Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 60)

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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@dirtracing7x....I was in you position a few months ago. Weaning off of 75mcg of Fentanyl. i had been on that dose for 6yrs...doc decided to take me off because of new laws in Ky. He weaned me rather rapidly.. ..12days...two 50mcg patches and two 25 mcg patches then nothing. Withdrawl was not fun but I survived. I was cranky, shakey, irritabitable. I had heart palpitations, panic attacks, and insomnia. It lasted a good 3 months before I could really say I felt normal again. My pharmasist said I probably would have done better with a little Ativan, or clonipam ....something to take the edge off, but Doc refused to prescribe anything. So I survived it. I wish you all the luck in the world. Stay strong. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel great now. A little residual pain but less than what I had while on the patches.

Hugs,
'chelle

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Thank You! I did try "weening off" once before, but he had only given me 2- 50's, and 2- 25's, and a hand shake. Well, needless to say, that not only didn't work, but I was crawling up the walls after the 2nd 25 mcg.... It was horrible. I really want this to work, but my fear is that taking the "Methadone". I've heard a few different stories about the stuff, and the majority are saying that it is really bad, and it will be hard to get off of that too. ?????

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I did hear it was hard to get of the methadone too. Maybe try doing it without the methadoe since you have more patches to wean with this time. Be ready with some distractions....movies, hobbies, some busy work to keep your hands and mind busy for a while at the end. If it doesn't work work you have the methadone to fall back on.

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I was on Fentanyl 100mcg for about one year. To make a long story short, it turns out I have nerve pain, for which Fentanyl is useless.
I decided over a month ago to get off this stuff, so I tried something I have not seen in these posts, and it seems to work.
I started by cutting an 80% piece off the patch, and placing it on my skin, and I covered it with a 3M Tegaderm Film, to prevent any escape of the drug. Every two days, I cut the dose down by 10% of the original dose, until I was down to about a 10% piece,
I removed that last one four days ago, and I feel pretty well, except for one thing: I can't sleep for more than four or five hours a night. I have generic Ambien to help me sleep, but it wears off after four hours. Other than lacking sleep for what I hope will be only a few days, this method seems to work.
The important thing is to cover the cut patch with the Tegaderm film.

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I'm from Kentucky also. I'm getting off slowly, stretching from 48 hours to 72 hours, then slowly decreasing the mcg. The laws here make it horrible of the honest user of opiate based meds. I'm getting off of it and never going back on. To anyone, don't start it. It seems like a miracle in the beginning, but later comes your worst nightmare.

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Hello Mary, I'm sorry to hear what you're going through. Yes, it sounds like it's part of the phase of getting off the "patch". As of right now, I'm on my last "50", and will start my "25's" on Sunday. Did they give you anything to help with the withdrawal symptoms? My doctor gave a prec. for "methadone" which I am supposed to start taking WITH the 25's, but after reading about it, I'm 99.999% sure I'm NOT going to take the "methadone". (time to flush them).... I am also on "Oxycodone" 3 times a day, but really only need to take when nessisary as I don't like the "side effects" from it. I know what you mean when you say you need to stay busy. I plow snow in the winter, and with the latest snow storm this week, I was in my truck for 37 hours straight!!! For some reason, when ever I switch out my "patch", it gives me an adrenaline rush for like 20 hours. I sleep about 4 hours a night, so it's going to be GREAT to get my 7 to 8 hours like I used to sleep, when this is all over.

Well, if you ever need to talk, just send a message. Hang in there, as I heard it'll be like this for about 4 to 6 months.

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You are going down to fast! At the top end going down should be at most 12mcg per month. When you get to the last 2-3 drops you must go down 12mcg every two months. This is safe and you will experience very little withdrawal symptoms. The lower you get the harder the symptoms are!

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Thanks for the reply, but actually I'm now on my last (3) 25's, and I have had NO problems at all. I'm also the same type of person that quit drinking alcohol one day, and now can't stand the smell of the stuff!

All and all, EVERYTHING is going VERY WELL!!!!!

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I have wened down from 75's to 13.5 over 8 months and I go crazy after 4 days

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13.5? I've never heard of them. I've seen 75, 50, 25, and 12's. As everyone knows, no two people are the same when it comes to medications, as I stated in a previous post that I am now on my last 25, and (knock on wood) I haven't had any problems with the withdrawls.

I wish everyone luck with coming off of this nasty stuff, and for the ones that are thinking of getting on this stuff, DON'T DO IT!!!!!

I have not had this much energy in a long time. While on this patch, I would have 2 good days of being able to do stuff, then the other 5 days I wouldn't have any energy to even play with my kids. Getting off this patch has got to be the best thing I have done in a while.

I'm hear to listen if anyone has complaints or questions....

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Thank you for your post. I too am a Christian and am trying to get off of fentanyl. The withdrawals are killing me. Please pray for me also!

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I have chronic pain from spinal RA, Fibromyalgia and Lupus. These immune disorders also cause debilitating fatigue. For 6 years I have been on a 75 mcg/ hr Fentanyl patch every three days.
I am getting suspicious about the Fentanyl and would like everyone's advice, please?

Lately, I can hardly function I am so tired. I mean to the point I have been bedridden for months at a go.

