Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 76)
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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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tesse,,,,i have had no patch at all ....im so proud of myself......since thursday ....my dc percribed me colazapam and iam taking benadryl ...im finding it very hrd at night about 130am ....and then cant get back to sleep ..it gets so unbearable that i feel like im loosing it .............im having at least 10 hot baths a day ...please help and pray for me ,,,,,

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Pat, why is it you seem to feel the need to attack everyone on here that wants to quit or stop. I DIDNT say she HAD TO TAPER BENZO's, I said IF YOU WANT TO QUIT THEM THEY ARE TO BE TAPERED BECAUSE IT IS WORSE WITHDRAWAL THAN NARCOTICS, been there done that!!!! AND I DO STILL OCCASSIONALLY TAKE a xanax and I have same panic attack problems!!! If you READ THROUGH ALL PREVIOUS POSTS starting with 1 there are all different ranges of people with different goals, if I recall there is even one where I tell you MY OWN BROTHER IS ON METHADONE and benzo's etc and I UNDERSTAND CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS I AM 43 AND HAVE HAD DIAGNOSIS OF LUPUS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SINCE 6TH GRADE!!! I Just offer opinions and support like anyone else on here and you seem to get mad if anyone wants to BE PRESCRIPTION DRUG FREE. Calm down I'm not giving medical advice any more than you, just expressing opinions thats what this is for. Tyger, hang in there YOU WILL FEEL BETTER, especially if you are stubborn and pray... I was just advising you to be careful with benzo's if you hadn't had them before. I've taken them off and on over last 15 years. I also found chiropractic made me worse but relaxaton therapies and massages, etc, stress relief is better way FOR ME. I TOO FOUND that my pharmacist was MUCH more helpful and knowledgeable with drug interactions than my doc of 20 years was!!!! Ask you pharmacist about the Benadryl, it is a histamine with I THINK enhances effects of valium a little but thats from what I've read and studied, I do take an occasional benadryl at night with my xanax if I'm having a bad night but ask pharmacist....GOOD LUCK AND HANG IN YOU're on the RIGHT TRACK!! I'm glad you found some benzo's early, I tried to cold turkey the patch and my benzo's at the same time, landed me in the emergency room for six hours thats how I learned about the tapering of the benzo's IF YOU WANT TO QUIT later. LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR ALL!!! BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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If I would have known....got my Valium and following Pharmacist recommendations instead of Dr. he gave me 20 5mg pills, so took 2 last night, gonna take 2 *3 times today, then taper off. I just found one wasn't enough to keep the crawlies away, but 2 worked. Anybody know if the diazepam interacts with the Benadryl? was too afraid to mix them, but the benzo seems to be working on its own. Tessie, thanks for the advise about staying away from more opioids...my pharmacist said the same once I got the valium...it just prolongs the agony. If I would have known...you have done so well...be proud of yourself. I recommend you should be ready to take the big plunge and quit cold turkey now...but only if you can get some help from from one of the benzos. I am determined NEVER to put another patch on me...I went form 100 mcg to ZERO...it is NOT fun, but I want to get it OVER with, and not drag it on & on.its only been 3 days and with the benzo I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...I hope!...and yes...prayer surely helps.
BTW..I am 62, diabetic, hypertensive, high cholesterol, with 3 ruptured discs and stenosis of the spinal cord. Physio did a LOT to help manage the pain...but Chiro made it worse.
I hope I am not living in dreamland and expect to be over this withdrawal in the next few days....that would make it about only one week of misery...which seems a lot shorter than most of you have been suffering. I'm stubborn...so maybe.
Thanks Tessie & Pat for both the advise & the warnings. I'm taking both to heart.

