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Medically Reviewed

Carfentanil vs Fentanyl: What is the Difference?

- 6 sections

Medically Verified: July 24, 2024

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Opioids are a class of drugs that depress the central nervous system and offer pain relief. Doctors might prescribe certain opioids to treat moderate to severe or chronic pain. However, opioids are not intended to be used long-term because they are habit-forming and addictive.

Due to the addictive nature of opioids, an opioid overdose crisis has been raging in the United States. Unfortunately, drug dealers have gotten their hands on extremely potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil. While some people might misunderstand and think these are the same substances, there are many differences between carfentanil and fentanyl.

For example, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. On the other hand, carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine.[1] Additionally, fentanyl may be used to treat severe pain in humans, while carfentanil is not approved for human consumption and is only used as a tranquilizer for large animals like elephants.

In this article, you will learn:

  • What is fentanyl
  • What is carfentanil
  • What are the differences between fentanyl and carfentanil

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was created to treat moderate to severe pain. Doctors only prescribe it when lesser opioids are not working for a patient. Additionally, only small doses of fentanyl are used, making it safe when used in a medical setting.

The side effects of fentanyl may include:[2]

  • Feelings of euphoria and relaxation
  • Pain relief
  • Drowsiness, dizziness, and sedation
  • Confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Urinary issues
  • Small pupils
  • Respiratory depression

Unfortunately, drug manufacturers have begun to create illegally manufactured fentanyl (IMF). Often, this substance is found inside of other drugs, like heroin or pressed pills. These drugs frequently contain too big of a dose of fentanyl, leading to life-threatening overdoses.

Fentanyl might be sold on the street as a powder, inside of a pill, on blotter paper, or as a liquid. No matter how you come across it, it is dangerous to consume. Law enforcement seized over 115 million pills containing illicit fentanyl in 2023, proving this is a considerable risk to drug users in America.[3]

What is Carfentanil?

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid and an analog of fentanyl. While it is not approved for use in humans in the U.S., it is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals like elephants. Only 2mg of carfentanil is enough to knock out an elephant, displaying how dangerous this substance can be for humans.[1]

Unfortunately, fentanyl-related substances like carfentanil and other fentanyl analogs are being sold on the street. Instead of being marketed as carfentanil, the substance is being used as an adulterant in other drugs like heroin or pressed opioid pills. As a result, carfentanil is leading to many overdose deaths.

While naloxone is effective in treating carfentanil overdoses, you might need multiple doses of naloxone to reverse an overdose. Continue administering naloxone every 2 to 3 minutes until the person becomes responsive and then wait for emergency personnel to arrive.[4]

What are the Differences Between Carfentanil and Fentanyl?

While fentanyl and carfentanil are both synthetic opioids, they have some differences to be aware of. For example, carfentanil is much more potent than fentanyl. Additionally, fentanyl is approved for medicinal use among humans, while carfentanil is only used to sedate large animals.

The main differences between fentanyl and carfentanil include:

Uses

Fentanyl is approved by the FDA as a pain-relief medication for humans. It might be used to manage severe or chronic pain among patients who are already tolerant of other opioids. For example, fentanyl patches are often prescribed to cancer patients suffering from chronic pain.

On the other hand, carfentanil is not approved for any type of medicinal purpose among humans. It is approved for veterinarians to use as a type of sedation medication for very large animals. Carfentanil is most commonly used to sedate elephants.

Potency

Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that is considered 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. This means that even small amounts of fentanyl can be dangerous and lead to an overdose or respiratory depression.

Even though fentanyl is highly potent, carfentanil is far stronger. For example, carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. As a result, tiny amounts of carfentanil can lead to fatal overdoses, making it a much more dangerous substance than fentanyl, which is already incredibly risky to abuse.

Find Help for Opioid Abuse and Addiction

If you or a loved one misuses opioids, it’s time to seek professional help. Unfortunately, buying any type of opioid off of the street puts you at risk of coming in contact with dangerous substances like fentanyl or carfentanil. By attending drug rehab, you can prevent yourself from experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

Contact the Mandala Healing Center today for more information on how we can help you recover from opioid addiction.

References:

  1. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Fentanyl and Carfentanil
  2. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Fentanyl
  3. The National Institutes of Health (NIH): Over 115 million pills containing illicit fentanyl seized by law enforcement in 2023
  4. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Carfentanil: A Dangerous New Factor in the U.S. Opioid Crisiscarfentanil vs fentanyl