Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 29) (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 so wish I could give you a perfect answer, but I can't. Make sure you are on the patch that is not filled with liquid but the solid patch. Cut it down slowly so very slowly, go down at first about 12.5 mcg every week, I know this will take some time but the withdrawal symptoms will be a little less. When you take your last patch off you will go through hell unlike you can imagine. Explain to your daughter that the things she will see daddy go thru will go away and daddy will be fine. My grandson ask me why was I sitting on the couch rocking back and forth and not in the rocking chair. I told him that by rocking it made me feel better so I could get well quicker. The hardest part I had to deal with was no sleep for months. I have been off the patch for fourteen months and I still have some symptoms. But I amso glad to be off the drug, it was originally made for terminal patients only, but the dr's now prescribe this drug to anyone without the care or the knowledge of what this drug can and will do to you, especially large doses and long times. I wish you all the luck in the world, you will need it. Give it time things get better after the first month, but give yourself 1 to 2 years to be free from all grasps of this drug. Remain strong it will be useful.

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It does take time. Some people, like me went cold turkey and it took about 6 weeks to go through all the withdrawals but some people gradually reduce the amount to keep from having bigger problems in which case it will take longer to get off. Talk to your doctor. I didn't because I wanted it out of my system as soon as possible. If u go my route be prepared for some uncomfortable nights and days but tree is light at the tunnel. Keep talking to us on here. It helped me knowing others went through the same thing.
Hang in there and congrats for gettin off the patch.

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I guess there is noone out there with the problems that I have described. I know that i have done wrong by what i have done but please don't judge me. I did stay clean for over a long time and had a wonderful life, until the dreaded pain dr.gave me some things that could be broke down and then (OH NO) here we go again. I started breaking them down and shooting them. Why Oh Why did I go back down that road again?????? Now I'm in a bad situation. I guess it's detox for me and letting my family know

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Please RUN to the nearest detox don't walk. The road off this drug will kick your butt. Please get help this is a very hard drug to go off. Good luck

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Thank you all so much for your replies. I am so scared but i am so over this awful drug. I wish I did more research before going on it but at the time I was in so much pain that I just wanted the pain to go away. My husband has been there for me every step of the way, so I have an incredible support system but he has no idea what im in for! So it's nice to talk to people who are or have been in the same boat. I go see my doc next Wednesday to discuss our game plan but just had surgery 2 weeks ago so will start the weaning process in a few weeks! I appreciate the info you guys have given me, thank you so much! I'll keep posting how this is going for me and again a big thanx, so very grateful

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What dose were you on Etienne, when you decided to get off! I'm just afraid that I am to high of a dose to medical detox. I started on 50mcg 3 years ago then went to 75 then 100, 150, 175, to 187.5 and that's what I'm on as of now. I've read that there are two kinds of patch. One you can cut and one you can't.

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I was on 75 heading to 100 when I said enough is enough. With the dosage you're on you should cut back slowly. As far as cutting the patch. That's a no no according to my doctor and pharmacist. When u cut the patch you'll get the entire dosage in your system at one time and that could be fatal. Talk to your pharmacist about cutting the patch they'll tell u about it. The patches are designed to be cut.
Being on the dosage your on if u stop cold turkey it may cause your body to go into shock.
Talk to your doctor and have him/her cut you back safely.
That's a very high dosage my friend. Keep me posted and I'll be there for u if I can to help when the withdrawals start.

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The brand of patch if from mylan and yes you can cut it back when you have got down to the last leg of this journey. I was on 250 mcg every 36 hours for the last 7 of the 11 years on the patch. It took me five months to get to 25mcg after that I cut the mylan patch back sliver at a time u til I got down to 5 mcg then it was cold turkey and severe withdrawals for five weeks before I was able to feel somewhat human. If you read some of the old posts you will see that many people have cut their patches down to wean themselves slowly. Please remember that dr's don't know everything, they put you on this hell drug didn't they. You will learn more from those that have been there as compared to those who have read a page in a book. Ask your pharmacist to get the mylan brand for you, you will be glad you did.

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You're correct cyndib. Thr doctors are only human. We tend to trust them with every fiber of our being and we have to start researching what they give us. This is the third time I went through this with the doctors ok. oxycodone and percocet. I went through hell but after this I've learned my lesson. Fentynal was the worse for me. the unusual smells coming from my body, the headaches, sweats, restlessness followed by not being able to wake up and so much more. I'm in a lot of pain from my surgeries but I hate to say i prefer that over the
fentynal.
I live near a doctor and he mentioned something about a Tylenol patch that supposed to be very good and non addicting, has anyone heard about that? I'll keep checking.

