Fentanyl Can I Just Go Cold Turkey When Quitting (Page 6)

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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Go from 100mcg to 75- then 50- then 25 then 12.5 untill it falls off this will take at least 6 weeks

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Hi I'm just wondering how you are getting on, start weaning yourself off see how many patches etc you have left and divide them up, how many do you have left? You could ask to go on methadone for the pain and to detox from the fentanyl, it's still addictive but I find it easier to stop than I did fentanyl, that fentanyl just about had me suicidal it is terrible stuff that ruins lives. I was on 100mg for a year and a half they just kept increasing as I got used to it.
Let me know how you are?

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This medicine is killing people oh my god !

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I know we're all different but I run out early every month of my oxycodone-I do not get withdrawal because the patch covers it. I had to reapply for prior authorization on my fentanyl as it had expired. Timing was horrible! It happened to be same time of month I'm out of oxy. I was first out of oxycodone, then five days on top of that without the patch while waiting for new prior authorization. I praise God that I did not suffer withdrawal from either. I think it's because I can't feel any of them when I do have them so my body can't tell that they're gone. I also think I'm under the grace of God to not feel either. I don't know what your relationship with the Lord is but prayer definitely helps to fight withdrawal. So yes you may go inti withdrawal stopping the patch though it's quite possible that you may not.

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You should be slowly decreased every visit. 75mcg, then 50mcg then 25mcg. To be cut off all at once is dangerous.

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I never thought I would consider this but here I am.. LOL I think I want to stop fentanyl. I have gained 50 pounds in the past 7 months and two weeks ago suffered a cortisol crash upon implementation of Cardio work out....through much research and digging I found out that Extended release opiates are what is causing the weight gain, lethargy, thyroid problems and adrenal insufficiency. The solution is to quit any extended release and add regular oxycodone. No doctor will go for that. The pounds will fall off along with other medical issues (they will stop) apparently, the naloxone and other substances that prevent abuse of opiates destroy your adrenal glands, or the proper functioning of them! Ok so since I have gone without patch for 5 days while also being out of oxy, and withdrawal was absent I am hoping that I won't experience it at all. I do have a fresh bottle of oxy and am still wearing my patch from 4 days ago. If I just leave it on and let every drop seep into me, then won't it also leave my body slow enough to forgo withdrawal?

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I'm in process of trying that. After finding out that my weight gain is due to opiate induced adrenal insufficiency I am trying to lower or quit patch. I'm only on 50 every 48 hrs. I was doing good with keeping it on for bout 5 days, going without one till my tummy got flustered then putting another one on. I have two boxes stashed! Umm of course my oxy use was higher so now that I'm out of pills early, I'm having hard time going less than 72hrs with one. I think I will ask doc to drop me to 25 but dang, before all this started I was also cheeking old ones before tossing them. I wish I could be put back on OxyContin. Oxycodone has no adverse effects on adrenals. Good luck to you

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I had a rx for alprazolam 1 mg with 3 refills on it. Does expire in 60 or 90 days?

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I went cold turkey from the Fentanyl 100 mcg. It was like being in a coma. Slept through it all with from what I remember was lots of shaking & no eating. I was at 277 the day I pulled off the patch & within 9 days I was at 235, a loss of 42 pounds. It was 10 years on that patch but it became a Prior Approval drug and my Pain Mgmt dr ignored all calls from my Mail in Pharmacy so I had no choice and the funny thing was that 4 days after the previous 9 I went in for Ankle surgery with 2 pins in leg & lots of pain. I have every drug known to man but always got abdominal pain from Hydro or Oxy (codone) (vicodin & Percocet) I still have about 50 10 APAP 660 which they don't make the 660 anymore as that's the Tylenol which now causes Liver damage so it's lowered to APAP 325. Write me back if u have any questions.

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I had the same thing happen. I had gone up to 400 MCG Fentanyl over the course of 7 years I was told just go off your Fentanyl patches for 72hrs and when you get moderate withdrawals take Suboxone, which is basically just Narcan which sucks all the opiates out of your system all at once. Its like a month of withdrawals in 24 hrs. IF you want to get off Fentanyl go to a rehab or hospital. This rehab at home with Subxone is a scam. It will put you in the worst pain you have ever felt and could kill you.

As for the "Fentanyl is 1000 times stronger" bulls***. Yes it is stronger, but they give you 1/1000 of the amount. It is measured in Micrograms not milligrams. So it really isn't that much stronger for the amount you get. Some Docs will make it sound like they are giving you enough to kill 20 horses. It is something that shouldn't be used unless you are use to opiates, but your not getting the equivalent of 1000 Oxy.

I have had some great doctors, but I have met more liars than anything. Check everything they say. I had an ER doc tell me recently that a new law won't let them give you pain meds in the ER if you are prescribed pain meds by your primary care doctor. RIGHT, so if I come in with both my arms cut off i just have to suffer because my doctor gave me 10 vicodin last month. This was one of the stupider lies. Another said I picked up 3 of the identical prescriptions at the same pharmacy the same day. Like any pharmacy would do that. He had the paper in his hand but when I asked to see it he suddenly got very defensive and said I can't see confidential medical records. THEY ARE MY RECORDS. Anyway, just check everything they say.

