Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 24)
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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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Fentynal rewires your brain receptors and depending on how long you have been on Fentynal, your withdrawal symptoms will vary from each patient. I suggest you take Diazepam 5mg on Fentynal 25, then down to 1 mg after for several months. Gabapentin 300mg can also stop the firing of your nerves and calm your body down. Taking antidepressants can make certain people feel worse. Drink lots of water to clean your system and prevent dehydration. Hang in there. Do things that calm you. No caffeine Good luck.

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Gil, you're right, there are a lot of scary things about fentanyl or FTD but coming off of it for me was not as hard as others have written about. That's not because they're exaggerating it's because everybody has a different metabolism and will react differently to the W/Ds. I was on 125 mcg 48/72 hrs for 5 years and I kicked it without too much pain so it is possible. I just did it real slowly, 25 mcg every 2 months but first getting back to 72 hrs and that was the hard part. It hurt mostly from my pain coming back not the W/Ds. I have inoperable cancer that is gonna get me later or sooner, PCa, and the pain from it and the therapy is tremendous. I just went through 3 days of hell without my current meds to see where my pain level baseline is now . . . WOW, I had no idea. But I just want to tell you that for some of us it is possible to change meds from FTD to something else . . . I like/my body likes Oxycodone30mgs 8 a day, prn. They keep the pain at a bearable level so I can function instead of curling up into a ball like I was w/out them. I don't know what causes your pain but it's gotta be nasty to get Rxed FTD> God Bless and don't let yourself worry too much . . . Q

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Ok I have been on durgesic patches for almost eleven years and never went ove 75 mch but at every 48 hours there has been a few times I've asked my doctor to take me off them so everytime she has tried to just replace the fentanyl with morphine and she never gave me the right dosage so I would end up right back on them so now here we go again this time I went down two 75 s every 72 hours month later 50 every 48 hours month later to every 72 hours still taking Percocet 10/325 mg , 2 at a time when needed now she has me on opana 30 s twice a day for two weeks to see how I'm doing and I tell you I'm in pain I'm freezing cold I have restless legs and am so tired I don't have the energy to even move , when it gets close to time to take opana I feel like I have to gasp for air I even took some diet pills they give by script to stay awake and I'm still tired please help I go back on the 21st I think I'm gonna ask her to raise the opana for the pain but I do not want to be on the patches anymore...please any info would be appreciated. To top it off I'm camping with my husband and grand daughter

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Wow, I almosted died coming off a morphine pump. Then they put me on Fentynal? I am so scared now. I did not know it was 80xs stronger. Now, I am afraid to come off it, but I am going to get help to get off this drug. Thanks to all of you. God Bless!

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I was on 50 mcg patches for a little over a year. When I wanted to get off them I ask my doctor about it and he backed me off to 25 mcg. I used those for a month and then the second month I cut the 25's into three pieces and wore each peace for the recommended dosage of 72 hrs. I had actually been forced to go about 6 days without any patches due to lack of funds before starting the 25's and then cutting those into thirds. The nervousness and recklessness having to go cold turkey for those few days was unbearable the 4-5-6th day. I almost checked myself into the emergency room. Having to go through that withdrawal period was what prompted me to get off the patches. I never want to be that reliant on a drug, especially a narcotic drug. I actually posted on this msg board hoping for help during that brief cold turkey attempt. This is a highly addictive drug, after reading the posts here it reinforces my opinion that doctors who prescribe this drug need to be very upfront about it's possible addictive traits and symptoms. I think many doctors for what ever reason(s) just assume that all patients are aware of these things. The good news is that in my case it only took 1 month of going from 50's to 25's and another 4-5 wks of using a third of the 25's in order to get off them completely. In addition to the patches my doctor had also been subscribing me Norco for break-through pain control. During the time I was using the patches I was taking 2-4 tablets a day. They are the weakest ones available I believe 5-325mg meaning the hydrocodone was only 5 mgs. During the tapering off period I needed to take 6-8 of them a day and now after a month of being off the patches completely I'm taking 4-6 Norco tablets a day. This worked out pretty well for me. I had one very mild episode of the nervousness and restlessness about a week after being off the patches all together, but that was it. So for those just starting to face the withdrawal problems rest assured that you will make it through and there IS lite at the end of the tunnel. I know those who have taken much larger doses and for much longer periods of time than I did have and will suffer more severe withdrawal than I did. But never the less it is possible to get through it. My suggestion is that you be upfront and honest with your physician about how your feeling and why and simply insist that he help you get through it with what ever medication(s) it takes. Even point your doctor to msg boards like these and other resources showing the extremity some people go through coming off this drug. We are living in a time where doctors are under the microscope more than ever by federal regulators for prescribing these types of drugs. Simply because there have been so many cases of real drug addicts abusing this drug and others who don't heed to the warnings of using this drug and drinking alcohol etc. thus resulting in death and or severe injury. This is sad and it makes it harder for some doctors and their patients to get these kinds of drugs when truly needed. But as with anything else in this world honesty and being up front with your doctor about the problems your having is the best way to go. And if that doctor doesn't give you what you need then go see another one and keep going to others until you find one who will help you, however that ends up being.

