Point Pleasant, WV – Hope for Tomorrow’s recent blog covers a hot topic: fentanyl withdrawals. The local addiction treatment facility details the reasons for fentanyl withdrawal, withdrawal symptoms, the timeline of expected symptoms, and how fentanyl and its withdrawal are different from other opioids.
“Anyone can relate to the aches and pains of the flu. All of the symptoms that accompany it are annoying at best, and dangerous at worst. Now, imagine those flu symptoms, plus an overwhelming craving for fentanyl,” the blog opens with, setting the scene for the rest of the article. It empathizes with individuals who may have a fentanyl use disorder, and shares that fentanyl withdrawal is one of the main reasons why fentanyl is so hard to stop.
Fentanyl withdrawal happens when the body gets used to fentanyl to provide certain neurotransmitters, the blog explains. The brain doesn’t know how to function without it, and dependence can happen quickly. The blog stresses the importance of taking even prescribed opioids for short periods of time to prevent withdrawal.
The blog then goes into the symptoms of withdrawal, and their similarity to flu-like symptoms. Some are cold and hot flashes, chills, body aches, runny nose and watery eyes, and nausea and vomiting, just to name a few. Fentanyl withdrawal isn’t just limited to the body, though. It can also cause depression, mood swings, anxiety, cognitive issues, and intense fentanyl cravings, according to the article. The blog also shares that suicidal ideation can happen due to withdrawal, and reminds the reader to seek medical attention right away if they experience it.
“Just like everyone with fentanyl use disorder is different, so is everyone’s fentanyl withdrawal timeline. Unfortunately, there isn’t a standard formula to guide people through the process, but there are some commonalities in the overall withdrawal timeline,” Hope for Tomorrow says. The first withdrawal symptoms tend to appear after around eight hours, with flu-like symptoms appearing after a couple of days and peaking around the three-day mark, the blog explains. Most withdrawal symptoms pass after a week, but can last longer. The blog also touches on the difficulty withdrawal poses for individuals trying to stop fentanyl use, and warns that the more fentanyl someone takes, the worse withdrawal will be. It speaks on what influences the timeline, too: the amount of fentanyl taken, how long the person has taken it, how often they have taken it, any other substances they take, and their general health.
“Returning to use after a period of abstinence is more dangerous than any other instance of fentanyl use, because your body may have a lower tolerance than it did before you quit. You may administer the same dose of fentanyl you did before trying to stop, and overdose,” the article stresses. Due to fentanyl’s strength, overdose is already more likely than it is for any other opioid, so its withdrawal, and the cravings that come with it, are also more dangerous than that of any other opioid, the blog cautions.
The blog also takes time to address the best way to handle withdrawals: tapering. It advises against quitting “cold turkey,” or suddenly and without reducing the dose whatsoever beforehand. This can make withdrawal worse. It touches on the tapering process, which must be guided by a doctor, and explains that it also depends on varying factors, just like the withdrawal timeline.
“The first step of treatment for a fentanyl use disorder is usually detox, where medical professionals will watch over you during the withdrawal process,” the blog says near the end. It briefly mentions Suboxone, the most commonly used, FDA-approved medication to help opioid withdrawal during treatment.
The blog concludes with a call for individuals experiencing withdrawal to seek treatment.
Hope for Tomorrow has a location in both Point Pleasant and Beckley West Virginia, where they offer both addiction treatment and dual-diagnosis mental health treatment. Their doors are open to everyone, including veterans, pregnant women, and individuals managing physical health conditions. For more on Hope for Tomorrow’s services, visit their website or call them at 877-679-8162.
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For more information about Hope For Tomorrow-Point Pleasant, contact the company here:
Hope For Tomorrow-Point Pleasant
Cristina Villalon
(304) 902-8532
beckley@myhopefortomorrow.com
3471 Ohio River Rd Point Pleasant WV 25550
