Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 15)
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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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REPORT

Mallinckrodt patches are also the "matrix" type; meaning no gel reservoir. My pharmacy wont give me the Mylan brand because I'm on Medi-Cal and they cost the pharmacy too much....however, I did my homework and found that Mallinckrodt pharmaceuticals (joined with Activ) make the matrix patch that you can cut... I was on 100 mcg every 48 hrs and over 5 months have tapered down to 75 mcg every 72 hours...doesn't sound like a big leap, I know. This next month my dr wants to start me on Methadone 5mg 3x's a day...First, after all the Methadone horror stories I am way rethinking that suggestion. Secondly, after all the things I've read 5mg 3x's a day will be not enough to help my w/d, but just enough to get me dependent on another opiate! Wake up people...become your personal health advocate..the only person you can trust is YOU!

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@Hellsbells

Very familiar story as you said. With minor differences, it's played out the same for most of us here. Sadly, your warning won't do any good, because nobody ever winds up here who isn't already on the patch, usually as the result of severe trauma (my case), or a chronic, often terminal illness. All of us I think wish we could talk directly to anybody that's considering going on the patch, and warn them about the road ahead. It's true that it does the job it was intended to do, and for some people it's a life saver, but unless you're terminal, the long term downside in most cases is worse than the upside. Keep shaving a little bit off that patch and you'll get off of these things. Don't have to shave a tiny bit more off each time unless you want to, you can cut about 25% off once every week or two without any significant effects. Good luck!


@Maureen

You're definitely past the worst of it, as far as withdrawals go. Won't be much longer before all of those symptoms go away. You'll still have to deal with your mind trying to convince you that you need the patches, just like any other addictive narcotic sits like a proverbial devil on your shoulder, trying to coax you into doing the wrong thing. As hard as it is to get off these d*mn things, don't fall for it, get your life back in track. There are other was to manage pain, lots of resources available online.

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i was on 75mg of fentanyl for chronic pain after i hurt my back at work. i lost a lot of time off work and almost lost my job because when you sweat it opens your pores and more medicine is introduced to the body. my co workers reported my behavior one hot day at work, this led my supervisor to call the union, who then took me down to medical, who then asked me if i wanted to go to the hospital. in the end, 2 union reps, 1 drove my car, the other took me in theirs home. i had been having a hard time that summer with lethargy, almost fallling asleep at the wheel etc. one of my co workers figured out that it was my fentanyl patch causing these symptoms, also i was placing the patch where i was sweating the most. i had to retire because of pain and all the side effects of fentanyl. i was down to 12mg and since i week ago have discontinued it all together and let me tell you it is hell. i am irritable, restless, moody and hot and cold sweats but it's been 1 week and i figure maybe 1 more week and withdrawl will be over. be carefull because although it helps with pain it can open up a can of worms in other areas. good luck

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That's exactly how I was in hospital I just had to keep moving rocking shaking my arms and legs ,I wanted to cut them off

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I would love to chat with someone who is doing the same or similar as myself
Hellsbells

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Hi
I've been on fentanyl patches 125 mg every 72 hrs for the past 2 years.
Whilst in hospital for pancreatitis I forgot to change my patch and on day 5 I was screaming up the wall . I couldn't keep still I was screaming in pain my arms and legs I just wanted to cut off ,I was thrashing about like a wild animal.
The doctors came and gave me morphine which didn't really help much.
I don't know what made me realise but I suddenly said to my husband when does my patch need changing ? That's when we clicked , I had them changed and within an hour I was ok just really tired.
After that I decided to come off the patch because it really scared me and my family.
I have slowly weaned myself down to 100 mg patch, I did this over the course off 2 months. Each time I'd cut a slither of the 25 patch, this got bigger over time and by the end of the fourth week I was off the 25. I still have the hundred but have started today after reading on here, to cut a slither off my new patch .
I know it will take me over 6 months or more to come off completely but I want my old life back.
I haven't been happy since I've been on fentanyl, I have a very short fuse now, I have the most horrible hot flushes since starting the patches, and sweat so much that my hair is ringing wet. I have lost all confidence in myself and feel very low. This isn't me and I want me back.
I can't say fentanyl patches don't work because they do. My back pain has been so much better but I have had the worst 2 years of my life mentally and emotionally. My GP has also put me on an antidepressant but I'd rather be on nothing than feel the way I do.
Please think hard and long before going on this patch it's a bad son of a b...h and will be hell to come off. If you do want to come off please do it SLOWLY.......it's the only way. I'd never want to have the withdrawal pains I had before and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
This is my story in short but I guess by reading these comments it's a lot of other people's story too. Keep strong you and I will do it.
Hellsbells