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yes this is the warning signs of fentanyl withdraw it gets bad for a few weeks then let's go of the hold on you but is very hard to kick clean from with out inpatient help at a good hospital not some animal vet outpatient you need real help soon

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I too was on Fentyl for less than three months and am now about two weeks plus into cold turkey. My doctor refused to renew the prescription, I just came across this website, and have been reading the posts all morning. I am having withdrawal, restless legs, sleeplessness, jittery feelings, no energy and was wondering if yu can tell me how you are doing in your fight to withdaw from this terrible mediation.

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Hi Richoe
If ur doctor put u on fentynal then took u off abruptly he's a bad doctor. He should have weened you off the stuff. It really takes a good 6 weeks to get it out of your system. When I was on it not only did I have the symptoms I mentioned before but I was constipated and that really made my back hurt more. I was so tired when on this drug after the first day I would sleep a minimum of 14 hours and I would still be tired when I woke up. Then the cycle would start again when I put on another patch.
You got to have patience when you go through the withdrawals if your not getting any assistance from your doctor or support groups. It does get better even when you don't think you are. A lot of us on this site has been where you are.

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just want everyone to know that i had a doctor help me with my withdrawals through the E.R. can you beleive that!!! But he had me to start of the suboxin program and I had to stay in the hospital for three days. I feel so much better now but i'm wondering how long i will have to be on this to completely be off the patches??? He wants me to stay on this for pain and said it will help with my pain. So far it has helped some but i'm still in pain, but not as bad as i was. Does anyone know anything about the suboxin program and can tell me what kind of road i will be going down with this??? Thanks everyone that has shared on here, you have helped me so much. Oh, I have permanently threw the needles away.....Thank God!!!!!

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Good job. Listen to your doctor but make sure you also read up on what he gives you. And ask questions. It's your body and your life.

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I am on day 15 of weaning off 50 to 25 mcg of Fentanyl. Like many of you, when I first went on the med I felt like it was a miracle and I had my life back. But after 6 months I became tolerant and had to go up to 50 mcg, which I was uncomfortable with. So - under my Dr.'s supervision, I tapered down to 25. So far, so good. It is far easier than chemo, that's for sure. Just be patient . Here at day 15 I am feeling better but finding I need to pace myself and not over-do. Stay positive and make sure you have a support network. I will not go back on the patch until I am on my deathbed!

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I have never heard about the tylenol patch. It eventually will get down to cold turkey at the end. Yes I agree the pain you feel now post fentanyl, will make you feel more alive than no pain and the drug. The best part for me going off this drug was getting my fire back and discovering that I was still alive and kicking it!

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Thanks, Etienne...words of wisdom coming from you and I sure can use them words right now. Thanks for sharing with use on here about your experences with the patches. Them things are evil and I will kick a doctor right were it hurts if ever they try to sell me on getting back on them. You are so kind not to judge.

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Hi i was put on fentanyl for nerve pain and went from 25 to 75mics very quickly. I was taking neurontin but was told by my doctor that it wasnt enough and convinced me i needed the opiate. Since then i was told i needed axathiprine which reacted with the fentanyl and i nearly died because the consultant took my patch of and left me too detox on my own. It has been hell and 19 days later i'm still going through it. I have lost faith in the doctors non of them checked the interactions between various drugs. I' m getting break through pain even after taking solpidol and brufren and full dose neuronin. How much longer will these symptoms carry on for?

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Hi everyone. Hope you are all doing better with your fentynl withdrawal . I have reached day 30 with my cold turkey, but still cannot sleep at night and have numbness in my legs with restless leg syndrome. When will this hell end???? I keep questioning whether I am really having the problems I mentioned or have they become habits. Any comments are welcome..

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Hey Richoe
Did u have nerve problems b4 you started taking the patch? I did and all the nerve pains i had b4 taking the patch came back including legs and back but mentally I felt better. Im now seeing a pain managemeny specialist and he's helping me cope with all of it. If the
leg pain is new please see a doctor or call a pain management specialist.
I'm not an expert just a concerned x-addict thanks to doctors. I learned my lesson.

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