Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 4)
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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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Oh Sandra I'm so sorry to hear how sick you were. How very scary for you and your family. Fentanyl is so horrible!
I so appreciate your advice going thru this. I do see a nutritionist, I had to find a more natural route a long time ago. I do not think I would be alive without her. She uses your bodies muscle for testing your body, to see what I need. She has helped me tremendously with my health and even emotional trauma. She's my earth angel I swear.
I feel like I have the flu right now. Sweaty, weak, nausea, etc....ugh!!
I personally got off fentanyl after over 16 years because the side effects of excessive sweating and weakness that were both debilitating.
For many years I thought it was hormones (complete hysterectomy in my early 30's) until I kept getting really sick all the time. Terrible headaches and flu symptoms that would knock me down a couple days every week. Looking for answers I found out that most likely it was the fentanyl.
The sweating has definitely improved, but I have been pretty much down for the last 3 months at least. Woke up this morning feeling pretty bad.
My poor husband has been so patient, I feel so bad right now, not much of a life. I broke my arm very badly and had to have surgery to put it back together last September. I have felt terrible since then. I think another reason I feel I have been in bed the last 9 months. After arm surgery I got the flu going around, then sinus infection and pneumonia. My mom passed away a year ago, worst year of my life with everything.
Did your Drs give you any help at all?
They put you on these drugs with no way to get off of it.
When I was put on fentanyl I had almost 25 years of joint destruction, before there were any biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis. I take Enbrel now. Because of the joint damage I had over 20 surgeries in a 10 year period. Only pain control that worked was the fentanyl, which dose at times was 200mcg every 48 hrs. I usual, non surgery dose was 75mcg.
Just knowing I'm not alone and what I'm going thru is what others have experienced reduces my fears of all I'm going thru that feels like no end in site!
Thank you so much!!! . Karen

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Oh yes Karen, I get hot flashes all the time. I don't know if it's the dilaudid or menopause. They are embarrassing. As far as feeling better I hate to tell you but it took about a year to start feeling stronger. Now I went from bedridden to out and about. The 150 mcg of Fentanyl knocked me on my ass. I would just want to sleep all day and was so out of it. I am now very cognitive and have made friends and started my own group on fibro. I also found taking vitamin b12 shots each month really helped heal part of my memory and speech. I was always forgetting words or stopping mid sentence. Don't get me wrong I still have bad days when I can hardly move from pain and weakness. But when I look back I realize that the patch was not helping at all in fact it caused so much damage to my kidneys. I almost died. Was on my death bed when they called my kids to come in to say goodbye. I was out of it and didn't know. But by some miracle I survived and got so much better. I still can't walk to far but I'm doing well. Trust me Karen, we have chronic pain from injuries and surgeries and will most likely have it forever but it's how we choose to handle it that matters. You are handling everything well. Have you tried any counseling at all. I found I really needed it. I also found that keeping a diary of your pain and problems really help. When seeing doctors or specialists make a list of your questions or anything that has changed. I hope you find this helpful. You are not alone. It is really really hard for your body to adjust without it. You realize that Fentanyl is 70% more potent than heroin. Now you see why it's so deadly and addictive. If you don't want me bugging you just let me know. If I can help even one person come off this drug I will be so happy!

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Thank you Sandra so much for your support! I really appreciate it!!!
Do you still have hot flashes on the dilaudid you're taking?
Did it take you a complete 6 months before you had your energy back. I can't do much right now I'm so tired.

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Karen you are doing great! There will always be days better than others. We will always have pain. Every sec of every day. I'm on 2 mg dilaudid every 4-6 hrs with long acting dilaudid as well. I don't think I will ever be able to go without some sort of pain med on board. I just will never use oxy or Fentalyn or Percocets. On those tired say do nothing. Listen to your body. I will keep rooting for you and thinking of you. Wishing you some pain free days. Keep up the strength!! Stay in touch Karen.

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Thanks for your reply Sandra
I'm now at almost 12 weeks, this Thursday. Definitely the hardest thing I have to ever font through in my life and I had some pretty gnarly surgeries and recovery.
I will never, ever go back to fentanyl unless I'm terminal!!!
I'm still not feeling real good. A few good days, still more bad days. Trying to stay positive, I'm just so exhausted from all of this. See my dr again Wednesday, will hope to more about how I'm feeling. I would pay to go to a clinic if I would have known how tough this is. Still have hot flashes and so weak and fatigues. Still taking 4 mg dilaudid twice a day. Was put on vicodan by my pain specialist but does no good. Had to go back to dilaudid. Going to try 2ng twice a day see if less side effects.
Hope you are sling wonderful

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yes it is. u need to up your dose with your Dr help.

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Comment 1604 is for P450. Sorry for any confusion.

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I too also use medical cannabis. You are correct in letting all of us know how helpful it is. Good for you too for staying off these heavy drugs! MMJ is perfect for so much. You no longer have to just smoke it. There are so many options. Stay strong!

