Although most often used to cut powdered opiates, fentanyl is also used to cut pills and drugs like cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamines (like ADHD pills), and benzodiazepines (like Xanax). Before taking fentanyl, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If a woman takes this drug for a long time during pregnancy, it can lead to opioid withdrawal syndrome in a newborn. Symptoms of withdrawal may include irritability, hyperactivity and unusual sleep pattern, and high-pitched cry.
Roughly 2 million people live with an opioid addiction in the U.S.”It’s important to note… Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider. If using fentanyl under a doctor’s care, communicate openly with them about any concerns. If using fentanyl on your own, understand the dangers and seek professional treatment to help you quit. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication. If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, the CDC recommends following the steps below.
In An Emergency? Need Treatment?
A small dose of fentanyl can be fatal depending on how tolerant someone is and their body size. Coroners’ offices and state crime laboratories do not test for fentanyl unless given a specific reason to do so. Older people are more likely than younger individuals to experience adverse effects, especially the respiratory depressant effects of fentanyl. Healthcare professionals will typically monitor people in this age group. As a prescription, fentanyl is available under the brand name Actiq, which is a throat lozenge, or Duragesic, a patch placed on the skin. If a person is hospitalized or undergoing surgery, a healthcare professional may administer fentanyl as an injection called Sublimaze.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services covers prescription naloxone for people on the government insurance programs for older adults and low-income families. CMS has not offered any official guidance on whether it will cover retail versions. And buyers have to pay for the medication – either with an insurance co-pay or for the full retail price. The cost varies, but two doses of Narcan often go for about $50. Opioids are known to slow down all the body’s systems, including the respiratory system.
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As little as 2 milligrams may be lethal depending on how big your body is, what your tolerance for opioids is, and your past usage of fentanyl. After you’ve taken an opioid like fentanyl for a long time, your brain gets used to the drug. This means your tolerance goes up and it takes more of it to get the same effect. You also have trouble feeling pleasure from anything besides the drug.
Fentanyl: What It Is, Uses, Side Effects & Drug Interactions
This advertisement is clearly marked and is separate from our editorial content. It is also important to note that OTC opioids are often misused in combination with other substances, most commonly alcohol, marijuana, and other OTC medications. Complications are more likely to arise when these substances interact with each other. While it would take a much larger amount to overdose on an OTC opioid than on a prescription opioid, it is possible. These medications are never meant to be taken in high doses or long-term.
Fentanyl And Overdose
The side effects of OTC opioids will become stronger with higher doses, at which point the individual can develop slow and shallow breathing and potentially lose consciousness. When taken in high enough doses, OTC opioids produce the same euphoric effects that both prescription and illicit opioids are known for. In some ways OTC opioids could be considered even more dangerous than prescription opioids because they are so readily available. The real danger starts when one of these medications starts being misused.
Respiratory Depression
People who receive naloxone still require an emergency medical evaluation, as overdose symptoms can return. If someone who has overdosed does not have a pulse, start CPR. Once the heart and brain have gone without oxygen for a while, naloxone will not work. This is why it is so important to administer naloxone as soon as possible. Over the last decade, the conversation of the opioid epidemic has changed to include fentanyl. According to the CDC, the rate of fentanyl overdoses in 2020 was 18 times higher than in 2013.
- First responders will likely administer naloxone if you haven’t already, or give it to them again.
- Other signs of an overdose may include a pale or clammy face, and discoloration of the lips or fingernails, according to the CDC.
- Researchers have recently posed a caveat regarding the intranasal route for naloxone administration.
- Even as the US worked with China to crack down on one fentanyl compound, the sellers simply tweaked their formula and offered to sell a new version in another email included in the report.
- In some ways OTC opioids could be considered even more dangerous than prescription opioids because they are so readily available.
Become A Harm Reduction Champion
That’s more Americans than were killed in vehicle accidents or by firearms. One drug, fentanyl, is like rocket fuel in the sharp rise of the crisis. Fentanyl is a painkiller invented in the 1960’s and used to relieve the agony of advanced cancer. But today fentanyl can be ordered on the internet, by drug dealers and addicts, for an online overdose. As we first reported in April, tracking the source of this illicit trade is a story that begins with James Rauh.
Older Black Men Are Disproportionately Affected By The Overdose Crisis
Over-the-counter (OTC) opioids are opioids that are available to the general public without a prescription. They are not always available in every state, however, and may require an ID in order to purchase. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug.
After a fentanyl treatment, you may have side effects that hinder your thinking and reactions or cause dizziness or drowsiness. Because of this, don’t drive or do activities that require you to be fully alert and awake after your treatment. Avoid drinking alcohol for several hours after you take fentanyl. Fentanyl patches pose a danger to kids who can stick them on their skin or mouths. This can cause death by slowing their breathing and lowering oxygen levels in their blood. Your doctor might prescribe fentanyl if you have severe pain due to cancer, nerve damage, serious injury, or major surgery.
Fentanyl Patch
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl use, it is essential to seek professional help. Recovery is possible with the proper support and treatment. People taking a daily prescribed dose will become dependent on the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms if they stop it. This is not an addiction but instead a physiological response.