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Tessie..Prescription medication is harder to kick than heroin,especially benzos, but make no mistake although it is rare opiate WD's can kill you. My friend went into shock from fentanyl WD's and yes she almost died. This isn't a second hand report, I was there, so don't downplay any kind of WD's. Also why should anyone have to quit taking their benzo medication once they taper from opiates? Some people need benzos to function, me included. I don't take xanax everyday, but b4 I was diagnoised with a panic disorder I couldn't leave my home for weeks at a time because I would be afraid of having a panic attack, and this was b4 anyone knew what panic attacks were, I thought I was agorophbic.You can't give out advice like telling people what to take, how to taper, it can kill them. To anyone who is suffering from opiate WD's, for whatever reason Please don't do anything until you go to your doctor and get a complet check up and tell him/.her your history. Especially if you are a pain sufferer there are a lot of complications that can happen..I just don't understand people saying this won't kill you or take a valium that is BS..WD's are hard enough on a young healthy person, but if that person is like me 50+ years old with chronic medical issues, that can be deadly..

Pat

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Tigerlilly and If I'd have known, I'm now 35 days out from cold turkey my 25 mg patch. The first 7 days is the WORST, i won't lie. The VALIUM is a benzodiazepiem and IT DOES HELP ALOT, if you need or want to take something, valium, xanax, ativan ALL WILL HELP MAJORLY with the withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, no sleep the itching, restlessness, etc, THE ONLY THING IS after you get off the narcotics you HAVE TO TAPER off of the benzo's. I was already on xanax with my patches and its the only thing that saved me. I have talked to two people in my hometown who have been through rehab for prescription medications as well as the HARD STUFF, illegal stuff like heroine, etc, BOTH have told me it was easier to cold turkey the heroine than the patches, NOT TO SCARE YOU CUZ YOU SHOULD BE DARN PROUD, I AM, just know it isn't pleasant but it won't kill you and you will feel better. If I'D have know, IF your doc will give you a benzo it really does and will help especially where you are still tapering, I'm telling you tapering and cold turkey isn't a lot different I felt any opiates i.e. percocet, hydromorphone, anything prolongs and makes worse the withdrawals because you still have to withdraw from that even if you taper, tapering from the benzo's since I've been of the narcotics now HAS BEEN MUCH EASIER!!! HANG IN THERE AND REMEMBER PRAYER DOES WORK!! I don't care what your religion. ALSO, if you read through the previous posts you have to find some kind of meditation, relaxation techniques, pain management techniques, etc., all of which are very helpful. GOOD LUCK ALL AND HANG IN THERE IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER!!!!

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If I would have known..Benadryl is actually an antihistamine, but it really helps with the jitters and the itchy crawly skin. You can get the same thing (check the ingredients) in a cheap version generic sleep aids. Hydromorphone is another version of opioid...opium derivitave like Morphine, Percoset etc. I guess the theory is opium is opium whatever form it comes in, and the tablets would be easier to regulate when & how much....and you only take it when things are really bad, and not when its somewhat better...so you're not subjected to a constant 24 hour dose. Have NO idea how the valium is going to work...I thought it was an anxiety drug...how is it s'posed to counteract withdrawal??

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tygerlilly...good luck what is the hydromorphone ????did benadryl work ...what does the benadryl do ???

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If I would have known....thanks for the encouragement! Spoke to my pharmacist who recommended using the Hydromorphone as an alternative to smaller patches..I had a few left, tried htat with some Benadryl and survived the night. Spoke with my doctor who WON'T renew the Hydromorphone..gave me a scrip for Valium ....3 pills one day, 2pills the next, then one..and I should be all done...WE'LL SEE!
I'll let you know how it works out.

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TYGERILLY...Its bad i know..iwas origonnaly on 4 25 patches every 72 hours..ended up with the H1N1..thought i was dieind ,,,,GFORgot to change my patch ,,so i did cold turkey ,,it was the worst thing .did some reading ...and couldmt believe what i wenrt on ...doctore neverexplained wds..pharmasit said t o put 1 patch bacj and im doing its slow ..I was down to 1 10.5 i tried to take that offf ,,,but having crazy night ...had to put 1/2 back on ...its reallly hard ..not going to lie ...nights are the worse ...i cant sleep...im wide awake...going crazy ...was soooo proud of my self ...i was down from4*25 to 1*12.5 so i should be happy ....but hard ...prayer ...and you will survive withdetermination...good luck .....

