Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 25)
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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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1192

I have chronic pain from spinal RA, Fibromyalgia and Lupus. These immune disorders also cause debilitating fatigue. For 6 years I have been on a 75 mcg/ hr Fentanyl patch every three days.
I am getting suspicious about the Fentanyl and would like everyone's advice, please?

Lately, I can hardly function I am so tired. I mean to the point I have been bedridden for months at a go.

Is it possible that the Fentanyl is ruining my life and not just my illness ?

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1191

Thank you for your post. I too am a Christian and am trying to get off of fentanyl. The withdrawals are killing me. Please pray for me also!

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1190

13.5? I've never heard of them. I've seen 75, 50, 25, and 12's. As everyone knows, no two people are the same when it comes to medications, as I stated in a previous post that I am now on my last 25, and (knock on wood) I haven't had any problems with the withdrawls.

I wish everyone luck with coming off of this nasty stuff, and for the ones that are thinking of getting on this stuff, DON'T DO IT!!!!!

I have not had this much energy in a long time. While on this patch, I would have 2 good days of being able to do stuff, then the other 5 days I wouldn't have any energy to even play with my kids. Getting off this patch has got to be the best thing I have done in a while.

I'm hear to listen if anyone has complaints or questions....

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1189

I have wened down from 75's to 13.5 over 8 months and I go crazy after 4 days

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1188

Thanks for the reply, but actually I'm now on my last (3) 25's, and I have had NO problems at all. I'm also the same type of person that quit drinking alcohol one day, and now can't stand the smell of the stuff!

All and all, EVERYTHING is going VERY WELL!!!!!

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1187

You are going down to fast! At the top end going down should be at most 12mcg per month. When you get to the last 2-3 drops you must go down 12mcg every two months. This is safe and you will experience very little withdrawal symptoms. The lower you get the harder the symptoms are!

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1186

Hello Mary, I'm sorry to hear what you're going through. Yes, it sounds like it's part of the phase of getting off the "patch". As of right now, I'm on my last "50", and will start my "25's" on Sunday. Did they give you anything to help with the withdrawal symptoms? My doctor gave a prec. for "methadone" which I am supposed to start taking WITH the 25's, but after reading about it, I'm 99.999% sure I'm NOT going to take the "methadone". (time to flush them).... I am also on "Oxycodone" 3 times a day, but really only need to take when nessisary as I don't like the "side effects" from it. I know what you mean when you say you need to stay busy. I plow snow in the winter, and with the latest snow storm this week, I was in my truck for 37 hours straight!!! For some reason, when ever I switch out my "patch", it gives me an adrenaline rush for like 20 hours. I sleep about 4 hours a night, so it's going to be GREAT to get my 7 to 8 hours like I used to sleep, when this is all over.

Well, if you ever need to talk, just send a message. Hang in there, as I heard it'll be like this for about 4 to 6 months.

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1185

I'm from Kentucky also. I'm getting off slowly, stretching from 48 hours to 72 hours, then slowly decreasing the mcg. The laws here make it horrible of the honest user of opiate based meds. I'm getting off of it and never going back on. To anyone, don't start it. It seems like a miracle in the beginning, but later comes your worst nightmare.

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1184

I was on Fentanyl 100mcg for about one year. To make a long story short, it turns out I have nerve pain, for which Fentanyl is useless.
I decided over a month ago to get off this stuff, so I tried something I have not seen in these posts, and it seems to work.
I started by cutting an 80% piece off the patch, and placing it on my skin, and I covered it with a 3M Tegaderm Film, to prevent any escape of the drug. Every two days, I cut the dose down by 10% of the original dose, until I was down to about a 10% piece,
I removed that last one four days ago, and I feel pretty well, except for one thing: I can't sleep for more than four or five hours a night. I have generic Ambien to help me sleep, but it wears off after four hours. Other than lacking sleep for what I hope will be only a few days, this method seems to work.
The important thing is to cover the cut patch with the Tegaderm film.

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1183

I did hear it was hard to get of the methadone too. Maybe try doing it without the methadoe since you have more patches to wean with this time. Be ready with some distractions....movies, hobbies, some busy work to keep your hands and mind busy for a while at the end. If it doesn't work work you have the methadone to fall back on.

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1182

Thank You! I did try "weening off" once before, but he had only given me 2- 50's, and 2- 25's, and a hand shake. Well, needless to say, that not only didn't work, but I was crawling up the walls after the 2nd 25 mcg.... It was horrible. I really want this to work, but my fear is that taking the "Methadone". I've heard a few different stories about the stuff, and the majority are saying that it is really bad, and it will be hard to get off of that too. ?????

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1181

@dirtracing7x....I was in you position a few months ago. Weaning off of 75mcg of Fentanyl. i had been on that dose for 6yrs...doc decided to take me off because of new laws in Ky. He weaned me rather rapidly.. ..12days...two 50mcg patches and two 25 mcg patches then nothing. Withdrawl was not fun but I survived. I was cranky, shakey, irritabitable. I had heart palpitations, panic attacks, and insomnia. It lasted a good 3 months before I could really say I felt normal again. My pharmasist said I probably would have done better with a little Ativan, or clonipam ....something to take the edge off, but Doc refused to prescribe anything. So I survived it. I wish you all the luck in the world. Stay strong. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel great now. A little residual pain but less than what I had while on the patches.

