Can You Die From Fentanyl Withdrawal?

Withdrawal from fentanyl when attempting to detox alone is difficult and can be quite dangerous, leading people to wonder if there is a risk of dying during the process.

The stark reality is that, yes, there is a possibility of death due to the complications of withdrawal if carried out without medical supervision and lack of provision for aftercare treatment.

In this blog, we will outline the principle characteristics of why fentanyl withdrawal is dangerous and why it is so important to seek professional help to successfully withdraw from the substance.

Why Is Fentanyl Withdrawal So Dangerous?

It’s a worrying thought to learn that opiate addictions are on the rise and the use of fentanyl, in particular, has increased significantly. It’s even more concerning that the number of deaths caused by going “cold turkey” to withdraw from the substance could be prevented with the intervention of medical specialists.

Fentanyl withdrawal in itself is not typically fatal but the chance of developing severe complications can be a huge risk to take with a higher possibility of relapse and can put a person in a very dangerous situation that could prove tragic.

The potency of fentanyl is up to 100 times more than morphine and is generally prescribed for pain relief. Still, because it is a synthetic opioid, it is often sold illegally and abused. Once fentanyl use becomes an addiction, it is unimaginable the powerful effects it has on the body and mind, and for this reason, extreme caution should be taken during withdrawal.

As soon as a person stops taking the drug, a range of physical and psychological symptoms appear as the body adjusts to its absence. Withdrawal symptoms can manifest within 8 to 12 hours and tend to peak in 72 hours.

This timeframe is crucial to managing the withdrawal process correctly for medical specialists to avoid possible complications due to the nature of the symptoms and the damage they may cause.

Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms Include:

• Intense cravings.
• Nausea.
• Sweating.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Anxiety and irritability.
• Insomnia.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

You may be asking yourself, why the above symptoms can prove fatal as they all seem harmless enough, but the answer lies in the last two symptoms, namely vomiting and diarrhea.

If a person has persistent vomiting accompanied by diarrhea and the condition is left untreated, this will cause dehydration which elevates the sodium level of the blood (hypernatraemia) and can lead to heart failure and eventual death.

Such deaths have been recorded and documented with the cause of death attributed to hypoxic brain damage as a result of cardiac arrest. All these deaths occurred in jail settings without receiving proper care and attention.

These relate to cases of neglect, lack of medical resources to support the individual, and failure to address the seriousness of dehydration. These fatalities could have been prevented with appropriate medical supervision.

People can and do die from fentanyl withdrawal every day by attempting to quit on their own. There is an urgency to raise awareness of the risks involved and facilitate more clinical resources to address the problem and prevent further fatalities.

What Can Be Done To Prevent Fentanyl Withdrawal Fatalities?

First and foremost, nobody should go “cold turkey” or attempt going solo to break their habit of fentanyl use as the risks of failure are too high and extremely dangerous.

There are many reasons why someone may feel tempted to tackle their fentanyl addiction alone. Usually, it boils down to finances, life circumstances, peer pressure, feelings of shame or guilt, or just being confident, all of which, contribute to making that ultimate decision.

Instead, the best way forward, without a doubt, is to seek professional help as soon as possible because, experts in this field, will be able to advise you of the best options available to treat the addiction and recommend specialist care. 

To prevent death arising from fentanyl withdrawal, the first step is to consider detox where the opioid withdrawal symptoms are monitored 24/7 and can be medically assisted.

Applying the correct detox process and aftercare treatment plan will considerably reduce any life-threatening complications that may arise throughout the procedure ensuring all risks are addressed and stabilized.

Benefits of Detox From Fentanyl

To withdraw from fentanyl successfully, the initial step is to be admitted to a detox program. Detox patients may be offered medications to stabilize their condition and help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

Medications commonly used for this purpose are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, and administration of them will depend on many factors, such as the severity of dependence on fentanyl.

Some of the benefits of medically assisted detox are:

• A safe and secure environment.
• Round-the-clock monitoring and medical care.
• Use of medications to reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.
• Access to therapy sessions and counseling.
• Relapse prevention skills.
• Aftercare treatment and ongoing support.

The main benefit, however, is knowing a person may manage their withdrawal symptoms with minimal discomfort and reduce any risk of potential injury.

Where To Get Help For Fentanyl Detox

If you or someone you care for is considering withdrawing from drug use like fentanyl, it can be a bit confusing knowing where to turn to get help.

You can find several websites and listings detailing centers or facilities offering treatment associated with fentanyl and other opioid substance addictions but it is crucial to ensure any detox treatment is carried out professionally and it can provide the correct level of withdrawal treatment associated with the opioid drug in question.

Resilient Recovery Treatment Center is located in Lancaster, California. We are a luxury drug and alcohol rehab center providing solutions for anyone struggling with fentanyl addiction or any other addictive substance and we pride ourselves on having a dedicated team of medical specialists willing to go above and beyond to help people recover.

Moreover, we fully understand what people are going through and can relate to these difficulties as some members of our staff are recovering addicts and alcoholics who know from their own experiences the challenges that have to be faced to achieve sobriety.

The services we offer, all under one roof, include medically assisted detox, inpatient rehab program, holistic therapies, and outpatient aftercare treatment, as well as our tailored addiction treatments to tackle the main sources of substance abuse.

We know that people die every day through addiction, and many of these deaths could be prevented by finding the right treatment as quickly as possible.

Our compassionate team can direct you and help pinpoint what action needs to be taken without wasting further time and we will assist in every way we can.

Why don’t you give us a call today and tell us your concerns so we can consider all the options available together and help you make that important decision of taking the first step to recovery?