Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 21)

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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Hi! I am a chronic pain patient who has had 9 spinal surgeries to number a few of many surgeries. I have been taking pain pills and such for years. Then Fentanyl was added to the regime 10 years ago. It has been a blessing in its ability to cover pain and provide a 'normal' means in which to live more comfortably. But, with the way the economy is going and me, reaching an age that if Obama's health care program is put into effect, I stand a high chance of being denied the prescription. My pain doc also said that some of the procedures given to reduce pain would be denied me as well, in 'Obama care'.

So, that caused me to want to try to get off the fentanyl. With the help of the PA at the pain clinic, I began withdrawing a month ago. The first two weeks were challenging. I was able to substitute percocet for the patches. I was able to tolerate the WD symptoms during the day but needed the pain pills to stop the jerking and pain at night. As I got farther into the process, I have found I only now take 1/2 of a percocet only once or twice a day instead of 4-6 full tabs. I was also given a mild blood pressure medication which is supposed to help induce sleep and stop the restless legs. It seems to help. I, too, have had the chills, sweats, sneezing, runny nose, horrible weakness, and depression. I also know that magnesium, zinc, and calcium help with the nerves and aiding one's sleep.

I was led to believe that one could withdraw from this drug in a week or two. That is not true. I have now had three of my doctors tell me that it takes months for the fentynal to leave one's body. The symptoms will get less and less, but at a slow release pace. That has been my experience so far. So, I have to remind myself that each day is a day closer to complete withdrawal and to not beat myself up when some of the symptoms bug me.

Through this journey, I have discovered an amazing thing. At first, the pain increased so badly that I thought that I would never be able to tolerate it. But, with the farther I get away from the patches, my pain is decreasing!!! I am in less pain now than I have been in 30 years! In my case, I believe that the nerve endings that had been so damaged have been slowly healing over the years without me knowing it. There is no other explanation for this. It makes me wonder how many give up their fight to be free of this drug because they are frightened with the intensity of body pain induced when stopping fentynal? Getting past the period of terrible body pain is well worth the effort!

So, I am very tired but am also very glad that I have chosen to withdraw from this narcotic. If only a 1/2 of a percocet is all I need to dull what pain is left, then I am a blessed person. My goal is to not use any pain meds...we will see if that is a possibility.

I just wanted to share my experience with everyone in the hope that it may encourage someone to take that step and get off this drug. Who knows, after you have traveled your journey, you may find that you no longer need as much assistance with your pain as what you thought was required.

I would highly recommend that you not go off it cold turkey. That is a cruel way for a doctor to expect you to do this. There are drug aids to help to make the transition easier. Do your research and go armed to your pain clinic, internist, or family doctor with all the information on how to comfortably and safely withdraw.

Thanks for this site. I wish I had found it earlier in my journey but it is nonetheless helpful and encouraging to me to read other's experiences and insights. God bless you all in your seeking a healthier life!

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I have been on fentanyl 75mcg/50/mug tapering since they first put me on it 21/2month ago for a burn injury which required skin grafts. Was on morphine via pump for 2 weeks prior to the patch. I regret it to no end that I ever consented to this drug. Tried to take the 75 mug patch off on my own, had horrible side effects. I am going to put the first 25 mcg on tonight. I am so scared! By the way, I had taken pain medication 4 years ago for ca. 2 month 4 years ago. How could I have built up a tolerance (have been reading up so much about this). I feel so helpless. Also I have been having depressions off and on since I have switched to 50 mcg. So far I can deal with the physical pain. I just do not want to have "withdrawal symptoms" . Feeling scared and lost

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Are you doing this under the guidance of your physician? I was given percocet to supplement for the patch and would only take a 1/2 tablet to help stop the restless side effects. I was also given a blood pressure med that helps to stop the jitters and it aids in sleep. If your physician is unwilling to help you I would suggest that you change to a pain clinic where there are specialists who now how to really help you withdraw. They will treat you with respect and understanding. Most of the docs are anesthesiologists and know the character of the drugs that you deal with or may need to help with your transition.H

Also, it takes months for fentynal to leave your system. The first month is the hardest. It is worth the effort, though. And depression is also a side affect of withrdrawal so don't be so hard on yourself. You can do this. It is worth the battle.

