Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 7) (Top voted first)

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 have been talking to the admin of this site and want to warn everyone to not let someone exploit you into giving any of your info on your real name, address, or even you email address. I was exploited on this site and have been to the law and have met with the admin. of this site. This person used me and then sent me patches and then said I was trading them for herion. That I have never used. I had never hid anything from anyone. Even when I had been in prison, and the things I went through, were used against me. I am not the kind of person that would hurt anyone intently. I was so crazy about this person, they seem to have understood what I was going through. And still to this day the hurt of how they just turned on me is still fresh. I don't want anyone to go through this so I have been monitoring this site with the admins. official approval to watch and make sure this never happens to anyone else. I have learned to forgive but to forget is quite a ways off. Please, do not give anyone your real name, address, phone number, or email. There are some evil people, in general, in this world. So, please protect yourself and if you need any help. Just leave me a note. I talk to the admin. from this site a couple times a month.
I hope everyone a clean bill of health. I have been off of these patches for two years and the first 7-8 months were very rough. Now it is not so hard. I have been clean for a good while and now it is easy and I am very happy. Very happy.

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I was on this stuff for almost 2 yrs. I used a 125 mcg patch every 72 hrs. for chronic back and neck pain due to 15 yrs of working on the docks in Seattle WA. I ended up needing surgery where they fused C5-C6-C7 together with plate and bone marrow, I have a compression fracture in middle of back, severe degenerative disk disease with severe arthritis and bone spurs. I'm having more surgery in Jan. I've been on opiate pain meds for over 20 yrs. Mostly Vicodin/Norco and pot. My doctor put me on Fentanyl patches because I was still having pain even after taking 8-10 of the Norco a day. The patch worked great and I was able to quit using the Vicodin and Norco all together. I ran out of insurance and could not afford the $200 mth for the patches anymore and had to get off them asap. In the beginning I had to go cold turkey for about 4 days (which was the absolute worst experience I had ever gone through). But I started taking the Norco and smoking pot again. Between the two I was able to stay off the patches with little withdrawal effects. And I will die from pain before I put one of those horrible things on my skin again!! I can now manage my pain effectively with about 4-6 Vicodin/Norco a day and smoking pot. It's absolutely insane that pot is not legal for medicinal purposes everywhere in this country. It's a plant that grows out of the ground for god sake!! The many many benefits this plant has for medicinal purposes as well as "goods/products" are incredible!! It truly is "God's Medicine" The fact that it is illegal to have is a crime against humanity! And the reason(s) it is not legal to have are indeed a crime within itself!!!

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SuzieQ;
Getting off the patch for me is more a personnel challenge and a trial to see if I can do without it. Seeing I'm not doing the repetitive work and being on my feet all day. Since I got off the Percs I can't get over how much better I feel, body and mind. Yes being in chronic pain is no fun, but I also found out that most of the pain I was experiencing was really bad inflammation from all my broken bones (22 to be exact). I was taking Indomethician for bad gout and while I was withdrawing from the percs I had really bad back pain to the point where I had to sleep in my lazy-boy chair for a month. My chiropractor suggest trying an anti inflammatory for the pain. So I thought indomethician is a strong anti inflammatory so after taking 2 of them my back pain was gone. So to keep the back pain at bay I take one every other day and before long all the other aches that ailed me dissipated as well.

My point being that Dr.'s are too quick to prescribe opiates and should only be prescribed as a very last resort. The patch although helpful in pain relief can also be a source of great stress and aggravation as they fall off in the shower or from sweating and then if you go a way and you forget them at home or forgetting to call the pharmacy in time to get your script filled before you run out. It just becomes like a dog chasing his tail trying to avoid the dreaded withdrawals.

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Shelby, you are right about drs giving out opiods however now I think this is changing..what scares me is that we are getting slammed with the Fentanyl patch in it's place. From what I've read on this forum, this patch is much, much harder to get off of. How cruel!

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Thanks Suzie.. It's been over 30 hours now and it just feels like a really bad flu. Everything aches and I have no energy. I took off my 75 mcg patch once for 24 hours just to see what it was like and it was unbearable! With the clonidine it surely does make it a lot more tolerable. I would never minimize anyone's pain and if you require it by all means. I found the side effects too much after a while, let a lone the monthly worry of getting your script on time. I truly hope I can get away from this patch, it got me through my days working in the factory now I would like my life back.. Hopefully!

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Thanks Nutty for the words of encouragement... What gave me the straight to just rip off the patch was reading post like yours. I know a fellow who went to rehab and did the Suboxone route, it's been 3 years and he is still on them..WTF!! I couldn't see my self going to a rehab clinic and peeing in a cup every week for 3 years!

I'm coming up on 40 hrs. since I took off the patch and I tell you last night was the worst so far. I had the sweats and I could't lay still. I was getting up every 5 to 10 minutes and pacing. This lasted til 3 or 4 in the morning. I finally fell asleep on the couch. I am feeling surprisingly better this am. Besides feeling light headed and severe ear ringing the body ache is for the most part is gone, I know i have some more hurtles to cross but I can now see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel!

