Fentanyl Patch Withdrawal Symptoms And Duration (Page 10) (Top voted first)

i have post surgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg patch and had side effects and so decided to wean off. i finished with the 12 mcg patch a week ago and am still suffering from periodic nausea, irritability, daily joint and muscle pain, but the worst is the consistent restless legs. it is driving me crazy. my doctor says that is not withdrawal. is he right? i don't think so. if it is withdrawal, what can i do about it and how long will it last? i am going crazy.

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I don't understand why one cannot get a smaller dose pack to wean off. When I went through the withdrawal from Fentanyl, I was comatose......they gave me Dilaudin through an IV.....I responded very badly to it.....
I recall there is a high blood pressure medicine called Clonodin or something very much like it..., or a name very similar. You take two tablets the first day of withdrawal, one the second & third, and stop taking it. It stops the shakes, sweats and other horrible side effects to opiate withdrawal. A friend of mine, also a surgeon, helped me 10 years ago when I was kicking Oxy......they hand the crap out like candy......He did the research, and I took it regardless of the fact I don't suffer from high blood pressure.
I have low blood pressure, but took the drug anyway, I wanted freedom from Oxy. After 3 days, you ought to be fine.....Don't let those clowns give you Methadone, that stuff is even worse to get free of.....The fact they don't have alternatives tells me there is something wrong with the system.
Good luck to you.
Otherwise, there is nothing one can take......

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ATTENTION! NO ONE HAS TO SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF WITHDRAWAL AGAIN :
Immodium, a common over the counter anti-diareah med contains Loperimide. Loperimide is only a molecule or two different from Fentanyl. It attaches to the same receptors as narcotic analgesics. But the body "kicks" Loperimide off of the receptors soon after attaching. If you're chasin' a feeling, forget it, but if you want to get a good night's sleep without heebie-jeebies, take this stuff. There is no euphoria, no pain relief but it does work. One has to take many at a time though. I was Rx'ed three 30 mg Rixicodone per day. I ran out early. I took 15 Immodiums at a time 3 times a day. A MIRACLE FOLKS. DONT SUFFER ANY LONGER. Don't take my word for it. Do your own due dilligence and research; Google it or whatever. And if course, with any meds, there are interactions and side effects. The only problem I had was being stopped up for a spell but I can assure you that "that" will "pass". I wish I knew this years ago when I stopped using Fentanyl patch. Any way, good luck and stay clean.

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Here are some tips for coping with restless legs syndrome as a result of fentanyl withdrawal:

m.choosehelp.com/topics/detox/tips-for-coping-with-opiate-withdrawal-induced-restless-legs-syndrome

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Have decided to withdrawal from 50MCG patch, having a really rough time and finding out that I am in a great deal of pain. Should I ask to go back to the 50MCG? Is there an alternative, I was on it for about 8 months and it wasn't helping control my pain any longer.

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Dear Amanda....i so hope you made it thru ok...this is such a nasty drug and the system fails so many of us HORRIBLY. I pray you are in a much better place than when you posted this!!!!

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Click on link below from breezy, msg #173

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It is withdrawals. Please read #173 below from breezy and click on the link for restless legs.

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I've been off and on Fentanyl for the last ten yrs, due to MULTIPLE long term pain problems. I have had issues with patch adhesion for MANY yrs. I also get hot flashes and sweat like a pig! (Lovely on a woman!) But I discovered that you can put a clear patch cover called Tegaderm over the patch and it will keep it on. The Tegaderm patch cover is the same clear bandage they adhere an iv tube in you with. If you live in the USA, Just call Jansen Phamecuticals, or the maker of your patch,and tell them you can not keep the patch attached. Jansen used to send me 100 FREE HUGE patch covers about every 3 months. I now live in Canada and the drug companies here will not send me anything to help. I had to buy a box of 8 patch covers in the drug store but they ran me $8, for a box of 8!! So, I found a good supplier in the hospital pharmacy, I get them for 35 cents each there. That should resolve everyones issues with adhesion. As for you having hot flashes and patch wearing off faster than usual, YES! It is a KNOWN problem with them... also no hot batch, jacuuzi, heat pads etc... all of them cause the drug to be dispensed at a faster rate than usual... However you shouldnt be having such major issues with it in two days. I do have a suggestion about it... I used to take 50mcg... and some days I didnt feel I needed that much, yet others it felt like it was going through me too fast. So, my doctor agrees to give me 2 -25mcg patches every 3-4 days, at my discretion. So, at the times my pain was going bad, I would automatically wear both, but if weather is good, w no cold wet snow or rain, and my activity was reasonable, I may use one for 2 days and add a second one on the third day... or use them in any way I wish so long as I stay with in the prescribed dose that month. This was a good fit, as it gave me more control over the use of the patch... and also allowed me to accumulate extras for the days my patch fell off, or to have for a vacation supply... OR in the event something happens like I am about to describe.

