Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 11) (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.

REPLY

REPORT

He is home!!! Thank god and so happy to be off the patch. He feels pretty good but I know the drugs the put him on are in full effect. So I have no idea what is next to expect. He is having needle surgery on his back in morning to deaden his nerves that the spine is pinching. Hawaiian Boy, thank you and we would love to hear about pain releive staying opiate free. He wants nothing to do with them. THANK YOU again...Sam

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Sam and hi also to your Person!
Glad u r off the patch. If you are on suboxonne, y are stll on opiates, of course, and hopefully on a taper schedule, after your procedure.
Do the research. Get a doc involved, someone in pain managemt. Try staying away from adjunct drugs like anti-depressants
IF you can, is my advice, strictly as a layman who has suffered through withdrawals from benzos, opiates, neurotin, and ADs.
Read some books on mindfulness.
I really like Pema Choldron the places that scare you. It's about not getting into the drama of your pain... Leaning into it instead of trying to escape from it. It works!!!
Find things to laugh about. Send good thoughts are attention to others who are suffering like u.
Chi gong... Helps move energy.
You will go through some tough times dealing with symptoms fr withdrawal and the nerve pain. Just kee telling yrself it's worth it to be free!
Hope allgies well ! Keep posting and Hang Loose,Bro!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Well, he had the procedure, no drugs, very painful, four needle sites in his spine! He is still very grogy and in allot pain. We will have to wait now to see how the detox and the the pain do. He is whipped. I think it's time for new Dr., Now how to find one that will be his primary care? THATS A BIG QUESTION? He has had a hell of week. Thank you all, we keep you posted, maybe this can help someone else out. I still don't know how this is quite going to all be managed? Hoping for the best. But wow was he happy to be out of the rehab. Again our Thanks!!!!! Sam

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

As you predicted the Suboxone has worn off. He is drug free. But cannot sleep up last two nights all day and bad crmping. But no sleep is driving nuts. PLASE any suggestions on what to take? Is in further detoxing as you thought he would HB. How long do you think it will last ? Not sleeping and the detox. The pain from the needle surgery is so bad we do cannot tell yet if it worked or how well it worked.. But the SLEEP thing is making him crazy.. Plase advise if you have time,, Many Thanks! Sam

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Just a quick post.
First, congratulations on getting off the patch! If u can focus on that, it will help.
Go back and read the posts from the last two weeks and u will see the progress made. Also, they is some good advice from many people about withdrawal.
This is the actual withdrawal state- the acute stage. Insomnia is the most common W/S in detox. Also the runs, spasms, electrical zaps,restless legs, chills. Okay?
Now- you can get back in bed with Big Pharma and take all sorts of drugs to control it, or just let your body come to it's own healing.
Do you want to get the crap out or stop it up with a pill? Seems to me it is better to clean out.
The sleep will return. If you take drugs, your body will never re adjust to natural sleep. I took benedril and melatonin drugs when desperate. A dr will perscribe Valium, lyrica, or one of the z drugs. Short term, not every night, may be ok for him. Get a Dr on board with you if u are going to use more pharmacuticals.
Otherwize- progressive relaxation, music, baths, prayer, meditation, good clean food, loving,and acceptance will led the way back to health. Hope the procedure helps with the pain. Swimming helps me a lot! aloha from Maui

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hello, A long road indeed. He is still in detox, 5 days now. They may let him leave tomorrow or Thursday. His heart rate and blood pressure have been very high still. They fear the patch may have caused damage. He has not been on Suboxone for a day and a half now. He is going a bit nutty in there, just hope he is okay and retunns home soon. Then off to a Cardiologist, I guess. Thank you all again!! Mary

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

repond to post

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

If I have been on 100mc Fentanyl for over a year. I patch per week, but I want off, will I go thru a lot of withdrawals. My biggest fear is depression.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi all,
After hearing of Sam's friend and his awful experiences I even hesitate to ask a question, but..... It has been 1 month off the patch. I did it so slowly and decreased down to 6 mcg before dropping. Most neuropathy is within reason and insomnia a little better, but I am having terrible muscle weakness which is painful and definitely limiting. Minor tasks are so difficult. It is pain from muscle weakness. This was not a problem while on the patch, so am hopefully assuming it is some longterm withdrawal symptom. Also extremely tired, easily fatigued , and hard to get motivated to do anything. Are these like long term withdrawal symptoms? Does it get better? I was on the patch for 8 years. Thanks for any advice anyone can give. You read all about short term problems, but no one mentions extended problems.

Jemmy

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Sam,
high blood pressure/ heart rate was part of my withdrawal for three/four weeks,
now, I am tapering off metroprol, as I have normal pressure again, 5 months off opiates and benzos perscribed for crushed back.
Healing takes time.
His heart is probably fine, but check it out. Is he home yet?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hey Little Z,
get a slow taper perscribed for an easier withdrawal. Learn all u can about the process, there is a chemical reason for the feelings in withdrawal. Yr brain has to learn to produce natural endorphins again, so, yes, it will challenge you.
Hope u are sucessful.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Happy Girl
wow- that is so great you are off the patch ! Thanks for telling us.
At 6 months off I don't have the restless leg withdrawal symptom anymore. My heart doesn't race for no reason, and I feel positive a lot of the time.
It just keeps getting better!
Hope others will take heart from your message...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Happy girl, I don;'t know if I mentioned this B4, but my husband puts a bar of soap under the sheets right were his legs are and he swears that that bar of soap stops his RLS.. I know it sounds like an old wives tail but hey it can't hurt, and if it helps, great. I also heard that quinine can help RLS, and in some states you can get it OTC, but there are side affects... Good luck if there is anything I have lived with most of my adult life and suffered through it is RLS, and it may not even be from drugs some people just have it be it from genetics or whatever..