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Shelby, I am so sooo very proud of you. Hindsight is the best learning experience you will have to go on. I know what I went through, I never want to go through again. I don't want to blow anyones bubble, but I don't think I can or could make it without the Suboxone. I just go once a month to get mine and take just half of what the doctor gives me. Simply because I don't want to go through ANY kind of withdrawals again. The Suboxone helps me with the craving part of my mind that thought I could not live without some kind of pain med. It does help and it is not considered a strong narcotic. I take care of my mom (87yrs old) and my daughter that had a bad wreck (she was T-boned and flipped her car three times) 3 teens with the oldest teen has a 1 year old baby. So the alternitive was the Subs. My family said the ole Nutty was back and they love it also. So don't cut it too short. And it is not for everyone. Even the people that was telling me "it's just another drug" thinks different now after they have seen how it has turned my life around. Lots of mornings I forget to take it untill I start doing some strenous work. So you don't go through anything if you don't have it. But anyway, like I said it is not for everyone. It just works for me. Take care and if you need anything let me know. I am soo glad you are feeling better. Time seems to drag when we are going through something like this. Hope you have a restful day.

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I'm doing ok thanks for asking. I'm back to the 50 mcg patch right now and the trip went well. I'm back on the road tomorrow and they are calling for some wicked weather in the north east. So it should be a fun trip. I would really love to get off this stuff and get my mind back. I'm having a tough time deciphering how much of the pain I was experiencing during my withdrawal is actual pain or withdrawal pain. It scares me in way as I don't want to go back to the way I was before the patch either. That recipe I posted sure seems like the way to go and I will just have to ween off more slowly in the hope that I will know the difference between the two.

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Patches NEVER last a week, maximum 3 days, so using it for a week is just bull####. People can and do say anything on these sights, it doesn't make it true. Peace out.

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Please help!I'm at my wits end!!Was just on Fentanal 50 every 3 days, with two noroco for break through pain.At first it was a blessing I could do all the things I wasn't able to!But got use to the dose, back where I started.With even more pain and problems!I have been on benzos and opiats since 16, I'm now 37.Suside attemts from the pain, inability to function properly and stones thrown sayings I'm an addict.Not concidering my life long battle w pain!!!I desided to drop down from the Fentanal. They put me on Oxycotin 15, twice a day.Still w noroco for break through pain . I'm in agony, can't function. Going thru withdrawals, and family members freaking out about my pain specialist, putting me on anything.idk what to do, I want to live pain med free, but when I have the doctors always put me back on...

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I was on 100mcg Fentanyl patch every 2 days. After having another procedure I went without the patch and thought I was dying. A nurse friend figured out it was Fentanyl withdrawal and we texted my doctor who replied right away with put on a patch on or go to ER. Then I wanted off this Fentanyl, or as I called it poison. After that my doctor and I talked about weaning me off Fentanyl because I was obviously dependent. When I started on the 75's he had me on a Clonidine 0.1 mg/day patch/week for withdrawal symptoms. If I still had issues he gave me Inderal/Propranolol 10mg 3x/day for withdrawal.Then if there were still issues he said pick up OTC DMX Dextromethorphan 15-30mg every 6 hours. I just started on the 50's and I have only taken one Propranolol. My orthopedist also takes my texts and texts back very quickly. My doctor has had pain management issues with his back and I think he is empathetic which probably has made all the difference.

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Fentagirl, thank you for explaining your situation.. I was becoming a little upset how you kept coming across-mean!
Shelby has a very encouraging story and has helped many.
Good luck to you!

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My point was that the Dr.s seem to use the contract as a weapon. I was being actively extorted for every med change."I can't give you something if you don't give me something." When I reported this to the clinic manager, I got violated on the contract, labeled an addict, and sent forth to suffer. And they wonder why H use is skyrocketing. I haven't gone there, but I know a dozen chronic pain sufferers who have.

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Enonumus, thanks for the post, I cannot imagine being on a two hundred mcg patch, let alone trying to get off from it. Talk about psychological, makes me shake just thinking about it, so you have done extremely well to be where you are.

Yes I know they only last 72 term hours, but my body doesn't, so yes in my mind I think I am getting more than I really am. Last night I could have gone back to the fifty I was extremely restless and hurt all over, I fought it off by going on my treadmill for a half hour than kept busy until I went to bed today is better. Not sure what I am going to do about pain after I am free of Fentanyl, but I go see my pain doctor on the 13th of Feb and we will discuss what is next. Thanks for listening, just take it one day at a time, and don't fall of the wagon.

Just found out the wife has melanoma cancer, what could be next in my golden years. I have always said you never know what you will wake up with!!! Take care

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Ouch, you sound pretty miserable Rayman, I feel for you. Do what you have to do to mitigate and tolerate the withdrawals and the tapering. You know what your goal is and what your body is feeling like, and only you know how much you want to get off of the patches entirely. If you have to temporarily increase your level back to a previous point, so be it, but don't let it fool your mind into thinking it's impossible to taper off of them completely, as countless people have done it. Keep posting and updating if it helps. Btw, I'm very sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis. I hope she gets good medical treatment and they're able to remove the cancer.

