How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?

How Long Does Fentanyl Last in the Body and by Type of Drug Tests?

Many journals have been released trying to understand the duration of fentanyl in bodily fluids such as urine and saliva. As of the moment, a drug test or drug testing is the surest way to identify "how long does fentanyl stay in the body."

There is a slight variance in terms of fentanyl's duration within the body. It may range from only a few hours, or 24 hours to up to 3 months, especially with an advanced drug test. Thorough drug test procedures may also uncover important details that lesser drug test procedures may not necessarily see.

Fentanyl in Urine Tests

An advanced urine drug test may detect fentanyl between 1 to 3 days (24 to 72 hours) since last use. But its half-life will ultimately affect how these synthetic opioids will linger and be detected in your system.

Fentanyl in Hair Follicle Tests

Hair follicle tests provide the most advanced results compared to any drug test. If a urine test can detect the presence of fentanyl within days, a hair test can detect fentanyl for up to 90 days.

Fentanyl in Saliva Tests

An oral fluid drug test yields the least desirable results when it comes to fentanyl detection. Some medical journals argue that it's not a viable alternative to urine testing as the traces of fentanyl can only last for mere hours.

Fentanyl Detection in Blood Tests

Compared to a urine test, a standard blood test may help detect the presence of fentanyl in the bloodstream between 5 to 48 hours post-usage. As always, it's important to consider crucial details such as the frequency of use and the amount used to identify the possible half-life of fentanyl inside the body.

If a loved one or you test positive, don't feel scared. The idea of undergoing long-term treatment may be daunting, but there are many treatment centers that not only provide medical aid but a holistic approach to rehabilitation.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl belongs to a family of opioids used for chronic pain treatment. It works by binding to your system's opioid receptors found in the central nervous s system responsible for controlling pain and emotions.

While it's one of the medications approved on the market to treat severe pain, people abuse this particular substance with some illegal dealers and peddlers mixing it with other dangerous drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

The most common way for people to introduce the substance through their body is by using a transdermal patch, a nasal spray that can be absorbed faster through mucous membranes, or when they simply inject illicit fentanyl for recreational purposes to reach that high.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned against the illicit use of fentanyl as it may cause a fatal overdose or a life-threatening respiratory arrest.

Determining Factors on How Long Fentanyl Stays in Your System

Many elements may influence how your body interacts with a certain medication or other substances, or even affect detection time. This is more apparent in the presence of narcotic substances that are used either recreationally or medically by users.

It's important to note that people respond differently to other drugs as people are built differently. You'll find that some people tolerate the medication better than others. You may find that chemical substances like Xanax may have a different effect on your body than other drugs, such as CBD.

To better understand how long fentanyl would impact your body, here are several factors that you must consider and look into, especially if you or someone you know is undergoing addiction treatment or drug tests.

• Presence of other chemical substances inside your body - People who are suffering from dual diagnosis disorders are often a victim of this. They may have alcoholism on top of their drug abuse. When multiple substance use disorder issues surface, it would directly impact the duration of the prescription medication inside your system.
• Age of the individual - You'll notice that younger people have higher tolerance when it comes to processing even a single dose of any narcotic medication in their system. The reason behind this is that their bodies are still growing and developing, and if they have a healthier and more robust body than a senior citizen (above 60), they naturally can excrete these substances out of their system.
• A person's hepatic function - people with healthy liver and kidney function can process these chemicals in their body. On the other hand, those who are suffering from liver disease or impaired kidney function will understandably process the drug slower than normal.
• Metabolism and body type - Individuals with larger bodies, without a doubt, can process a drug better given it will take more time or more frequency as they have a bigger system to work with. Those who have faster metabolism can automatically digest and rid themselves of a drug, such as fentanyl and morphine, in their system better than those with a slow metabolizing ability.
• Dosage of fentanyl - people who engage in frequent substance abuse will understandably have drug build-up in their bodies through time. That's why drug testing may still identify the presence of fentanyl regardless if they have been sober for while now.
• The number of times a person engages in drug use - A regular user of fentanyl, especially in recreational situations, may find themselves with the drug staying inside their bodies for longer, especially if it's been years that they've engaged in this practice.

People with a severe drug addiction must assess their situations more closely not only with the help of their loved ones but also with licensed medical professionals whose only goal is to help them with their situation.

What Happens When You Stop Taking Fentanyl?

When people immediately stop using/introducing Fentanyl within their system, they will experience particular changes in their body that may either prove to be extremely uncomfortable or painful. These withdrawal symptoms impact a person's recovery progress as they may resort to using the drug again to address the severe pain or discomfort they are feeling.

It's important to become aware of what those withdrawal symptoms are so that a person and their family members may better understand what must be done to take hold of these withdrawal signs.

Some common signs of fentanyl withdrawal may include:

• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• shaking
• gastrointestinal issues, like:
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• belly cramps
• cardiovascular symptoms, such as:
• Fast heartbeat (palpitations)
• Irregular heartbeat
• Mental health issues:
• anxiety
• hallucination
• Physical manifestations:
• watery eyes
• yawning
• seizures
• sweating
• fever

Withdrawal may take more than 2 weeks with people usually getting better after a few days from the worst case of their symptoms.

Handling withdrawal symptoms is no easy task. But with the proper mindset and a healthy attitude, you can certainly achieve relapse prevention. Keep these tips in mind should you consider stopping fentanyl use completely:

• Practice meditation and connect with your senses as mindfulness exercises and relaxation techniques help people become attuned to their bodies.
• Talk to a family member, therapist, or mental health companion regularly to guide you and assist you in any way or form during withdrawal.
• Incorporate alternative and holistic methods as part of your detoxification strategy (such as acupuncture, massage, and alternative therapy options).

The after-effects of illicit fentanyl use may take you time to fully rid them, but it is still very possible.

About Fentanyl Abuse and Opioid Addiction

Understanding how fentanyl abuse and addiction severely impact an individual can be easier if you trace their history to find out what triggered them to engage in such actions. These can greatly benefit their attending specialist to better understand the treatment options well-suited for their situation.

Some of the common reasons for people to do so include the following:

• Trying to fit in - In a world where looks and appearances matter, impressionable people can be easily swayed to engage in drug abuse to fit in better with their peers. This is also more common among young adults or teens.
• Environment - Growing up in a community wherein substance disorders are rampant puts people at a higher risk of addiction. This is especially true for younger people.
• Stress and other emotional problems - It's a sad reality that when stress sets in, particularly in high-pressure situations, people will rely on fentanyl to help them cope. This form of escape is very common for most people suffering from this type of addiction.

At the end of the day, individuals may need to help themselves and work closely with people they trust wholeheartedly, such as their loved ones and friends, to find a way to rise above their addiction. For young people, adolescent mentoring may be the answer to help them find direction in their lives during sober living rehabilitation.

How To Get Help from Fentanyl Addiction?

Getting help starts with first identifying the problem. If and only you decide that you are ready, the healing can now begin.

Mental wellness partners, such as Transcend Recovery Community understand that recovery is more than just rehab programs or behavioral therapies, it also involves a holistic approach that covers many areas of a person's life. That's why our team incorporates spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental healing as part of our effective methods.

We also advocate supportive living like transitional housing for people who finished their recovery program to better transition into the real world and to maintain life-long sobriety.

When you're ready to take the step, reach out and contact our recovery specialists who are waiting right now to take the call and help you get the sober and purposeful life that you so deserve.

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