Fentanyl FAQ: How Long Does Fentanyl Stay In Your System?
There were over 70,000 synthetic opioid overdose deaths throughout the United States in 2021. Most of these cited fentanyl as the drug leading to the overdose, as such it is hard to overstate the danger of these chemicals. So, if you wanted to start a recovery process or know someone else who needs to, how long would fentanyl stay in your system after you took it?
This list of Fentanyl facts will explain to those who are not aware of the dangers of fentanyl what it is, how long it stays in your system, and why. By the end of the article, you will learn why aiming to recover from taking this drug is an important decision to make and how you or someone else can start.
What Is Fentanyl?
Before learning more about fentanyl, it is important to understand what it is. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. This synthetic nature means it has been created in a laboratory rather than drawn from the opium poppy plant.
The intent of creating synthetic opioids is to produce a chemical that mimics the effect of the naturally-occurring drug.
The creators of such opioids often redesign them to be more potent or trigger specific bodily reactions. These reactions might make them more useful in a medical situation. Although, in some cases, illicit manufacturers can turn the drug into a more enjoyable or addictive experience for abusers.
People take fentanyl in several different ways. This includes imbibing illegally-created pills that often look like prescription drugs.
Some other methods of fentanyl abuse include:
- Snorting or inhaling a powder
- Using fentanyl alongside other drugs
- Injecting it using a syringe
Some of these are faster than others in affecting the body, while others are easier to hide. As such, the method someone uses may depend upon their needs at the time. Although the number of ways people use fentanyl is even more numerous than the forms it comes in.
Why Is Fentanyl Use Addictive?
The opioid is infamous for its addictive nature, which comes from its raw potency. This draw is so strong that experts describe fentanyl’s effects as up to 100 times more potent than even morphine.
Not only is it strong, but its effects come on fast, too. Even very small doses can cause extreme euphoria in the person taking it. In a medical setting, this provides pain relief in even the most adverse situations, but in a recreational setting is a simple yet powerful high.
Fentanyl works by binding with the opioid receptors in the brain. These are special proteins that exist in the nervous system as well as other parts of the body and mediate how natural opioids the body creates work.
Fentanyl binds with the “Mu receptors”, these are the most common ones that exist in the body. When this occurs, the body responds by running through a series of biological processes. Some of these include reducing the amount of pain someone feels or creating a sense of euphoria.
As the effects on the body include a “high”, many people take opioids like fentanyl for this feeling alone, despite any negative side effects.
How Long Does Fentanyl Remain in Your System?
Fentanyl has a half-life of up to around twelve hours. This means that every twelve hours, approximately half of the drug will have left someone’s system. You can assume that fentanyl will no longer exist in detectable levels after around 72 hours, or six times its half-life.
While this figure exists, you should be aware it is not set in stone. Many things can affect how fast fentanyl disappears from a person’s body. They can include:
- How much fentanyl the person took
- The person’s age
- The metabolism of the user
- How hydrated someone is
This list is not exhaustive, and as such you should not always assume someone will have the same experience with the chemical. On top of that, if someone uses a lot of fentanyl over time, there may be a level at which the drug accumulates in the body. This may mean someone can detect it after a longer period.
Despite this shorter half-life, there are still ways to work out if someone has taken fentanyl long after use. One of the main ways to do this is the result of the molecules in fentanyl being metabolized and then fusing with certain parts of the body, such as the hair. While a urine test may not inform anyone of fentanyl use after only a couple of days, you can find fentanyl in hair up to 90 days after someone takes it.
Why Does Fentanyl Sometimes Stay Around for Longer?
As mentioned above, the normal amount of time fentanyl remains in the body is for around 72 hours. Still, there are circumstances where one could find it after longer periods.
The main reason for this is that fentanyl is very “lipophilic”. This means that it fuses with fat molecules with ease. These fat molecules often then end up stored around the person’s body and stay there until the person needs more energy, such as during exercise. If a person gains weight rather than losing it, these fats could stick around in the body for longer periods.
If the user then loses these fats, the drug will re-absorb into the body’s system. While this is not likely to give the person a high, some detection methods may still find it after reabsorption.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Fentanyl Use?
While long-term fentanyl use can lead to a longer period where it remains in the body, there are other ways to detect if someone has taken such a drug. They will not inform someone of which drug was taken, but these long-term effects often clue people into the fact something has changed in the user.
If you discover someone is displaying any or all of these symptoms, it may be time to talk to them about rehab.
Mental Health
The most significant effect of fentanyl abuse is the change from taking it one time to its usage becoming a mental disorder. This is seen when people become compulsive about their need to use the drug and a loss of control when they do not have access to it. In many areas of the user’s life, they may see strong negative consequences and the user’s reaction to these can be a mirror to the larger problem.
At the same time, a user is likely to start to have issues with anxiety or depression. Because of the reduced control that a substance abuser has over their actions, they can start to feel trapped in their use of the chemical. This lack of agency can harm a person’s self-image and create a cycle of negativity about their situation.
This is exacerbated by the fact that fentanyl has a direct impact on the body’s reward system. Prolonged use starts to change the balance of neurotransmitters they have in their brain. For example, their body may reduce the amount of serotonin and dopamine it creates, meaning they cannot regulate their mood as much.
At the same time, if a person tries to stop using fentanyl, they are likely to undergo significant withdrawal symptoms. These can make any negative mood even worse and have the potential to trigger many other issues. Such difficulties are one of the main reasons people seek out rehab and counseling, rather than trying to deal with the issue by themselves.
Physical Health
Fentanyl may also have an ongoing impact on a person’s body. One of the most well-known issues is that of fentanyl’s actions as a respiratory depressant.
Fentanyl can impact someone’s ability to breathe with ease. If they take it a lot over time, a user can start to suffer from issues related to shallow breathing or even an increased risk of respiratory failure. “Fentanyl chest syndrome” is one such problem, as its use can increase the chest wall’s rigidity.
People suffering from “fentanyl chest syndrome” may often hold their breath for long periods. Their chest walls will also contract, making it very hard to take in air. Another sign of this issue is very tense abdominal muscles, which makes breathing even harder still.
Another side effect of using fentanyl is constipation and other digestive concerns. Those who use it for longer may find the blockage is much more accurate and need to investigate medical help.
While there is not a direct link between how long fentanyl stays in your system and these issues, its presence can still cause problems. Thus, knowing how long until it disappears can help you handle long-term effects or give you context for complications you might see.
Find Somewhere to Help With Fentanyl Recovery
With the above information on hand, you should be able to answer questions like “How long does fentanyl stay in your system?”. This may help you to discuss such things with other people you know, including those who might currently suffer from withdrawal. If you are in the Bay Area, though, and want an example of a specific rehab center to learn more about what they offer, we can help you out.
Our specialists are on-hand to discuss what we can provide, and we offer some of the best care in the region. So, give us a call today and learn more about how we can give people the best chance of treatment possible.