Your Withdrawal Fingerprint

Your withdrawal process is just about as unique as your fingerprint. The duration and intensity of withdrawal symptoms can vary widely depending on the combination of several factors – some of which are covered below. Being honest with yourself and your care provider in reviewing the items below and other personal health details will help you better prepare for the withdrawal path ahead. Although you may feel embarrassed or have some shame about your opioid dependence, remember that your care provider wants to help you get through this, not judge you. They need you to be honest about your opioid use, so they can help you with a personalized treatment plan to get you safely and comfortably through withdrawal and into recovery.

1. Type of Opioid: Different opioids result in different lengths of withdrawal. Short-acting drugs like fentanyl, hydrocodone, or oxycodone have shorter withdrawal periods. Long-acting opioids like methadone have much longer withdrawal periods. See our chart below for more detail
2. Duration of Use: The length of time you’ve used opioids plays a significant role in severity and duration of withdrawal. The longer a person uses opioids can extend the withdrawal period and potentially introduce more severe symptoms.
3. Dosage: Higher doses of opioids can lead to more intense withdrawal symptoms and a longer detox process.
4. Individual Health Factors: Individual health, including physical and mental well-being, underlying health conditions, mental health issues, and even genetics, can influence how you as an individual experience withdrawal and impact the health risks when going through withdrawal.
5. Withdrawal Process/Protocol: Gradual tapering off opioids can result in a more extended but less severe withdrawal process compared to abruptly quitting, which may cause more intense symptoms but for a shorter duration. Using therapies to minimize withdrawal symptoms can dramatically decrease the intensity of symptoms versus going “cold turkey.”

Opioid Withdrawal Duration by Opioid Type

Like we mentioned above, the type of opioid you’ve been taking plays a critical role in the length and severity of your withdrawal symptoms.

Let’s break that down a bit more.

Note:

1. Action Duration: "Short-acting" opioids generally have effects lasting for a few hours, while "long-acting" opioids can last for over 24 hours.
2. Onset of Withdrawal Symptoms: This indicates how long after the last dose withdrawal symptoms typically begin. This can have some individual variation based on a number of different factors.
3. Withdrawal Duration: This is an estimate of how long withdrawal symptoms may last. It can also vary significantly between individuals and depends on factors like the duration of use, dosage, individual physiology, and whether the drug was used with other substances.  

As you can see, calculating your opioid withdrawal journey can be pretty complex, but we’re here to help! The good news is there are treatment options that can help manage your symptoms from beginning to end – no matter how long that may be. Be sure to consult your care provider and be as honest as possible about your withdrawal fingerprint and opioid type(s) so they can help map out a plan to get you safely and comfortably through withdrawal and onto the more important work of staying in recovery.

Introducing Sparrow Ascent

One new companion to help you safely and comfortably navigate your withdrawal journey is Sparrow Ascent.  

Sparrow Ascent, transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN), is a new approach in the landscape of opioid withdrawal treatments using advanced technology instead of drugs to ease the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It's a wearable neurostimulation device designed to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Unlike traditional MOUD options, Sparrow Ascent is drug-free and non-invasive, making it an appealing choice for those seeking alternatives to pharmacological treatments (AKA drug-free).

This device delivers gentle electrical stimulation to the skin on and around around the ear. This activates specific nerves that surface just below the skin and helps regulate the nervous system responses associated with opioid withdrawal, including fight or flight, rewarding behavior, and pleasure centers. Sparrow Ascent can be integrated into any recovery plan catering to those preferring a drug-free approach or those who wish to supplement existing MOUD treatment.

Whether you're dealing with short-acting opioids like oxycodone or long-acting ones like methadone, Sparrow Ascent's starter kit, with its 28 earpieces, is tailored to assist you through almost any withdrawal scenario. Plus, if needed, you and your provider can discuss adding more daily disposable earpieces to manage withdrawal symptoms beyond the initial 28 days.

Getting Started with Sparrow Ascent

If you or someone you know is considering this crucial step towards recovery, we encourage you to explore Sparrow Ascent. Take the qualification quiz to see if this innovative treatment via telehealth is the right option for you. Remember, no matter how long or challenging the opioid withdrawal process may be, there are tools and resources to help you through withdrawal and on to the important work of recovery.

‍