As for me, I'm still at 100mcg, down from 200 initially, and I guess it's been about a month at this reduced dosage. I feel about 80-90% as healthy as I did when I was at 200mcg, and it gets slightly better with each passing day. I'm at a point where I could try another stepdown, but I've felt pretty yucky and haven't had hardly any appetite the last month on the reduced dosage, so I need a little time for my body to recover. Probably will wait 1 or 2 more weeks at this dosage then step down. Not sure if I'm going to drop down by half to 50mcg, or if I'll go down to about 75. I'll keep checking in here ever 3 or 4 days to see how others are doing.

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We'll Enonomus,This fentanyl,is a butt kicker, that being said we are going to win this war going in my body. Fentanyl won the first battle I did add a 12 to my 25 for a day, but took it off in about 20 hrs feeling little better, haven't slep much in three days. I may stay on 25 for another couple weeks than drop to a 12 by itself and go from there. Meet with pain doc on Thursday sticking with her I feel she deals with this stuff all the time. If you can drop from 200to a100 I should be able to drop 50 and still live lol. Thanks for the support hope I can help you. It's one day at a time until we win the war. Time for bed guess I will go there ya never know I may fall asleep.

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Teacup, after reading your post on the Thomas receipt I can only say good luck and hope it works for you. It's not for me, but trying to get off the fentanyl myself I understand you need support and your asking for help just like everyone else. You need to start some place, but it does not matter what way you chose for yourself you will go through with drawl. How long does it take I do not know everybody is different. So my thought is are you trying to get fentanyl? Or are you just giving out ideas ? Iam not trying to be rude to you, just what to understand why are you stuck on this Thomas thing but your not posting what you are doing. Wish you good luck it's not easy that part I do know.

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FEEL BAD FOR YOU CKG, ITS NO FUN GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCEING. WHY NOT GO TO A DIFFERENT DOCTOR ONE THAT WILL LISTEN TO YOU . THATS BETTER THAN SITTING ON A DOCTOR THAT IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU GOOD LUCK

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I have read these posts with great interest. after 8 years of being on 125mcg fentanyl patches that pain management doc's told me I could never go off of I'm in my second month of detox. My primary care doctor will only let me go down 12mcg a month so I am so envious of all of you getting off the patch so fast.
My pain has not been controlled for a very long time. I have fibro, chronic migraines, lupus, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, Sjogrens, Addison Disease, j just to name a few.
in addition to weaning off the fentanyl I am also taking myself off of a number of other medications I have been prescribed over the years.
thanks to fentanyl I developed central sleep apnea which I hope to reverse by getting off the patch.
My plan is to control my pain with trigger point injections and lidoderm patches.
I want to thank those of you who have shared your positive experience with detox. You are all such a blessing. I don't believe our bodies are meant to be poisoned by these awful drugs. Just because modern medicine invented them in no way means God had a thing to do with them. there are many things done in the name of medicine that are clearly not of the father.

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I posted here several times 2-3 months ago as I started my journey to wean off of the 200mcg/48 hrs dosage that I've been on since 2003 (well, early on I was on a lower dosage, but I've been at this dosage for years). I haven't been back to post my progress because I couldn't find the right thread that I had posted to previously (there are so many involving the Fentanyl patches). I started the process about 3 months ago by cutting my 100mcg patches in half, and changing them on my usual schedule. As I mentioned before, it was difficult but not nearly as bad as I expected, with my primary symptom being a severe loss of appetite, and a general blah feeling. Took me a good 4-6 weeks before I felt the same as I did when I was taking my original dosage.

I finally decided to take the next step about 5-6 days ago, and dropped down to 1/3 of my original dosage (currently at roughly 66mcg/48 hours, though it's much harder to evenly cut the patches into 3rds than it was to cut them in half). Didn't have much trouble the first 2-3 days, but by the 3rd or 4th day I was starting to suffer minor withdrawals hours before I was due to change my patch, mostly in the form of the classic restless legs and jumpy body syndrome. No big deal, I'll live. If I have to change my patch a little early at first to avoid severe withdrawals, that's what I'll do for a week or two.

I expect to be mostly acclimated to the new dosage within a few weeks, but I'll probably wait at least a month, maybe more, before cutting down to 50mcg/48 hours, and then from there I plan to step to 25, then either to 12.5 or cold turkey from 25. When I get close to the point of quitting completely, I may ask my doctor for some assistance with any medications that can help with the withdrawals, but for now I'm doing this one on my own. One nice thing is that I have a hefty supply of patches now :). I've still been picking up my usual prescription of 30 100mcg patches/month, just in case, and I've accumulated over 100 patches since I started tapering down :). It's nice not having to stress every month about making sure I get my prescription and get it filled before I run out! (one of the long list of reasons I want off of this hellish drug).

Rayman - if you happen to come back here again, let us know how you're doing.

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