Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 27) (Top voted first)

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 was on 150 mcg for years so I started slowing coming off 150 to 100mcg,then 100 again for 72 hours,then 75 for 6 days,50 mcg for 72 hours,50 mcg again for 72 hours,then 25 mcg for 9 days.Then I cut the 25 mcg's in half making a 12.5 mcg for 72 hours then 12.5 mcg's again for 72 hours.Then I cut the 12 mcg in half again for another 96 hours,and finally I cut the 12 mcg in half again for 96 hours and stopped,with no withdrawl symptoms at all. Believe me I have been on this stuff twice now and with the same way all the time and it works. Use the 100 mcg patch and cut it into 4 so you can maximize the usage,then cut the 25's in half as well.What I am telling you is get the most out of your patch when cutting them.Always wash your hands after. I checked this out with my doctor and pharmacist before I did it

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I have been on 100Micro grams of fentanal patche,s for 8 years my back is so bad thqat nothing else helps I was on 6 30mg.morphine sufateIR and felt great I weened off the morpahine in 3 weeks with no problems I wish the doctor would cut me down to a 75 patch and 3 morphine pills they are alot easier to ween off than oxocodone I take care of my mother -in -law and my wife is going for a lung operation so I can not ween off now there has to be something they can give me to help with the withdrawl I can't go to a rehab i am on workers comp. got knocked off a ladder I have been looking for a doctor for 5 months theyn are all in big groups so you call one and they allready have your info i can't belive nobody will help me thanks Larry

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First whom ever is reading this never ever cut a patch this can KILL you... you may have been lucky but dont give advice you know nothing about unless you speak the truth. Cutting the patch can cause a sudden release in to much which can cause a massive heart attack and or stroke.... NEVER CUT PATCH!!!!!
The
Withdrawl Queen

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Dr. Steve Olencheck
Mall ring circle, Henderson Nevada
Nevada Spine Clinic
Henderson,NV

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Regarding cutting the patches, there are TWO kinds. One CANNOT be cut (and will indeed result in all the fentanyl being released at once which is not the smartest thing to do) and it should be obvious which (this is the one with a sac of liquid in the middle) and the other can be cut (these are the drug-in-adhesive type). In the drug in adhesive type of patches can be cut and since the drug is distributed evenly in the adhesive (has to be; read the insert on how it works) it works. The patch cutting method suggested by a previous poster will work if done properly.

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I have been cutting my patches for 2 months now, and I've managed to get them down to a quarter of a 75mcg.

My guess is that the previous poster had experience with the gel patches, not adhesive. But thankfully no heart attacks here.

So to anyone considering using this method, and who has access to the adhesive patches, I would say try it.

Despite my ability to cut down to a quarter of a 75mcg patch,and until I am free from this drug, I remain
-Scared in FL

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Looking to contact TERRY who ia the author of Post # 438 in regards to weaning off of Fentanyl patch. My hubby is on 50mcg and wants to try your process for weaning. I think I did the breakdown right: 50mcg for 6 days, 25mcg for 6 days, that 12.5mcg for 9 days. Than for 4 days (96 hrs) cut the 12.5 in half equaling 6.25mcg for 96 hrs. Than final step is to cut down to 3.12mcg for 96 hrs. Than, hopefully he will be good to go. If you coulod please let me know if my plan seems correct, I would appreciate it tremendously. email me at - [email protected] [1]. THANK YOU TERRY!!!!!

[1] Editor's note - In order to protect privacy, we do not allow individuals to post their personal contact information on our discussion threads (except in some very rare cases).

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I have been on the 75mcg patch for about 3 years. I feel like crap. I get chest pains and just feel weak all the time. I asked my doctor the side effects i have and she said i would feel worses off the patch, basically told me to suck it up. I say the little prayer "Now i lay me down to sleep" every night. My body is screaming at me to get off them. I am also Bi-Polar and i am scared to death of staying on them and getting off. Without my doctors help i don't know how to do this. Anyone every have any suggestions to minimize the physotic effects?

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In my view after using fentanyl for a while, acute WD is manageable by the things I've said, but post acute WD looks like it's bothersome for many months.

I am using gabapentin and (immodium) loperamide (which is an opiate that can't cross the blood brain barrier, apparently) to handle this. If you feel edgy and uncomfortable I recommend both those but loperamide is OTC and I take it with a P Glycoprotein inhibitor (prilosec). I think 20-30mg of loperamide is enough and you can VERY SLOWLY cut down the loperamide.

Basically what I am saying is that there are a lot of unscheduled and OTC meds available to handle the acute and postacute WD from fentanyl use for a long time where you are severely dependent (which is what will happen after using fentanyl for several weeks).

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20-30mg of imodium how often?? I have been patch free since Thursday, 6 days ago. On Sunday I started not feeling well, then Monday, I had to travel 2 hours away for my puppy to have surgery. I felt terrible all day. Then Tuesday I layed around all day & forced myself to get up in the evening to go to a close friend's husband's wake. I think that's when I realized that I was having withdrawl symptoms again!! I'm so mad! I thought I had it!! ( Recap. I've been on between 50 & 100mcg for about a year for interstitial cystitis, then I got injured at work, as a nurse. I had back surgery and a year and a half ago I was almost weaned off & had a spontaneous re herniation of in my back. I went back up to 75 mcgs. Finally after another microdisc in Oct '10, and an anterior lumbar fusion in February of this year, I've had it!! I'm done!! I was still feeling sick from the patch AND still having pain!!) I told my Drs that I wanted off the patch!! So here I am! Once again having withdrawl symptoms!! So if someone could tell me about the loparamide, I would be so grateful

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20-30mg once a day. It has a long half life so you shouldn't need it more than once every 24 hours. It will definitely help with the physical WD. Then see if you start cut it down by even as little 2mg every day or 2-3 days.

