Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 63)
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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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DEFINITELY a withdrawal symptom. OH! My heart goes out to you. I have had that too when I tried to go off. It was awful.

Can you get anything for it? Any tranquilizers? There are also over-the-counter "leg cramp" meds which I have used. I'm not sure if it is psychological, but I found that helped. There are other otc meds that I have used at night to help with a good night's sleep. I have used "Relax All" too. Like I said, it may be mostly psychological that these things have helped me, but anything is worth a try to get you OUT of that stage.

Good luck.

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Unfortunately there is no 12.5 mcg only 12 mcg but you can do it!!! Stay strong I came off the patch on my own no facility all the way from 125mcgs every 48 hours. Yes I said ever 48 hours or else I went into the worst withdrawls in history. Have faith I dont know about norco or the cost or if you have insurance thats great but I do not and valium helped me to live and that is not being drastic nor sarcastic. I hope all goes well for you I am sure it will. Hope to here of your great success soon!!! I have been off the patch completely now for 2 3/4 months and I am gaining a little more strength every day. Just dont ever expect miracles, go at your own pace and if your doctor is good this is exactly how they will let you.
Congrats!!!! The Withdrawl Queen

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I am truly sorry to say yes this is a withdrawl symptom that I also had, accompanied with some other hardcore symptoms unfortunately (which I will not mention until they are brought up). However, I took some relief in very hot baths alot and it helped I am also on valium because I have developed a seizure issue during my withdrawls. That helped as well. Maybe you should speek to your physician and ask if this or something comparable may help you to get feeling more normal. Even normal enough to go down to the 12 mcg patch and make your move quick but less painfull for you!!! Don't ever forget I am no medical physician but I have been through more wringers then I believe you can if that makes any sense to anyone. Well I should end it here if you need any more help feel free to reach out when I can get online I do and will try to ease and explain some things about withdrawls people may not know about and some ways to ease them. Yours
truely, The Withdrawl Queen

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I called my pain Dr this morning and she said I should have called her this weekend! She really is a great Dr. I told her how horrible my weekend was and she told me to take 2 Norco 4x a day until I start feeling better, then start dropping 1 Norco a day. I have felt better today but I want off of this patch so bad. Guess I'll try to wait & hopefully in a week I can go down to 12.5 mics!

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i have been on a 100 micro gm. fentanyal patch for 7 years i trie d to ween dow to a 50 then a 25 in a week I could not take it I was also taking 6 30mg. morphine sulfate IR for break tru pain i ween off of them in 2 weeks it was not that bad I think ther doctor has to swith me to the morphine pills and colonadine and zanax to ween me off these patches 7 years is a long time he gave me 10 25mg patche's and saids good luck what is the best way to ween off?

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I've been on the fentanyl patch for 3 years. I had a door fall on me in surgery, where I work. I'm an RN. I knew that this was a potent drug but had no idea how hard it wAs to get off of. I was on 75 mics every 72 hours and was down to 25.....until I had a spontaneous reherniation a year ago. Now after 3 back surgeries in 18 months...I'm so tired of drugs, and want my life back. I went from 50 for 6 days, to 37 for 6 days, then dropped to 25 2 days ago and I feel horrible!! ClAssic withdrawals. Horrible Sweating, uneasiness, irritability, guess I'll call my Dr in the morning. I did take an Ativan. Hoping that will help!

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I have been off my fentanyl for almost three months now. It is the best I have felt in years and years. It took a good two months to have it out of my system. However, both my internist and pain doc both said it could takes months for the body to wean from this drug. I just happened to be fortunate for a faster recovery time...not bragging...it's just how my body responded. We all respond on differing time tables. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it is worth getting off. You must stay logical about what is happening to you even with bouts of depression. When you get depressed or sleep deprived, you need to assure yourself that you are only suffering withdrawal symptoms and they will decrease to a more controllable level or diminish altogether. It is all temporary. Don't decide to be fearful but decide to be determined! The challenge and journey is worth the end result...no more fentanyl controlling your life!

