Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 3)

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 HappyGirl!
Hope ur getting some rest tonight! Melatonin works for me. Try maybe to alternate passion flower, Sleepytea ( celestial seasoning and the M. Drops. B sure to take them sub ligually . You will get off the opiates!!! Just take your time and be ready for a couple of weeks that will be an initiation... Helps if u have a spiritual practice. Pray, pilates, and patience r mine.
I am OFF all opiates, benzos, neurotin, and am coping with the withdrawal symptoms and pain off distentegrated discs through acceptance , distraction, trying to soldier on in life. Speaking of being clean, swimming in ocean or freshwater is very healing!!! Aloha from MauiGirl

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Hi Kris..I too am shocked that you were given fentanyl for Withdrawls. That is unheard of where I come from. Since you are in chronic pain I know it will most likely be impossible to get off of opiates and live a normal life, hasn't your doctor suggested methadone tablets for your chronic pain? First off, don't believe the horror stories you hear about methadone, it is a long acting opiate nothing more. It also doesn;t give you the high like the fentanyal does. It is also very inexspensive to use, and most patients need nothing more than motrin for breakthrough pain, Whatever you do, talk to a doctor first..I know what you are going through as I am a chronic pain sufferer who is also addicted to the opiates I take, and that is why I am on methadone, it is the only opiate I use which works for me, and I dont have any desire to abuse it..Good luck, and let us know how you are doing
P

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Being blessed. I hate to say this, but you haven't even started to go through the bad withdrawls yet. Being dependent on a drug has nothing to do with Jesus or your faith. If you are truly a chronic pain patient and hate what you are taking ask for a different opiate, you can;t just quit thinking Jesus will take it away,. Do a google on PAWS...That can last for months or in some cases (like mine) years. I control my pain with methadone and it is a miracle drug. It is also very unwise at your age (I am also your age) to do this w/o your docrtors knowledge,YOU CAN DIE FROM WITHDRAWLS. I will really wish you my best thoughts

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Happy girl..If you are in chronic pain, I hope that you reconsider just quitting everything instead of trying something else for pain, You havent even started WD's yet. You will go through PAWS for months or even years, Post Acute Withdrawls. I went through them for years until I almost comitted suicide and decided to try another opiate and now I have my life back. Opiates are wonderful medications and are here for a reason, remember dependence is a lot different than addiction, and this is only MHO, but I think Fentanyl shouldn't even be used. I hear very bad things about it, But of course I have never taken it, so maybe I am way off base,, Patients can;t only blaim their doctors, they want to help us live our lives as pain free as possible, and opiates are the best but only if your pain is truly life changing.....
P

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Maui Girl..Not everyone can live their lives the way you have. SOme of us need opiates to live normal lives, it isn;t right to tell anyone how they should or shouldnt live. And there is no thing as an accidental addict. There is addiction and there is dependence. Anyone who is a chronic pain sufferer will become dependent, but they will not be an accidental addict. And please don't assume all doctors are drug pushers like yours was, Most doctors care about their patients lives and they want them to live normal lives. Why do you think that GOD made opiates??? If you can live drug free good for you, but don't tell other patients they can do what you did. We are not you. And I am speaking for myself, I would no more want to live in horrible pain than anyone else. Sounds to me like you may have some issues you need to work on
P

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Jaci...Please, with Hep C, stay away from all painkillers except methadone..Gert yourself to a doctor ASAP, get the Hep C under control and get medication for your chronic pain. your life is at stake here.....You may have to go to a methadone clinic sunce you were buying your meds off the street, your parents don't have to know you are going to a clinic. I dont think a regular doctor will give you pain meds because of that reason.And all clinics are very experienced in treating Hep C. I have it too, so I know, good luck and keep us posted, ok??
P

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Hi EasyBayShortcake...It sounds to me that you are in some bad pain, and it worries me that you AND your fiance want you to quit because of having a baby. In the first place with an injury like yours do you even know how painful it will be to carry a baby? Are you sure you are ready to quit this lifesaving medication for yourself and not HIM??? With the pain, going through WD;s and then the PAWS, you wont be ready to even think about a baby for a few years, plus have your OBGYN check you for any organ damage.....I never unederstood why our loved ones want us to quit the medications that help us to live better lives, Maybe they have never lived through the Hell we have....BTW, many healthy babies have been born with moms who are in chronic pain and on methadone.