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Well this is it! I've got 1/4 of my last 25 tucked in my upper gum line and so far I'm okay....I stuck with doing the 25 and used the 50's as a slow instant release. By that I mean I would apply patch and remove after four or five hours and reuse as necessary. They are gone and instead of wearing my last 25, I cut into pieces and down to last piece.....stomach a mess but always has been....I'm thinking that I wouldn't know it I had withdrawal anyway due to the various conditions I have to begin with.....might be time to go green

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I've been one every 72 hrs fentanyl 50mcg patches for over a year, it doesn't do me anything. If anything I find that my other meds work better when in the period between the time it takes a day or 2 before withdrawals set. I take somas, klonopin, perc 10s. My back is messed up. Btw L1 - L5 I have 2 Degerenative discs, 3 bulging discs, and arthritis caked on every level of my vertebrae. If anyone could refer me to a pain management doc in the lake Charles area so I could get a full mri of my entire back it would be great to get away from my family doc.. Any suggestions? I have the MRI of my lumbar..

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You need to go to the er!!!!! I have been on Fentanyl for over five years. When I have a patch fall off. That's three days of meds. And my oxycodone didn't help a bit. Just got my patches earlier today. It's been five days of no sleep, vomiting and all the other fun stuff. Please go to er, and be honest with them. My empathy is with you. Don't be afraid to go to er.

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That worked the best for me the first time I got off fentanyl. Is to wear the patch as long as possible and start using smaller pieces. And you should really see your doctor. They in all reality can't force you to go cold turkey. I just got my patches earlier today. Came off a five day withdrawal. No sleep, no eating and the last two days was to weak to even shower. So if anyone out there is going through it. Please go to the er. I know I didn't. I'm lucky to be alive. But a couple of days into my withdrawals, I was asking God to take me. So anyone that gets so bad you can't eat or drink. Please get help. If you won't do that, keep something like Gatorade beside you at all times. And force yourself to take tiny sips. And I know it feels impossible but try to eat at least crackers. I'm just now starting to feel better. And please know that you can get through this. All of my care and feelings go out to all that are suffering.

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Please don't ever be ashamed about your addiction. And all doctors are different. Need to find one that understands the hell your going through. Keep fighting

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Just know read your latest email. Cold turkey is nuts. If you're doctor has no compassion. Ask the doctor to put in writing that cold turkey is what they want you to do. Unfortunately for me, I had to get very nasty with my doctor. Asked her if she remembered her oath??? And if she took it seriously? She backed down. You should never let a doctor bully you. You are there boss. Always remember that. If they still refuse. Tell the doctor you need a months supply until you can find another doctor to help. God bless you. Hang in there

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Im on fentanyl 100 mg and oxycodone 30 mg 6 a day and patches 1 every 2 days im a stroke pashent and without this im in severe pain would love to get off it cause my husband dont understand why im on it he feels i should get use to the pain and stop this cold turky but im afraid i tryed once and was in so muchbpain i couldent even walk it was like being pairalised again i dont now what to do cause i dont whant to go though that again was pairlaized neck down when i got most back from therpey the oain was to much what to do

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It is never safe or advisable to go off medication cold turkey. No doctor should suggest this method. You need to slowly decrease the amount of Fentanyl you are taking. Many doctors would give another prescription to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Please do not go off this medication cold turkey. You will have many unpleasant reactions and could have seizures. Your first responsibility is to your children. If your doctor does not have a plan for you, get a new doctor and turn him in because he deserves to lose his license. He took an oath to do no harm. Please tell me what happens. I will be praying for you and your family.

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Talk to ur doc about stopping fentanyl ( I was able to go cold turkey but I was the acception to the rule ) ur doc can take u off fentanyl by stepping up down and i hear stepping down is the safest way ( after I went cold turkey my doc wanted to kill me i didn't know that I could have had a stroke from it but I like I said I was the acception to the rule , because I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms just slightl headache and that was it ) but unless ur mentally strong enough don't try cold turkey

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Addiction is different than using prescribed opioid prescriptions for chronic pain. Unfortunately most people do develop a tolerance over time and the strength is then increased. I think most people like myself were never informed that starting on these meds would mean staying on them indefinitely or suffering through hell to get off of them. I know if I was honestly told what using fentanyl would be like long term, I would never have said "yes" to the first patch. I never thought to research long term effects or withdrawal because I was in pain and trusted the medical profession. Now we are faced with wanting to get off these medications and no one to turn to. I am retiring in a few years. I know I cannot work without fentanyl. I have sworn the first thing I will do after retiring is to get off these meds. The posts here have shown me how difficult this may be but with the support of all the brave people that have successfully done it, I will make it through.

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