Taper Down From 50mcg Fentanyl Patch To 25mcg Withdrawal Help (Page 5)

So, I'm in a big big dilemma. For my own security and well being, I MUST come off my Fentanyl transdermal patch. I've Been using 50mcg/72 hours for about 6 mths straight. I have 3 of the 50mcg patches left and 4 of the 25mcg to help me taper off. I will no longer be using them anymore, just Norcos or oxymorphone IR. I'm absolutely terrified of withdrawals. My doc who put me on them has No idea what it's like to come off like this. Can someone please tell me if and how bad the withdrawals from going down that much will affect me? I can not take any benzos (Ativan, xanax, etc). I have come off the oxymorph about 75% in the last 2 mths. I'm literally freaking out. Again, I'm terrified but HAVE to do this for at least another 7 months. Any help would be appreciated. Or experience/reassurance. Thanks again. BTW- I'll add, all of my RX are legal and prescribed by the same doc and NOT misused.

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REPORT

Due to the FDEA, Federal & state government all patients are being called in to be given a step down schedule. Currently I'm prescribed 157 75 microgram patch (the kind without the gel) and 112 10-325 norc ever 28 days, gabepentim, 15 genetic ambien 10 mg,.& 28 3mg xr. My taper program is 8 weeks with the patch and Vicodin... The final result will be 50m mg patches, and no norci/Vicodin... I think the patch will be fine but having rheumatoid & osteo arthritis, a benign brain tumor which leads to massive migraines, anklosing spondylitis, & a Jody of other issues including a severe anxiety disorder (3mg xr Xanex 1x a day and agoraphobia (I very rarely leave my condo.. Sometimes 2-3 weeks a month. I am fortunate to be seeing a new Rhumatologist in June & I need the Vic's (am going to request an oxy long lasting RX) because when I "flare quite a number of times a month and if I continue using Vic I'm seriously considering an early exit... This decision I've not made lightly and thought that is my ony escaping my excruciating pain in almost every single time I flare I'm literally out of my mind in such intolerable pain.) rhum, anxiety, angry, feel hopeless and cannot live like this much longer. I'm beyond furious the bean/pill counters have the audicity to demand we severely lower our "life threshing" narcotic RX 's..LET THE DR DO WHATS RIGHT"!! Now let's all sit back.. Many chronic or fatilly patients are going to by god turn to obtaining narcotics via other means bc the supply will be so low, just mark my words.. I'm no Dr or in the the medical field.. Im a retired finternstuonal flight attendant.

On another note do any of you use or are familiar with kratom? If so, I'd appreciate your input.

Last resort I can make the 8 hr drive & get 2-2-2s.

Thank for reading and any response is appreciated!

Ki
Portland, OR
{edited for privacy}

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I cover my patches with a sticky plaster called Fixamul (available in Australia). I write the day and time as well as the med name and strength. I used to wear the patches on my arm but got sick of people asking if I was wearing a patch to give up smoking so I changed to wearing them on the top of my thigh - above my shorts line. I change sides with each new patch.

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As a health care professional and a person with pain my heart goes to you.
I do understand where are com ing from.i have been there personally and to be honest there is little help when it comes down to the wire.please find a moment without distress to consider your self and your beauty in this world.
As I say my heart goes out to you.with understanding G

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I move my 75 mcg patch. I had the best luck on my back top area of shoulder or front of shoulder. Rumer has it the closer to heart it is the better the meds work... i got like 5 boxes of the generic tagaderm style stuff @ a liquidator for like $15 for a box off 100. Oriental writing on boxes, some are just like the tagaderm but some are just 4x6 squares with backing on both sides. They work till i get extra big time sweeaty. I found ablegate to stick the best. Watsons did stick well but hard to find since sold out to the brazilian company. Be well. All is easier with a good positive attifude

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Hi KaySS, I have been on Fentanyl for 8 years, and got up to 100mcg/72hrs, but only were lasting 36 hours. That;s how bad my body was immune, and the pain was bad starting at 30 hours with a new patch. I just had the pain pump installed, and had to come off the patch and 6 percocets a day for the pump trial. It was not fun, but the Dr tapered me off slowly over 3 weeks to zero. I would highly recommend that you ask you Dr to give you a 12 mcg/hr patch to also put on with the 25s, so it is not such a drop. Then 6 days later go to 25 only, then 6 days later go to 12 only, and maybe then start on your new med approach. This made a big difference to have the 37 to the 25s. Hope this helps.

