Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 5)

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 had to take him back to detox yesterday. He was going down hill fast. He was there too short of time in the beginging. His heart was racing and still is, they are concerned. He will be in a tleast three days this time. they said the way he was using the 50's was more like jumping off a 125,. He needs prayers. He had a boom droped on his back from a crane, Has been on fent. for 6 years, thought it was 5. It was really screwing him. I am really praying, we have a long Rd ahead. He is only 44. The surgery was 4 electic needles to deaden his nerves. Do not know if it worked yet, too many things going on . I'll keep you posted. Every ones opion is valid here. These frugs have a life of their own a nd it so different for each person. Yhat I an learning.. THANK YOU ALL!!! Sam

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Sounds right, going back to where he is under medical care.
I was detoxed from 100mg patch plus oxy for Brk Th pain over a two week period.
Had the racing heart, too.
Plus the hosts of goblins mentioned earlier.

Are you remembering to take care of yr self,during this time?!!

To address the difference in opinions, what I believe is-
addiction vesus medically dependent tolerance should be viewed differently.
The addict craves the drug, and basically is miserable without it

the Med Depen. is so happy to get off the drugs, he/she never wants to be under it's control again! Of course, with trama, like surgery, it will be ok. Just not daily. What do you think,Pat?

The vocabulary of addiction, like clean vs off all medications
is important to note. Also, using vs taking as directed.
When Mary started the withdrawal from fentanyl dicussion thread, it was about a medical condition caused by legal use of a pharaceutical, prescribed by a dr.
Could we at least get away from the Narcodics Anom. lingo?
Peace out....

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Hawaiin Born..If you really read what I post, you would see that we don't disagree on a lot of things. I know it sounds that way, and it isn't what you say, or what you did..Heck, I wish I were capable of getting off of opiates, but we all can't and that is what we disagree about.. If someone is able to live opiate free with severe chronic pain, and be able to enjoy their life, I would stand by that person 100%. I just think it is dangerous to let all people whether they be chronic pain sufferers, addicts or both (Like me) think that this will work for them, because it works for you..Some people do die from opiate WD's I am not talking about a man or woman who is in good health in their 20's or 30's, but people like me who have other medical problems that have died from WD's. I only believe in tapered WD's, cold turkey is so hard on anyones body, and I worry about PAWS..A person doesn't have to be an addict to get PAWS. and for some of us the mental torment is deadly. When I am talking to someone here, I don't know if they are an addict or not, I just treat everyone the same. Even if a person isn't an addict, they are dependent and WD's are something I wouldn't wish on anyone. As for NA, I hate that program. NA was what made me want to end my life, so I don't tell anyone to go there, but I also don't tell anyone they have to stay away..All I am trying to say is. I am really happy you are free from opiates, but just remember that not everyone can do what you did and succeed. That is why I always first tell anyone to talk to their doctor before making any kind of desision concerning messing with medication dosing.. I have never taken fentanyl, I don't even know what it looks like, but from what I have read here, I am glad I never had a prescription for it, Sounds worse than pharmacutical heroin for getting addicted. I know people who are chronic pain sufferers who were put on the patch and when they are going through WD's the ER will medicate them because they can and have gone into shock. My friend almost died the day she went to a methadone clinic because of her severe WDs..Just remember that even though some of us are addicts, 99.9% of us started out as chronic pain sufferers..I didn't want to become an addict, but put narcotics in a 14 year olds hands and it is a train wreak waiting to happen. One day I was taking them for pain and B4 I knew what was happening It turned into a full time job. because I had to start supporting a habit that I never knew I had..The reason it is so hard for any person who has ever been dependent on opiates to stay free from them 4 ever is because opiates are one of the only medications that almost every human being will need to take sometime in their life, Sugeries, accidents, cancer. Them boom, they are back where they started and that is why I agree with you that unless someone has to I don't think anyone should take opiates every day of their lives.We sometimes have to take them and hope for the best..I think that is the goal for all of us..I am sure that we can find common ground here if we both just listen to others and each others..Whar do you think??

Pat

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Hello, A long road indeed. He is still in detox, 5 days now. They may let him leave tomorrow or Thursday. His heart rate and blood pressure have been very high still. They fear the patch may have caused damage. He has not been on Suboxone for a day and a half now. He is going a bit nutty in there, just hope he is okay and retunns home soon. Then off to a Cardiologist, I guess. Thank you all again!! Mary

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repond to post

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If I have been on 100mc Fentanyl for over a year. I patch per week, but I want off, will I go thru a lot of withdrawals. My biggest fear is depression.

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Hi all,
After hearing of Sam's friend and his awful experiences I even hesitate to ask a question, but..... It has been 1 month off the patch. I did it so slowly and decreased down to 6 mcg before dropping. Most neuropathy is within reason and insomnia a little better, but I am having terrible muscle weakness which is painful and definitely limiting. Minor tasks are so difficult. It is pain from muscle weakness. This was not a problem while on the patch, so am hopefully assuming it is some longterm withdrawal symptom. Also extremely tired, easily fatigued , and hard to get motivated to do anything. Are these like long term withdrawal symptoms? Does it get better? I was on the patch for 8 years. Thanks for any advice anyone can give. You read all about short term problems, but no one mentions extended problems.

Jemmy

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Hi Jemmy,
at one month off, I was like a ragdoll... Still, get checked out.
Wow- 8 years and now u r off the patch- be proud of yrself !!!
I found swimming helped build my strenght again. Easy on the back and joints..Post again to let us know yr progress

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Hi Sam,
high blood pressure/ heart rate was part of my withdrawal for three/four weeks,
now, I am tapering off metroprol, as I have normal pressure again, 5 months off opiates and benzos perscribed for crushed back.
Healing takes time.
His heart is probably fine, but check it out. Is he home yet?

