Taper Down From 50mcg Fentanyl Patch To 25mcg Withdrawal Help (Page 6)

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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Have you read what neurontin does to your brain? I've been on neurontin 600mg 4x's a day for several years and when I read the report that was released about neurontin and lyrica I was shocked. I would try to taper myself off of some of the neurontin before it does so much permament damage to your brain.

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all this sounds o me that you have been told you will have withdrawal symptoms so you all believe it. IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD.

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I too use the patches and had an issue with them sticking. What I have found to work the best is to wipe the area the patch is going on with rubbing alcohol let dry. Apply the patch then place a tegra derm patch over the whole patch. This keeps the patch on up to a week thru showers, swimming,heat etc. I have been doing this process for 2 yrs now. Works great as long as you follow the steps. I hope this works for you as well.

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Last year I went from 75 month later 50 month later 25 month later 12 and them came off month later I had to get off all narcotics to get my gastric pacemaker but the way my withdrawals were helped I still had them I noticed you can take my Dr bumped my Xanax to 1 mg three times a day I hope I helped some and hope someone else can help you beter

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I would go to the ER to see if they can help. Even though it looks like it could be abuse or a 'story' how you lost them, it is very dangerous to suddenly not take them

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I have switched brands and found one that sticks better. It's the duragesic from Jannsen and have started to put just above my hip bone. It doesn't sound like it will work but I have never had one fall off. I also got some transdermal patch. It's like a skin to put over the patch if it does come off or start to peel at the edges. Since I have started at the hips I don't need it anymore though. I just go back and forth from one to the other. Sometimes I put it on my thigh but the edges start rolling up. Every time I put them on my arms, chest or shoulder I couldn't get them to stick and lost so many I worried that the doctor would think I am abusing or selling them. Their new policy is I can't throw them away, they all have to be accounted for and brought back to the doctor used!

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My pain clinic started me off with 50mg of Fentanyl Patches and had me change the patch every 48 hours they told me, for my illness. This was back in 2004. Now 13 years later 2017 I'm still on the 50mg patch however, I stopped changing my patch every 48 hours to every 3 days. Then I slowly went from 3 day change to 4 days. Now I'm changing my patch every 7-8 days. I'm having no withdrawals at all. The reason I decided to do this? Because, of the epidemic of the Government wanting to stop the doctors from giving out any pain medication to patients that have any type of ongoing pain illness. Instead of one day I would have to stop everything all together? I decided to do this myself so I won't have to go through HUGE withdrawals if the time came to have to stop. (You just never know with the Government). They did it to all who are suffering with illness of pain in Massachusetts & other States. My sister who's extremely ill is bed ridden and not one doctor will give her anything for her illness's! When I was changing my patch every 48 hours, and if I missed a day of changing my patch on that second night? I would have bad withdrawals. So, I knew this drug was going to be horrible if I had to suddenly stop. This is why I weaned off this drug myself. All I did is: each week, I would wear the patch & make it last one more day for another week. Then when it came time to change my patch? I would keep the old patch on in the beginning, (when I started weaning off) and put a new patch on my other upper arm and started off doing this and it worked. Now I only use instead of 4 Patches per-Month from 15 patches per-Month. I use 1 patch per-week or longer. I didn't rush doing this. I took my time and weaned off accordingly and it really worked. I don't get any withdrawals. If you find you may have to get off your patches? Slowly make your patch stay on longer and put a new patch on somewhere else you wear your patches, then take the old one off the next day. And wear your new one for a longer period and keep going like this until you feel your ready to go without the patch all together. Any strong medication you are taking can be done using the same method. Take less and less. If you don't abuse narcotic medication? You shouldn't have trouble weening off the medication slowly. If you abuse and take more then you should take? You will find it much harder to ween yourself off any narcotic meds. I hope this method works good for those of you who want to get off a narcotic or who need to get off. Keep reading articles in the news about what your State is doing about narcotic drugs and what your doctor's have to abide by with the laws of the Government. If all else fails, talk with your Doctor on how to wean off without withdrawals. God Bless You All!

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Only time I had sticking problems was usually not pressing it on long enough. Also, if I can't shower before switching, I clean with alcohol and paper towel to remove oils, even thought they say not to. If I put on the torso, I press my hand on it and lay on top of my hand to smash it on good. I do that and watch a commercial or two (about 60 seconds?) and it works well. For shoulder placement, put the left side on with your right hand. Reach over your opposite shoulder. Look in the mirror and try to get it right between the collar bone and that flat bone. Using a mirror is better. Then let the weight of your arm smash it on, even pull down a little bit. For big patches like 75 or 100, you will need to move your hand a little to push on the whole thing. With these principles, I have not lost one in 8-10 years.

Summary: Use flat area of skin that doesn't flex. Clean it well. Hold patch down hard as you can for 60 (not 30) seconds.

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I am currently on 100 mcg of fentanyl, my doctor is bringing me down to 50mcg fentanyl for 72 hours... I am petrified of feeling any kind of with drawl symptoms can anyone help me and let me know if they have had any withdrawal symptoms and what they were ....

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Memo- that is a bring drop, fast! Is there anyway you could talk to them to do it slower?

I went from 50mcg (on it for 2 years) to 37mcg for two weeks, then 25 for two weeks, then 12mcg for three weeks. I had enough to do 3 more 12's but I decided to cut the 12's so today is my day 1 on a 6. My plan is to do the 6's for 6 days then 3's for 6 days.