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Swooper 81, I have a suggestion for you to avoid a very serious potential problem. Talk to your doctor about a back up physician for filling your pain pump. Several doctors in my area who used to work with patients and fill the pump now no longer will refill any pumps due to the economic loss they incur. Many insurance plans have drastically reduced the doctors professional payment for refilling these pain pumps which are implanted subQ.

The physicians in my area will ONLY refill the pumps THEY installed and 3 of the 5 doctors who were doing this just a year ago now no longer even service the pumps that they installed. Actually, my pain doctor, who is a really good guy, no longer implants the pumps nor fills them due to the economic loss he was incurring each time. He showed me the actual economics of it because I am on the insurance side of the equation and he doesn't even get reimbursed the cost he incurs to purchase the refill meds, let alone the professional fees, etc.

Have a Plan B and maybe even a Plan C because you certainly don't want to be totally reliant on someone and have them unable to help you. Just my suggestion to avoid finding yourself in a very bad spot.

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Georgie,

I'd like to hear more if you are still posting, my fiance is in Adelaide (he is American dual citizen) but his physician told him for (and I need a physician due to our FDA changes all out of state clients lost my famous California physician) me that Duragesic is available for those like me over there.

You were talking about some program for people with intractable pain being treated like addicts. What is this? Please share.

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Hi,

Yes duragesic is available here by prescription only. The gp can and will after assessment where other medications have little effect.a referral to pain specialist is preferred. All duragesic scripts have a government authority. This is to stop abuse by both parties. the gov are tightening up regulations. If your pain is genuine you have supportive documentation and use a mulit approach to addressing your pain you should be alright. I am now off fentanyl it was my choice I dont want strong meds in my life. Yes I have pain I see physio psychology gp. having lyrica side effects. Using panadol oesto panadine codine. anti inflammatory. I walk, I exercise in my spa, use mindfulness. When I have distress I tighten up and have great pain. But I can think and I dont want to sleep through another family christmas. drs and specialist are ok here. Just do your research. Pain management is in its pioneering stage. All the best.

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You will need to start stretching out two of your 50s to every 4 days. That will train your body for the next trick of fooling your brain when you put on a 25. After the patch runs out, (its actually still giving you fentanyl...just not as much) you will feel like you have the flu. You will get some sweats and there will be mood swings...I get short and angry so Iock myself in my room when I get to this point and put on half a 50 along with Gabapentin (amazing but taper up then back down) and a low dose Clonidine (0.1mg) which calm the withdrawal then ease you into the lower 25s dose. Accupuncture helped me but you dont have time for that. Your doc is an ass for tapering you so fast. It aint going to be easy or pleasant but you can do this. After the last patch runs out, get farking drunk and within 2-4 days you will be normal again. Theres a 'hump' in the withdrawals...it sucks like hell but if you wait it out, it will subside. The mistake is putting on another patch after that hump where you are on the downslide. Ask your proctologist for some Gabba. Because he is an ass doctor for not being humane to you. You have to be able to see the light at the end in order to do this and I know that you can. Very proud of you and your decision to taper. Be strong.

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Hello Georgi,

Thanks and if I live through are you near Adelaide? He is living there. I am an ultra rapid opioid metabolizer. Alan already told his regular physician which I of course am in contact with as Alan has had health issues in his young life already. I am way past the point of no return so then there should be no problem.

Peace

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Todd,

Am I mistaken he said he only had 2 left. He wears 1 every 72 hours.