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Hey Little Z,
get a slow taper perscribed for an easier withdrawal. Learn all u can about the process, there is a chemical reason for the feelings in withdrawal. Yr brain has to learn to produce natural endorphins again, so, yes, it will challenge you.
Hope u are sucessful.

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Pat
we make a great team! You have wisdom and a different outlook. I think people will gravitate to what they need-
you are a good voice for responsible use of drugs for pain management.
I champion non drug pain management for those of us who want free of medical control..
and yes, we do agree on a lot of
things!

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Hello everyone,
I'm 1 1/2 months off patch. The muscle weakness continues and some restless legs at night, but overall I feel well. Hang in there if you're still withdrawing...it does end. I'm using ibuprofen for back pain. And not very often. I just wanted to give some hope, like Hawaian Born...thanks.

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Hi Happy Girl
wow- that is so great you are off the patch ! Thanks for telling us.
At 6 months off I don't have the restless leg withdrawal symptom anymore. My heart doesn't race for no reason, and I feel positive a lot of the time.
It just keeps getting better!
Hope others will take heart from your message...

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Happy girl, I don;'t know if I mentioned this B4, but my husband puts a bar of soap under the sheets right were his legs are and he swears that that bar of soap stops his RLS.. I know it sounds like an old wives tail but hey it can't hurt, and if it helps, great. I also heard that quinine can help RLS, and in some states you can get it OTC, but there are side affects... Good luck if there is anything I have lived with most of my adult life and suffered through it is RLS, and it may not even be from drugs some people just have it be it from genetics or whatever..

Pat

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Now i know why i feel soo ! sick.
4 days ago i decided that id had enough of the blury head and went cold turkey on the Fentanyl 50mg/h, Havent slept anymore than an hr. in 4 nights, I was on the patches for chronic back pain where i could no longer take much orally due to gastric pain and bleeding, Now im left with major restlesness in all joints, massive nausea, anxiety, stomach ache ,and very depressed. Dont know how much longer i can take this..., and my doctors away for a week. Never again will i go past panadeine etc. goodluck fellow sufferers.

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Mat43,
hey you can always go to urgent care... if you read all the posts, you know you'll get through it. Tapering would have been an easier withdrawal

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Hawaiin Girl makes sense Matt, you can go to Urgent care or even the ER. Your doctor being out of town for a week won't help you, and you should get some rest especially with this flu going around. There is a chance you can mess up your imune system and get sick when you are going through bad WD's like you are. The doctor can help you with maybe clonodine, or something to help your joints..Good luck and let us know how you are doing.BTW what is panedeine??

Pat

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Oh my...Mat43, I feel for ya!! It seems you're going crazy and all the symptoms of WD make you obsess on yourself and your pain. Please, don't give up if your back pain is tolerable. You will get through this. I had to taper to 25 and then 12 mcg hr. patch, each for about 2 weeks to month. I am finally free of all drugs for 2 months and counting. Just a little ibuprofen and Tylenol when I overdo it with lifting etc. My back is doing OK. I got over the depression too. It takes time. You should have a doctor help you do this. Write soon.
We're pulling for ya!

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So glad I found this forum! I had a feeling I might be going through fentanyl withdrawal. Thanks to you all, I'm pretty sure I am.

I don't tolerate most oral pain meds, so was given 25mcg fentanyl patch a month ago after the 2nd ER visit in 19 hours for herniated lumbar disc & pinched sciatic nerve.

I had a microdiscectomy 3 weeks ago today. When the sciatic flared up 5 days after surgery, I was put on methyl-prednisolone, and when that didn't work, Ketorolac (oral Toradol), in addition to the fentanyl patch. Ketorolac didn't help the pain, plus made me stupid & suicidally depressed, so I stopped taking it after 2 days. My brain cleared, but within a few days I was so weak that I had to lie down for an hour after hauling myself downstairs for breakfast. On Monday (3 days ago) I decided that perhaps the fentanyl patch was the culprit, so didn't put on a new one that night. Tuesday I felt so crappy that I went to my GP. Lotsa tests turned up nothing.

I've gotten slightly stronger since then (though I'm in bed a good 22 hrs/day)--but in more pain due to no fentanyl. Last night was a horror: itchy stomach & back, restless & unable to find any comfortable position. Between 12-12:30am I took 17.5 mg of Valium & eventually fell asleep. Then I woke up at 4am, itching and with legs so restless I had to keep massaging them, which is hard to do w/ lumbar & sciatic pain.) At 5:30am I had the bright idea of taking a Benadryl, and that let me sleep till 10. I'm still itching, so plan on continuing with the Benadryl every 6 hrs.

But I'm dreading tonight, and am wondering whether I should taper down the fentanyl instead of going cold turkey. Such as: put on a half-patch tonight, then a quarter-patch in 4 days, and an eighth-patch after that.

Any thoughts?

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Jenny You should never cut the patch!! it would give you way too much medication at a time. It could be deadly.Try folding it in half and taping it on. Also I read that benadryl can make restless leg syndrome worse. I use a 3mg melatonin on some nights when I can't get to sleep. I also do not have caffeine after 5pm.You haven't been using the drug very long. your wihdrawal should be short lived. Have you used other opioids before the patch?
A good thought...you don't die from lack of sleep. Eventually you will tire enough to sleep. I found hot baths to soothe the restlessness.
Blessing to you.

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