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No Using A Vap Will Showw THC in Urine. Regardless Of This It Is Still By Far The Better Option To Pain Management As THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL That Will Relieve Our Pain No Matter What Doctors Say. Mary Jane Also Will Not CURE YOUR PAIN But It WIll Allow You To Dis-associate Yourself From The Pain And This Is A Far Better Management Technique Than Adding More Health Problems And Addictions And Calling It Treatment. I Stand By My Decision To Medicate With Cannabis. I am At Or Beyond The 60 Day Point Now ANd Am Very Happy To Report That I Have 0 Withdrawal Symptoms. I Wish Everyone The Best Of Luck In Getting Off This Deathride They Like To Call A Needed Treatment.

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Ihad 2 come off 200mcg of fentanyl over 6 months Why did I get abso no help from mental halth services when am crying me eyes out down the telephone am completely off it now but it was so hard

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Hi Mary,

It has been two month now, for me, with my withdrawal. You are having typical withdrawal symptoms. The twitching and restless legs and body goes on for some time as you withdraw. My pain management physcian gave me a blood pressure medicine to take that actually helps to decrease these side affects. And I supplemented with a 1/2 of a percocet tablet, too. These both really helped me. You may find that you will also start sneezing often every day. That is a withdrawal symptom, too.

You are not going crazy, though. Your body is just cleansing itself from your drug. You may find that you need to withdraw a little slower, if you cannot get the medical support you need. You have made quite a stride coming down from such a high dose to 25 mg. It does take time to get this drug out of your body.

The first two weeks are the roughest because the fentynal withdrawal actually causes pain to be accentuated. Don't get discouraged. All the discomfort is worth the angst. Almost all of my original pain is gone now and can be managed without fentanyl...hopefully this will be your story, too!!!

When my body kept jerking, I would get up and take hot showers and then distract myself by watching TV. If I fell asleep in front of it, so be it. Laying down was the worst position for me when my body was in its 'fits'. I found if I could keep my mind engaged, the restlessness was easier to handle. And you may feel weak and fatigued, too, for a long time. That will all go away with time, the farther you get from your limited or non-use of drugs.

I wish you well and commend you for getting off Fentanyl. Hang in there, it is worth the journey, Mary.

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I have chronic neuropathic pain in my cervical and lumbar spine(caused by deteriorating facet joints)( am 47 yrs old) It is extremely painful. I also have degenerative disc disease in most of my vertebre. Currently I am on 200mcg of Fentanyl, Nabilone also called Cesamet (the THC(cannibus) med, oxycontin 10mg, Percocet, Baclofen(skeletal muscle relaxant). There were days I could not get out of bed I was in so much pain every cell in my body ached. My neck was the worst because of whiplash from a car accident 25 years ago! It litterally feels like my head is in a vice-grip and someone is turning the handle until it feels like my skull is beginning to crush; then they just leave it there. Sometimes the pain is so bad, everything feels surreal. It just didn't make sense. The more medications my family doctor prescribed, the more pain I would have. Why, if I am constantly being given more opiates (or higher doses) is my pain WORSE when logically my pain should be in control?
Then, one day I saw a show that would CHANGE EVERYTHING! It was Dr. Phil. He had a young woman on there who had broken her back in a car crash 2 years ago and was on Oxycontin and Percocet. She was still taking them(& getting them from a doctor who was running a "questionable pain clinic 120 miles away from her home.) Both a top pain doctor and neurologist Dr. Phil had contacted(who had gone over her file) agreed that her vertebre was now healed (she went for an MRI which confirmed this)Both doctors agreed she had a condition called opioid-induced hyperanalgesia and did not need to be taking these narcotics. In a nutshell what happens is the receptors in the brain get sensitized (build up a tolerance) and despite increasing doses of opioids, the pain gets worse. A pain that a "normal" person would have such as a little ache, would feel like an immense pain to someone like us. If you google " definition of opioid-induced hyperalgesia you will get a definition. This may not be happening to you, but be open-minded.
That week I went to my pain doctor and told him the "Dr. Phil" story. I said I was sure this was happening to me and he said it probably was. I told him I wanted to go on gabapentin (an anti-seizure med that is now getting prescribed & working for chronic pain.) They think it somehow "tricks" the brain into thinking that the pain is just a little ache or an itch. Talk to your doctor about this.(or research it online)
My pain doctor is now working with my family doctor and I have started decreasing my fentanyl (very slowly) and I am very excited to get off of my opiates. I tired of feeling so groggy and tired. I want my life back. I am also getting pain and facet blocks to relieve my pain. Next is a procedure called radio-frequency ablation, also called a rhizotomy. This is where a thin prob is inserted (under fluroscopy) into the nerves that are causing the pain and burns the nerves. This can give someone up to 1 year pain free. To someone like us that is good news!! I live in Ontario Canada, so your meds may have different names....

