Fentanyl Can I Just Go Cold Turkey When Quitting (Page 4) (Top voted first)

My doctor has had me on the 100 fentanyl patch for 1 year now. He is going to take me off it. Can you just stop taking it with out side effects or withdrawals. Please tell me the proper way to get off this patch. Please help me, I have the doctor appointment tomorrow and want to know what to say. So far it sounds like his plan is just to take me off cold turkey. I am scared of withdrawals. I am a mom of 5 kids and need to be ok. Please help.

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Day 22. Feeling normal again! Finally free of the beast, hallelujah!! Folks, you can do this. Be strong, be committed to your success, and believe that you will feel much better about yourself and life in general afterwards! Sure I'm still in pain, but I can better deal with it with a clear mind. I will hopefully have my surgery soon to take care of the pain so I can get on with my life. Good luck in life to all.

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Granny,
I would suggest that before you stop taking fentanyl that you at least consult with your doctor first. You didn't mention the underlying cause for taking it in the first place but I always tell people that you have to go into this prepared. If you suddenly stop taking fentanyl you will of course have to deal with the withdrawal issues and the nasty stuff that goes along with fentanyl withdrawal but if you still suffer from some other issue, you will need a gameplan to deal with whatever that is. There are many great alternatives to narcotics. It is important though that you are prepared and have done some homework on alternatives.

I apologize as it has been some time since I went through my fentanyl recovery so I don't have any sites at the moment to point you to. Here are a few tips though.

1. With the aid of your doctor, there are some medications that can significantly help with the withdrawal symptoms which I'll be straight with you, can be severe. I used a med called clonodine which is actually used to lower blood pressure but it is a wonder drug is a small pill. It helps SO much but must be taken in moderation. I would also suggest something like Xanax or other anxiety med as it will help you rest and also help get your mind off of the fact that your body is dealing with so much.

2. I remember taking a lot of baths. I used epsom salt and would soak for about 30 minutes or so at a time. It is very theraputic and I think it actually helps remove the toxins from the body..

3. Here is a big one. It is important that you find someone to help during this time. Seriously, there would have been no way that I could have done it on my own and I thank God that my wife was there for me. Whether it was to help me to the bathroom the first couple of days, or to bring ice chips or gatorade or just someone to tell me they love me and gave me encouragement when I wanted to give up.

4. I new that it was going to take some time to get through this so I tried to sleep as much as possible. This was very difficult as I also quit Ambien at the same time. That is another drug that is hell to get off of. Anyway, rest is important. Music also helped me a lot. I am a Christian so any kind of music that is uplifting will help.

5. I would also suggest that once you are through the first several days of the worst of it, that you try and get up and start moving around. Don't let your body stiffen (for lack of a better term) up. Honestly the sooner you get up and moving around, the faster you will get your body back to normal. After a couple of weeks I joined a gym. I was not healthy but I was determined to try and get myself back to normal. Take it slow but convince yourself that you will soon be back playing with those grand kids.

I wish I had more advice. Do some searches and you will find a lot of good info out there. I would suggest a google search with something like, "fentanyl withdrawal recovery help forum" I always put forum on the end of my searches because so much of the results are businesses and that is not what you need. You need personal experiences from others that have gone through it. Using the term forum on the end of just about any search can really help find good information on just about any topic.

Good luck and if I can be of help, please let me know.

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Hi Cindy I have to do cold turkey as well wondering how long you were sick for in total.
Thanks

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CINDY , I KNOW RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE , I HAVE DETOXED 5 TIMES, AND COLD TURKEY AT THAT, I HAD A GOOD PARTNER WHO STOPPRED ME FROM JUMPING , OFF THE 18th FLOOR, I CONTORT AND AND TWIST AND SIEZE UP, ETC,I BANG MY BODY OFF THE WALL, AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO DISLOCATING MY SHOULDERS,, PLEASE TAPER DOWN, SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A COUPLE OF STRIPS OF SUBOXONE AND TAPER DOWN THAT WAY, I WILL PRAY FOR YOU , AND YOU ARE COMING OFF DUE TO MONEY ,, RIGHT,, MAKE A SIGN AND GO DOWNTOWN AND WATCH HOW MANY PEOPLE HELP YOU, YOU WILL BE SURPRIZED

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I've been on 100mcg patch for five weeks. I woke up and saw ripples on it where it had come off! Then half was off. I have been throwing up all day. My doctor said if I take it off, to take a percecet. I have acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I got the patch because of an extravadation injury may 16 2014. Nothing was helping with the pain. My wife's sister suggested fentanyl and the doctor said yes. I want off now. I took it off at 3:30 p.m. today. I took one oxycodone right when I took it off. How long will my withdrawals last.

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My husband has been on the fentyal patch for 19 years 100 mcg, he has to quit cold turkey is Dr is no longer in business and no body will take libility for him, not even pain clinics. This is his 2nd day. It is bad. He was told by the pain clinic yesterday he has to be off them for 30 days before the can treat him for his pain or anything.It is bad when a dr does not care if someone dies because they are afraid of being sued...