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Exactly the same situation here - fentanyl withdrawal is really tough, valium takes the edge off, but slow weaning is a better idea. VERY slow - 4 - 6 weeks is what I'm now told, decreasing dosage & frequency throughout that time frame. Good luck!

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The best way I could say would be to go online or in your case to your trusted doctor.Tell him of you restless leg problems and ask for tramadol. See if one tablet will do it or if not use 100 mg three times daily. You will find it has opiate like properties to give your receptors in your brain to end the withdrawal sickness,that is causing the restless leg syndrome.tramadol is not an opiate legally,but it certainly could stop the merry go round your experiencing with that fiery beast fentanyl. Your doctor should also know that tramadol has a calming effect and will work right away for you..Well I think if anyone deserves to stop these withdrawals its sounds like you need this fentanyl monster to go away. Good Luck God bless ,and I hope you try the tramadol right away. Rocket666.

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Kmm26, very similar to my situation. 11 years, originally at 100mcg/72 hrs, then 200mcg/72, and then to 200mcg/48, where I've been for several years. I've been tapering down since January, and I'm currently down to 75mcg/72hrs, 1/4 of my starting dosage. It will be difficult to get off of that dosage in less than 2 months, but it can be done. It's only a matter of what you're willing to put up with as far as withdrawals go. The only substitute that I've seen people use is Methadone, but then you have to get off of that as well, so I'm not sure it would be very beneficial in your case to go that route.

My advice would be to taper down as quickly as possible, and certainly don't try to go cold turkey from your current dosage. You can fairly easily taper down 25mcg each step every 2 weeks with very minimal discomfort, at least until you get down to 25mcg or so, then it's more difficult. That last step is going to come with some discomfort and common withdrawal side effects, and you'll be fairly miserable for a week or two, but it's certainly doable.

So again, I'd step down to 75 immediately (you can simply cut the patches accordingly if you're using the Mylan brand, but DON'T do it with any brand that has a liquid filled pouch in the middle of it), then down to 50 after 2 weeks, 25 after another 2 weeks, and then down to 12.5 if time allows. If not, you'll just have to try and go cold turkey from 25, or else speed up the stepping down process if you're finding that you're doing well after a week or 10 days, so that you'll have the opportunity to step to 12.5 near the end.

As for the withdrawals, what you need is a Benzodiazipine, such as Clonazepam, which will relax your muscles and hopefully just put you to sleep. Ideally, if you could sleep for a week or so when you finally quit, you wouldn't suffer any withdrawals. The problem is that the withdrawals make you so restless that it's almost impossible to sleep without a Benzo. Also, get your doctor to prescribe a something for Restless Leg Syndrome (Levitra I think is one of the brand names). Use it any time you're suffering that side effect over the next couple months, probably only within the first few days after a step-down. Also, after stepping down, to be afraid to change your patch a little sooner than usual if the withdrawals are really difficult. You're much better off shortening the timeframe a little for changing than you are to bump your dosage back up. If you go back up, you'll never be able to get to where you need to be before starting work again. Good luck, and let us know how you do.

P.S. Please consult with your doctor, the advice given here is generalized and not patient specific of course. Often times the people here have more experience with this process than many if not most doctors, but there are other factors to consider, such as allergies, contraindications with other medications you might be on, etc..

