Fentanyl Patch Withdrawal Symptoms And Duration (Page 16)

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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Yvonne, my doctor wasn't honest with me when I was trying to get off the patch. The restless legs and arms drove me crazy. You have come a long way. Try to stick it out. Perhaps there is a natural remedy that could help or another medication that could be used short term for relief. Stay strong.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

Hey, my name is Cynthia Rhoades and I am going through withdrawal symptoms from the fentanyl patches and oxycodone. The first few days after coming off of the patch was very hard cause I had chills very bad. The oxycodone isn't that bad on me but it does seem like it is trying to control my life right now. I try to rest in the chair but the thing is, I have an ostomy bag that prevents me from doing that. I have pain medicine to take if I need to but my husband has control of them and will not allow me to have access to them. I would like some advice on what and how to retrain my mind and body and know how much longer do I have to suffer through all of this. Thank you.

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I too used the patch. My problem with it was it wouldn’t stay on. I tried the cover patches but nothing worked. I was in a constant state of withdrawal. I had restless legs too. I’ve been off the patch for a few years now and still have it. It’s nerve damage from surgeries and scar tissue. The one thing that helps some it to drink a lot of water. I’m now taking 40 mg Kadian (brand name). The generic wasn’t strong enough and didn’t last 24 hrs. Then they tried the 12 hr generic and it didn’t last the 12 hrs. The Kadian (brand name) 40 mg - 24 hour slow release capsule is the only one that works. It’s a purple capsule with the word Kadian printed on it. If it doesn’t say Kadian in the pill, it’s generic.

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Re: Robin (# 13)

Not true. Transform is anti depressant with sleep enhancer. Have been using it for years. Much better than sleeping pills. Also very cheap which is a bonus.

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Re: Cynthia (# 302)

Have a look at The Brains Way of Healing Itself by Norman Doig. He mentions a Pain Doctor who uses visualisation along with Doig's method or brain training. I looked up the Doctors name online and praticed his method visualising the body's and brain's natural processes of dealing with pain and it worked wonderfully. You will need some kowledge if the brains chemistry and function to be able to apply this method.

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Restless legs are definitely a symptom of opiate withdrawal. For me, as I lowered my Fentanyl patch dose, I realised that Endep was exacerbating the restless leg symptoms! My pain doctor told me to increase my Endep (Amitryptaline), but my GP (family doctor) told me that any tricyclic antidepressants can, on their own, cause restless leg syndrome. He was absolutely correct! Instead, my GP had me half my Endep (it could be Doxepin, Dothiapin, or any other tricyclic), and put me on 5 mg Valium, one twice a day. Then reduce both that and the Endep gradually. It worked, but I relapsed a bit by trying to fall asleep (withdrawal keeps you awake) using more Endep! That's when the light really came on in my head. The Valium comes with its own problems. It shouldn't be used in high doses or prolonged periods. Being on one 5mg tablet, twice per day was easy to stop. I simply reduced the number by breaking off half. First day 1/2 (2.5mg) a Valium morning and one at night (to help sleep and reduce restless legs). Each week, over around 6 weeks, I kept reducing every medication until I was at zero. Even then, you may need an "emergency" supply of Valium because Fentanyl withdrawal can be relentless over the first 4 to 6 months. In Australia, Valium (diazepam) comes in 2mg or 5mg doses. If you get the 5mg, they have a scored line on them. Just use half. Wait for a couple of hours. Still restless legs? Take the other half. Be careful that you don't trap yourself by doing this too often. The last thing you need now is a benzodiazepine addiction.

Slow reduction is the way to success. I was on 100mcg Fentanyl (Durogesic - NOT the reservoir type) every 3 days for 8 years! It took me nearly a year to fully quit. Having said that, I am still prescribed Valium as needed ONLY for spasms (my spine was fractured and required 5 surgical procedures over 3 years) and, maybe - MAYBE (I'm serious) one Panadeine Forte (Tylenol 3 for USA) if pain becomes a problem. I actually find Aspro - clear (fully soluble aspirin) does a much better job than ANY combination pill (Panadol or Tylenol + codeine) does. That's me. It's personal. Everyone is unique. Remember that, when things become difficult, the reason you are doing this overweighs the negative. Be positive. It really helps. Get support. Be 100% honest with your doctor. If he/she treats you badly, find another doctor who cares. It took me 3 doctors to finally hit that home run. He took before and after photos of me. I looked absolutely ghastly 5 years ago. Now I have a healthy weight, full face and my short term memory is back to normal. I wish you all the best. You CAN DO IT. Keep reminding yourself of that. Get a cheap electronic scale. I was 55kg 5 years ago. Now I'm 75kg. I'm 6 foot tall. Lastly, you might believe that you need opiates because you're really hurting without them. I was scared of that. It's not true. Your pain levels will return to normal WITHOUT Fentanyl or any other opioids. Read up on "Hyperalgesia". It's quickly become a hot topic. The more opioid intake, the more it's likely to be a CAUSE of pain. You have to trust my word here. The 1st thing that I noticed was pain reduction (especially nerve pain) with dose reduction!

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Re: Sharon (# 290)

I also take Mirapex for my Restless Leg Syndrome. It comes in a generic and several strengths. It has been the best help for my creepy crawly legs after coming off Fentanyl. Don’t know how I would have been able to make it as easily without it.

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Re: RSD Angel (# 307)

Another supplement that helps is potassium. Also the bodies electrolytes should be balanced.

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I had 4 low back surgeries. I have major restless leg symptoms. Mine is nerve damage. I have lost a lot of the feeling gas in my Right leg down to my toes. The one thing I do is drink a lot of water. It does help with cramping.

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Re: Debra (# 67)

Gabapentin (Neurontin) doesn't work for restless legs withdrawal, not for everyone anyway. I'm 21 days off 100mg every 2 days for 13yrs and my legs haven't stopped hurting but 2 days ago they got better. I still can only sleep 3 hours or less in 36 hour period, I have no appetite and I've lost almost 40lbs. My chest still pounds and I have high bp anyway (clonidine helps). I sneeze about 100x a day still, I'm not so anxious now because dr put me on (risperdal), my body still shakes and I feel like I'm in hell a lot of the time.

I've gotten off of lots of other narcotics but this one is the worst I've ever experienced! I started taking them for nerve damage in my lower back and the last 5 yrs I've been trying to get off them, the last 4 times only lasting 5 to 7 days so I've made it much farther this time but I'm so dang tired I'm thinking about going to a clinic. I wished to God I had never started taking them and wouldn't have had I know It was going to affect me so badly! My teeth started getting loose a couple of years and it's so embarrassing. I lost my mom the same day I threw my patches away this time so the sadness and grief just amplified my wd's.

I have a good support system in my family but I'm beginning to wonder if I need more help with this because I'm not giving up! The risperdal and clonidine really help just still not enough, I'm starting to wonder how long these withdrawals will last. I can go a day or 2 without much withdrawals but then the next day it's as if I just quit taking them..I don't mentally want one anymore but my body wont understand that. It's crazy, please don't start taking these unless you just absolutely cant take anything else!! It just takes a cpl of patches to get your body addicted even if you don't think you, your body is. And the longer and the more you take them it will be even longer to get over withdrawals.

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Klonopin (clonazepam) works well for restless legs syndrome. I was prescribed it for RLS but also have been wearing off fentanyl patch. I do not have issues with restless arms and legs, which may be due to the clonazepam. I do have anxiety and stomach problems.

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