Fentanyl / Duragesic Detox & Addiction Facts

Rapid Drug Detox can help detox you from Duragesic/Fentanyl

Fentanyl Addiction

Duragesic is the trade names of fentanyl transdermal patches and are used for moderate to severe pain relief. Since Duragesic releases fentanyl, a potent opioit, slowly through the skin, one patch may provide 72 hours of pain relief. Fentanyl initial onset after a patch is applied is roughly (under normal conditions) 8-12 hours, so Duragesic patches are often prescribed with another opioit to handle breakthrough-pain. Duragesic sales total over one billion dollars yearly.

Duragesics system employs a form-fill-seal technology in which a drug-laden gel is sealed between an impermeable backing and a drug-permeable release liner. Many patients suck the gel off of the patches. Because of concerns for the high abuse factor of the gel filled Duragesic patches, Janssen-Cilag developed the Duragesic patch, a patch available in the same strengths as the Duragesic patches, but instead contains the Fentanyl in its plastic matrix. Because Durogesic does not contain its Fentanyl in a gel filled reservoir but in its plastic matrix, it cannot be cut open to remove the gel to be smoked or taken sublingually.

Since Duragesic are highly potent, there are many warnings in Duragesic’s prescribing information. Additionally, due to the risk of serious adverse drug reactions, it is highly important that the patches be applied correctly and as prescribed. Any heat source applied at the site of the patch can cause the body to absorb the opiate at a much faster rate and at a dangerously high level and even causes fatalities. Intravenous injection, smoking and snorting of this drug has led to many deaths.

Duragesic patches are a transdermal system providing 72 hours of continuous systemic delivery of this potent opioid analgesic. Duragesic is available in 4 color-coded patch strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mcg/hour. As with all pure opioid agonists, there is no analgesic ceiling effect with fentanyl, hence there are no dose-limiting adverse effects and dosages can be gradually increased until adequate pain relief is achieved.

Call us at 1-866-399-2967 or contact us to learn more about how we can help you overcome Duragesic addiction.

Fentanyl Addiction Effects

Duragesic, like all opioids, has a potential for abuse. Side effects include severe dependency, tolerance and addiction, plus constipation and dry mouth, rash, sweating, hot flashes, and dizziness, depression, weight gain, etc.

Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Duragesic withdrawal can be a painful process particularly after heavy use. Symptoms are typically experienced within hours of stopping the use and may last up to several weeks after, depending on the intensity of Duragesic use. Symptoms of Duragesic withdrawal include sweating, malaise, anxiety, depression, cramp-like pains in the muscles, severe muscle and bone aching, leg kicking (kicking the habit), yawning, sneezing, tears, severe and long lasting sleep difficulties (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, goose bumps, (cold turkey), cramps, and fever. Some patients complain of a painful condition called “itchy blood”, which results in compulsive scratching causing bruising and open sores on the skin. All of these symptoms can be quite pronounced causing the patient to experience such intense pain and suffering that a “cold turkey” withdrawal is unbearable, causing the patient to continue their drug use.

Rapid Anesthesia Duragesic Detox

The RDD Method^™ for Duragesic detoxification under anesthesia is a medical procedure that eliminates most of the withdrawal symptoms. During the procedure the patient is given medication to relax and then put under light, general anesthesia for approximately 60 minutes. Following the procedure, recovery begins under direct medical supervision.

The patient’s vital signs and overall physical and mental reactions to these medications are closely monitored during the detox procedure. In the days that follow, the patient often sleeps more than usual. Administered by medical professionals as part of a long-term drug-addiction recovery strategy, The RDD Method^™ is shown to be significantly more effective than other courses of Duragesic addiction treatment.

Duragesic Addiction FAQs

1. How do I know if I am addicted to Duragesic?
   A.Short-term users may require a detox program in order to successfully discontinue use, because of Duragesic’s addictive traits. Addicts typically require higher doses of the drug and experience cravings for Duragesic between doses.
2. How long does Duragesic detox take?
   A.The detox process for Duragesic varies in length depending on the pattern of typical use and on individual differences. The most severe withdrawal symptoms occur during the first several days after discontinuing use of the drug making it important to seek immediate professional help from trained Duragesic -detox professionals.
3. Is Duragesic-addiction recovery painful?
   A.While recovery from Duragesic addiction can be painful; the right procedure greatly reduces discomfort. Anesthesia Duragesic detox is a procedure that is effective at reducing the pain normally associated with Duragesic detox.
4. How do I choose a Duragesic-detox program?
   A.Talking to a trained detox or medical professional is the right first step in choosing the appropriate program. Call us at 1-866-399-2967 or contact us to learn more.

If you are using opiate drugs to control pain and feel you are using more and more to get the same pain relief, you may be suffering from a common condition caused from opiate drug use; read about this condition called Hyperalgesia. Also, read about hormones and how the chronic use of opiate drugs can decrease the body’s ability to produce the proper amount of testosterone and estrogen.

We never use other replacement addicting opiates often prescribed by physicians and detox centers, such as Suboxone^®/Subutex (Buprenorphine) or injectable Buprenorphine. These schedule III controlled opiate drugs are routinely and widely used and approved by the FDA for opiate addiction maintenance, like Methadone. Many patients find themselves in the same situation as they were before drug treatment from a doctor or a drug rehabilitation center. We have heard of some in-patient rehab centers also using schedule II controlled liquid Hydrocodone and Dilaudid “cocktails”. Patients soon realize these replacement drugs cause severe withdrawal once they are discharged from these programs. This causes the patient to seek opiates for relief from the severe discomfort of a Buprenorphine withdrawal. The use of these drugs for treatment of opiate addiction is merely switching one opiate drug for another setting the patient up for failure. This does not solve the patient’s drug addiction problem. As use of these drugs become more common, we are seeing a steady increase of requests for an anesthesia detox from patients addicted to Suboxone^®/Subutex (Buprenorphine). With RDD’s Naltrexone Therapy used as a pellet/implant, injectable “IM” shot or the oral pill form, the patient stays clean and cravings are eliminated.