Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms & Detox Timeline

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• Fentanyl detox in Massachusetts
• Outpatient fentanyl rehab in Massachusetts
• Fentanyl treatment center in Rhode Island

If you are opioid-dependent and misusing fentanyl, the thought of facing withdrawal can be a scary one—but it doesn’t have to be. This article will help you understand what symptoms to expect if you’re planning to detox from fentanyl or other opioids, the typical timeline of withdrawal, and how professional medical detox can make your withdrawal experience easier.

What Are the Symptoms of Fentanyl Withdrawal?

Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms resemble a severe flu combined with intense drug cravings. They range from physical misery to significant psychological distress, and their intensity depends on how much, how long, and how often a person used.

How Long Does Fentanyl Withdrawal Last?

Because fentanyl is short-acting, withdrawal tends to start sooner than with longer-acting opioids. The timeline below is typical, but individual experiences vary with dose, duration of use, and whether other substances are involved.

How to Cope with Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Fentanyl withdrawal can cause a lot of discomfort and pain for those dealing with it. In fact, just trying to avoid difficult withdrawal symptoms can keep people who want to quit using fentanyl returning to fentanyl or other opioid use.¹

Opioid withdrawal symptoms often come on quickly and intensely, and relapse as well as overdose and overdose death is a major risk for people who attempt to quit cold-turkey without any outside help.

Medically Assisted Fentanyl Detox

Medical detox and medically assisted withdrawal management refers to medical interventions used to manage acute withdrawal.⁵ Detox and withdrawal management alone are not considered primary treatment for an opioid use disorder. When used as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy, often with pharmacologic and behavioral treatment components, it is a first step for those who need help beginning their recovery from opioid addiction and offers many benefits. It can:^4,5

• Reduce the pain and discomfort associated with opioid withdrawal.
• Reduce the risk of experiencing physical and psychological complications.
• Decrease cravings for opioids.
• Reduce the risk of relapse during withdrawal.
• Retain patients for longer-term treatment of OUD.
• Reduce the risk of overdose and overdose death.

Medically assisted withdrawal management can take place in both inpatient and outpatient settings and typically involves the use of medications to reduce the distress of acute withdrawal and transition a person into treatment.^4,6

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy. For fentanyl and other opioids, MAT is the gold-standard approach, and it substantially reduces overdose deaths and improves the odds of lasting recovery.

What to Expect After Fentanyl Detox

Fentanyl detox is available in various locations. Medical detox at AdCare is offered in two inpatient settings located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our inpatient hospital environment provides a drug-free space and the 24/7 support of our medical staff.

For many individuals, detox is only the first step on the road toward recovery. After detox, many people obtain inpatient treatment. At AdCare, we provide an easy transition from detox to inpatient rehab, as our detox programs are located inside our inpatient rehab facilities.

After inpatient treatment, there are also various outpatient programs available to help individuals continue working toward sobriety. AdCare offers numerous outpatient programs across MA and RI for those who wish to transition to some form of outpatient care, including intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs.

Start Your Recovery Today at AdCare

Don’t let addiction take control of your life any longer. Call us today at to learn more about addiction treatment at AdCare. When looking for treatment in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, there are two inpatient AdCare facilities, one medical drug detox center in Massachusetts, and one medical drug detox center in Rhode Island.

AdCare also offers outpatient treatment and has sister facilities across the United States as well. Reach out to one of our admissions navigators to learn more about addiction treatment and additional information including payment options for treatment, using insurance for rehab, checking what your insurance covers, our admissions process, and more.