Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 10) (Top voted first)

I'm trying to wean myself off the Fentanyl patch. I went from 75 micro-gms to 50 now I'm on 25. Having a problem and not sure it is related to the decrease in the med. It's been 20 days on the 25 micro-gm and I'm going crazy. I need to keep rocking, moving in any way b/c my body is very restless. Is this a symptom of withdrawal and what do I do? I cannot take it any more.

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Thanks Jemmy and Ginny, You inspire me. I'm actually going into the 4-5 day usage of 12mcg. I'm twitchy and bitchy!
My husband is very patient and kind. He wants me to be back to a normal human being again too.
I am proud of you, Ginny! You kicked one heck of a drug. I have been very tempted to ask my doc for some Oxycotin for those painfull days, but I know I would get used to the euphoric feeling I used to have with it and want it all the time. So you helped me to tough it out. I will make it to the drug free world, yes I will, with God's will and your help,friends!
I love to read new posts from all of you. Keep on writing. It helps us and it will help YOU!

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Hey Happy girl,
I am about two weeks behind you. I am on 3rd 6mcg patch--one more and I quit. So far, other than NO sleep and increased neuropathy, I am hanging in there. I will say those patches do work, because I fell hard on my tailbone 3 yrs ago and recovered with no problem. Boy do I know it now. Am so proud of you. Big hugs!!!!

Jemmy

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Jackie, I've been told by my pain doc that withdrawal from patch can last from 1-2 weeks if you go cold turkey. This seems pretty bad to me. I have no experience with Suboxone. The worst part of withdrawal seems to be the sleeplessness. I get about 2-3 hrs of sleep per nite and am exhausted all the time. Last night I applied my last 12mcg patch at 1am and took it off at 8am. I slept at least 6 hours very restfully. I can't do this forever, of course. Just trying to get some relief. So 5 days of no patch leaves me here....I will try to sleep tonight without re-applying patch. I will also e-mail my doc to ask about the restless leg, sleepless thing. I was hoping to be done by now. I'm hanging in there and appreciate anyone's shared experience too. Thanks for being here.
Jemmy, I should have done the 6mcg too. Keep posting how you're doing.

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Hi HappyGirl!
Hope ur getting some rest tonight! Melatonin works for me. Try maybe to alternate passion flower, Sleepytea ( celestial seasoning and the M. Drops. B sure to take them sub ligually . You will get off the opiates!!! Just take your time and be ready for a couple of weeks that will be an initiation... Helps if u have a spiritual practice. Pray, pilates, and patience r mine.
I am OFF all opiates, benzos, neurotin, and am coping with the withdrawal symptoms and pain off distentegrated discs through acceptance , distraction, trying to soldier on in life. Speaking of being clean, swimming in ocean or freshwater is very healing!!! Aloha from MauiGirl

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Hi Kris..I too am shocked that you were given fentanyl for Withdrawls. That is unheard of where I come from. Since you are in chronic pain I know it will most likely be impossible to get off of opiates and live a normal life, hasn't your doctor suggested methadone tablets for your chronic pain? First off, don't believe the horror stories you hear about methadone, it is a long acting opiate nothing more. It also doesn;t give you the high like the fentanyal does. It is also very inexspensive to use, and most patients need nothing more than motrin for breakthrough pain, Whatever you do, talk to a doctor first..I know what you are going through as I am a chronic pain sufferer who is also addicted to the opiates I take, and that is why I am on methadone, it is the only opiate I use which works for me, and I dont have any desire to abuse it..Good luck, and let us know how you are doing
P

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Happy girl..If you are in chronic pain, I hope that you reconsider just quitting everything instead of trying something else for pain, You havent even started WD's yet. You will go through PAWS for months or even years, Post Acute Withdrawls. I went through them for years until I almost comitted suicide and decided to try another opiate and now I have my life back. Opiates are wonderful medications and are here for a reason, remember dependence is a lot different than addiction, and this is only MHO, but I think Fentanyl shouldn't even be used. I hear very bad things about it, But of course I have never taken it, so maybe I am way off base,, Patients can;t only blaim their doctors, they want to help us live our lives as pain free as possible, and opiates are the best but only if your pain is truly life changing.....
P

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Jaci...Please, with Hep C, stay away from all painkillers except methadone..Gert yourself to a doctor ASAP, get the Hep C under control and get medication for your chronic pain. your life is at stake here.....You may have to go to a methadone clinic sunce you were buying your meds off the street, your parents don't have to know you are going to a clinic. I dont think a regular doctor will give you pain meds because of that reason.And all clinics are very experienced in treating Hep C. I have it too, so I know, good luck and keep us posted, ok??
P

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Hi EasyBayShortcake...It sounds to me that you are in some bad pain, and it worries me that you AND your fiance want you to quit because of having a baby. In the first place with an injury like yours do you even know how painful it will be to carry a baby? Are you sure you are ready to quit this lifesaving medication for yourself and not HIM??? With the pain, going through WD;s and then the PAWS, you wont be ready to even think about a baby for a few years, plus have your OBGYN check you for any organ damage.....I never unederstood why our loved ones want us to quit the medications that help us to live better lives, Maybe they have never lived through the Hell we have....BTW, many healthy babies have been born with moms who are in chronic pain and on methadone.