Hope this helps you or maybe someone else who may be in this situation. Good Luck...... Penny C

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I am on my 27th day without Fentanyl. This is my first post on the internet, since my journey began. Reading online forums was very discouraging. And now i have found out why. If your reading this you may be someone that is trying to get of fentanyl or someone that is hoping to get off fentynol. #1 i would like to give a big F$%^ YOU to all the doctors that over prescribe this drug. If you are not terminally ill, do not take this drug. IT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE. People that say dont worry, you will not get addicted if you use it properly are just plain stupid. I used fentynol for 3 f'ed up discs in my back. Along with perks. I was using 100 mg per day with 7-12 perks for breakthrough pain. Do i have an addictive personallity? YES. Do people admit to having an addictive personality when they are face to face with thier doctor? NO. I didnt even realize i had an addictive personality until i started recovery. This drug will turn you into an addict. I promise you that. I never once got high off the drug. You will find yourself within weeks, yes weeks worrying about being addicted to the drug. I tried everything to get off the drug i tried weening myself off by reducing the dosage by 10mg every 2 weeks, tried cold turkey (do NOT try this) talk to the dumb ass that prescribed you the drug in the first place, i also tried changing the type of opiate which just opened up a can of worms that i am still kickin myself in the ass for. There is no magic pill that gets you off this stuff. If you are on Fentanyl you have a very rough road ahead. Im sorry to say this but it is true. I am going to explain how i got off opiates this past 27 days.

#1- Checked myself into the local Detox. This was tough i know a lot of people in my town. I was embarassed. Addicts are the people that steal, live on the streets and have constant problems with the law. DEAD WRONG. I met people from all walks of life. It was there that i learned about legal addictions, illegal addictions and addcitions to almost anything you can imagine. We live in a world of addictions. You probably know somebody that is struggling with an addiction. Do not be embarassed. Most detox centers have recovering addicts employed there. If you go this way, talk with them. Be honest. These people can help you a lot. Your probably wondering how did i feel at this point. I felt like hell. I went into detox cold turkey. This is the only way you can go cold turkey. You need to be watched 24/7. I had a seizure my 3rd day in. Im telling you if i had access to a gun i wouldnt be writing this right now. It is that bad. After the seizure my doctor prescribed Suboxone ( i will get into this later). I stayed at the detox center for 7 days. And your probably saying "F THIS" a seizure? yes it can happen. You need to talk to your doctor before you get yourself off the Fentanyl. Also the mental part of withdrawl is extreme. I did not want to be alive anymore. The physical withdrawls were terrible. Vomiting, nausea, living on the toilet, chills, body aches, dehydration, headaches and sweating like its 120 deg. but feeling like its -10. It is truely hell on earth.