This will block you a bit. If you can get access to gabapentin you'd be better off too.

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I agree. It is a hard medicine to come down from. If ur going to be able to do it, u must be patient. It is something that u will have to do slowly. I went from 75mcg down to 50mcg and I had the rocking symptom..not fun, but I have disk herniations and just stayed on the 50, just 4 now until they get this mess straightened out. I hope u do well. I will be there soon. Take care and be strong.:))<3

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My intuition from reading every single post and following this thread for a long time, as well as being on fentanyl for nearly a year, is that the changes it makes to my brain are significant enough to warrant attention for several months (for me). It is not something that one can walk away from as others have said, and it is something to taper of VERY SLOWLY.

I have absolutely stopped my patch now for about 20 days (for the second time in 2 months), but I need something else everyday to both handle the pain and my mood. Gapapentin is effect for 2-3 day stretches once a week. Loperamide 20-30mgs with a P glycoprotein inhibitor (prilosec) works too for the other part of the week. This combination is extremely effective at not only handling pain but also makes me feel "normal", "productive", and just "happy". Interestingly that combination will make sure you use the bathroom properly (on average) in an extreme way. <-:

There are other things one can try. I would recommend ibogaine therapy also for those who feel really trapped.

But getting out an opiate dependence or addiction (you need to figure this out also---this is key to treatment) is very important. Life is more enjoyable when you're not constantly stimulating your mu opiod receptor and your body has reached new homeostases.

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yea it is withdrawl see if you doctor will give you some oxocodone 5mg. maybe 10 a day or 6 30mg.morphine ir or even 4 a day i weened the morphine 6 a day for 4 years in 3 weeks 5 to 4 to 3 and had very little withdrawl better than the oxocodone maybe some zanax will help i am down to a 75 patch i was on 100patch for 8 years got to go slow good luck

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If any of you suffer chronic pain and are ready to end the med concoction trying, doctor shopping for a fix, spiral craziness of chronic pain that no one but those with it know--life, then event/illness &c.pain, next medical advise that fails,leading to anger depression&withdraw from old life, and so on... Then please consider an option out. Mayo Clinic has a Pain Rehabilitation Clinic in Rochester MN and now FL! You could have much or all or the old you back. Am I'm writing this as I'm going thru withdrawal they are helping me with(3 high dose narcs, 2 benzos, and muscle relaxer), but being half way thru I've seen miracles leave for home already. It's PRC Mayo Clinic. Best of luck y'all.

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I am on 125mgFentanyl, BUT was on 175mg. I notice that I was shaking back and forth and also my muscles would not relax the higher the dose went. It would go away after an hour or so.It usaually happened after I would change the patch. I also started reading about this drug, I went from 2 80mg oxycotin, 240mg, plus 6 oycodone a day, but were not working. So my Dr. put me on the F. Patch. I choose to go down and also rid myself of this drug, but I couldn't walk the farer I went. I have leveled off at 125mg, 5/15mg a day and do well. I have been on this drug 3 years now and do well. I believe everybody , just reacts differently ,to each person.

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I have been on a high dose of fentanyl for several years. I had seven organs removed and three others partially removed. Still here! I do not know how to decrease. In the beginnig I could drop down on fentanyl easily with no withdrawals, but now...different story!! My dr. prescirbed a med which helps a small amount for withdrawals. What I really want to know is how long do these withdrawals last. How do you do this safely and comfortably?

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I've sat and read these stories and am mortified that I ever agreed to go on the Fentanyl patch. I started at 12 for 3 weeks then 25 for 2 months then 50's for a month. I decided I wanted off them so I streteched the 50's for 3 days for 2 patches then dropped down to the 25 for 2 days and that was that. I've been restless, so I take vicodin and valium to settle things down. I'm hanging in there. Tomorrow will be the 36 hour point and I am dreading that point. I am forging ahead and not turning back no matter what. I admire the strenght and courage for everyone to candidly share their stories and wish you all the best. Praying for you all.

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Virgil, I found ur response moving. I have chronic pain and have been wearing the patch for oh..I donno how many years, but the doc tried to raise me once and I wore it for a couple of months(the 75mcg), then I went back on the 50mcg. It wasn't too bad. I had a couple of nights to where I had RLS bad and actually forgot to put one patch on just as I was trying to come down from it. I had fell asleep after my hot bath and when I woke up I was having all sorts of RLS everywhere.
I wish I could find a way off of these patches. I am in so much pain and I just started going to see a Chiro to give me some freedom. I am stuck in this bed, most of the time. I have Fibro and my muscles cramp so bad. I am beginning to wonder if my body hasn't become TOXIC or something.
I wish u luck and when they get me stable and to where I can move, I am going to get OFF of these things for good. I WILL and u can too. I know they are bad and hated when they put me on them. I was scared. I should've been. These things are not anything to play with. I will just be glad the day comes when I won't have to take anything ever again.:))<3 Karen

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pea test was positive for pot so dr took me off fentanyl pain patch was on 75 mcg/hr for seven years now nothing but withdrawls ,sweats dry heaves and more pain in my spine

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