If we can identify the signs of fentanyl use in a loved one, we can offer effective fentanyl detox treatments.

What kind of detox treatments are offered at a fentanyl addiction treatment center? If it is a quality substance abuse treatment program, they will provide medication-assistant treatment to their clients.

Unfortunately, there is a fentanyl overdose epidemic because fentanyl on the streets is highly potent. Additionally, users often do not know the level of potency, and often, they are not even aware that the drug they are taking is fentanyl.

There are fake Xanax pills and fake pain pills, such as fake Oxys, and other fake opioid tablets. Xanax and oxycodone seem to be the most commonly faked pressed tablets containing toxic levels of fentanyl.

Heroin is often cut with fentanyl, or even completely replaced by fentanyl. Drug users do not realize that their dealer is now selling them the highly potent synthetic opioid. The dealer may not realize that their product now contains fentanyl or fentanyl derivatives.

Fentanyl addiction symptoms are similar to other opioid addiction symptoms. Yet, due to the high potency of the drug, the user’s tolerance levels may be through the roof.

Why is detoxing off fentanyl so difficult?

The problem is that the fentanyl withdrawal timeline is different with the synthetic analogs of the drug imported from China and through Mexico. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is short-acting, but the street version of the drug may linger in the user’s system for many days.

When coming off fentanyl, a person may visit a Suboxone clinic for treatment. Suboxone, or Subutex, works well for heroin addiction treatment, but these medications may cause precipitated withdrawal unexpectedly when used for fentanyl detox.

Fentanyl withdrawal time may last for up to a week, causing an interaction with the buprenorphine in Suboxone sublingual films. A solution to the problem is to use the Bernese Method, or a microdose induction of buprenorphine.

The way this works is to gradually introduce Suboxone, starting with a very low dose, and gradually increasing the dosage each day. When the patient reaches a full therapeutic dosage, they will no longer feel opioid cravings or withdrawal.

Fentanyl rehab programs are aware of this issue with the fentanyl withdrawal symptoms timeline and the risk of fentanyl precipitated withdrawal with buprenorphine. The rapid fentanyl detox provided is performed by using the Bernese Method.

What about methadone for fentanyl rapid detox?

When a loved one shows signs of fentanyl abuse, such as drowsiness, sedation, confusion, disorientation, constricted pupils, slow breathing, unusual, or erratic behavior, depression or agitation, it is time to take fast action. Coming off of fentanyl is not easy, and there is a high risk of overdose.

A methadone maintenance clinic may be a good solution to provide fast fentanyl detox without the risk of fentanyl precipitated withdrawal or relapse. Regardless of the unusual withdrawal timeline, methadone may be started right away.

By making a fast transition to methadone, the patient may stop using street opioids immediately. Then, they will be better prepared for psychotherapeutic treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Methadone was starting to fall out of favor because of the high efficacy of Suboxone, but without of control fentanyl overdose deaths, it is enjoying a renaissance. Treatment programs that offer methadone maintenance are able to save the lives of many clients who need urgent fentanyl withdrawal help.

What about quitting fentanyl cold turkey?

Unfortunately, stopping fentanyl cold turkey is not a good idea. For some people, quitting opioids cold turkey is possible with a strong recovery program.

However, the risks of overdose after relapse are far too high with the erratic fentanyl potencies found on the streets today. When a person does a detox from fentanyl at home by going cold turkey, they will experience intense withdrawal symptoms and cravings within about 72 hours.

At that point, if the person abusing fentanyl has easy access to the drug, they will likely relapse to quickly end the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. The success rates with opioid addiction treatment, using methadone or buprenorphine, are much higher than quitting cold turkey.

Still, going through fentanyl withdrawal cold turkey is possible in a residential rehab program. Supportive medical care can make the withdrawal symptoms more manageable.

For example, they may provide medications such as Lucemyra, clonidine, gabapentin, and possibly a short-term benzodiazepine, such as Librium, Ativan, or Valium. While the client will still experience some withdrawal and cravings, they are less likely to relapse under observation in an inpatient setting.

Are there any home remedies for fentanyl withdrawal?

While there are various supplements that claim to help with opioid withdrawal at home, it is not a good idea. Coming off of fentanyl at home without any medical supervision can lead to opioid relapse.

For example, there are proponents of the drug, kratom, which is a plant-based drug. They claim that this legal supplement with opioid-like properties can be used to detox from fentanyl at home.

Unfortunately, kratom, which acts similarly to a mild opioid, often does not adequately relieve withdrawal symptoms or cravings. The fentanyl user often finds themselves taking more and more kratom powder to get an effect.

In many cases, after trying kratom for a while, they become frustrated and seek out more fentanyl. Many kratom customers have relapsed and overdosed, because kratom does not control their symptoms, and it can even stimulate opioid cravings, rather than suppressing them.

Opioid use disorder, or opiate addiction, is a serious condition that should be handled by a medical drug addiction treatment program. Addiction therapy at home using store-bought supplements is never recommended as a fentanyl detox protocol.

What is the best first step to take when a loved one exhibits fentanyl addiction symptoms?

If a family member with a history of drug abuse starts to nod off at dinner, they may be using fentanyl. The drug is now found in nearly every street drug as a contaminant.

Fentanyl is found in meth, cocaine, heroin, and in fake pressed Xanax and Oxycodone pills. A person with a substance use disorder may become intoxicated with fentanyl without realizing that they are consuming the potent synthetic opioid.

A loved one with a prescription drug addiction who buys prescription pills off the street may buy fentanyl-laced pills. When they expect their pills to have a known potency, they may get far more opioid than they were expecting.

The opioid epidemic has become all about fentanyl analogs that are contaminating all street drugs. Even marijuana can be laced with fentanyl.

If you find that a loved one is using this highly potent, exotic and deadly opioid, you should bring them to an addiction treatment specialist, such as a Suboxone doctor or methadone maintenance doctor. The doctor can start fentanyl detox right away to protect their patient from the dangers of continued use of the drug. To inquire about addiction treatment contact Dr. Mark Leeds right away.