#2 Suboxone- This is where everyone starts to argue. Methadone or Suboxone. Methadone is a powerful narcotic. You will be just switching your addiction. You will be racing down every morning for your drink. I talked with many addicts. And they loved the methadone. Now talking with recovering addicts, well thats a different story. Most have tried the methadone but truely they were not ready to get off drugs. They used the methadone when they were down and out. When they ran into money they were back using opiates. Now I dont want to say Suboxone is a miracle drug, because its not. You can get severely addicted to Suboxone. But I am on Day 3 with NO SUBOXONE..and of course - NO OPIATES! How to i feel? Like sh!t. I have body aches, i get the chills here and there. Basically it feels like i have the flu right now. But I am starting to feel the difference of having no drugs in my system. I am dreaming again at night, something i do not remember doing when i was using the opiates. I notcie things that i didnt notice before. The sun, rain birds etc... When you are using opiates you go on living day by day and start to kill yourself spiritually...i do not need to tell you about that. If your reading this far in you know what im talking about. But getting back to the Suboxone, i do not think i could have gone this far without it. There is a line in your head and it gets crossed when you are getting off the Fentanyl. You just cant do it physically. The problem with Suboxone is that it is used too long. My wish was to get off drugs. All drugs. Yes you can take Suboxone for the rest of your life. Do you want that? I didnt. I used the Suboxone to get through the withdrawl period from the Fentanyl. Heavy withdrawl symptoms last 14-? days from fentynol. I do not know if im withdrawing from the Fentynol or the Suboxone right now. But i can tell you that the symptoms are minimal right now in comparison to the withdrawls i had in the first few days before Suboxone. And for that I am grateful. Suboxone does not make you feel great. But it helps tremendously with the severe withdrawls. At the bottom of this post I am going to put my dosage of Suboxone for everyday i was on the drug.

#3 Support- When i started with this, I was going to do this by myself. I was privately addicted and i was going to get off the addiction privately. Well that was my big mistake. When I was in detox i met a guy that really changed the way I thought about the whole issue. First off, I got along right away with the guy. He works at a large steel plant here in town and me being a plumber, well that was the first person that i met with an addiction that has a good job, works in the trades and seemed to be in the same boat as me. I got his number before he left and i went on through my withdrawls. The 16th day in I called him. He said he was going to a meeting. He asked me to go and i went. It was a NA meeting. There is where I found the support i needed. For now I go to these meetings every night. I do not talk at all. I havent even looked at the book that they have. I know they have a 12 step program. But just going to these meetings and listening to people and being able to ask them anything at all makes the recovery part really easy. Am I going to do all the steps? I have no clue. All i know is that going every night makes all the pains and aches go away for that 1.5 hours and it gives me hope. I wanted to mention one more thing. If you go to these meetings, whatever you do is never compare your addiction to others. You will be lining your self up fpr a relapse. You will hear stories that are enough to make a grown man cry. Making it seem like your addiction isnt "that bad". My addiction was bad enough that i didnt want it running my life anymore. And if your reading this, your likely in the same boat that i am in.

So breaking everything down, there is no magic pill that makes everything go away. Just some plain effort. You can get off the Fentynol. And if you are looking into taking Fentynol. PLEASE read up on it and look and people that have used it. This stuff is killing people everyday. I am sure it is used to help some people. My grandmother took it for the last 5 months of her life. She was terminally ill.


Suboxone

You WILL need to start getting sick before taking Suboxone. If you take it while you are taking opiates it will make you sick right away. I suggest being sick for 48 hours before taking it. You will get a taste of how bad you would feel by not taking anything. Your doctor will tell you this anyways. Your first does is usually at the doctors office anyways.

Day 3-7 8 mg Per day 4 Mg morning, 4 mg 4PM- Dont take Suboxone late - you will not sleep

Day 8-12 6 mg Per day 4 Mg morning, 2 mg 4PM

Day 12-16 4 mg Per day 2 Mg morning, 2 mg 4PM

Day 16-24 2 mg Per day, In the morning

THIS WAS A PLAN THAT I CAME UP WITH. THIS WAS NOT MY DOCTORS ADVICE. I WANTED TO GET OFF ALL DRUGS. IN ORDER TO USE SUBOXONE AND NOT GET ADDICTED TO IT I WANTED TO USE IT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN YOU MAKE THE DOSE CHANGE YOU FEEL LIKE HELL. JUST TRY TO REMEMBER THE 48 HOUR PERIOD OF HOW YOU FELT WHEN YOU WERE IN TOTAL WITHDRAWL. IT HELPS

