How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System? Fentanyl Detection Window

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s prescribed to treat severe pain that hasn’t responded to other medications, such as cancer-related pain. Fentanyl is extremely potent, even more than morphine.

As a pharmaceutical, fentanyl is used as a transdermal patch, lozenge, tablet, injectable solution, or nasal spray. When it’s produced illicitly, fentanyl is often in powder or tablet form, on blotter paper, or mixed with other drugs like heroin and amphetamines. Many illicit drugs are laced with fentanyl without the users knowing, leading to dangerous overdoses.

Like other opioids, fentanyl attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain that affect pain and emotional responses. This floods the brain with dopamine, causing euphoria. Opioids are a depressant, however, which causes the heart rate and breathing rate to decrease, possibly to dangerous levels.

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?

The time fentanyl lasts in the body depends on the specific fentanyl form. The skin patch can last 5 days after use, while a lozenge lasts 1-2 days.[3] The dissolvable tablet lasts about a day.

Fentanyl elimination times are based on a few doses as a prescription medication. However, if you take fentanyl for extended periods, it may take longer for the drug to clear your system. Other factors can affect how long fentanyl lasts in the body, including individual metabolism, body mass, age, use history, organ function, and other drugs you take.

Fentanyl Detection Windows for Drug Tests

Fentanyl detection windows for drug screening can vary. There’s limited research into drug detection times for illicitly produced fentanyl or its metabolites, particularly in people who use it chronically. However, detection times for other opioids suggest it may be detectable for up to a week in urine and up to 90 days in hair.[4]

Drug tests used by law enforcement or pre-employment screenings often test for multiple common drugs. Fentanyl is often added to other drugs on the illicit market so that a drug test may detect fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine.

Risks of Fentanyl

Fentanyl has legitimate medical uses, but it’s reserved for severe, chronic pain that hasn’t been treated effectively by other medications. This is because of its serious risks, even when used as directed, including hypotension, severely depressed breathing, overdose, and addiction.

Opioids like fentanyl slow the central nervous system. If you mix fentanyl with other depressants, such as alcohol, sedative medications, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, barbiturates, or opioids like oxycodone and codeine, it can slow brain activity and physiological functions to dangerous levels.[5]

This is not an exhaustive list of possible fentanyl interactions. Discuss any medications you’re taking with your doctor while you’re taking fentanyl. If you stop fentanyl, ask when it’s safe to take other drugs.

Fentanyl Overdose

Fentanyl’s potency makes overdose a more serious concern than other drugs, especially with fentanyl substance abuse. There’s no way to know exactly how much fentanyl you’re taking and what other drugs or additives are mixed in, which can increase the risk of overdose.

Some of the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include:[6]

• Cold, clammy skin
• Slowed or stopped breathing
• Constricted pupils
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Blue lips and skin
• Loss of consciousness
• Coma

Fentanyl overdoses can be fatal without medical attention. If you suspect someone is overdosing on fentanyl, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if you have it, which may be able to reverse the effects of the overdose until help arrives.

Fentanyl Withdrawal

Fentanyl use leads to dependence quickly. The body adjusts to the presence of the drug, so when it’s stopped, intense withdrawal symptoms can occur. Common fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include:[7]

• Irritability
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Trouble sleeping
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Runny nose
• Weakness
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Watery eyes

Fentanyl Addiction and Treatment

There’s always a risk of addiction to a potent drug like fentanyl, but you can reduce the risk by taking your prescription medication exactly as prescribed. Misusing or abusing fentanyl significantly increases the risk of developing an opioid addiction.

While fentanyl addiction comes with serious risks, it’s important not to stop taking fentanyl on your own. Fentanyl withdrawal can be intense, possibly leading to complications or a risk of relapse to relieve the symptoms.

The first step in treating fentanyl drug addiction is medical detox with a medical team to manage withdrawal symptoms, monitor your health, and provide medications as needed to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible.

Overcoming opioid addiction is challenging. Detox can’t treat addiction on its own, so it’s best to start an addiction treatment program on an inpatient or outpatient basis once detox is complete. With an individualized substance use disorder treatment plan, you can undergo treatment with counseling, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to address the psychological aspects of addiction.

Seek Help for Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is a potent drug that’s often misused and abused, intentionally and unintentionally. Depending on the dose, use history, and other factors, the presence of fentanyl may be detectable on drug tests or may interact with other drugs long after the last dose. If you or a loved one is struggling with fentanyl addiction, seek addiction treatment to reduce the risks of adverse effects and overdose.