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Dear u a came off 200 mcgh of that s*** and due 2 ignorance of s***ty people had 2 cum off comp unaided. THE S*** NEEDS BANNING! HORRIBLE STUFF X

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Fear not these thoughts will pass, I went off 13 years of heavy fentanyl use. But those who say it will go away quickly are wrong. Give yourself at least six months to start feeling sort of normal. This drug really messes with all your body, physical, mental,and emotional. I read all posts that said maybe a week, I won't lie to you, it can take forever for your body to reset itself, I am still waiting to sleep a whole night, I have been off the fentanyl for almost eight months and life is not always great but it is better without fentanyl. Please keep in touch I hope I can help you get through the toughest time of your life. Remember what we survive only makes us stronger.

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Hi,

When you say a short time, what kind of time frame do you mean? I have an appointment with a doctor who deals with this, and his primary method of detoxing folks is via suboxone. I'm so nervous about it since I hear the horror stories from people about getting off of one thing, only to become addicted to suboxone.

I'm not coping well on my own though. I've been cutting my patches, and am down to really low dose, but when the medicine stops going through my system, I become so depressed - as well as anxious, twitchy, leg pain and spasms...

But seriously, the depression is the worse symptom. I can appreciate another poster who mentioned a family friend who attempted suicide while trying to detox. I've gotten so low that I would say I have given suicide a thought.

I'm so scared. I just want this nightmare to end. Any of your suboxone advice you can offer would be tremendously appreciated.

-Scared in FL

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I'm now off the fentanyl for almost a month and I had the most minimal of WD. First, I tapered down rapidly and rockily from a 50mcg/hr patch to 12.5mcg/hr (cut it) in the span of a month or so. Then I used mega doses of gabapentin which kept the WD at bay. I also used tramadol. And loperamide (or immodium, yes, it's a powerful opiate available OTC!) at high doses (30-40mg at one time for 24 hrs). The loperamide isn't supposed to cross the BBB but I definitely feel the body effect and it definitely kept the WDs at bay. Do NOT get addicted to loperamide. It's possible. But even then, if you take 30-40mg at a time, then coming off it (or from tramadol or gabapentin) will be a lot easier than fentanyl. Gabapentin is the most miraculous of all the drugs but it loses tolerance really fast.

I get my refill again in a few days and I still will have pain but I no longer plan to use fentanyl chronically; I'll just slap on a patch before I need to do something strenuous (not often) and then take it off when I no longer need it.

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I hope everyone is doing well on this journey.

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Wow, I just found this. One week ago, I went from 75 to 50. We okay until two days in and yesterday, I got so restless at work that I couldn't sit still. My skin also felt strange, like it was crawling. I wondered if it could be withdrawal because it had been almost a week before I had the restlessness and skin crawling. Sounds like it is. It's a horrible feeling. I hope everything has worked out for the original poster. I know it's been awhile since this was started.

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Rob, I read your post on the Suboxone. I am glad you are free and you went the short term. Praise God for that! I know many people (too many) who have been on it, and yes, they became addicted to it and xanax or other benzo's, because the Sub's make people speed too much.
A close friend of the family used to be on morphine and percocets and methodones for cronic back pain, and she found herself addicted to all of it. It also caused her such great mental anguish that she tried to take her own life twice in one year. She wanted to get off of the narcotics all together and she got a doctor that prescibes Suboxone. She has been on it about 21 months now. Due to her "speeding" she also drinks alcohol or takes benzo's such as Xanax.
Another person tried the Suboxone and became so addicted that they STILL have to used heroine when they run out.
EVERYONE that I have ever known to take it, has become addicted to it and XANAX because they say it speeds them up too much. I have to admit that I tried Suboxone once. I took 4mg. It made me speed very badly and I had a panic attack. I also have tried Subutex and I felt GREAT at first, but then by the second day I was speeding and had to take my Xanax. I freaked out each time I took it.
I know it may have it's good qualities, but you are the FIRST positive case I have ever heard of out of at least 10. You are truly blessed to have a success story with this drug. I feel that it is nothing but a nightmare. And you are so right when you say to use it for only a short time. SHORT TIME PEOPLE. He is so right.

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Hi. I posted a few weeks back. I gave a long spew about getting off the Fentynol. I am finally starting to feel normal again. The Suboxone worked well! But like I said use it for a very short time. Congrats to anyone who is trying to get off this stuff. Just checking in and letting everyone know that you can do this!