Pat

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Now i know why i feel soo ! sick.
4 days ago i decided that id had enough of the blury head and went cold turkey on the Fentanyl 50mg/h, Havent slept anymore than an hr. in 4 nights, I was on the patches for chronic back pain where i could no longer take much orally due to gastric pain and bleeding, Now im left with major restlesness in all joints, massive nausea, anxiety, stomach ache ,and very depressed. Dont know how much longer i can take this..., and my doctors away for a week. Never again will i go past panadeine etc. goodluck fellow sufferers.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Mat43,
hey you can always go to urgent care... if you read all the posts, you know you'll get through it. Tapering would have been an easier withdrawal

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hawaiin Girl makes sense Matt, you can go to Urgent care or even the ER. Your doctor being out of town for a week won't help you, and you should get some rest especially with this flu going around. There is a chance you can mess up your imune system and get sick when you are going through bad WD's like you are. The doctor can help you with maybe clonodine, or something to help your joints..Good luck and let us know how you are doing.BTW what is panedeine??

Pat

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Oh my...Mat43, I feel for ya!! It seems you're going crazy and all the symptoms of WD make you obsess on yourself and your pain. Please, don't give up if your back pain is tolerable. You will get through this. I had to taper to 25 and then 12 mcg hr. patch, each for about 2 weeks to month. I am finally free of all drugs for 2 months and counting. Just a little ibuprofen and Tylenol when I overdo it with lifting etc. My back is doing OK. I got over the depression too. It takes time. You should have a doctor help you do this. Write soon.
We're pulling for ya!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So glad I found this forum! I had a feeling I might be going through fentanyl withdrawal. Thanks to you all, I'm pretty sure I am.

I don't tolerate most oral pain meds, so was given 25mcg fentanyl patch a month ago after the 2nd ER visit in 19 hours for herniated lumbar disc & pinched sciatic nerve.

I had a microdiscectomy 3 weeks ago today. When the sciatic flared up 5 days after surgery, I was put on methyl-prednisolone, and when that didn't work, Ketorolac (oral Toradol), in addition to the fentanyl patch. Ketorolac didn't help the pain, plus made me stupid & suicidally depressed, so I stopped taking it after 2 days. My brain cleared, but within a few days I was so weak that I had to lie down for an hour after hauling myself downstairs for breakfast. On Monday (3 days ago) I decided that perhaps the fentanyl patch was the culprit, so didn't put on a new one that night. Tuesday I felt so crappy that I went to my GP. Lotsa tests turned up nothing.

I've gotten slightly stronger since then (though I'm in bed a good 22 hrs/day)--but in more pain due to no fentanyl. Last night was a horror: itchy stomach & back, restless & unable to find any comfortable position. Between 12-12:30am I took 17.5 mg of Valium & eventually fell asleep. Then I woke up at 4am, itching and with legs so restless I had to keep massaging them, which is hard to do w/ lumbar & sciatic pain.) At 5:30am I had the bright idea of taking a Benadryl, and that let me sleep till 10. I'm still itching, so plan on continuing with the Benadryl every 6 hrs.

But I'm dreading tonight, and am wondering whether I should taper down the fentanyl instead of going cold turkey. Such as: put on a half-patch tonight, then a quarter-patch in 4 days, and an eighth-patch after that.

Any thoughts?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Jenny You should never cut the patch!! it would give you way too much medication at a time. It could be deadly.Try folding it in half and taping it on. Also I read that benadryl can make restless leg syndrome worse. I use a 3mg melatonin on some nights when I can't get to sleep. I also do not have caffeine after 5pm.You haven't been using the drug very long. your wihdrawal should be short lived. Have you used other opioids before the patch?
A good thought...you don't die from lack of sleep. Eventually you will tire enough to sleep. I found hot baths to soothe the restlessness.
Blessing to you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thanks, Happygirl! I just left a message w/ surgeon's ass't, asking about withdrawal. I'm on the Mylan patch, which according to what I've read, has an all-over coating, not a gel. However, I'll wait to hear from the P.A. before I whip out my scissors.

I'm forbidden to take any hot baths (not that I could get in/out of the tub anyway). The Benadryl helps with the itching, which was driving me crazy, and it made me drowsy too, so it was a win-win. I already take 5-HTP at night, which usually helps with restless legs, but not last night.

No, I won't die from lack of sleep. But I do like being able to fall asleep when I'm tired and think clearly when I wake up.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

i have post surgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg patch and had side effects and so decided to wean off. i finished wi...

311 REPLIES

I have been on the 100 mg patch and Percocet for my Crohns and Colitis for years. Last week I went cold turkey on my own...

36 REPLIES

Aloha from Hawaii- this is my 6th week off fentanyl patch 100mg and breakthrough oxy 40mg day for several years. Also wa...

27 REPLIES

My husband, age 77, developed severe acute pancreatitis and has been in the hospital for the past 8 months. He has been ...

18 REPLIES

Hi, About three years ago during treatment for rectal cancer, I was given Dilaudid and Fentanyl as part of a pain manage...

5 REPLIES

I was on 25mcg Fentanyl patches for about 2 months. I went down to 12mcgs to wean myself. After the 12s ran out, I was e...

9 REPLIES

Hi all. I have seen a lot of posts in the drugs forum about Fentanyl withdrawal. I too have been struggling with the wit...

17 REPLIES

i have post sirgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg pat. ch and had side effects ans so decided to wean off. i finished ...

16 REPLIES

My question is that I have titrated down from 75mcg to 50 and had some times that were NOT fun, I must say, but I figure...

13 REPLIES

I have been on Fentanyl 100mcg/hr, In vivo delivery of 100mcg/hr for 72 hours and I change them every 2 days instead of ...

9 REPLIES