Poster (original) you will need medical attention. You can tell your so called physician a professional nurse and a published researcher told you the taper must extend longer and in a different manner the cerebral cortex recognizes different opioids and it has one spot where Fentanyl is now recognized; HC or MS will not touch that spot at all.

Editor's note: We do not verify the credentials of our users and nothing stated in our forums is intended to be taken as medical advice.

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Swooper,

Since I was on such high opioid dosages and am an ultra rapid opioid metabolizer I was in the test study and am in a 3% category. Only Western European females end up in the 3%, yes you could potentially need more; until I lost Dr. Famous I was on 8 patches every 24 to 36 hours.

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Posters,

Am on the brand for over 20 years, if I do not get a physician soon (my story is on several of the major trending posts) I will die; now 10 months without a replacement physician have progressed to Central Pain Syndrome and Dr. Famous in California released 30 out of state patients also due to new California regulations. We are good enough to be his lab rats for cures for intractable pain but now when the Odumma administration deems us addicts and unwanted citizens worthy only of death we are thrown out to die.

I refuse to die. I now have SSA issues due to a workers comp injury they did not pay my mileage to the treating physicians and after 16 years of flying to Houston, then my doc of 10 years died and I fly to California I tried to work as a DON would get fired I am disabled and the local SSA who usually does not do my claim hit me with a denial which will be overturned but in the meantime no checks for 3 months and had to win against WC in another state the attorney general and now (after I win) no panel of new physicians YET, trying to not pay for pain medication or kill me.

My medication bill was running $25,000 a month before this murder of pain patients in America.

I have referred around the world over 10,000 suicidal pain clients to save lives through opioid therapy and all it took was one Odumma to destroy our country.

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Hi, He did have some that his doc gave him to taper, but not nearly enough to do it correctly. He said this:

"I've Been using 50mcg/72 hours for about 6 mths straight. I have 3 of the 50mcg patches left and 4 of the 25mcg to help me taper off. I will no longer be using them anymore, just Norcos or oxymorphone IR."

I believe that using adjunct therapy with other meds will help 'touch' that area of the brain while he lowers the dose/duration.

Congrats on being published! That is so awesome.

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Todd,

Really did you read my post. If I do not get a physician soon I die.

I've progressed to Central Pain and have been on this crap for 20 years and need a physician pronto.

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Todd,

Nothing touches that area of the brain trust me.

The cerebral cortex identifies this poison directly.

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Look for nexcare tegaderm patches. It's that clear sticky film they put over an IV site. You can't cover the patches with anything else. It messes with the delivery. You can use medical tape around the outside of it if you can't get tegaderm patches. Oh, and those patches are kinda expensive but you can cut them into smaller pieces so that they just cover the outside of the fentanyl patch. It really helps them stay on and that covering is water proof, sweat proof, breathable.

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State of mind has a lot of influence on every situation that comed your way... if you say or feel something will ne bad most times it is.... npt trying to dismiss the POSSIBILITIES that MAY happen but i am trying to help to get the correct mind set.... i am on 75 patches i have ran out becausr of sticking issues and (the govt punishing law bidding citrzens for the avtd of criminals thus could not get needed medications) i was in bef from the pain but did not notice any withdrawal (was about 10 days) i had since then started using cover patches (found bunch @ liquidation store) and doctor changed script to 48 hours due to them no longer lasting 72 hours

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My doctor also was hard to get the change to 48 hours.... he refused until i gave this and other websites that valdated the need that so many have for the modifed script

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On march 28 I went from 75 mcg to 50mcg and I have some withdrawls but I take xanax to help amd i try and sleep alot and on April 26 going from 50 mcg to 25 mcg and around may 20 stopping it cause I need a gastric pacemaker stomach doesnt diigest at all and i have to be off all narcotics before they will do the surgery and my biody feels luke uts on fire from the inside but not sure if jts the gabapentun withdrawls or fentanyl withdrawls

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