If anyone needs any info, please contact me. I hope this helps somebody out there, remember your not alone :D

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Dear someone that got off the Fentanly. I am where u were. I have just put my first 50 mcg.F Patch, 3 days ago and time to change it again. I was a 75mcg, before that and they had changed the brand and my body was eat up everywhere that I had to put it and was running out of places when it was time to change it. I am not going to lie at all and say that I haven't experienced the trembling and the cold/hot sweaty feeling and wonder..Can I do this? The trembling that is in your whole body, it is like RLS, but everywhere.I know that I can do thsi and I have been taking this med. for a total of 4 yr. now. It started w/the 25mcg '07, then in '08 late in that yr., it was 50mcg, and in eary in '10 the doc moved me up to 75mcg, when all I wanted to do was up the breakthrough meds..not change my patch dosage...I just didn't want to go up on the patch. I knew that one day, I would have to come off.
I have had just a constant quiver the past few days after I changed it from a 75 to 50 and THIS IS HORRIBLE..BUT I CAN DO THIS..I keep telling myself that and it helps my mind to accept it. I am shaking while tryinig to type, but I must say that I still have my herniated disks..in my back,all three of them..THAT ARE KILLING ME, but taking more of breakthrough..I feel like defeating the purpose, but at least the FENTANYL would be gone..I PRAY. They won't do anything about my herniated disks. They just ignore it and give me meds..I DON'T want. I just want surgery to get them fixed and NEVER, EVER have to take this med. again and I won't ONCE I ever get it out...that is.
I know my doc was happy when I told him of what I wanted to do.. Heck, he even shook my hand. He did notice that my heart had been racing while I was there and I hadn't even changed anything yet. My heart has been acting up the past 2-3 wks. with a episode like anxiety and that makes me even more afraid of going through this, but it has to be done. I don't want to have to depend on this...for one day, I might not have it. I just feel eventually this medication will be ruled out for terminally ill patients alone and 4 anyone else that would be bad, but this stuff..IT IS THAT BAD. I never realized how until the past 3 days of this shaky quivering non-ending coldness or hotness. IT is awful, but I want to stop having to depend on it to relieve my pain. I will just have to suffer more, that is until I can get the surgery done. I think sometimes, I may be a little premature in doing it until after the surgery, but I am not getting anywhere. Maybe soon this new Doc(NS) that I am trying to get in with will perform surgery to fix my C5-C6 that was messed up in '06, that caused all of this in the first place. I know also they have found T8-T9 herniated, T10-T11 herniated with hypertrophy. I can't stand for long periods, maybe 10-20 min. then my back is on fire and the pain is like someone stabbing you or leaving an axe in it. SO, I usually am in bed for most of my day, but I do make myself get up and move. Heck, I even go outside to set 10 or more minutes a day for some Sunshine. It is hard, but if I have made it okay for the first 3 days without the higher dosage..wouldn't that make me through the first round or do I have more to suffer??? I just wanted to say that your words have moved me and made me to wonder if I made the right choice with me having 3 disks herniations left behind to deal with. Do I have more of the shaking to come? I am suppose to change this 50mcg tonight after 3:00 am, but am going to get into tub around midnight to move the time up some. I don't like to change it that late in the morning and with me shaky, I thought it might help me a little. What do you think? I could try to wait until 6:00am but think it would be better to change early than late on this one. OHH okay, that is all I can think of right now..shaking is hard to type with ...:)) <3 Karen
I have never abused my patch. I put it on like it says and it has helped my pain, but little did I think of the consequinces of getting off.

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YES, this is all to common been where your at and am off now. Maybe your doctor can prescribe valium to you. That stops some of what you are feeling. Remember all of our bodies are different. Do not do anything until speaking to your physician of course but mine was and still is a lifesaver. I dont know if anyone let you know but these withdrawls your still having can go on for up to but not limited to a year or more until you feel right again. Great drugs they have for us huh.... All that I can say is marijuana.........marijuana...... ahhhh what a relief. But remember your state may have certain licenseing rules you must abide... sorry for the length.