Robert

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Scared in FL:
I also wanted to tell you something. Don't you dare beat yourself up over this. :-) You have enough to worry about when it comes to quitting. You have made a step in the right direction, and that is the important part. How you got here doesn't even matter anymore. It's where you are going that is important. And seems to me, that you want to go where it is good for you and your child. And that means you are capable of making sound decisions. Right choices. Kudos for making this step. Things will work out in the end. There is help out there. If worse comes to worse, you can call the a hotline that can give you information on free detox. You are doing the right thing! Now be proud of yourself for it, and move forward. With every step you take in this to succeed, remember that you are doing RIGHT. :-)

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Scared in FL: The best thing to do is seek medical advice, however, you are not able to do that, so this is what I did. First off--
You stated that you have been on this for a short period. My question is how long can you estimate that you have been doing this and how much? Also, were you chewing the patch or wearing it? Another question is this: BEFORE YOU CUT your patches, are they the kind that are NOT filled with the gel?
Now, if they are the kind that are not filled with the gel, then yes, you can cut them. If you have not been doing this for very long, say about 6 months, then yes, you can cut one in half like you stated. You can wear one half for 3 days. SAVE the other half.
Then you can take the OTHER patch and cut it into 3 pieces. (Cut it into thirds.) You can wear the first 1/3 for 2-3 days. If you can make it 3 days, do so. Put your second "third" on and wear it for 3 days as well. Take the LAST "third" and wear it for 3-4 days. If you can wear it for 4 days then that is GREAT! If not, wear it as long as you can. At the least 3 days. By the time you are done with the "1/3's" GO BACK to the FIRST PATCH THAT YOU CUT IN HALF AND CUT THAT IN HALF AGAIN--making it 1/4 and 1/4. (2 pieces). Wear 1/4 for 3 days. And then wear the last fourth for as long as it will stick to your skin. By that time you will be weened off. IF you have access to Colonapin, Ativan, or Xanax you should maybe take .5 or 1mg to help you through the night, or if you feel any signs of withdraw in the first few days. The first 3 days will be the most difficult.
By the time you get to taking the last of the 1/3 part of the patch you should be doing quite well, but everyone is different. Also if you feel that you need someone to watch your 7 year old, by all means do it. AND have a friend by your side. Someone who can encourage you. I will be online a lot if you need me. If you have questions you can just post here and any of us who see your post will help you as much as we can. I am sorry I didn't answer you sooner. I hope that you will have success with what I have instructed. I am FREE of the patch by doing as I have told you. The addiction is what is hard to kick. God be with you. And if you can...someone did say that a little bit of Mary Jane can help. I have not tried that, but if you feel like trying, I am sure it can't hurt. Just only take the Mary Jane if you CAN NOT get the Colonapin, Ativan or Xanax. And if you do get those benzodiazopines, be sure you look them up and see what they are and how to take them. Like I said, only half to 1 mg every 6 hours, okay? NO MORE. Please keep me posted.

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Whoever started this thread deserves a Nobel Prize.

I'm a fentanyl addict. It began suddenly.Haven't even been on them for long. I tried to stop cold turkey, but experienced all the symptoms mentioned in previous posts. I have a 7 year old son, and I'm petrified. I only have 2 75mcg patches left. I want to wean myself.

Can I cut them? In 1/2 then 1/3 or 1/4? would that work?

What would happen if I just stopped cold turkey? How long with the agony last? I was thinking I could leave my son with my parents and go somewhere to experience the pain of withdrawal. One day when I had experienced the withrdawal I fell in to such a dark hole depression I couldn't stop crying. He found me crying and became soooooo worried. I can't put him through this.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. PLEASE PLEASE!!!

I also suffer from depression and am on effexor.

I can't afford a detox center. Oh God! How could I have done this???

All advice appreciated.
~Scared in FL

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Do you live anywhere near the Charlotte nc area ?

