Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 2)

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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I've been treated for cronic back pain for almost 4 yrs. started on Vicodin, went to Oxyconton,and Morphine. I have become tolorant of all these and now am on the fentynal patch. Was using 25mcg every 3 days for a couple weeks, now on 50mcg every 3 days for 2 weeks, but I am so sick and tired of feeling drugged, I decided the pain may be better. I put on one 25 mcg patch this morning and will see how it goes. I want to ween myself off. My doc is having the pain management dept call me soon for an appt. I basically told him I was done with the drugs.
Thanks for all the posts and advise. I think the 2 week at a time decrease is going to be the best advise. I was planning on stopping all together after a week!! I don't want to suffer too much withdrawals.

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I've been using Fentanyl 75mcg for about 5 months. Started at 25mcg as I prepared for cervical discectomy w/ fusion in Sept last year.. then increased to 50mcg, and now at 75mcg. Also have 4 Norco per day prn, and 1 1/2 Soma per day prn for breakthrough pain and muscle spasms. I've had chronic neck and back pain due to DDD and the herniated disc in my neck, and a fall down a staircase in 2005 that injured my back. I'm 35, engaged, and really want to be pregnant in the next few years. I really hate the side effects of the meds, so my fiancee and I decided that I should be titrated off of the Fentanyl as soon as I could tolerate it.

I first tried going from the 75mcg to 50mcg last week, two days before taking a trip to LA. Ok - that was stupid. It didn't go well at all, and I ended up missing a day of work because I was in so much pain after returning home from the trip. I put a second patch on for a brief time, and am now starting over. Last night, I applied a new 50mcg patch. It's been about 17 hours since then - the time that I have read that it takes to really begin feeling the withdrawal. So far I feel like I have a bad flu - achey, muscle fatigue, a little spacey and cloudy-headed. I'm going to treat this as I would a flu.. take it easy, get rest, eat well (no processed crap), drink tea - and hope for the best. I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

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Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
I have been on fentanyal for 10 years, first dosage 25mg to 200mg. I'm being treated for Multiple Myeloma. I am now in remission for 3 years. for the last 18 months I have been on other meds with Fentanyl, clonazepam 1mg 2 a day, vicodin 2 tabs every 4-6 hours but I always took one never more than 3 to 4 tabs a day mostly 3 (Hydroco/apap 5-500mg, methodone 3-a day 10mg and carbamazepin chw 100mg which gave me problems and after 6 week I stop taking it. I take my meds less so that I can function,, but over the last 4 months I wanted to stop the fentanyl so I start reducing my dosage by the time limit I would keep my patches on 4 days so on Sundays I could go to church. Then I would put on one patch then 2 days later I would put on another until my body got use to just 100 mg. Of course I didn't tell my doctor what I was doing . I started withdraws after two week of the patch weening after a while I could not stand it so I put on the two 100mg patches, and told my doctor I wanted to be weened of and could I have 50mg patches with the 100mg. So I started it again using 150mg for about three weeks then to 100mg it was still to much to so but I was determine to reduce my dosage. I continued with my other meds exept the carbamazepin.
Now I am down to 50mg and I had a doctor appt. and she blew her top when she saw me. I had lost 35lbs. She put me on 75mg and I went home and put one on I was still going thur withdrawals and then I started vomiting and diarrhea and sweating, again. I put on the second patch after 3 days. I got worse after a day I took the patch off. I felt weak and my heart was pounding so hard. Then I prayed after all I am a Christian. I prayed to my Father God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to help me through this because this is his daughter and my soul belongs to Him. I put this issue in your hands. the heavy pounding stop and I was able to sleep for 9 hours.That was on 6/18/2009 and I have not put on another patch it has been about 17 days without a patch. I don't recommend this way but I found this to be my way because of my faith. Fentanyl will never enter this body again. I don't know what how my doctor is going to react to this because she called me to see how I was doing and I didn't tell her what I did, she gave me a phone number of the doctor that was covering for her while she is on vacation. I was 5 days off when she called. I am not completely out but I am eating up and doing chores. I am still going through sweats from time to time. I am 58 years old and they are not hot flash. I still praying.