P

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A lot of pain on opiates can be from tolerance withdrawal. Some folks find their actual pain is less,or at least different off drugs.
Have you read anything on painmeds? Or benzos- like Valium? The withdrawal from benzos can be protracted,too, and it's hard to tell the difference, except, my understanding is the benzos can be fatal, opiates not.
Everyone has there own experience. Fentanyl and Oxy's were my medications. I was medically dependent, which some doctor called the accidental addiction, because, of course a med pro just wants to help. However, unless they have experienced the he'll of opiate withdrawal and tolerance , they can keep upping the dose until u r toxic.
Pat- let's agree that we all r here to add our opinions in effort to support one another. Please don't name call- yes, we all have issues!!!!

Question- a friend was put on methadone and felt like a zombie. Dull... Like brain fog.
Do u every have to increase yr dose? Does it constipate?
What opiates did u switch from?

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Maui Girl..I don't want to start out on the wrong foot here, but I didn't name call just for the record. I just thought you may have some issues because you seem to be so anti opiate. I have done much research on opiates, benzos, barbituates, you name it, I have studied it. I am 54 years old and I have been in chronic pain since I was 14. If I told you the drugs I have been given in my life, you wouldn't have heard of most of them I did get addictied to opiates by the time I was 16 years old. Most addicts start out as chronic pain sufferers. My opiate use took me straight from dihydrocodeine to heroin because there was no oxys in the 1970's. I tried abstinance, and it doesn't work for me. I treat my chronic pain with methadone because it is the only opiate that I take that makes me feel like I havent taken anything...To answer your questions about methadone. I was drug free and in horrible pain for some years, almost to the point of commiting suicide, well one day I was given vicodin for a tooth extraction (I had never taken it b4) within a month i was back on heroin. I have been on methadone off and on since 1984, and constintly since 2001, and while it took me a year or so to get on the correct dose, I havent had to increase my dose since July 2002, in fact I went down on my dose 15 mg because I didn't feel I needed as much. Methadone doesn't build up a tolerance in most patients, and when I need something for breakthrough pain, I usually take motrin. I havent had to take any other opiate other than methadone in a very long time.It did constapate me at first, but I don't like to take laxitives so I drink a lot of water, eat fruit and very seldom have a problem, I usually have a bowel movement everyday/ Suboxone on the other hand (I was in a trial b4 it was approved in the US) and I was plugged up for a week, so I think it depends on the person. Your friend who felt like a zombie probably was on too high of a dose, or methadone maybe just wasnt for her..If your doctor kept upping your dose to the point where it made you toxic, I would have reported him/her because a responsible doctor wouldn't allow that to happen. Like I said opiates are here for a reason, and they have made many patients lives worth living again If used right. I do urge you to read up on opiate withdrawls however, people have died from them althought it isn't as common as with benzos. I have known people who have been denied their methadone in jail and died. Do a google and you can read about cases, in fact where I live, if a prisionor is not given their methadone, xanax, AIDS medication or any other medication they have, the jail is sued and inmates win 99.9% of the cases. If a 25 year old person is denied their vicodin probably nothing would happen except that person would be very sick, but take a woman like me who is 54 and not in that great of health, and I would get very ill, and I could die..I just wanted to say that I know we are all here for support, but I am very much for patients rights and when I see others tell people in horrible pain that they don't need opiates I do get upset because I know people who have committed suicude because of the pain, and I am one of those people that almost died. My life is in bed without opiates, and while some people can live with pain, others can't and shouldnt' be told to unless that person is a doctor. I always suggest to people in chronic pain who think they have a problem with drugs to see a chronic pain specialist who is an addiction specialist as well... As for benzos, I do have a panic disorder and I may need to take a xanax once or twice a month, but never use those two meds together without your doctors knowledge as they can be very dangerous together,,If you need anything else, please dont hesitate to ask
Pat

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Hi all,
Just had to put my two cents worth here. I have been on fentanyl for 8 yrs due to severe rheumatoid, post cancer neuropathy, fibro,...to name a few of my diagnoses. I have finished weaning off fentanyl. It has taken since June reducing two weeks at a time. I had been on patch as high as 100mcg and did the weaning in increments of 75, 50,37,25,12, and then 6 brfore stopping. I increased lyrica dosage, but that was it. Yes, I have some residual pain, but I am off fentanyl now for 7 days. The only major problem I am having is sleeping due to increased neuropathy. No not everyone can get off this drug due to legitimate pain control issues, but do not discourage people from trying. I never thought I'd ever be off it--and never would have considered trying if it hadn't been for a huge price increase. Even my doctor wasn't very positive. So for everyone trying, don't give up----if you need extra help talk to your doctor, but again know---it can be done.

