Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Fentanyl is a synthetic narcotic analgesic that is sold under the brand names Sublimaze, Actiq, Duragesic and many others. It's very potent and is generally used as a pain reliever as well as an anesthetic. It's often combined with benzodiazepine during procedures, but can be used for many other things. This drug is more potent than morphine by 100 times, which means it is very effective for use in hospitals. It's often found in intensive care facilities as well as operating rooms and emergency rooms.

Fentanyl can be used for surgery, but also chronic pain caused from an illness like cancer. Sometimes it's even used during root canals to help reduce pain where the nerve is removed. Generally Fentanyl is injected into the body to effectively reduce pain within only a short amount of time. It is also available in a patch for individuals who need chronic pain management. These have concentrated amounts of the drug in them, which release over the course of a few days. Once the Fentanyl is released from the patch, it goes into the skin and absorbs into the body fat. This reduces pain effectively and is used by many people today.

Lozenges are also available and sold under the brand name Actiq. These are called lollipops because they are on sticks that dissolve once inside the mouth. These are generally used for cancer pain, injuries, arthritis and other types of pain. Fentanyl is not only available in these forms, it's now available in buccal tablets, inhalers and nasal sprays. All of these methods of pain relief have made Fentanyl one of the most abused drugs in the country.

Addiction to Fentanyl

Fentanyl has now been classified as a narcotic due to the illicit use of it. It mimics the effects of heroin and can make users feel like they are high as well as sedated. Since the effects of this drug don't last for very long, many people take too much and therefore overdose. This can easily cause depression, health problems and even death in many cases. Most users snort Fentanyl after crushing it up, but many people use the lollipops in quantities that are far too high. Some users even take the patches and put them into their mouth to quickly feel a buzz and get a rush from the drug.

Withdrawal from Fentanyl

Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms will vary from one person to another, especially depending on how bad their addiction was. The most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Hot flashes
• Constipation
• Confusion
• Rapid Breathing
• Tremors
• Night sweats

Severe withdrawal symptoms can cause many people to start using Fentanyl once again and even overdose in some cases. This is a big reason why it's so important for addicts to go into a professional rehab center to get help. These centers are equipped with physicians, nurses, health care, mental care and also prescriptions that can help lessen the effects of withdrawal. Once the patient is clean of the Fentanyl they will start to go through therapy to learn more about why they use and how they can avoid it in the future.

Buprenorphine is normally given to users who are going through withdrawal to help lessen their side effects and get them through the initial stages of detox. Since there are many mental side effects of quitting this drug, many people contemplate suicide or do other things they normally wouldn't. Supervision is extremely important during this time, especially for users who are not in professional rehab centers.

Many people who abuse Fentanyl don't get the help they need. Often times this results in a drug overdose due to having a high tolerance and not knowing limits. This is a drug that can be very dangerous because it only provides a short term buzz, unlike many other drugs that last longer. It's also one of the most addictive drugs that is readily available on the black market today. Priced at around $50 for a hit, this is also more affordable than other drugs. Individuals who think their friends or family members have a problem with this should refer them to treatment right away. This can potentially save their life and prevent a lot of health issues from occurring.