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Wow! I'm impressed with the degree of dosage decrease in the amount of time mentioned. I have been on 1/2 of my prescribed dose of 50mcg per hr.fentanyl patch (25mcg) for about a month. I will start the 12mcg this week. My doc is pleased that I'm getting off the dope. Ibuprophin 600 mg 3 x day is working pretty well to ease the pain from back issues. I'm hoping I will avoid the symptoms of withdrawal I've been reading about. I did have quite a bit of them when I cut the dose in 1/2. It lasted about 2 weeks. Sweats, twitchy legs, sleeplessness, moodiness, feeling cold and clamy, depression. I hope the worst is over.

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I just read a few comments and I guess there is no way to not have the withdrawals, I was asking if maybe there is something natural to help? Today I went swimming and forgot about my patch, It was the last 50mg I have a perscription for 25mg patches but I'm going to try to tough it out. I have been on fentenyl for 4yrs started out on the 50mg went to 100mg I have slowly been trying to wheen myself off. I'm starting to feel very tired my abdomen is aching, this make it hard to function on a daily basis. I hope the symptons don't get much worse.

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Hey friends, I discovered that the majority of my protracted( after one month) symptoms were from the benzos given along with the opiates for muscle spazms l, toleance induced anxiety and insomnia.guess what? Now I have a hyper sensitive nervous system and a rebound. Plus no pain relief. Do not
let your doc perscribe anti depressants, benzos or the z sleep aids if you want a smooth recovery!

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I'm still hanging in there! My doc agreed to give me a supply of 12mcg fentanyl patches. I titrated down again, this time from 25mcg to 12 mcg and am having similar withdrawal symptoms as before: sweats, chills,aches,twitching legs, restlessness, sleeplessness. It's so awfull I want to hurry it up. It's been 8 days of basically 3 days each patch then change it and I'm going to wear one for 4 days then take it off completely. If it gets too bad, I'll put a new one on for a few hours, take it off, and so on for a day or 2, then try to stop completely. Don't give up! these powerful drugs are not worth loosing your life over! Let's get through this together!

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Hang in there HappyGirl. I'm routing for you.

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I am feeling so much better today. I'm still on 12mcg patch every 3 days, but plan to keep my next one on for 4-5 days and then stop all together. My goal is to have the whole business done in 2 months( by Aug 5th). I'm right on track. Still restless at night and not sleeping too soundly. I think I should start my exercise routine again. I have felt so down I basically quit in June.
Thanks for comments, everyone. Please share more, you who have written in recently: Silverfox,Mauigirl, Beingblessed, Mary.
I look forward to seeing how everyone is doing and what is working.

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Hey happygirl, I am at same stage as you in weaning off patch which I have been on for 8 yrs. I plan to do round of 6 mcg by taping or folding patch. Maybe that will help you too. Has anyone else had pressure headaches--feels like it is going to burst.

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I hadn't thought of the folding idea...wonder if it could puncture? My pain doc says I should just stop all together after the 12mcg every 3 days for a couple weeks. I have had no headaches. I am taking 600mg ibuprophin every 6-8 hours though. I have anxiety about what it will be like to be naked of drugs...It has been 4 years.
Hang in there, Jemmy. It's going to be worth it. What is your pain situation? Under control?

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Hey Happygirl,
I have severe Rheumatoid and neuropathy--so far pain is OK. I just lost a lot of weight so this is optimal time to try to get off patch. I'm well stocked with lortabs, lyrica and muscle relaxers if pain increases. So far motrin is handling the pain that I can't tolerate--am use to dealing with pain unfortunately. My biggest problem is extreme fatique--exhausted all the time. I've folded mylan patch when at 37 mcg with no problem. However suggestion I read and am going to try is taping over half of patch to make 6 mcg. I use a wound covering thing to keep patch on so pressure on fold not extreme. I so want off these patches so am trying to think positively, but everytime something hurts or I get so tired, I get worried that it may not be possible. My pain levels have never been well contolled, but I also don't want to go back to where I was before the patch either. It's nice to have a buddy through this.