Is it possible that the Fentanyl is ruining my life and not just my illness ?

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I am having the exact same problem. Bedridden because I am so fatigued and depressed. I know opiates are a depressant and I'm on anti-depressants, but nothing seems to help. I got a skin burn with blisters on my arm where I wear my patch and ran short. I've been on theses patches for about 12 years. I've never ran short. My pain treatment facility treated me as if I were a drug addict. The withdrawal I experienced was horrible. One of the top 3 experiences physically I've had. Once the new patch was back on, they of course went away.
I am getting off this horrifying drug. It was developed for cancer patients and their pain. I think my constant fatigue is a result of being on this drug. I felt like a heroin addict looking for my fix when I was going through withdrawal. I cannot wait to reclaim my life. At least I won't be a slave to this drug anymore. I am on a 100 mcg every 48 hours. To those of you out there questioning whether you should take this drug, DON'T!!! I've had 2 right shoulder surgeries and 3 herniated discs in my neck. I had chronic pain. I'd rather live with the pain than feel like this. Of course I see a PA, and she was very unhelpful about tapering. So I made a big complaint and now am seeing the neurosurgeon to get off this drug!!!

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I've been on fentanyl for almost a year now. I started out with the 25mcg path then went to the 50mcg patch shortly after and have been on the 50mcg ever since. I also take Norco 5-325mg usually 4-6 a day depending on the pain. I no longer have prescription coverage and can't afford the $180 a month for the patches. It's been 4 days since I took the last patch off and I'm going crazy!!! Can't sleep, can't even sit for more than a couple of minutes without starting to shake, break out in sweats and just feel like running through some walls!! I have decided to get off the patches altogether because I do not like this one bit and simply cannot afford to keep using them. I've got a call into my doctor about getting off the patches altogether and asking him if there is anything he can give me that isn't so expensive and would help with the withdrawal symptoms I am having. But honestly I wanted to do this a couple of months ago and the Doctor simply told me to find a subsidized doctor that covers prescriptions. So I'm not sure what he is going to tell me this time. Can anyone out there give me any ideas about anything I could buy over the counter that isn't that expensive that would help me get through this withdrawal period? Also can anyone tell me how long the withdrawal symptoms might last? Thanks, going crazy!!!

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My doctor is tapering my fentanyl patch also. I started at 100 mcg every other day and now at 50 every other day. And yes it is miserable. I have the feeling like you are talking about. It feels like your insides are trying to crawl out. I have to get up and down and also rock. I also have really bad sweating, aching, and no energy. This is horrible. You are not alone.

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I completely understand this i was on 150mg patches the pain was unbearable i was constantly sick my joints ached so bad i couldnt sleep an constantly sweated, i went to my doctors countless times crying in pain yet they wouldnt do anything, Iam now patch free an after 5 days still suffering with the head aches an joint pains. If i new how this medicine effects people i would never have used it, Even the pain team who put me on it never returned my phone calls.

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Your doctor could give you an opiate prescription which are not expensive, even from a pharmacy. I've told my situation in a previous blog, but let me tell everyone. I've spoken to 3 pharmacists and read countless articles on this medication. This drug is for TERMINALLY ILL CANCER PATIENTS. This should NEVER be prescribed for chronic pain. One pharmacist I spoke with said she worked for Hospice for several years, and she said cancer patients were at most prescribed a patch every to change every 48 hours. If I'd known what this drug does, I'd never begun it. I'm in a 25 mcg taper right now with opiates for break through withdrawal. Your doctor could give you Lortab, Percocet or other opiate to help.

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Hello, thanks for the reply. I am now no longer on this NASTY drug, and will NEVER go back on it, for ANY reason. My doctor gave me "methadone" to help with the "withdrawal symptoms" and it worked great. I've noticed by reading a lot of the info/side effects out there, that if you have an addictive personality, it's even harder to get off this drug. I was also given "12's" if I needed them, but I never opened the box. 2 weeks of the methadone, and I feel like a brand new person again. I notice that I don't require a nap in the afternoon anymore, I'm more out going as far as doing work around the house, I'm not as angry anymore either. I really feel bad for anyone that is on this patch, that is going through the withdrawal's that this patch brings. My only advise to everyone would be to go to your pain specialist, and ask for 5mg. methadone pills. Take one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, and you'll feel better within a couple weeks. Now a lot of people say that the methadone is also addictive, but there again, that really only applies to people with an addictive personality. I stopped drinking 5 years ago cold turkey, and now I can't stand the smell of alcohol. I do smoke (and can't quit) but then again I'm a father of "5" girls, own a business, and a wife, so if that is all I'm addicted to, I'm thinking I'm doing OK.

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I used to find hot baths would sometimes help with the joint pain, An am currently taking diazipan as i now cant sleep at night suffering with insomnia! .Being restless is one of the symptoms i had alot there was nothing i found that helped iv Brent off the patches now for 2weeks an still have symptoms, these patches may help some people but i think unless your gunna stay on the same dose they shouldnt be used i spent a year on them starting at 150mg, Iam 24 An these patches made my life unbearable for a year.

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Maybe you should drop by 12mg instead of 25mg

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