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Oh and I started at working down from 175 mcgs every 48 hours yes ladies and gentleman 48! Not the recomended 72 but 48. I am off it now just for about 3 weeks and am freaking but the valium helped to make it somewhat managable. Remember I am not a doc but I sure do feel like one after all I have been through... Hang in there tight ok.... you can do this.... you can do this.... the bathtub is my best friend and that is no joke... Paige

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Karen, I hope it helps to know there are people out there praying for you like me and you will make it. Put it on early would be my guess.... but I am not a doctor... Also you may go through alot of severe boughts of not sleeping or only about an hour or two a night... According to my doc and his PA this is normal... whatever the hell that means.... they say normal as if they know the feeling... in my opinion every doctor that prescribes these types of medications should have to use and come off of them first... Maybe then when we cry to them they would have grown a heart and really try to help... It is true oppiates do intensify the pain after a certain time on the drug, well I have been on for almost four years... If I can do it you can too, but remember I was on much more medication then you so I am having more horrilble withdrawls then ever. No Sleep, No Eat, Seizures, lost over 110 pounds, lost all muscle tone.... you have a better shot just keep pushin through ok promise... Thats the only way I am sorry to say. Paige I do care. pteunis at yahoo email me anytime ok. best of recovery and a great renewed life!!!!

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Paige, Ur a strong one to do what u have done. I applaud u, 4 this is hard enough and I am still on the 50mcg and the reason being is that I thought, that I would just go down in a month or so 4 each drop of med. WOW..I didn't know u could do it fast like that. I remember now reading ur post, I was thinking this girl is just mocking me, but now, I see u weren't. I am sorry, but it just seemed impossible, but ur doing it.
Ur right @ the docs needing to understand more..that is an understatement..hehe. Well, I am thankful 4 at least I do have a PCP that does care and when I decided to go down, I think he was really shocked 4 the amount of total crap that I have had to deal with. The dx's they have handed me are so many, but I felt that this medicine is just some bad stuff to deal with and it tells u when do to what..like take a bath. I miss my hot baths, anytime I wanted one. These patches won't let u take a HOT one or the med will release and KILL u...wonderful, I thought, but I am working to completely get them off of me, but slower than u...I am tough and could've I think that is. I didn't really have a bad time of it as what u done. I am having some crazy things happen to me now that is concerning me though. My heart rate is going crazy and it can jump from like 80bpm to 111 and this is resting in bed. Did u do this? I am sure u did, but HOW LONG does it do that? I am thinking I have heart problems now and even my PCP put me on a Bet-Blocker, BUT I haven't taken a single pill. THat was the whole reason to getting off of it...not to take more meds, but I have it by my bed and could. I chose not to take it because my BP is usually alway normal and has been, but figured it was ANXIETY from dropping down one dose, but I don't know. I have a venous angioma...WELL, I