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Yes, this is withdrawal! I also have it and have been prescribed Pramipexile and clonazepam . Still restless legs at night. I am going down by 12 pts. It was easy until 25 and I had to go to emergency as I was squirrelly. Dr said at 25 and down it gets harder as the percentage of withdrawal is greater. Get yourself a 12 PT size patch and go slower--I am sticking here at 25 until my diarrhea and vomiting and blood pressure level off. An awful drug that gave me good pain relief for many years but I didn't expect to need to withdraw. Good luck!!!

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No one here can give medical information to you but your doc. Yes, there are things that your doc can give you to help but it isn't going to be easy. I have been on 25 mcgs for 14 years and don't know if at my age, I can get off without a great deal of trouble. I am 69 and don't really have much incentive since I have Fibro pain over my entire body. What will I do when that pain comes back, if it does. I don't know what my pain level is since going on these in 2000. I am pain free and going from bed ridden to no pain is pretty nice. With the ACA and ppl losing their insurance right and left, there may come a time when I can't get them and then that is when I will be faced with titration. In the meantime, I am enjoying a simile of normalcy which is just a setting on the dryer anyway. I wish you all the best and there is prayer and trusting in God for help too so don't forget Him. God bless and let us know how you do.
Lin

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I've been on fentanly for 11 years 100gm 48 hours im starting tarping process this week my doc has been real helpful' put me in a pain clinic to help me with it I want to try to get off of it in 2 month since thats when i have to go back to work; is there a drug I could use as a substitute to get off the patch quicker

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I to am on Ambiem 10 and Percocet 5/325 and also Fentanyl 37 so I wear a 25 and a 12.5 . I have forgotten to change and end up taking more Percocet then realize I need to change my patch . I've also gone through the body being restless and irritable . See I got hurt and feel at work . I ripped something in my neck so I have a lot of shoulder and neck pain along with bad migraines which I take Immatrex when needed. I also take an antidepressant for chronic severe depression. Not being able to work sent me in to a down hill of withdrawl itself . I was used to bring in money and supporting myself and helping with bills my whole life but now if I even go for to long of walks I am down the next couple of days. I have often wondered about getting off all these meds but am so scared I won't be able to handle the pain again.

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Stopping by leave another post for anybody following my effort to get off of these damn patches, and hopefully inspire somebody who might come along in the future who's struggling with getting off of these things, or considering starting the process. As my previous posts have indicated, I've been on a 200mcg/48hr prescription for several years now, starting with a 100mcg/72hr dosage as I was transferred from my first trauma center to a second hospital in 2003, following critical, near-fatal injuries from a skydiving accident. In late January of this year (2014), I'd had enough of these things, and built up the courage to try and wean myself off of them, after some internet research of course. I started with a very hefty drop from 200mcg/48hrs to 100mcg/48hrs, by cutting my 100mcg patches in half, and continuing with the same regimen of changing one patch each day (as opposed to changing two patches every two days, which always left me miserable on the second day). The withdrawals weren't too bad, no restless leg really, but it severely affected my appetite. Took me over 3 months before I was ready to step down again, and in early May (almost exactly one month ago) I stepped down to 66mcg/48hrs (technically 33mcg/24hrs).

Today I'm dropping down again, to 50mcg/48 hrs (25mcg/24hrs for my regimen). I still have a ways to go, but I'm very confident that I'll be off of these things this year, without any severe problems, though I'm definitely not looking forward what's going to happen when I stop completely. I told my doctor last month that I had started weaning myself off, but I didn't admit just how much I had dropped so far, since I didn't want him to cut my prescription yet (just in case). In the meantime, I've managed to accumulate 4 full prescriptions at my original 200mcg/48hrs dosage (30 100mcg patches/month). That's way more than enough to get me off of these things this year, or even halfway through next year, but the co-pay is a tiny fraction of what I pay for my insurance each month, so it would be stupid of me not to pick up the prescription. I did have my doctor write me a prescription for something to help with restless leg. He supposedly wrote me for Levitra, but screwed up and the pharmacy hasn't gotten it yet. Hopefully I won't suffer any major withdrawals from this drop-down before I manage to get the scrip.

Anyway, that's just my update. I'll be back to report on my next drop.