My problem today is, I went to Atlanta in June to help my dad with some medical stuff of his. My 2 week trip became 6 weeks... I used up ALL of my spares... I returned in August, got my usual meds and life went on.. I was due to get a refill and put on the last patch I had on wends when I went to the dr. She gave me an rx for my usual meds. I live FAR away from a city now, two hours... and I droppped my rx Thursday at 12pm in the local pharmacy. I told her I NEED the patches the MOST on Friday as I will be due FRIDAY to put on a new patch. She said, "well, its a good thing you came in today because you wouldve had to go till tues day if you didnt, with the holiday monday".. I said "I know,so I will come in tomorrw after 2-3 pm so you have time to get it in and fill it" she said fine shed see me tomorrow. So I get there Friday afternooon about 4 pm, and she looks at me dumbfoundedly... doesnt say anything, fills a couple of people in front of me then at 4:35 ONCE MY DR IS CLOSED for the weekend... she tells me she didnt order the fentanyl.. she didnt know I needed it!?!?!? All she had to do was look at HER OWN PC, and see the date of my last fill! And at that point the topic of going to a different pharmacy for it was brought up and she said.. I was missing some code on the rx, and she'd just "quickly fax the dr and get the code" But the dr was closed!! SO now shes had my rx two days and JUST tells me there is a missing code!!

So, I discovered then I have no choice but to go until tuesday LATE afternoon with out the patch. I do have time released Diluadid, but I already take them NOW, I have adjusted my dose according to what I know about medication strengths in comparison. (Which after all these years, and all the pain management classes, therapy, etc, I know more than some doctors!) I did try to call Jansen, Teva etc... but no one was open after 5 Friday. So I have done the best I can using my yrs of pain to my advantage.. I have not had physical symptoms of withdrawal since my body is still getting opiods... However, i am having much more BURNING pain than I usually get.. but i can handle that. My pain levels WITH narcotics hover around a 7 all day every day. So, I can cope till tuesday. I have always had mild depression... I discovered last night, it was MUCH MUCH worse... I was in a BAD BAD place... thinking things I should NOT be thinking... although my current life situation SHOULD be making me think this stuff... I simply do not go to such a horrible place when I am "normal"... So I KNOW these thoughts are due to the Fentanyl... But I am still struggling with it. Though I KNOW my thoughts are IRRATIONAL, drug induced, etc... but they are still there... I am not stupid enough to act them out, but it was QUITE the unexpected side effect.....I do have friends I am talking to who are watching over me.. but I want everyone to know and I would like to know if anyone else is or has had these INSANE thoughts of DOOM and GLOOM????

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Hi Waiting in the Sun,
I have been off the patches and on kapanol (sustained release morphine). I have got the dose down to 50mg/day but I am still experiencing extreme anxiety and weakness. I hope this passes.
Nimshie29

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I would always put my patches on right after getting out of the shower. I would take the blow dryer warm my arm up were the patches would. Then I would keep my warm hand over them for a few minutes. Stayed on for days and days.

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I am a week off of fentanyl and I had just about every WD symptom. I used Tylenol with codeine and clonidine to deal with withdrawal and am almost done tapering off that. Remember to drink plenty of water and try to go for walks. And do not underestimate the power of a hot shower for the body aches! It can be done with faith and will power. I wish I had read all the nasty stuff about fent before I went on the patches.

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Also....if u can get a full body massage somewhere, get one. It helps tremendously with the body aches and helps to loosen the toxins. Just remember to drink water afterwards to flush everything out. I'm lucky enough to have a massage school right down the street from me that is open to the public. So if u can't afford one at a spa, check out local massage schools. The students need practice hours and many are open to the public for little or no money.

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Yvonne sent u a reply if u want u can get me at my e mail r here .. its really easy to come off fentynal like I said I was doing 150 mch every 2 days for 4 yrs and stopped c/t just using benadryl

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Posters,

I know this is an old post but Elavil is one of the AD's (antidepressants) used to aid sleep but can for some cause horrific cardiac outcomes--it will not do squat for someone coming off Fentanyl. It is not in the case of a poster who mentioned it being used for depression but to aid in sleep.