found out that it is really called a DEVELOPEMENTAL VENOUS ANOMALY..these Neuroradiologist have found the words "venous angioma" was considered a misnomer(whatever that words is indicating),but it did say that the word "angioma" usually means a severe disease with the substantial risk for bleeding. GREAT HEY? I find this so dis-heartening. I am really dis-gusted,for reason that I have had my whole life a happy healthy person...that is, until I had this dadblamed sugery on my neck(C5-C6 spinal disk.) I was working 60-70hrs per week. The only problem that I was having was that I couldn't sleep good at night for the tossing and turning.After surgery, I got right back into work. I did wait however for the 2 month period to where they say NOT to do anything strenuous or lift anything heavy. OK..well, on my 3 month following me mowing the acre yard and sitting in a hammock that I should've known not to set in...because it gave way and I was straddling it and it was in May, it was beautiful outside and my son came over to give me a kiss..he just leaned in to kiss me and put a little extra weight on me and the cord snapped and I was @ a foot or a few inches more,maybe 2, but don't think it was that much. ANYwhoo...I hit the ground and didn't really think that much of it, but I did get a headache later. I started going back to doc and seen him 9 out of 11 months in the same year, but to no avail, for he wouldn't do anything. HE actually told me it was my C5 as I set there on his examining table...but it didn't sink in at that moment, but after thinking of it...HOW COULD IT BE MY C5? He was suppose to fix that?
Well, my pain intensified AFTER I went and got a series of 3 nerve blocks (ESI'S) YAS...this put me down. I was on the table for the last ONE...the LAST one and that doc was laughing and talking to his assoc.*(Should've put ass.) anyway, he had music blairing and this was a cool settting for me..I liked it, BUT he HIT my SPINAL cord or NERVE FIBERS...Whatever IT was...I jumped like a BOLT OF LIGHTENING hit me. I raised my head and asked, "WHAT HAPPENED?" He replied..with a studder, I might add. Oh..uh.uh.."FRICTION". He told me to put my head back into the HOLE..and I was so scared and was shaking. He then told me to sit up real fast and got into my face and continued to ask me, "Are your EARS ringing, DO YOU HAVE HEAVY BREATING?"..I said no that just my HANDS and FEET were COMPLETELY NUMB..AND GUESS WHAT THEY STILL ARE.
Paige, I don't know what he done, but ever since..my life has just gone downhill...and fast. MY surgery was Feb.'06 and I had the ESI's in Nov-Dec.'06...yeah, the same year.
Paige, I have gone on so much @ me, please tell me ur story..I would love to hear it. I am sure by what I have gone through that u have people in ur life that just DON'T understand..and I know some of them are family..and the others are docs..I thank u sooo much 4 replying...UR a strong person like me..just different circumstances, but it doesn't mean that we can't be friends. I will be honest w/u..I don't do much on the phone..unless necessary. I can type..thank GOD..u can tell by such LONG messages..hehe:))
I do hope that u continue to be strong and IF u need someone and can't get me...HE is always there..u know, WHO I am referring to..I know. The Big Guy upstairs is The ONE who has really comforted me..sooo many times, especially when I pray..He is there. God Bless girl and my prayers are with u.:)) and u can contact me at skeet65 at hotmail, if u EVER need to talk:)))))<3 Karen