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You are so right! Good for you for coming off. I too was on this for 13 yrs. I was up to 150 mcg. That's just insane. I'm off it now too and feel amazing! I'm surprised I'm still alive. This drug can kill you weather you are on it or coming off it. It is DEADLY! You are on a good course! Stay on it and good luck! You can do this!

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Karen, you are not losing your mind. You are doing well! Just keep it up. It doesn't matter how long this takes. What matters is that you keep it up. Before you know it you will start to feel better. I know that weak feeling too and I hate it but that's just your body telling you to rest. I'm here for support if you need it. Good going!! So proud of you!!

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Actually it is not illegal and most pharmacies do this. They do it to stop ppl from giving them away or getting addicted and using them wrong. A lot of ppl do chew on them for faster intake. They also inject it. This is in Canada. I don't know where you are.

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I am a believer in the use of cannabis when you are in pain. it is also great when u come off off the hard drugs and it will relax u in the body and in the mind. really it helps a lot with the depression. and also u will eat more. i for one lost 550-55 lbs when i got sick 9 years ago and just now starting to gain some back with cannabis and a new drug in trial called Dronabinol 2.5mg. I think it was a anti depression drug that had a side effect that helped with eating. great for me, others not so much. God Bless and stay away from any druggies. they can remind you of drugs. environment is a big thing when u want to stop drugs. I still have a hard time. it's all in the mind. but u should stay away from those types. i know it helped me from staying off street drugs.

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Posters,

No pharmacy can require you to return used patches. That is INSANITY and illegal!

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Posters,

Due to the illegal use of Fentanyl by drug cartels and selling it in fake NORCO and XANAX pill forms Duragesic has no life out there left people. I was on it for over 16 years and am happy to be back with my top specialist and getting off it completely switching to the longest acting cheapest drug in the world Methadone created under Hitler during their poppy shortage and then the patent sold to the US due to the high and fast tolerance.

Insurers are now just cutting people off due to the Affordable Care Act loop holes and most of us cannot just chance this with the FDA and CDC creating scares and government demanding physicians not practice medicine properly. My medication bill retail due to my genetic defect and metabolizing ultra rapid was close to $30,000 per month. I hope our new interventions bring it down to under $2,000 per month.

METHADONE is dirt cheap regardless and the only long acting that comes in solution form. For someone with my defect either liquid or IV or injectable is all that works. I am blessed to be getting off Duragesic with a whole host of medications this go round. I recall doing a taper on much lower amount years ago pre surgery and the hell I went through.

You can die from going off this drug cold turkey do not do it without a physician who KNOWS in charge here.

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Thank you!!! I'm now at 10 weeks. Hardest thing I have ever gone thru in my life!! I'm now off the dilaudid too. Was in 6-4mgs, then 3-4mgs. Today I'm on vicodan to see if I will feel better. Still so extremely weak!! I told my pain management dr that to do this I should have gone to a clinic that detoxes people. He said oh we have that here. Well why in the hell didn't someone inform me. It's pure hell, I sure hope it's not another 4 months til I'm feeling better. In on my last leg here. Thanks for your response, it makes me feel better that I'm not losing my mind.

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Wd- how did everything work out? Your last post was very scary for anyone that needs pain medication. The new regulations and e-scripts are making it difficult for those with chronic pain to get prescription medications we need to have any quality of life. Please update everyone.

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Thanks for ur honesty, yes a lot of dr.'s do not understand. I'm on fentanyl 50mcg. I have been out for 6 days now due to a mistake my dr office made while over riding my approval for the brand fentanyl for my insurance company. so while they take there sweet good ol time fixing there mistake, I sit here with a prescription in hand and no way to pay for it I can only use the brand name Duragesic expensive as hell. so no way I can pay that is what my insurance is for "RIGHT?" ANYWAYS because the brand is not covered by my insurance my dr. office has to send in over ride once a year to my insurance company and for some reason the nurse did not put brand name only, medically necessary like always they rejected it uggg. MY DR OFFICE FAULT!!! but I suffer for it and they know darn well I AM OUT OF MY MEDS HELLO !!! U CANT STOP MEDS LIKE THAT !!! AGAIN HELLO!!! THEN WHEN I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT IN HOPES I MIGHT GET A REPLACEMENT TILL THEY FIX THE PROBLEM SOMETHING EVEN LIKE A FREAKING VICODON FOR GOODNESS SAKE TILL THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY DID WRONG!!! what do you think they said wait until I blow ur mind with this "ur on a pretty low dose of fentanyl you really should be okay well get this all worked out for u as soon as we can.. we have just been really busy".