Hugs,
'chelle

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1180

Hello, I'm looking for some advice/help about getting off of the "Fentanyl Patch". I have been on this patch for over a year now, starting out with the 25 mcg, which wasn't doing anything, so I was bumped up to the 50 mcg, which were also not helping, and for about a year now, I have been on the 75 mcg. Well, every time I switch out my patch (every other day) I'm up all night long, and if I take it late at night, I end up sleeping for about 3 hours, then it's like I'm on some kind of "adrenaline rush", and I'm WIDE AWAKE the rest of the day and into the evening. I switch out the patch the following day, and it starts all over again. I went to my "Pain Specialist" (Doctor) and told him what was going on, and he has now put me on "Methadone". He said to take the remainder of the 75's, then 2 weeks of the 50's, and then 25's for two weeks, but then at that time, to start taking the "Methadone". Now after reading some of the post's on here, (and other sites) it sounds like my dosage is fairly small, compared to others that are trying to ween off of the patch. I guess I'd like to know if by getting off the "patch", and starting the "methadone", am I going to have to take the "methadone" for the rest of my life, or is it just used to help with the with drawls of the "patch"? The reason for all this medication is, I was in a really, really bad car racing accident back in 2005, but just started having all the same problems again with my back and neck. I really want to go back to work, but fear I won't get hired because of the liability to them, with my back problems. At least with not being on these "drugs", I could hide my back and neck injuries, and just go back to "dealing" with them. I am also on "Oxycodone" 10 mg pill, 3 times a day.

Any help/info would be really appreciated.

Thanks

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1179

to block 1176: Man, that Dr. was an idiot , to be polite. like your friend, I tapered from 150 to zero over a 6 month period, 25 mcg at a time in 2 month intervals while continuing to use my BTP med at it's regular rate . . . 3 Oxycodone IR p/d prn. BTW, Fentora is twice as strong as the sucker, Aqtiq. One 800 Fent equals 2 800 aqtiqs. Best of luck and the least of pain . . . Q

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1178

It does sound like you may be having some withdrawal symtoms. Did you speak to your doctor about how to withdraw and what the possible side effects would be? I used to be on the Fentanyl Patch 50mcg for chronic migraines several years ago. I also wanted to wean off and did very slowly. It wasn't easy, but in the end it was definitely worth it! Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Maybe he can help with something that is non- addictive to get you through. Good Luck!

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1177

You are going down too fast. The first decreases are easier that the last couple. You should go down 12mcg a month. Been there done that.

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1176

wishing you great success- keep at it- but go gradually. Don't let your doctor just have you go "cold turkey" as it causes severe problems. Best of luck Been there.

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1175

I was on both fentanyl patches (150 mcg) and the fentanyl lolliop after surgery- then fentora a milder form (800mcg) BE CERTAIN you get help weaning off. My doctor didn't help me ONE BIT when I asked to get off the meds. He had me remove one 75mcg patch , causing severe withdrawal. When I asked him to please wean me more gradually from the 75 mcgs he refused and told me just to rip off that patch-needlessly causing severe agony/withdrawal.He also refused to wean me from fentora(800mcg) and just stopped me in middle of a prescription. I was ill for months- the only thing that helped were anti-anxiety meds. I blame him for being totally irresponsible- guess he didn't want to bother w/having to get pre-authorizations to lower the doses so caused me severe agony. He had t/gall to say it was HIS idea to wean me off in front of his nurse, when it was my idea. He would have kept me on drugs forever, because it kept me coming back every month.More co-payments! Find a reputable, compassionate doctor who understands t/seriousness of weaning off of any pain meds, and DON"T fall for a family doctor who poses s a pain management doctor. Do you research. There are good ones out there. My migraine physicians were great- helped me wean off clonipine with complete ease. And a friend got of the Fentanyl patches with no problem by doing it gradually. Never let a doctor treat you like mine did-move on to a reputable one.

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1174

Yep, It's deff a sign of withdrawal. I am currently doing the same thing on my own, yet I have been going downfrom 175 mg. There is a 12.5mg patch that you should be using. Dropping at 25mg's is a very steep drop for your body to handle, and that withdrawal will be worse depending on how long you have been on the patches.
I myself have been on them for 12 yrs on and off going btwn them and Oxycontin... Now like I said, it's all going to depend on how long you've been on the patches, but what I do know is that you should not drop 25mg's at a time. Now since you have already done that and are on 25's, the 20 day thing is good, but you now need to go onto the 12.5mg patch and use that for 2/3 weeks and then try going off, but do not hurt yourself, and if even after you have stopped going off the 12.5mg patch, it's not a bad thing if every few days you need to put another on. More importantly, remember that the drug will stay in your system for up to 2 months after you stop taking it.

Good luck, I'm currently on a 25 & 12.5 patch, so I'm right there with you.

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1173

Success will be yours! A great partner giving love, support-etc., is one of the best healers. I am tired of people projecting the "drug" addict image on someone with chronic pain utilizing meds for some relief. The pain doesn't all go away due to medication.
MY PAIN IS FROM A BRAIN ANEURSYMN I SURVIVED> I ALSO HAVE RECENTLY WENT DOWN ON MY FENTANYL AND PLAN TO CONTINUE!

Hugs to you and yours,

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