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I totaly agree . I come off 100 patch after 4 years with no probs . I think you can really wind yourself for a hard time, but you need to stay calm and centred and things will work out good. I'm not saying it's always easy, I came off oxycontin 80's three a day five years ago and it was pure hell . Good luck to all having a go. Xx

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Dear Klasychic,
No one here can say whether they will be able to fix you like new but most here are in many ways like you are....we have lost a large part of our earthly lives but isn't not the end. Often these things are allowed to happen to us to bring us to that place where we realize there is more to life than what we see, taste and feel. For me, after my DX of Fibromyalgia, I was spiritually awakened to God's love. I found too that giving to others took my mind off myself so I began to quilt and sew for charity and for my family and I did that for 13 years. After that I took up my guitar again and began singing and playing music to take my mind off my limited lifestyle. I also began to study the Scriptures avidly to find the answers to life and why I am here. I am not preaching, just letting you know that there was hope in my pain. I am greatly comforted knowing that there awaits me a new body made without hands. It is my desire to among the faithful who are given eternal life through overcoming faith.

I am still on Fentanyl and have been for 14 years. I am one of the few who can tolerate it and have some kind of life with it. Without it, I am debilitated. This is my choice: Fentanyl side affects or my bed. And I also chose Jesus. No, I don't like being on the patch. No, I don't like being looked at as if I am an addict. But, they don't know my life so I look at them and think, "you don't know my pain so that's that"!

I pray that you will slow down looking for your physical cure long enough to seek your spiritual cure which is a New Nature/The Second Adam. With this New Nature, you will know help in time of need and also look forward to your New body made without hands. If you care to discuss this more, let me know and we can connect. I will be praying for you.
Lin

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Hi guys! I can't tell you how encouraging this site is. I have never taken hardly any prescription drugs in my life until a car accident 1 1/2 years ago. They are no closer to finding the root of my problem. I am tired of all the meds they throw at me instead of trying to fix the issue. My doc (who happens to be my next door neighbor) gave me Fentanyl 25mcg patch due to Percocet and other meds I was unable to stomach. I have three herniated discs, three bulging discs, facet issues, sacroiliac joint problems, piriformis muscle problems and the grand finale...a terrible sciatic nerve problem that will not go away. It has just stopped my life. I can't exercise, I can't sit, etc. fentanyl made me feel awful, dizzy, loss of equilibrium, insomnia, etc. so I just decided to go cold turkey on this drug...bad choice. I am on my 6th day and I still get the chills and shakes but I am determined to see it through. Fentanyl is so much stronger than morphine. I figured I would wait to use it when I really needed it, etc. my doc was mad but understood. He told me I could have truly harmed myself. I am doing pelvic exercises to move my pelvis to release pressure off of sciatic nerve. It helps some. Am I just doomed to never getting this fixed the rest of my life??? I want my life back!

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They make 12.5 mcg patches? I want to get off of the fentanyl altogether. And then I want off the oxycodone.

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Hi there Enonumus, good to hear from you yes I do read the post on here and seems like we all want the same thing FREEDOM from the pain patch, freedom from the doctor holding us hostage with a percrription pad, having to call and ask for another months worth of patches, and as you said wondering if you have enough to finish the month out, because some fall off, and others, I have pulled off my body because they irritate me so much. I praise anyone who has completed the process of getting off fentanyl compleatly

I did alright getting down to a twenty five, but than hit a road block, after four weeks on the twenty five and having terrible withdrawal problems, and returning pain I chose to go back to the filthy until my life got back in order. Dealing with the wife's cancer and my Parkinson's I made the right choice for now. That being said I do still plan to try again, as we know you have to be honest to yourself and do what ever it takes to be in piece with our own body.

Sounds as though you are still working at it and doing well, I wish you the best, and cutting them works well if you have the right patch. I do read the posts on here, hope to hear from you. Rayman

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Apparently your Dr. doesn't appreciate wasting his time with jokes as it were. Doesn't sound like you know him real well. You sure it just want the last straw?? No dirty tests? No other unfunny " jokes " in TBS paddy?

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