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Do you live anywhere near the Charlotte nc area ?

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Whoever started this thread deserves a Nobel Prize.

I'm a fentanyl addict. It began suddenly.Haven't even been on them for long. I tried to stop cold turkey, but experienced all the symptoms mentioned in previous posts. I have a 7 year old son, and I'm petrified. I only have 2 75mcg patches left. I want to wean myself.

Can I cut them? In 1/2 then 1/3 or 1/4? would that work?

What would happen if I just stopped cold turkey? How long with the agony last? I was thinking I could leave my son with my parents and go somewhere to experience the pain of withdrawal. One day when I had experienced the withrdawal I fell in to such a dark hole depression I couldn't stop crying. He found me crying and became soooooo worried. I can't put him through this.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. PLEASE PLEASE!!!

I also suffer from depression and am on effexor.

I can't afford a detox center. Oh God! How could I have done this???

All advice appreciated.
~Scared in FL

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Scared in FL: The best thing to do is seek medical advice, however, you are not able to do that, so this is what I did. First off--
You stated that you have been on this for a short period. My question is how long can you estimate that you have been doing this and how much? Also, were you chewing the patch or wearing it? Another question is this: BEFORE YOU CUT your patches, are they the kind that are NOT filled with the gel?
Now, if they are the kind that are not filled with the gel, then yes, you can cut them. If you have not been doing this for very long, say about 6 months, then yes, you can cut one in half like you stated. You can wear one half for 3 days. SAVE the other half.
Then you can take the OTHER patch and cut it into 3 pieces. (Cut it into thirds.) You can wear the first 1/3 for 2-3 days. If you can make it 3 days, do so. Put your second "third" on and wear it for 3 days as well. Take the LAST "third" and wear it for 3-4 days. If you can wear it for 4 days then that is GREAT! If not, wear it as long as you can. At the least 3 days. By the time you are done with the "1/3's" GO BACK to the FIRST PATCH THAT YOU CUT IN HALF AND CUT THAT IN HALF AGAIN--making it 1/4 and 1/4. (2 pieces). Wear 1/4 for 3 days. And then wear the last fourth for as long as it will stick to your skin. By that time you will be weened off. IF you have access to Colonapin, Ativan, or Xanax you should maybe take .5 or 1mg to help you through the night, or if you feel any signs of withdraw in the first few days. The first 3 days will be the most difficult.
By the time you get to taking the last of the 1/3 part of the patch you should be doing quite well, but everyone is different. Also if you feel that you need someone to watch your 7 year old, by all means do it. AND have a friend by your side. Someone who can encourage you. I will be online a lot if you need me. If you have questions you can just post here and any of us who see your post will help you as much as we can. I am sorry I didn't answer you sooner. I hope that you will have success with what I have instructed. I am FREE of the patch by doing as I have told you. The addiction is what is hard to kick. God be with you. And if you can...someone did say that a little bit of Mary Jane can help. I have not tried that, but if you feel like trying, I am sure it can't hurt. Just only take the Mary Jane if you CAN NOT get the Colonapin, Ativan or Xanax. And if you do get those benzodiazopines, be sure you look them up and see what they are and how to take them. Like I said, only half to 1 mg every 6 hours, okay? NO MORE. Please keep me posted.

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Scared in FL:
I also wanted to tell you something. Don't you dare beat yourself up over this. :-) You have enough to worry about when it comes to quitting. You have made a step in the right direction, and that is the important part. How you got here doesn't even matter anymore. It's where you are going that is important. And seems to me, that you want to go where it is good for you and your child. And that means you are capable of making sound decisions. Right choices. Kudos for making this step. Things will work out in the end. There is help out there. If worse comes to worse, you can call the a hotline that can give you information on free detox. You are doing the right thing! Now be proud of yourself for it, and move forward. With every step you take in this to succeed, remember that you are doing RIGHT. :-)

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Hi. I posted a few weeks back. I gave a long spew about getting off the Fentynol. I am finally starting to feel normal again. The Suboxone worked well! But like I said use it for a very short time. Congrats to anyone who is trying to get off this stuff. Just checking in and letting everyone know that you can do this!

Robert

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Rob, I read your post on the Suboxone. I am glad you are free and you went the short term. Praise God for that! I know many people (too many) who have been on it, and yes, they became addicted to it and xanax or other benzo's, because the Sub's make people speed too much.
A close friend of the family used to be on morphine and percocets and methodones for cronic back pain, and she found herself addicted to all of it. It also caused her such great mental anguish that she tried to take her own life twice in one year. She wanted to get off of the narcotics all together and she got a doctor that prescibes Suboxone. She has been on it about 21 months now. Due to her "speeding" she also drinks alcohol or takes benzo's such as Xanax.
Another person tried the Suboxone and became so addicted that they STILL have to used heroine when they run out.
EVERYONE that I have ever known to take it, has become addicted to it and XANAX because they say it speeds them up too much. I have to admit that I tried Suboxone once. I took 4mg. It made me speed very badly and I had a panic attack. I also have tried Subutex and I felt GREAT at first, but then by the second day I was speeding and had to take my Xanax. I freaked out each time I took it.
I know it may have it's good qualities, but you are the FIRST positive case I have ever heard of out of at least 10. You are truly blessed to have a success story with this drug. I feel that it is nothing but a nightmare. And you are so right when you say to use it for only a short time. SHORT TIME PEOPLE. He is so right.

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Wow, I just found this. One week ago, I went from 75 to 50. We okay until two days in and yesterday, I got so restless at work that I couldn't sit still. My skin also felt strange, like it was crawling. I wondered if it could be withdrawal because it had been almost a week before I had the restlessness and skin crawling. Sounds like it is. It's a horrible feeling. I hope everything has worked out for the original poster. I know it's been awhile since this was started.

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