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I am really impressed to be reading how many of you have compleated, or are in the process, detoxing off powerful pain medications you've been on for long periods of time. It's really encouraging to see how determined all of you are to get off this drug. I started a discussion under Oxycontin, well over a year ago to discuss dangerous issues I had observed with the pill's delivery system. A full year later, I too came to the same conclusion, as you have, to do what ever I had to do to get off the powerful pain pills that were now messing up my life instead of helping me as intended when I began their use. I began posting what I was going through while detoxing off a daily usage of 180-mg Oxycontin prescribed for sever spine damage and related pain issues. I am now into my 7th month of being Oxycontin free. Additionally, I cut back almost all other pain related drugs I used by 75%, and took myself off two additional prescriptions during this time. I am so happy that I have finally managed to accomplish what I've been wanting to do for so long but kept postponing because I didn't know where to get help, what to expect and because I feared the withdraw side effects. If you are interested in reading about my withdrawal accounts over the months to see how it's helped me and what I went through, please type in Oxycontin Discussions, and read my many postings there. Throughout these difficult months of heavy withdrawals from many strong medications, I was unaware that there were so many others on this site posting under different drug names who were going through similar issues I've dealt with while withdrawing. More power to all of us who are doing this on our own at home and providing information, encouragement and hope for all the others who are seeking the support you guy's are posting here, and as I've done under Oxycontin. Our post's are clearly helping others who are faced with similar issues and fears which many of us have successfully dealt with and overcome while detoxing.

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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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Hello fellow travelers,
I wanted to report the results of my taper so far. I am 72 hours free from patch all together. Still not sleeping very well. Have the restless legs and just plain fidgety. I hear this could be over in as little as 4 and maybe 7 days.
I hope so! I am very tired. I also feel keen, or sensitive, or irritated. Any experience from you guys at this point is wanted!

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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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i have untreated hepatitus c and undiagnosed fibromyalgia. Due to loss of my insurance i am in severe withdrawal from the patch and am interested if anyone has had problems finding treatment with no insurance, since my family will pay for my doctors visits. How do i explain I am on unprescribed pain medication? By saying this will i be turned away for treatment?

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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 Jackie and Happy Girl

I am 4 months off the patch ( started at 100mg, Plus oxycotin for breakthrough pain. My taper consisted of an immediate reduction of the oral opiates to 0 from 40 mg a day, then after three days, a reduction to 75 mg (3 25 patches) held for three days then 50 , then 25 mg. I had off the chart high blood pressure starting at the 25 mg, was given neurontin, clonipin, and an over the counter pain med. Also benedril at night for the insomnia. Restless leg syndrome can keep you awake, but it all go away! I asked for miraplex, but stopped taking it because the side effects were scary. I just wantg off all meds!!! Had also been perscribed Valium for spasms, but became tolerant and now am having more withdrawal symptoms from the benzos than the opiates!
Anyway, I was on suboxone 2 mg for 3 more days then jumped off.
Suboxone is not so great! it did not ease the withdrawal. Full on flu sym. For about 4 more days, then after the diarhea stopped, I was off the patch and all opiates!!
This was a detox center in Palm Springs Ca. It's calledMichaels House, and I can not recommend it, as it was for addicts, A A style. If you were put on meds by a doc and didn't abuse, you are an accidental addict, medically dependent...
Life is better staying away from all prescription drugs... Docs get you hooked like a drug dealer because they are uninformed.
Even nerontin has bad w/d side effects.
So my way was, just get off the stuff, eat clean, get help with dealing with pain through mindfulness ( read Pema Choldron)
chi gong, massage, being kind to yourself and others. Exercise in water if you can. Willpost more later

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hello everyone. I'm still here. It's been 5 days since I wrote in. I am still applying the 12mcg patch at 8pm and removing it at 3 or 4am when I get up to relieve myself. I just want the sleep so badly! Tonight I will try melatonin instead. I don't want to prolong the withdrawal any longer! It's really just the restless legs, sleeplessness, and depression...my back pain is tolorable. Please post again folks,if you have ideas on what works. Mauigirl...you're still clean?

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