteed way to gauge a “safe” amount.

The threshold of fatality varies wildly from one person to another. The individual’s body size, age, tolerance, and history of substance use can all affect how they’ll react to taking the synthetic opioid.

What makes fentanyl even more dangerous is that it’s completely odorless, tasteless, and colorless, making it almost impossible to detect besides test strips.

There are cases of counterfeit pills containing trace amounts of the illegal substance, which are made to look exactly like other types of painkiller drugs, such as oxycodone, xanax, and adderall.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), they found that at least 5 out of 10 fake pills contain a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl, contributing to the growing number of fatalities.

Someone who, without their knowledge, consumes these fentanyl-laced pills can accidentally ingest a dangerous dose, putting them at serious risk of poisoning and dying.

Naloxone (sold under the name Narcan) is a drug that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.

Synthetic Opioid Dependence and Withdrawal

Like any other opioid, abusing the synthetic opioid regularly can lead to fentanyl dependence and withdrawal.

Physical Dependence

Dependence happens when the body has adapted to functioning with the substance in its system after heavy and prolonged abuse.

It can be both physical and psychological, where the person finds themselves unable to function normally without using.

That said, how fast someone gets dependent on an opioid like fentanyl can differ.

New data suggest that opioid and fentanyl dependence can happen as early as five days of heavy misuse. This means that even someone who’s just started experimenting can experience withdrawal just as fast.

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal occurs once the person who’s been abusing fentanyl and opioids stops or cuts back their intake.

This happens because their brain has already rewired itself to produce less of the natural “feel-good” chemicals, such as dopamine and endorphin, without the substance.

Early symptoms can occur as quickly as within 4 to 6 hours after the last dose of fentanyl. Some of the more common symptoms of fentanyl and opioid withdrawal are:

These symptoms are often accompanied by an intense craving for the substance. Acute withdrawal symptoms can also include severe bone and muscle aches.

Withdrawal can affect the mental health of the person. It’s not uncommon for those recovering from opioid addiction to develop or experience worsening anxiety and depression.

How Long Does Fentanyl Withdrawal Last? Timeline and Symptoms

So, how long does fentanyl withdrawal actually last? The short answer is it depends.

The duration of withdrawal is different from one recovering user to another. But it’s generally influenced by factors like the amounts of opioids or fentanyl they’re taking, how frequently, and for how long.

Concurrent use of other drugs besides synthetic opioids may also affect intensity, which is rated using the clinical opiate withdrawal scale.

Fentanyl is usually a short-acting opioid, which means it takes minutes to cross the blood-brain barrier and take effect. This also means withdrawal symptoms can onset as quickly as a few hours from the last use.

There are long-acting variants, such as those found in fentanyl patches used for pain management.

Here’s what withdrawal from fentanyl can look like:

Duration	Intensity	Symptoms
4 to 6 hours	Mild to moderate	Goosebumps, cravings, runny nose, yawning, irritability, etc.
2 to 3 days	Severe/peak	Increased cravings, gastrointestinal issues, anxiety, depression, insomnia, sweating, body aches, shaking, etc.
7 to 10 days	Mild to moderate	Symptoms begin to subside (some can take longer than others)

Can You Die From Fentanyl and Opioid Withdrawal?

This is a common question among those trying to overcome fentanyl and opioid addiction. How dangerous is the withdrawal?

Most experts would agree that, compared to alcohol use disorder, which can cause life-threatening delirium tremens (DTs), withdrawing from an opioid does not typically carry the risk of death.

While the risk of fatal overdose is higher in active users, the symptoms that accompany opioid withdrawal aren’t usually deadly.

This means that, although rare, a person can still die from opioid and fentanyl withdrawal. But it’s highly preventable.

Regardless of the kind of substance you’re abusing, it’s always recommended to find medical support from a healthcare provider or a rehab center near you.

Treatment and Management For Fentanyl Withdrawal

Modern rehab centers like Illinois Recovery Center are more than equipped to handle and manage the symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal.

Withdrawal management can be inpatient or outpatient.

Residential/inpatient care means the person stays in a secure facility throughout the duration of withdrawal. Medical professionals monitor and provide emotional support, addressing complications that may arise.

Day or outpatient treatment allows the patient to receive therapy and treatment while living at home. This is a flexible option for those who can’t afford to pause their career and responsibilities to recover from their addiction.

Here are some of the treatments you can expect from a fentanyl addiction treatment.

Medical Detox

Detoxification is the typical first step to overcoming addiction from any substance, including fentanyl. The goal of medically supervised detox for fentanyl is to:

• Ease and reduce unpleasant and painful symptoms
• Rid the body of the substance
• Opioid tapering instead of stopping all at once
• Stop opioid dependence
• Stabilize the patient and reduce the risk of relapse

Treatment providers may help determine the appropriate level of care someone needs before detox, which the patient can follow.

They look at various factors, including the presence of a co-occurring disorder, readiness for change, potential for relapse, home situation, and available support network.

Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT)

Physicians may prescribe FDA-approved medication alongside therapy to manage and alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.

Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies are central to many substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common approach for counselors and therapists. It’s a kind of talk therapy that aims to identify and resolve problematic thinking patterns that reinforce opioid abuse.

Other types of therapy, such as family therapy, couples therapy, and group therapy, are also offered in rehab.

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