Fentanyl is one of the strong opioid medications that is used for managing pain. But it is also a drug that is often abused for recreation purposes because of its highly addictive properties. If you have used fentanyl recently or you are thinking of using it, you might be wondering.
In simple words, time required for detecting fentanyl mostly varies depending on the type of test. If it is a urine test, then fentanyl can be detected from 1 to 2 hours post use and sometimes up to 24-72 hours, under the influence of how frequently it is being used and the dosage. In blood tests fentanyl is detected within some minutes to some hours post use, sometimes remaining up to 12 hours or more. In hair tests, it can be detected for up to 12 hours or even more. Based on the length of the hair sample, fentanyl detection can be done up to 90 days or even more.
A proper knowledge of metabolism and till how long it can be detected can assist in making right decisions about its use and management of any risks. Let’s know how several factors can put an influence on how long does fentanyl stay in your system and the risks that are linked with its usage and overdose.
What is Fentanyl and what are its uses?
Fentanyl is counted among the synthetic opioids that is the same as morphine but is more potent. It is mainly recommended by medical professionals for management of severe pain, mainly in patients who have gone through some major surgeries or is experiencing severe pain.
When Fentanyl is used for medical purposes, it is used for alleviating pain. It functions by getting bound to the brain’s opioid receptors thereby causing blockage of the pain signals and generating a sense of relaxed feeling and euphoria in some of the users.
Patients using fentanyl for managing pain often suffer from conditions like cancer, where the pain becomes excruciating and is not easy to control. Fentanyl offers these persons the required relief, facilitating them in functioning and enhancing their quality of life. Controlled administration ensures that patients get the required dosage and are closely supervised for all kinds of adverse effects.
Other than pain management fentanyl is also used at the time of surgery during administration of anesthesia. It is fast acting and has potent properties that makes it one of the best choices for persuading and maintaining anesthesia. On careful titration of dosage, anesthesiologists make sure that patients stay unconscious as well as free from pain all through the surgery.
Fentanyl abuse
Fentanyl is also abused because of the euphoric effects it produces. Recently, there has been high illegal use of fentanyl, mostly mixed with drugs like heroin as well as cocaine. The drug’s potency makes it very dangerous leading to respiratory depression, and sometimes death.
On administration, fentanyl gets absorbed and spreads all through the body. Then it gets metabolized by your liver into some inactive compounds which are then removed from your body through urine, sweat and feces. Its main metabolite norfentanyl is used like a marker for detection of its presence in your body. As discussed above, depending on the kind of test used, it is possible to detect the fentanyl in your body for elongated periods of time.
Here are some other factors that decide how long does fentanyl stays in your system:
Dosage and how frequently it is used: High dose and more frequent use can result in a long time for detection. In addition, when fentanyl is used for a long time, it results in accumulation in your body, elongating the time of presence for several tests.
Specific metabolic rate: Every individual’s metabolic rate is different and can put an impact on how rapidly fentanyl is being processed and is removed from the body. Factors like age, weight as well as your overall health can put an influence on the metabolic rate and thereby the presence in your system.
Conclusion
So, to conclude, how long fentanyl does stay in your system can vary based on factors like dosage, how many times it is being used, specific metabolism and overall wellness. Fentanyl can be detected in the body through several tests which also includes urine, hair and blood, with time of detection ranging from some hours to some months. But it is important to keep in mind that even when a drug is no more detectable, still the risks in association with use of fentanyl and overdose stays significant. If you or your loved one is suffering because of addiction to this drug and you require help, then talk with a healthcare professional for receiving right guidance as well as support.
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