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Hi there, I can absolutely sympethise with you and your husband, I was using the dreaded patch Also and had to quit it but I knew the day was coming so I started folding a bit if the patch under a little each time I put a new one on, cutting it can be lethal so don't do that. If he has to go cold turkey he will suffer as I did in the finish when I ran out, he will feel like his skin is crawling and at times will think he's not strong enough to cope its a terrible thing, all I can suggest is that you give him as much live and support as you possibly can in the meantime, once he gets through the first couple of weeks if will start getting easier and when it does he will thank god that no one was able to prescribe any to him. I'm not sure if you have rehab clinics over there but if you can get a hold of some methadone tabs they will help with the initial withdrawals.,lots of water and I was even advised to try and get some marijuana (illegal in NZ) maybe worth a try I didn't but I've heard it can help a lot. Good luck and god bless you for reaching out, you are an amazing woman to do this and be so supportive of him.

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I've been in 100 MCG changing every three days for a few years now. {I started at 25mcg maybe six years ago.} Yes, I find it extremely helpful to keep my old patch on for about a half hour after putting the new one on... I have an appointment with a pain specialist tomorrow. He is stopping the patch cold turkey, putting me on oxycontin to help with the withdrawals for a few days and then putting me on Suboxone. I am terrified. Good luck.

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Sending prayers your way. I hope things have changed drastically for you since your post. ><3

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You truly seem like a wonderful person. Thank you for everything you have shared; it has helped reduce my anxiety about going off the patch tomorrow and has given me insight into things I should be bringing up with my new doctor. God bless you!

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I have been on 50 mg of fentanly for 4 days, raised to 75 for 4 days, then reduced back to 50 because I can not stand the side effects. I want off of it and want off of it now. What is the best way> I can not eat, am in stomach pain, nerves are shot, , Any help would be appreciated.

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Hi, I am coming off of the patch at this time. MY dr. is weaning me slowly - every two weeks. I was on 100mcg every 72 hrs. I am down to 75mcg now and on the 15th of August I go down to 5omcg then 2 weeks and down to 25mcg then 2 weeks and down to the 12mcg and then off - I hope...for good. Not sure how my pain is going to do but hope that it can be controlled in other ways. Read many of the posts prior to yours there is some good advice there. The dr. should be able to give you some meds. to help you through any withdrawls. I am on none at this time myself. I would love to hear how you are doing as it is nice to have support and some one else who is going through some of the same things. Hugs and hang in there. WE CAN DO THIS!

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Johnson and Johnson has a program that will help you pay or will pay for all of it when I didn't have insurance I went threw them they paid for my whole scrip for 2 and half years till I got insurance look it up on internet you can do on line or can send papers in mail

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Try Subutex! :) Other people have similar results with Suboxone, I've heard. I've been on it for three weeks and it has REALLY helped. My pain is GREATLY decreased (It's tolerable with OTC pain meds now.), and I don't crave or need Fantanyl/narcotic pain relievers. (My personal experience: After being on prescription Fentanyl, and before that Norco and Vicodin, for so long, the pain releiving properties of the medications stopped working and I actually became MORE sensitive to pain. I also suffered from intense cramping and bloating, was always nauseated, threw up a lot (resulting in trips to the hospital to get rehydrated), and the skin on my abdomen was so sensitive that I couldn't even let a bed sheet touch it without nausea and/or vomiting. Needless to say, I HAD to change in order to function at all.) The Subutex has helped me so very much. I hope this helps! Please let me know how it works for you if you decide to go this route. ~Best of luck! :)

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Go out and buy yourself some magnesium tablets! That will help with your restless leg problems I promise!

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Where you successful in your efforts to drop fentyanl? how did everything turn out? how long did you experience withdrawl?

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I have been on Fentyl for 2 or 3 years! I have chronic migraines! I had 2 50mg patches left and my pain specialist told us to fold them in half and wear each one for 5 days then stop. I have had to urinate alot. No bladder infection. I can't sleep my legs are so fidgety and have to constantly go to the bathroom. I'm not eating or drinking hardly anything. I'm very depressed I don't leave the house. I don't crochet or sew anymore which I love to do! Has anyone had any of these symptoms?

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Hi
Coming off fentanyl was the hardest thing I've had to do but so worth it, if you can put up with this for two weeks and I know that sounds like a lifetime when you are living in hell but they will pass, lots of water, some magnesium will help and maybe ask doc to wean off over longer period of time as ten days is not enough. What strength are you on?
Lamb

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I was on 50mg Of the Fentyl. I hope the next couple of weeks aren't to terrible.

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Lisa,
Thanks for all of your help and support! You are such a great person! I decided to go off my pain medication myself, but my pain specialist is very proud of me. Actually Tuesday night I took my last patch off!

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