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Hello, Is the Suboxone replacing Fentynal? Did it stop your withdrawal and if so, can you come off the Suboxone? I am on Fentynal 100 for 4 yrs and I want to come off it , but I am too scared. Please help. Thank you

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I have been on the fentanyl patch for ten years for severe neck and back pain and i can tell you it is obvious you are widthdrawing the amount that you were on compared to now tells me that the side effects are severe and the doctor should be checking on you every week this drug is the most powerful and i can tell you from experience that you should be careful and make sure you have someone to look in on you i nearly died a couple of times and i was alone when i tried to kick it cold turkey i mean cold turkey i take 150 every two days and i can swear too you that it is a drug that pretty much will stay in your brain for a long long time.It is synthetic and that is why you are experiencing these effects.Good luck to you seriously.I wish i could get off too but when pain is unbearable and the only other option is the hospital.Well don't go their because to be honest they look at you and the downright ugliness that they give you is truly a downer.Many people are pretty much on it for life and rehabilitation with intense monitoring and phsych help is almost always needed because your thought pattern on this drug is different trust me i have been their I'm on Workers Comp and u think they would help ya right.I'm serious if you still have urges and sweats months later then you know what i say is true ..Good luck to you and GOD speed cause i wish i had never ever touched this pain killer

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They are 12.5s not 13.5s,

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You might try between 4-8 mg of loperamide (this is also called Immodium). I have no idea why it worked, but it took away my withdrawal symptoms when NOTHING else would. It was a miracle.

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Depending on your metabolism, find the opioid that you know from past experience to be the easiest to kick. For me, that would be Oxycodone IR. Of course, it will be different for different people. I started out at 125mcs of #150 FTD, 5/d and tapered down by 25 mcgs to 100 mcs every 60 days while taking #120 mgs of Oxy IR 30s at 4/d. 60 days later I tapered down to 75 mcgs of FTD with 90 mcgs, #3 cut in half, of Oxy IR 30s. That was followed by 50 mcgs of FTD at 5/d and 5/d of oxy IR 10 mgs at 5/d. 2 months later it was 25mccgs of 25 FTD at 4/d and 4/d of Oxy IR at 10 p/d. The final break was 4/d of 12.5 FTD and 3/d of Oxy 10mgs 2months later. I am still on 4/d of Oxy IR 10mg p/d after 1 year of FTD free.

This is a lonnnng regimen but it worked. I suffered only slightly and have no cravings for FTD. The whole trick is the "every two month" break along with the use of oxyIR. This keeps those restless legs to a minimum aNd the cravings to almost zero. The hardest part, of course, is finding a Dr. to Rx you the proper scripts. I wish you the best of luck and the least of pain . . . Q

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I was on the 75 mg patches. I decreased for awhile and been off them for a year now and won't ever look back either. I have pain, but I'll live with the pain instead of the patches. I was determined too!

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There is hope I was on 100mcg patches for 4 years and as soon as I has my hip replacement I wanted off them. I reduced by 25 mcgs every 5 days and I knew I would suffer but I was determined. It WAS pure hell but I was off them in 16 days and haven't looked back. The world is in colour again instead of monochrome and although I still have big pain I am handling it so much better and I am LIVING again. Persevere there is life at the end of it!!!

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Maybe you should drop by 12mg instead of 25mg

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I used to find hot baths would sometimes help with the joint pain, An am currently taking diazipan as i now cant sleep at night suffering with insomnia! .Being restless is one of the symptoms i had alot there was nothing i found that helped iv Brent off the patches now for 2weeks an still have symptoms, these patches may help some people but i think unless your gunna stay on the same dose they shouldnt be used i spent a year on them starting at 150mg, Iam 24 An these patches made my life unbearable for a year.