Jemmy

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I'm proud of you, Jemmy, for going through with quiting the patch. We really did do the weaning off at the same time and pace. You had to get off twice the dose I was on when we started.
I too have the leg thing at night. It keeps me awake and in semi-sleep. I still feel like the end is near.
My overall feeling of health and wellbeing has increased so much.
My back pain is tolorable, especially when I consider the alternative: A life of dependance on chemicals.
Thanks for all the encouraging posts.

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Happy Girl,
Keep up good work. It has been two weeks fentanyl free and like you I feel so much better-am doing more physically than I have in past 5 years--less fatique and brain fog.
I bought a heating pad as my reward--have missed having one so much while on the patch. It also helps with late night neuropathy. My overall pain even seems better. I do have problems sleeping, but that was always a problem as am a night owl. I am thinking of you and sending positive vibs in your direction.
Jemmy

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I started using oxycodone for severe nerve damage in my foot , and was told I would be on treatment for the rest of my life . after about a year the doctors introduced me to the fentanyl patch , and about 6 months after that , my insurance lapsed and they cut me off completely . That was the first time I went through withdrawls .. I quickly found the seedy underbelly of the prescription drug world and became a large part of it . not wanted to go through those withdrawls for a single minute . I Ended up buying methadone off the streets . which , anyone who's made their way around the opiate block can tell you , Has worse withdrawls than Herion . After several Years of doing this , I went onto the methadone program , which is not what everyone believe it to be . The Methadone program is meant to keep people hooked to methadone . the increase doses regularly and will even take payment plans .. how nice . The point of my story is . when I finally said enough is enough and let myself go through the withdrawls fullbore .. it was the most unpleasant , horrific debilitating experience of my life . and I wouldnt wish it on a necropheliac pedofile . The hot flashes and restlesness are compounded . you are completely exhausted but you cant sleep . there is no end to it .. and it lasts for weeks

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B-rad, thanks for your shared experience. It seems there is not an easy way to stop any opioid drug. I'll admit that when I had severe back pain, they were the only real reliever of pain...for a while. Then it takes more and more. I used Oxycodone but not the Methadone. It's been about 3 weeks that I have been Fentanyl patch free and I still have restless legs at night and trouble sleeping. I do feel better every day, though. My head is not so foggy. Keep posting your progress. We all benefit from each others shared experience. Thanks!

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Hello B-Rad..I hope by now that you would have turned in the methadone clinic you were going to because the clinic you were at is 100% different than LEGAL methadone clinics.. I have been on methadone maintenance since 1984 on and off, and full time since 2001. The clinics DO NOT keep raising doses just for the fun of it. In fact they don't or won't raise your dose at all w/o your permission, and you must have a good reason to want to keep going up. Clinics have state and Feseral guidelines they must follow and raising patients doses isn't included unless you do blood tests that include letting them know that your body eats up methadone faster than you can store it.. A lot of people try to get their doses increased without luck because they want to get high. As for them taking payment plans, what is wrong with that?? Any medical office takes payment plans, and I would love to hear your thoughts on what is wrong with that. I also have had other doctors who took payments, so there is nothing in the world wrong with that..As for the methadone program not being what they tell believe it is, please enlighten me on that. I would love to hear your version of the truth. Methadone programs are not meant to keep you hooked on methadone, most patients get off of methadone at some point, and the doctors at the clinics don't hold anyone down forcing them to stay. That is up to the patient. This is a freee world and you can do whatever you wish to do..I am curious to know how long you were hooked on heroin because you said something that is not true. You claim that methadone w/d is much worse than heroin..NOT TRUE. While the W/Ds may last longer, they are not anywhere near the hell you go through with heroin. And if the Restless legs, etc lasted for weeks for you and that includes any opiate. That is a very short time, you area verylucky person to have had PAWS only last a few weeks. How about your whole life??? Well, mine lasted for 10 years, and that wasn;t methadone, it was heroin..I like your choice of words the prescription underbelly you must be a very angry person, and you are going around just blasting methadone. I can understand anyone wanting to be clean, but to blast a whole program that has saved many more lives than it has hurt, you are being very hateful and hopefully you aren't scaring someone off whos life could be saved by methadone..If your W/D's were that bad, you should have tapered because methadone when used the right way, and when patients tapered slowly, the withdrawls are not horrible like you claim they are, Ya know, I usually cheer people on who want to get off of methadone (my husband is one of those people) but when people like you come along and tell out and out lies, that makes me angry because you deffantly don't really know squat about methadone, and you are trying to put fear into people who methadone does wonders for.. If you deciedeed to buy methadone off of the streets, that is illegal so you have no right to judge any program, in fact you should thank them for saving your but*... Next time you want to bash in a program that has worked for tens of thousands of people like me, make sure you know exacally what you are talking about, because I have been around opiates most likely b4 you were born. Happy girl, being on methadone for chronic pain is not even close to being on it for maintenance, In the first place your dose would be much lower. So please don't think it has anything to do with methadone being used for addiction. I just wish people who bad mouthed certain drugs knew what they were talking about b4 they try to talk other people off of them, (I am not talking about you) To people like B-rad, if you hate methadone so much, you really need to go to the NA website..You will have a huge cheering section..Just don't try to demonize a medication because you hate it, that is just wrong. If I were the owner of the clinic you are bad mouthing, I would see where I wouldn't even want you near my clinic. As for buying methadone on the streets, the people that sell methadone are killing people because of overdoses, you are just as guilty for keeping them in business...To anyone who is going through PAWS right now,,There is no time limit for it to go away, Some people never suffer from it, and for a very small number, PAWS may never go away. Just be patient.. Some people just learn to live with it because they have no choice. There are medudations for PAWS, ask your doctor.. Some people swear by quinine, and others (my husband) swears by putting a bar of soap under his sheets right by his legs. Its' cheap and he says it works wonders. There is also new medications but I jsut don't know the names of them.. And please friends, if you don';t have real information, it is better to say nothing at all than to say things that can hurt others