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Posters,

There is a huge difference in brand versus generic Fentanyl patches: The FDA allows on opioids up to 47% LESS opioid concentration on all forms of pain management drugs.

100 mcg/hour brand is 16.7 mg. Fentanyl
75 mcg/hour brand is 12.8 mg. Fentanyl

Watson 100 mcg/hour generic is 10 mg. Fentanyl (almost 7 mg. less)
Mallinkroft 100 mcg/hour generic is 11 mg Fentanyl (almost 6 mg. less)

A 75 mcg/hour brand is STRONGER then generic on all brands.

Know this if and when you decrease I am nearing death with radically horrible diagnoses including P450 (ultra rapid opioid metabolizer) due to what the government is doing. I had Dr. Famous in California and 10 months go 30 out of state rare pain patients were booted or given the choice of going on such low dosages that according to Dr. Famous' research one would die. There are no choices.

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U mat have already had RLS but the Fentnayl kept ir in remission. Now with no Fent. the RLS is untreated. Sinamet will help.

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Sinnimet is another AD and it is useless.

If you have intractable pain have a GP refer you back to a pain specialist.

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Stephen and Hop,

Odd is it not you are not posting.

If you were really tolerant to this medication then you had to have severe physical withdrawal. I know of no emotional event or love in your heart that can prevent it. Further benadryl has no magic power to reduce this horror, it is a transition and withdrawal becomes WORSE. The first three days is horror and as I've posted and I did this prior to major surgery in 2001. 25 mcg/hour every 7 to 10 days had me on the floor.

Well...

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Try the Tegaderm water proof dressings they use to keep air and moisture out. They reall work for me and I'm a SWEATER. You can go swimming with this things when applied appropriately. Most Dr.s or tech will give you a few. Hope this works!

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Hi, I know this is an old thread but im going through the withdrawal of Fentanyl myself. I have chronic health issues with severe pain. I've been on 62mcg of the Durogesic patch for about 8 yrs. At first the pain relief was a Godsend. I went from being unable to walk to being up and around a little, doing some almost normal things. I also have oxycontin 10mg when needed. I had been on the medication rollercoaster for a few yrs with specialists trying to control my pain before one specialist put me on the fentanyl. 8 yrs later and I've well and truly had enough. Obviously my pain is not controlled due to being tolerant of the dose I'm on and I'm sick of my life being ruled by medication. I have had a few instances where my prescribing Dr has gone away without leaving my scripts and I've had to jump through hoops to get another Dr to write an emergency script. [ I'm in Australia and they will mostly do that] 3 weeks ago I started tapering my patches. I'm on a 50mcg and a 12mcg every 48hrs. Instead of taking the 12mcg off I have cut my 50mcg patch a little each time. This way I can taper slowly. I have been having hot flushes from menopause so the patches weren't lasting 48hrs, and then I started having flushes from the patches. I know because the flushes are different. I also have chronic insomnia. Getting only 3 ish hrs per night sleep. My family says I look like I've aged 20 yrs in the last 8 and I know that's how I look. Hair, skin, everything is affected. I have wanted to get off them for yrs but my Dr wont allow it due to my conditions so I decided to regain some sense of normalcy albeit in pain and wean myself off. I have in 3 weeks gone down about 25mcg and so far doing ok. I still cant sleep and am having flushes and of course some withdrawals too but I'm trying to be strong and I am not turning back now. My pain level is high and Im having a hard time getting around but I still feel better knowing Ill be patch free in a couple of months. I have to do it slowly. Ive had the withdrawals before from trying to come off too fast and it was hell. I don't ever want to feel like that again. I was going to cut the patch at the same place for a week before stepping down a bit more but each time I cut one I cant help myself and I take a little more off each change. I am so angry that when I was put on this medication I was Never told how strong it was or how bad it is to come off. My Dr says I will need to have it for the rest of my life due to my health probs but Im not staying on a day longer than I have to. It really needs to be thoroughly investigated by the patients before you start it. The leaflet info does not tell you how potent or how awful it is to get off. I would never recommend it to anyone. It has been a journey of hell being on this stuff. Pain relief was never great anyway, and despite Dr advice I wouldn't go up in dosage. If I did how far would I have to keep going! Im only 47 and I want my life back.
I really hope those here have had success weaning off. No one should ever go cold turkey. You're body can go into shock and you could die. I know people say that you cant but I have seen it myself. Anyway Im hoping to be off all pain meds in 2 months ish. What then I don't know but at least Ill be me.

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