P

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A lot of pain on opiates can be from tolerance withdrawal. Some folks find their actual pain is less,or at least different off drugs.
Have you read anything on painmeds? Or benzos- like Valium? The withdrawal from benzos can be protracted,too, and it's hard to tell the difference, except, my understanding is the benzos can be fatal, opiates not.
Everyone has there own experience. Fentanyl and Oxy's were my medications. I was medically dependent, which some doctor called the accidental addiction, because, of course a med pro just wants to help. However, unless they have experienced the he'll of opiate withdrawal and tolerance , they can keep upping the dose until u r toxic.
Pat- let's agree that we all r here to add our opinions in effort to support one another. Please don't name call- yes, we all have issues!!!!

Question- a friend was put on methadone and felt like a zombie. Dull... Like brain fog.
Do u every have to increase yr dose? Does it constipate?
What opiates did u switch from?

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Maui Girl..I don't want to start out on the wrong foot here, but I didn't name call just for the record. I just thought you may have some issues because you seem to be so anti opiate. I have done much research on opiates, benzos, barbituates, you name it, I have studied it. I am 54 years old and I have been in chronic pain since I was 14. If I told you the drugs I have been given in my life, you wouldn't have heard of most of them I did get addictied to opiates by the time I was 16 years old. Most addicts start out as chronic pain sufferers. My opiate use took me straight from dihydrocodeine to heroin because there was no oxys in the 1970's. I tried abstinance, and it doesn't work for me. I treat my chronic pain with methadone because it is the only opiate that I take that makes me feel like I havent taken anything...To answer your questions about methadone. I was drug free and in horrible pain for some years, almost to the point of commiting suicide, well one day I was given vicodin for a tooth extraction (I had never taken it b4) within a month i was back on heroin. I have been on methadone off and on since 1984, and constintly since 2001, and while it took me a year or so to get on the correct dose, I havent had to increase my dose since July 2002, in fact I went down on my dose 15 mg because I didn't feel I needed as much. Methadone doesn't build up a tolerance in most patients, and when I need something for breakthrough pain, I usually take motrin. I havent had to take any other opiate other than methadone in a very long time.It did constapate me at first, but I don't like to take laxitives so I drink a lot of water, eat fruit and very seldom have a problem, I usually have a bowel movement everyday/ Suboxone on the other hand (I was in a trial b4 it was approved in the US) and I was plugged up for a week, so I think it depends on the person. Your friend who felt like a zombie probably was on too high of a dose, or methadone maybe just wasnt for her..If your doctor kept upping your dose to the point where it made you toxic, I would have reported him/her because a responsible doctor wouldn't allow that to happen. Like I said opiates are here for a reason, and they have made many patients lives worth living again If used right. I do urge you to read up on opiate withdrawls however, people have died from them althought it isn't as common as with benzos. I have known people who have been denied their methadone in jail and died. Do a google and you can read about cases, in fact where I live, if a prisionor is not given their methadone, xanax, AIDS medication or any other medication they have, the jail is sued and inmates win 99.9% of the cases. If a 25 year old person is denied their vicodin probably nothing would happen except that person would be very sick, but take a woman like me who is 54 and not in that great of health, and I would get very ill, and I could die..I just wanted to say that I know we are all here for support, but I am very much for patients rights and when I see others tell people in horrible pain that they don't need opiates I do get upset because I know people who have committed suicude because of the pain, and I am one of those people that almost died. My life is in bed without opiates, and while some people can live with pain, others can't and shouldnt' be told to unless that person is a doctor. I always suggest to people in chronic pain who think they have a problem with drugs to see a chronic pain specialist who is an addiction specialist as well... As for benzos, I do have a panic disorder and I may need to take a xanax once or twice a month, but never use those two meds together without your doctors knowledge as they can be very dangerous together,,If you need anything else, please dont hesitate to ask
Pat

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B-rad, thanks for your shared experience. It seems there is not an easy way to stop any opioid drug. I'll admit that when I had severe back pain, they were the only real reliever of pain...for a while. Then it takes more and more. I used Oxycodone but not the Methadone. It's been about 3 weeks that I have been Fentanyl patch free and I still have restless legs at night and trouble sleeping. I do feel better every day, though. My head is not so foggy. Keep posting your progress. We all benefit from each others shared experience. Thanks!