Pat

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I have been on fentanyl 25mcg for some time for spinal injury. I am coming off, and the withdrawal is quite painful and debilitating. My pain is still quite high, on top of the withdrawal. I am taking clonidine 0.1mg qid prn symptoms of withdrawal. This is tough, but I know I can do it. I chose to discontinue the fentanyl due to the depression it has caused. Any words of encouragement are appreciated as I go through this tough week. After all is said and done, I have more compassion and sympathy for my pain patients, any pharmacist or doctor should read my testimony and remember to treat their patients with sympathy. I use to think another drug addict young in my career. How ignorant I was, be thankful if you never have a severe chronic pain incident, but don't ever look down at those who do.

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Dave. Thank you so much for your post. I see it as one of the most honest I have seen. You have realized that most addicts like us started out as chronic pain sufferers. I started with dihidrocodeine (synalgos DC) in 1972 for dysmenorrea. By 1979 I was a fulltime heroin addict because it was cheaper and easier than finding a doctor to believe that I was in pain..I never have used fentyal, and only heard about it a few years ago, but it sounds like some scary stuff to me..I wish you all of the best, and please keep writting about your experiences so the people who are in WD's know what they are up against and also that they aren't alone.. I was going to be a pharmasist, guess it was a good thing I didn;'t finish...Whatever pharmacy I worked for would have been emptied out the first day......Thanks again, and my best to you..

Pat

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I'm pretty sure this is a fentanyl withdrawal posting page.... Please keep your shares about actual experience with fentanyl and withdrawing from it. There are other topic posting places on this same site.
Dave, you'll make it through, not easily but surely.
I'm a month drug free and feeling more myself everyday but still having sleeping restlessness.

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I just want to let people know that there is hope. In 2005 I had back surgery, and was on fentanyl for about 3yrs. I was on 100mcg, then I started reducing 25mcgs until I was on 25mcg. I would do the decreased dose for 30 days then go down 25 until I was on the 12.5mcg, at the 15th day I quit and it has been 9 days and I feel like I have just come out of a fog. I feel so much better, but like others I have problems sleeping so I have been taking lyrica at night and 1 800mg ibuprofen, and I have been able to sleep through the night. I think staying extremly busy helps with the with drawls. I work full time and I am a full time student at night, I'm so tired all the time and my back hurts alittle but it is still better than being on fentanyl. I wouldn't notice the withdrawls until I got home at night and sat down. The lyrica really helped me get to sleep at night. Good luck everyone its worth it, and Jemmy Congrats are in order and B-rad man my hat is off to you and anyone who is trying to get off that STUFF and yes our health care system are the real king pins.

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To Happy Girl..I realize this is about Fentanayl WD's however when people give dangerous suggestions it is anyones duty to tell that person who may be hurt by that suggestion to seek out a doctors opinion, You aren't a doctor and I have been through opiate WD's and fent is no different than any other long acting opiate, If I feel that you or anyone else is giving out advice that can hurt or worse to someone I will step in, You don't run this board.. I know people who have died from opiate WD's Do you??
Pat..BTW, if you have something to say, say it to me,

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