Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 62)

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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Keep it up shakes! I never tried Imodium but if it helps with kicking Fent I'm all for it.

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Shakes, your story is uplifting. I'm glad to hear your off the 75's. I hope you are still and no weaning down? I wish more people would tell of their "not so bad" experiences.
Whatever

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Whatever, I am still off the patch. I decided to go cold turkey. No weaning. OK, not so cold turkey because I am still taking the hydrocodone for pain. I'm taking 30mg twice a day now. During the first couple of days though I did take a couple more each day. It's doable. I'm proof it isn't so bad for everyone. And I'm not condoning going cold turkey off any meds for anyone. You should always talk to your Dr first. (sigh.. I had to put in that disclaimer) I'm just here to share my story and show that there are indeed people who've taken this drug for a long time, decided it's not worth it, and quit. Just freaking quit. No imodium, no cold medicine, no funky herbs. I just quit. I WAS uncomfortable for a couple days but, no horror story here. Is it luck? I dunno. I've never had an ounce of luck in my life so I doubt it. I just wanted to be awake more during the day MORE than I wanted to be sleeping. For me, it's that simple. Huge hugs to you Whatever and Quincy and to whomever find a little hope within my post.!!
Shakes

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I agree. I went from 100 to 50, it's been 4 or 5 days and there's only a little restless legs. Sometimes reading all the bad stuff can produce anxiety. Unless I'm missing something, I'm really ok...

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Hi. I had a total hysterectomy the end of may. My arm was tucked under my body, and I ended up with a disc issue in neck causing Arm pain and total numbness in thumb. Two weeks prior to the hysterectomy i was on percocet
for belly I was given fetanyl patch of 12.
It was increased to 25 a month ago, but since physical therapy is helping my arm and neck I wanted to decrease fetanyl. I called the physcian assistant and was told cutting the patch in half would be fine. No mention of withdrawal at all! So i cut my Milan patch in half three days ago. That night terrible withdrawal symptoms- chills followed by hot flashes constantly. Thought I'd go crazy. I feel better today. But Today is day three time for another patch. Debating if it is ok to cut it again this time in 3/4 to get closer to 6,or too soon? The P.A. Suggested my primary care dr best advise on how long to keep on each dosage ;even though she prescribed it). My primary dr told me he wouldn't have prescribed the patch because it is difficult to get off of, and said to call the original prescriber! Any thoughts or suggestions? I can tell its all up to me to get off this stuff. Since I don't usually take pain meds, in not sure how to do this. Lost faith in drs that can't help me get off this med. please help!!!!

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Just to add- I stopped taking Percocet after hysterectomy. The fentanyl patch was prescribed beginning of June when MRI showed disc issue with neck. I've been having typical night sweats from hysterectomy which is expected. These withdrawal sweats and chills and shakiness is far beyond that. Thanks so much for feedback and suggestions.

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Maybe it's not from the patch. I went from 100 to 50 rmcg f/patch without much trouble at all. I wonder if it could be hormones? Idk, good luck to you!

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I just want to give hope to all those stressing about withdrawal. I too was scared to death of weaning from 100-50 mcg fent patches. I can say after 5 Faust its not that bad. Of course it's uncomfortable but I haven't had anything close to some of the issues I've read. The anxiety of thinking about it is definitely worse than the experience itself. Perhaps I'm just lucky but I doubt that entirely. Also want to add I've not taken any b/t meds. I just want to share this because I know the anxiety of thinking about it certainly can make it worse. Just trying to help because I know the stress involved with this med and maybe it could help someone out there.

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I have gone from 50mg to nothing!! And it's hell!! This is a evil drug. On day 6 now sweats are getting better!! But the RLS is so pain full, I was also on pec. 320 and muscle relaxer ! Went off that about a month ago . Today I feel like I have the flu

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I went off pec. And Sonoma a month ago!! And now last tue. 50gm fentanyl patch!!! Sweats are gone!! But I feel like crap like flu and RLS.... How long does this last

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I have been off the 50 mg patch!!for10 days!!! Had RLS bad and sweats so bad and chills nuning nose sore and achy all. Over better now!!!

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Yes it is hang in there!!!! The prize is almost there

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You are right the stress of going off patch and anxiety ... I got Valium helped big time

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K9 mom
How is that working for you??

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Is restless leg and sweats a part of wdrall

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Please, anyone who wants to get off of fentanyl, it CAN be done, amd there is hope! :)

I was on fentanyl/opiates for 6 years. I was prescribed 50mcg every 48 hours, but this year I started abusing them, and was using anywhere between 3-8 patches a day....I should be dead.
I took myself to the local detox center June 28th, 2013 and have been clean since.
The only medication I took was Imodium.
Day 1 sucked for me, but it was mainly my legs.
Honestly, being around people was AMAZING!! IT SAVED MY LIFE!
We made each other laugh, which made withdrawls manageable.

Now I go to NA meetings, once a day, twice if I need to.

You can do this! Stay positive!! :)

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Oh yes!! That's the worst part for me. But it gets better!

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I'm off 50 fental patch now it was he'll but I did it!!! I have chronic back and neck pain!! Had surgery in 04...and on disability !! Nerve damage!! Have to be on something !! Going for shots to see if that works!! Fental patch is the devil!!i would never go on that again!!! Feel better off it!! My mind and soul are back

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Yes, the restlessness you are feeling is absolutely a symptom of fentanyl withdrawal. Ask your Dr. for something to help with anxiety...it will make a world of difference. Valium or one like it. Just be sparing about taking it for too long. You don't want to trade one addiction for another, and I've heard benzo withdrawal is horrible!

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Wow... just read through the most recent posts, but all I have to say is that everyone is different. Responding to the original post, I was just hoping to find others who described the "restlessness" the poster did, of needing to rock back and forth all the time- but the closest way I can describe it is like being suffocated to death, but not through your lungs, its that feeling but in all of your nerves and tissues.

It's nice to hear that others are not so bad, but I REALLY hope that people that are running out of money/insurance to cover their meds do NOT do it alone. I know there are places that will help, and at the very least whoever is prescribing the meds right now can give you a few drugs that will make the withdrawal easier. Some people and with some medications you can have heart or seizure issues by cold turkey-ing high doses (I'm NOT a health care professional, just picked this up through some research), so if you can, call around there are people to help even if you don't have many resources. If worse comes to worse, my pharmacist told me I could try benedryl for some light symptoms if the withdrawal was not bad at the first drop.

I noticed a lot of restless leg symptoms... anyone have ARM and upper body issues? Also, since being on medication, if my legs are rubbed superficially across my skin, or sometimes if I dip my feet in very cold water, it triggers an reaction in the nerves of my upper body. I was afraid that having to go cold turkey in the past of other opiates may have caused an issue in the nerves, but it could be something else.

HANG IN THERE EVERYBODY!!! Everyone is different, and everything takes a different amount of time. I have also been told my withdrawals shouldn't be lasting as long as they did this time-two weeks of the bad stuff, then this similar discomfort in my nerves that hasn't yet faded after a month- which seems to have been exposed now that I'm down at 12 mcg (but which I would also call w/draw. because it gets better when I take my percocet).

Thanks for sharing.

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