I know the 3's don't sound like much but WD's SUCK and I'm trying my best to minimize them. It has been a rough 7 weeks though.

I am still on percocets for break thru pain

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I like it way of going down on the patches but I have a question for u. I started, by my own decision, to go off the patches. One of the reasons was the opiad epidemic (woke me up enough to get my butt moving), but I mainly did it for myself and my son. I didn't want to wake up one morning to see my son had found a way to get into my lockbox, he's resourceful, and get a hold of my patches. 14yrs I have been on this medication. The one thing I didn't see was, other than yours, anyone dating they wanted to do it for themselves. I've found that the mental mindset u have when u go into this period is the most important thing in the world. No matter what u do ur body is going to detox. It sucks but that's life. Wo that feeling what is to stop u from running back to this medication the moment things get to rough or u hurt to bad. Family support is worth more than the support of ur doctor any day. My doctor told me I'd be running back to her to take me back up but still I'm going down. I've faced withdrawal before, but the one thing that caught me off guard was the anxiety attacks. I've never experienced such horrible anxiety. No where have I seen one person admit to this. I was prepared to feel like crap, but not the horrible feeling of panic and anxiety that came out of no where whenever it felt like it. I still have 2 more drops to go but by 9/23 I'll be off this poison for good. I can think clearer, function better, I'm losing weight, have energy. I can keep up with my toddler and wear him out now. All this keeps me going. If anyone wants to succeed in going off these meds all I can say is this. Do it for urself. Don't do it because of insurance or because someone is making u. Do it for u. You're family and wanting ur life back. Have a support system outside of your doctor in place. Believe in yourself. Use ur breakthrough meds. There's no harm in that. Keep busy, I can't stress that enough. Walk, use a fidget spinner, read a book, anything to keep busy. And take it a day at a time. Days 1-6 are hell but the rest of the month gets better. There's a light at the end of this. Ur life.

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Clean area with rubbing alcohol, let dry real well then apply patch. Hold patch in place for a bit so heat from ur hand helps it to stick better. Been on Fentanyl for years now, and this trick works awesome. Also avoid putting lotion near patch, cuz for some reason it screws with them. Good luck, hope this helps

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Anyone that is having an issue with their patches staying on I would highly recommend using tegaderm dressing covers. They are the clear plastic covers that are sometimes used to cover IV sites. They can be a little pricey but I've found if you call the manufacturer of your patches and inform them you have trouble with them sticking they will actually send you them free of charge. On another note, I saw a poster inquiring about kratom to help ease withdrawals. Kratom is a naturally occurring plant related to coffee that has been used for years in other countries for pain relief and to ease opiate withdrawals. I have found kratom to be immeasurably beneficial to help with withdrawal symptoms. It can be ordered online from several companies. I use kratom one and take a tablespoon of their tri force blend in a tea and it has reduced any of my withdrawal symptoms almost completely. Please if you are struggling with withdrawal do yourself a favor and research it. I wish any and all of you that are struggling the strength and peace to get well. Thank you all for your posts, it is so helpful to know that we are not going through this alone.

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Hi, I've had some issues with them sticking as well or slowly peeling off.....be sure to use a got wash cloth to wash the area well b4 u put the patch on. It's also very important to use the warmth from your hand /fingers for at least 30 seconds to help the patch adhere completely. .....I have read it is highly advisable to NOT tape them on because the extra warmth could cause the medicine to actually absorb too quickly......

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I have been on the 25mcg of Fentanyl patches. I went to my doctor to come off them and he said to leave the last patch on that I had for the three days and take it off. I took the patch off the same day and started feeling a lot better the next day. I had a few minor withdrawal symptoms. I had googled it and they do give withdrawal symptoms and length of time. Before the week was up e withdrawal symptoms were gone.

I had a far worse reaction to cold turkey withdrawal from Cymgen. It lasted over 7 weeks.

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Hello Q, I am not too sure if you remember me much as it was a few years ago we used to chat on another forum. How are you and you're wife doing? If you don't remember me, I was the 1 that had multiple surgeries on my back, 8 fusions now and 10 total back surgeries, and from the Pittsburgh, Pa area. If I am talking to the right Quincy, you are from New Mexico I am pretty sure. I wanted to see how you have been. It's a small world. I just happened to look and saw your name and this has to be you, at least I hope so. I've been dealing with a lot myself right now so I have not had the chance. If and when you have time please write back. Great to see your name on a new website I pretty much joined!!!

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If you're getting the Mylan brand of patches and you want to taper yourself, you can cut them in half or thirds so you have control over the taper. The Mylan ones do not have the gel, they're just adhesive and plastic. I have done this several times but only with the Mylan. Hope this helps.

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Re: zippywales77 (# 14)

Hi. I'm sure hoping you've solved the problem of getting your patches to stop becoming loose or falling off. If not or even if you've found a solution, try to see if your pharmacy will order the Mylan Pharmaceutical brand for you. If you can get them, call the company's consumer hotline and by giving them the lot number of your current patches, they will send you another patch type overlay. Once you learn how to put both on correctly, your problem will be solved.

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Kellymillz

I post them only on my chest. Everywhere’s else falls off. I also clean real good with alcohol before I apply the patch. I also rub my hands real well, make them warm. And put my hands on the patch when I apply. Makes it stick better. There is also tape you can put around this to help stay on

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