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Paige, Ur a strong one to do what u have done. I applaud u, 4 this is hard enough and I am still on the 50mcg and the reason being is that I thought, that I would just go down in a month or so 4 each drop of med. WOW..I didn't know u could do it fast like that. I remember now reading ur post, I was thinking this girl is just mocking me, but now, I see u weren't. I am sorry, but it just seemed impossible, but ur doing it.
Ur right @ the docs needing to understand more..that is an understatement..hehe. Well, I am thankful 4 at least I do have a PCP that does care and when I decided to go down, I think he was really shocked 4 the amount of total crap that I have had to deal with. The dx's they have handed me are so many, but I felt that this medicine is just some bad stuff to deal with and it tells u when do to what..like take a bath. I miss my hot baths, anytime I wanted one. These patches won't let u take a HOT one or the med will release and KILL u...wonderful, I thought, but I am working to completely get them off of me, but slower than u...I am tough and could've I think that is. I didn't really have a bad time of it as what u done. I am having some crazy things happen to me now that is concerning me though. My heart rate is going crazy and it can jump from like 80bpm to 111 and this is resting in bed. Did u do this? I am sure u did, but HOW LONG does it do that? I am thinking I have heart problems now and even my PCP put me on a Bet-Blocker, BUT I haven't taken a single pill. THat was the whole reason to getting off of it...not to take more meds, but I have it by my bed and could. I chose not to take it because my BP is usually alway normal and has been, but figured it was ANXIETY from dropping down one dose, but I don't know. I have a venous angioma...WELL, I found out that it is really called a DEVELOPEMENTAL VENOUS ANOMALY..these Neuroradiologist have found the words "venous angioma" was considered a misnomer(whatever that words is indicating),but it did say that the word "angioma" usually means a severe disease with the substantial risk for bleeding. GREAT HEY? I find this so dis-heartening. I am really dis-gusted,for reason that I have had my whole life a happy healthy person...that is, until I had this dadblamed sugery on my neck(C5-C6 spinal disk.) I was working 60-70hrs per week. The only problem that I was having was that I couldn't sleep good at night for the tossing and turning.After surgery, I got right back into work. I did wait however for the 2 month period to where they say NOT to do anything strenuous or lift anything heavy. OK..well, on my 3 month following me mowing the acre yard and sitting in a hammock that I should've known not to set in...because it gave way and I was straddling it and it was in May, it was beautiful outside and my son came over to give me a kiss..he just leaned in to kiss me and put a little extra weight on me and the cord snapped and I was @ a foot or a few inches more,maybe 2, but don't think it was that much. ANYwhoo...I hit the ground and didn't really think that much of it, but I did get a headache later. I started going back to doc and seen him 9 out of 11 months in the same year, but to no avail, for he wouldn't do anything. HE actually told me it was my C5 as I set there on his examining table...but it didn't sink in at that moment, but after thinking of it...HOW COULD IT BE MY C5? He was suppose to fix that?
Well, my pain intensified AFTER I went and got a series of 3 nerve blocks (ESI'S) YAS...this put me down. I was on the table for the last ONE...the LAST one and that doc was laughing and talking to his assoc.*(Should've put ass.) anyway, he had music blairing and this was a cool settting for me..I liked it, BUT he HIT my SPINAL cord or NERVE FIBERS...Whatever IT was...I jumped like a BOLT OF LIGHTENING hit me. I raised my head and asked, "WHAT HAPPENED?" He replied..with a studder, I might add. Oh..uh.uh.."FRICTION". He told me to put my head back into the HOLE..and I was so scared and was shaking. He then told me to sit up real fast and got into my face and continued to ask me, "Are your EARS ringing, DO YOU HAVE HEAVY BREATING?"..I said no that just my HANDS and FEET were COMPLETELY NUMB..AND GUESS WHAT THEY STILL ARE.
Paige, I don't know what he done, but ever since..my life has just gone downhill...and fast. MY surgery was Feb.'06 and I had the ESI's in Nov-Dec.'06...yeah, the same year.
Paige, I have gone on so much @ me, please tell me ur story..I would love to hear it. I am sure by what I have gone through that u have people in ur life that just DON'T understand..and I know some of them are family..and the others are docs..I thank u sooo much 4 replying...UR a strong person like me..just different circumstances, but it doesn't mean that we can't be friends. I will be honest w/u..I don't do much on the phone..unless necessary. I can type..thank GOD..u can tell by such LONG messages..hehe:))
I do hope that u continue to be strong and IF u need someone and can't get me...HE is always there..u know, WHO I am referring to..I know. The Big Guy upstairs is The ONE who has really comforted me..sooo many times, especially when I pray..He is there. God Bless girl and my prayers are with u.:)) and u can contact me at skeet65 at hotmail, if u EVER need to talk:)))))<3 Karen

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