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OMG.I don't believe what I am reading! I have been on 2* 50mcg patches a day for 6 weeks.My doctor never even MENTIONED withdrawal. I took my 2nd last patch off Tuesday morning, and my last patch this morning. Wednesday evening I was already jumpy itchy restless etc. Took a tiny 4mg Hydromorphone and managed to survive the night sweating sweating sweating, freezing, more sweating etc. Its now Wednesday night & I'm starting to go crazy again. Stopped to speak with my pharmacist who recommended putting one patch back on and doing the weaning thing over a period of time. I really want to go Cold Turkey....but I'm afraid of how much worse before it gets better. Any experience/recommendations? No-one recommends the cold turkey...how bad does it get??

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If I would have known..The only thing I can tell you is you are going through WD and it is going to be a long road.. If the WD's are that bad why are you suffering? You can go to your doctor and he/she can give you non narcotic medications to help you. I will not kid you, WD's are He**. If you can't handle the WD's call your doctor and let him/her help you. Like I said there are a lot of non narcotic medications that can help you.

Pat

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roy ....thank you for te kind words .....i wish someone can promise me and giv me the answers i need !!!!

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To If I Would Of Known: You are in my prayers this Thanksgiving Day. I hope that you will stay strong and endure. This too, shall pass...

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help .please !!!!!!! im loosing my mind .. im down to 25 {1 patch} the withdrawal's crazy ,, im ready to give up and put a 2nd patch on ... pharmasist told me today its going to be a long road ... any advice would be greatful ... prayer is bcming a hourly or minute thing to do.. i know gods listnng ... but im praying for miracle ....

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For BigBen I don't really care what you think about me, but if you talked to a couple of doctors that said you CAN'T die from opiate WD's then they are LIARS. I too have a life and only get here once a week or so, so I don't have time to prove your doctors are liars. so here is the website with proof. www.atwatchdog.org ...

There you will see newspapers that tell names of people who have died, from WD's and people who have died doing UROD.. I am not the one here telling anyone to do anything UNTIL THEY SPEAK TO A DOCTOR. Everyone except you had WD's and their thruthfullness helped a lot of people. You are the only person who had no WD's.Either you are lying or you weren't taking opiates for as long as you said. And where do you get off telling me I would be better off trying to quit. I never said my life was anything but wonderful. Me thinks you are spreading the NA message..Get off my back and stop telling people they can quit without any WD's unless you have an MD after your last name....Thats all I have to say to you
Pat

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Jenny, I wish you would at least come by once in awhile to help people who are trying to taper because you can help those who are suffering now to let them know that even though it is bad now that some chronic pain suffers can be prescription free. You are honest letting everyone know how hard it was but it did work for you, Just think if the only ones who come here are the ones who want to try and taper and then there is no one here to tell them that they can succed..Like Someone said, I come here to let people know about those like me who use opiates responsibly, and knowing that is ok, and you are here for the people who don;t want to take opiates anymore. You will be missed if you leave

Pat

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bigben how long did it take you to get off fentanyl? i joined discussion just last week, please tell me your story ..... congratulations !!!!! jen

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I'm saying goodbye to this forum, because I'm now free & clear from fentanyl wd symptoms. Thanks to all for your helpful advice. And for those who are suffering, I hope your troubles are over soon.

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Pat...honestly, I couldn't care less about what you think ! I know what I'm going thru. You're inforcing an urban legend by saying you can die from withdrawls...I asked a coouple of doctors and it's not true. I'm no longer taking anything and I'm feeling bettrer already. Why I'm no longer writing ??? Because I've got better things to do that sit in front of a computer and listen to myself whine !!!!! Go on with my life, be with my family & friends.....LIVE! So to anyone else outthere, at least try...You can't be worse off that now...and you can't die...TRUST ME !

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Happy Girl..Seriously, try putting a bar of soap under your sheets where your legs are. My husband says it is the only thing that helped his RLS, I know it sounds crazy,but what harm can it do?? And it may help you too.

Pat

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