WOW I'm on 50 mcg of fentanyl I am no dr. but I am an expert when it comes to ME AND WHAT THE F*** I PUT IN MY BODY!!! WOW go freaking figure, SO IM GOING THREW WD W A FREAKING PRESCRIPTION IN MY HAND THATS CRAZY WITHDRAWAL BAD STARTED WITH WATERY EYES YAWING SNEEZING FOLLOWED EXTREME RESTLESSNESS COULD NOT STOP MOVING SIT DOWN STAND UP REPEAT CONSTANT WASNT COMFORTABLE ANYWHERE. SHAKING HANDS, FLU LIKE SYMPTOM, BODY ACHES, MUCLE PAIN, PAIN IN LEGS, FREEZING COLD GOOSE BUMPS, HEAD ACHE, RESTLESS LEGS AND ARMS AND ANXIETY. I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS IS BUT I FEEL LIKE I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF MYSELF LIKE I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF MY OWN BODY!! CANT EAT ANYTHING, CANT SLEEP.. AND THAT WITH ME USING A STRIP OF SUBOXONE I HAD LEFT OVER FROM WHEN I WAS ON IT.. BUT I ONLY HAVE ONE AND I HAVE TO NIBBLE ON IT WHEN IT GETS SO BAD I FEEL LIKE I JUST CANT DO IT.. AND IT TRULY HELPS EVEN THAT TINY BIT GIVES ME A MOMENT OF PEACE.. AND BELIEVE ME I NEED IT THIS IS THE WORST THING AND FOR MY DR. OFFICE TO JUST SIT BACK LIKE OH UR ON A LOW DOES ULL BE JUST FINE MAKES ME CRAZY, but they know I need them.

I cant change dr they don't make a bunch of money off of me its not a pm dr he is my regular dr and maybe that explains the whole darn thing...but omg I feel so bad for everyone who is going threw this its is bad... I have had fibro for 10 years and a curvature of my spine these two don't go together AT all, I did no choose to come off fentanyl so this is a lil different, I think.. if it was my choice id be looking at this a whole lot differently but mad I'm angry I'm hurt and I'm upset.. that the pharmacies look me like I'm a drug addict !! god for bid wonder whats going on so I have changed pharmacies so cvs you have lost buss not just my very expensive fentanyl but all the other medication in total 8 so say bye to them all ..and to the dr that really don't understand or hear n listen to the patient when they say I'm not going to be okay if don't get that over ride in bye Friday and then when you go in Monday and its still not done and our out of your medicine and say I'm really not doing good ..and nothing is done and last but not least the INSURANCE COMPANYS WHO SHOULD OVER RIDE ANYTHING A DR. SAYS IS MEDICALLY RIGHT THEN AND THERE OVONE OVER THE PHONE OR COMPUTER IT SHOULDNT TAKE UP TO 73 HRS FOR THEM TO MAKE A F***ING DECISION THEY ARE NOT DR. WTF DO THEY KNOW.. you know I'm 47 and I remember when things just worked u went to the dr for something and he gave u what ever u needed the insurance paid for it and any pharmacy gave it to u w a smile on there face no matter what it was they didn't give a s*** the government didn't give a s*** now its all f***ed up for people who really need it... I understand addition I just cant afford to over take my medication. it works for me.. and that's what I need it for I guess when u really need something for pain ur idea of using it for fun completely changes.. it did for me

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Good for you Karen!! Great job. I know it's not easy but trust me in about 6 months you will start to feel like a different person. In a good way lol. Just stay positive. I've been off of it now or just over a year and feel great. Now don't get me wrong, you will still have pain but I think you will find that your pain is actual better without it. I did have to start dilaudid 2 mg as you might find you still need something. I didn't know how deadly it was either. Back then I don't think anyone knew much about it. Please please don't ever go back on it!! You are almost there!! If you can afford it swimming is good for you or physio therapy. Good luck on your journey! Stay in touch.

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I too have been on fentanyl 75mcg for 18 years, I have severe rheumatoid arthritis with severe joint damage
I lowered to 50, then 25 and finally 12.5. Last patch was left on for 7days. Which is now 13 days ago.
The fentanyl worked great for so long. Then I started to have very excessive sweating for no reason, it was debilitating. I would walk to kitchen or bathroom and be drenched in sweat. My pain mgmt dr said they don't know why it happens, but it does. I Cannot wait to be awful this horrendous drug withdrawl. Two weeks tomorrow without a patch on.
What have others done to get thru this withdrawal and debilitating exhaustion, etc? Taking Tinzidane and small dose Valium.
I Will see a dr tomorrow to see what my options are. Would never start this drug knowing what I do now. Any suggestions would be so welcome. And what to expect a month or two from now. I'm still on dilaudid for pain control

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It's a great idea. They are trying to stop the overdoses. There are some that chew on the patch, take the gel out and inject it. Also when you are in chronic pain it's too easy to to use them before the script is up. Sometimes in the summer I would sweat and the patch would fall off. They don't care why you don't have enough.

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