What Does Fentanyl Do To You? Abuse, Side Effects & Treatment

What Is Fentanyl And What Does It Do?

What does fentanyl do to you? Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid prescribed to treat severe pain, such as cancer-related or after-surgery pain. However, due to its high potency, it has also been a drug of abuse, leading to a significant increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in recent years. Fentanyl abuse can have serious and even deadly effects on the body, including respiratory depression, coma, and death.

The effects of fentanyl abuse can be particularly dangerous because the drug is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and can quickly lead to overdose.

Even a small amount of fentanyl can cause respiratory depression, leading to a lack of oxygen in the brain and other vital organs, potentially resulting in permanent brain damage or death.

Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine, to increase their potency and profitability. This practice is particularly dangerous because the user may not know the true strength or composition of the drug, increasing the risk of overdose and other serious health effects.

Due to the seriousness of fentanyl abuse and its potential effects, it is important to seek professional help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to this drug. Treatment for fentanyl addiction may include a combination of medication-assisted treatment, behavioral therapy, and support groups. It is important to remember that addiction is a treatable condition, and with the right help, recovery is possible.

Fentanyl What Does It Do? Fentanyl Abuse Effects

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug often prescribed to manage severe pain, but it is also widely abused for its powerful euphoric effects. Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine; even small doses can lead to respiratory depression and overdose. The effects of fentanyl abuse can be severe and even deadly and can include:

• Respiratory depression: One of the most significant effects of fentanyl abuse is respiratory depression, where the drug slows or stops breathing. This can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body, resulting in brain damage, coma, and death.
• Overdose: Due to the potency of fentanyl, even a small amount can cause an overdose. Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include difficulty breathing, severe confusion, extreme drowsiness, and coma.
• Nausea and vomiting: Fentanyl abuse can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, leading to dehydration and other health problems.
• Constipation: Fentanyl can cause constipation, leading to bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal problems.
• Physical dependence: Regular use of fentanyl can lead to physical dependence, where the body requires the drug to function normally. Withdrawal symptoms, including muscle aches, sweating, insomnia, and anxiety, can occur when the drug is stopped or reduced.
• Mental health problems: Fentanyl abuse can lead to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and hallucinations.
• Infectious diseases: Injection drug use is a common method of fentanyl abuse, which can lead to the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis C.
• Behavioral problems: Fentanyl abuse can lead to behavioral problems, such as impulsivity, aggression, and risky behaviors.
• Family and social problems: Fentanyl abuse can cause problems with family and social relationships, leading to isolation, job loss, and financial difficulties.

Overall, fentanyl abuse can have serious and even deadly effects on the body and mind. Seeking professional help is essential to overcome fentanyl addiction and preventing this powerful drug’s harmful consequences.

What Does Fentanyl Do To Your Heart?

Fentanyl is an opioid drug that can have several effects on the heart, both positive and negative. Some of the effects that fentanyl can have on the heart include:

• Decreased heart rate: Fentanyl can cause a decrease in heart rate due to its central nervous system depressant effects.
• Lowered blood pressure: Fentanyl can cause a decrease in blood pressure due to its ability to dilate blood vessels.
• Cardiac arrest: In rare cases, fentanyl use can lead to cardiac arrest when the heart suddenly stops beating.
• Arrhythmias: Fentanyl use can cause abnormal heart rhythms, such as bradycardia or tachycardia.
• Increased risk of heart disease: Prolonged use of fentanyl, especially in high doses, can increase the risk of developing heart disease.

It is important to note that fentanyl should only be used as prescribed by a healthcare provider, and misuse of this drug can have serious consequences on the heart and other vital organs. If you are experiencing any heart-related symptoms while taking fentanyl, you should seek immediate medical attention.

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70%

Approximately 70% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2019 involved prescription or illicit opioids.

Source: CDC

4.6 million

In 2020, more than 4.6 million Americans misused prescription stimulants..

Source: DEA

What Does Fentanyl Do To The Brain?

Fentanyl, like other opioids, works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, which are primarily responsible for regulating pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. When fentanyl binds to these receptors, it can produce a range of effects on the brain, including:

• Pain relief: Fentanyl can block pain signals in the brain and spinal cord, leading to pain relief.
• Euphoria: Fentanyl can produce pleasure and euphoria, contributing to its high potential for abuse.
• Depression of the central nervous system: Fentanyl can depress the central nervous system, leading to slowed breathing, decreased heart rate, and lowered blood pressure.

Unfortunately, fentanyl is also widely misused and abused, often leading to overdose and death. The number of overdose deaths related to fentanyl has increased dramatically in recent years.

A fentanyl overdose occurs when an individual takes more fentanyl than their body can handle. Fentanyl is a central nervous system depressant that slows down the body’s vital functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

When someone takes too much fentanyl, it can cause these functions to slow down to a dangerous level, leading to respiratory depression, hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain), and, ultimately, death.

The signs and symptoms of a fentanyl overdose can include respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness, cold and clammy skin, blue lips and nails, and low blood pressure.

An overdose can occur rapidly, often within minutes of taking the drug. If someone appears to be experiencing an overdose, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Treatment for a fentanyl overdose often involves supportive measures such as providing oxygen, monitoring vital signs, and administering medications to reverse the effects of the drug. One such medication is naloxone, also known as Narcan, which can quickly reverse the effects of fentanyl and other opioids.

Naloxone is available as an injection or nasal spray and can be administered by trained medical personnel or by family and friends of those at risk of overdose.