Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is addictive because of its potency. A person taking prescription fentanyl as instructed by a doctor can experience dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. A person can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, but dependence can sometimes lead to addiction.

Addiction is the most severe form of a substance use disorder (SUD). SUDs are characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that can be difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. When someone is addicted to drugs, they continue to use them even though they cause health problems or issues at work, school, or home. An SUD can range from mild to severe.

People addicted to fentanyl who stop using it can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include:

• Muscle & bone pain
• Sleep problems
• Diarrhea & vomiting
• Cold flashes with goose bumps
• Uncontrollable leg movements
• Severe cravings

These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and are the reason many people find it so difficult to stop taking fentanyl.

Alleviating Withdrawal Symptoms

There are medicines being developed to help with the withdrawal process for fentanyl and other opioids.

• Lofexidine is an FDA-approved non-opioid medicine designed to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms.
• The NSS-2 Bridge device is a small electrical nerve stimulator placed behind the person’s ear, that can be used to try to ease symptoms for up to five days during the acute withdrawal phase.
• reSET®, a mobile medical application, was cleared by the FDA in December 2018 to help treat opioid use disorders. This application is a prescription cognitive behavioral therapy and should be used in conjunction with treatment that includes buprenorphine and contingency management.