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Hello, thanks for the reply. I am now no longer on this NASTY drug, and will NEVER go back on it, for ANY reason. My doctor gave me "methadone" to help with the "withdrawal symptoms" and it worked great. I've noticed by reading a lot of the info/side effects out there, that if you have an addictive personality, it's even harder to get off this drug. I was also given "12's" if I needed them, but I never opened the box. 2 weeks of the methadone, and I feel like a brand new person again. I notice that I don't require a nap in the afternoon anymore, I'm more out going as far as doing work around the house, I'm not as angry anymore either. I really feel bad for anyone that is on this patch, that is going through the withdrawal's that this patch brings. My only advise to everyone would be to go to your pain specialist, and ask for 5mg. methadone pills. Take one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, and you'll feel better within a couple weeks. Now a lot of people say that the methadone is also addictive, but there again, that really only applies to people with an addictive personality. I stopped drinking 5 years ago cold turkey, and now I can't stand the smell of alcohol. I do smoke (and can't quit) but then again I'm a father of "5" girls, own a business, and a wife, so if that is all I'm addicted to, I'm thinking I'm doing OK.

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Your doctor could give you an opiate prescription which are not expensive, even from a pharmacy. I've told my situation in a previous blog, but let me tell everyone. I've spoken to 3 pharmacists and read countless articles on this medication. This drug is for TERMINALLY ILL CANCER PATIENTS. This should NEVER be prescribed for chronic pain. One pharmacist I spoke with said she worked for Hospice for several years, and she said cancer patients were at most prescribed a patch every to change every 48 hours. If I'd known what this drug does, I'd never begun it. I'm in a 25 mcg taper right now with opiates for break through withdrawal. Your doctor could give you Lortab, Percocet or other opiate to help.

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I completely understand this i was on 150mg patches the pain was unbearable i was constantly sick my joints ached so bad i couldnt sleep an constantly sweated, i went to my doctors countless times crying in pain yet they wouldnt do anything, Iam now patch free an after 5 days still suffering with the head aches an joint pains. If i new how this medicine effects people i would never have used it, Even the pain team who put me on it never returned my phone calls.

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My doctor is tapering my fentanyl patch also. I started at 100 mcg every other day and now at 50 every other day. And yes it is miserable. I have the feeling like you are talking about. It feels like your insides are trying to crawl out. I have to get up and down and also rock. I also have really bad sweating, aching, and no energy. This is horrible. You are not alone.

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I've been on fentanyl for almost a year now. I started out with the 25mcg path then went to the 50mcg patch shortly after and have been on the 50mcg ever since. I also take Norco 5-325mg usually 4-6 a day depending on the pain. I no longer have prescription coverage and can't afford the $180 a month for the patches. It's been 4 days since I took the last patch off and I'm going crazy!!! Can't sleep, can't even sit for more than a couple of minutes without starting to shake, break out in sweats and just feel like running through some walls!! I have decided to get off the patches altogether because I do not like this one bit and simply cannot afford to keep using them. I've got a call into my doctor about getting off the patches altogether and asking him if there is anything he can give me that isn't so expensive and would help with the withdrawal symptoms I am having. But honestly I wanted to do this a couple of months ago and the Doctor simply told me to find a subsidized doctor that covers prescriptions. So I'm not sure what he is going to tell me this time. Can anyone out there give me any ideas about anything I could buy over the counter that isn't that expensive that would help me get through this withdrawal period? Also can anyone tell me how long the withdrawal symptoms might last? Thanks, going crazy!!!

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I am having the exact same problem. Bedridden because I am so fatigued and depressed. I know opiates are a depressant and I'm on anti-depressants, but nothing seems to help. I got a skin burn with blisters on my arm where I wear my patch and ran short. I've been on theses patches for about 12 years. I've never ran short. My pain treatment facility treated me as if I were a drug addict. The withdrawal I experienced was horrible. One of the top 3 experiences physically I've had. Once the new patch was back on, they of course went away.
I am getting off this horrifying drug. It was developed for cancer patients and their pain. I think my constant fatigue is a result of being on this drug. I felt like a heroin addict looking for my fix when I was going through withdrawal. I cannot wait to reclaim my life. At least I won't be a slave to this drug anymore. I am on a 100 mcg every 48 hours. To those of you out there questioning whether you should take this drug, DON'T!!! I've had 2 right shoulder surgeries and 3 herniated discs in my neck. I had chronic pain. I'd rather live with the pain than feel like this. Of course I see a PA, and she was very unhelpful about tapering. So I made a big complaint and now am seeing the neurosurgeon to get off this drug!!!

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