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my boy friend is de toxing cold turkey from a 50 mg fentanyl patch and he wants to rip his vains out. he is not under any care as he threw out his patches and pissed off his Dr. but he can go to the hostpital as he was advised, he is worried about that and embarrased. I am very worried about him, he is a wreck. Any suggestions? We need help

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need help! We are about to go to the ER His dr has worked great with him, he was on a 100 and he wet to the 50, was going to be on it 1 month and was feeling so bad he threw them out. Well that neded his reations for now with his dr, who is currently on vacation. He is really hurting. Do you kno what they might do in the ER, that is where hi Dr. told him to go. He has needle surgery to deaden the nerves in his spine on Tuesday, I have no idea how he will make it threw it

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Sam, hopefully your beloved has been handled... It sounds like he wasn't in command of himself- tossing the patches. Hopefully he will be tappered off more slowly 100to75to5o on down to were he can come off without going crazy with the w symptoms. A pain management doc is needed. Make sure they understand he is not an addict!!!! He needs gentle care, not NA slogans. You love will be tested by this... But stand by yr man! ( whoa- must be channeling a country station) aloha

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I just drove him to the ER, i was told not to go in with him. I am praying they help him. He has been going nuts on any dose for 2 months, he could not take it anymore and figured he could tough it out, he did not tell till a week later and he was down to 1 patch, he made it threw my birthday. I really hope he is okay. We live in a fishing town were heroin has been a big problem and oxycotin too, they are very judgmental and I PRAY he will be alright, I hate these drugs!! So much.. they were killing his mind and his body, makes me cry. Thank you for writing and understanding.

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I have been on Fentanyl patch for 2 years along with Norco for breakthrough. I have MS and gnawing nerve pain from the knees down. I do not like the way the patch makes me feel ( tired, lazy, un-motivated, etc...) I was on 50 mcg and went down to 37 mcg and finally to 25 mcg. I took my last patch off on Thursday, and have had the worst WD symptoms, , more than I expected. I have still been taking the Norco, I figure that I can ween down on that after I get through the patch. The worst symptoms are restless legs and arms and sleeplesness. I have taken an Ambien the last two nights and that helps but as soon as i wake up and feel the restlesness in my legs and arms i have to get up and take a Norco and wait for an hour for it to kick in before I feel semi-comfortable. i am also taking Baclofen for spasticity ( a very small dose 5mg 2-3 x a day. Does anyone know how long the restless leg/arm takes to go away?

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They have taken him to a rehab from the hospital. Does anyone know what they will do or what he is going threw. I am so worried I am sick to my stomach. Will they put him back on the patch because he quit cold turkey from 50 mg? Any words of expierence or advise would great as I cannot talk to him and do not know where they took him. Many many Thanks! Sam

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Cali Girl..I have been hearing a lot of people say how bad the patch makes them feel..I am glad that is one opiate I wasn't prescribed. Have you thought instead of trying to go CT off of the patch to just ask your doctor for something else?? My uncle has MS and talkling to him I know for him at least it is impossible to go through life w/o anything for pain. That of course is your choice, but for heavens sake, don't do this on your own. You haven't even started WD's yet, and after that, you have to deal with PAWS..For most people it can last from a few weeks to a few months, for me, it never went away. PAWS is post acute WD's. The symtemss vary, but can include depression, RLS, never having any energy, not feeling well, and in the worst case, wanting to die. I did try to commit suicide because the PAWS didn't go away even after a few years of abstinance, All I am saying is, no one can tell you You can do this everyone is different,. Make no serious medical decisions W/O talking to your doctor first.Your life is too important to just throw away because one drug is horrible for you. I take an opiate that has no side effects at all for me (I am not saying for you to take it) I am only saying that this is what helped me when I wanted to die because of pain and depression and the worst case of RLS in the world (at least I thought it was the worst) I take methadone, I feel like I haven't taken anything, no cloudy head, no tiredness, but it takes the pain away ,,Ask your doctor because only he/she can tell you what the best course of action is,, Good luck!!

Pat

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Sam- does yr bf have any relatives nearby? Did he go in under some legal status? If it was with his consent, you or a relative can be kept inford as to treatment. Likely, they will have him on a cocktail of drugs manage the detox.
Since he kinda went a little nuts , heat ne under a pysch.
Yr job is to find h a savvy drvto help ho taper off meds. Heat be given suboxone , or put on methodone.It works for Pat.
If he wants to Be off all opiate meds, post and I will direct you guys to methods of non drug pain management.
Stay positive!
Don't let the authorities bully you or him!!!
Get help
stay calm
be strong
you aren't alone, there is a community of people that know what you are going through... And we send peace to yr heart and healing to yr boyfriend.

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He called, and your right he was nutty! They had him on suboxone and a slue of other things for cramping. He signed a consent and the place I was told is okay as they go.I think he is there for a bit. I will hopefuly be able to speak with a Dr. today but did speak with a nurse. He wants to be opiate free. He went on the patch after being on and detoxing from Oxi. and he hated that too. he does not want me to visit, I will wait and try to be patiant and send my prayers and love to him. He was NOT him self and wanted to break out, said he was measuring the fence, oh dear no. I know he needs their help. Thank you for writing HB. I really mean that. Still praying and trying to stay calm. Sam

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