Fentanyl Patch Withdrawal Symptoms

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I have been on the 100 mg patch and Percocet for my Crohns and Colitis for years. Last week I went cold turkey on my own recognizance. I had my 2nd colostomy surgery which elevated my pain mostly, hence quitting. I am having insomnia and terrible joint pain but never had I been more clairvoyant in years. I take Advil for my back and work out 4 days a week which helps sweat the toxins out. Exercise releases natural endorphins which are like a synthetic morphine so my specialist says. Its up to each individual to face their own truth. When you're ready to quit, you know. I wouldn't advise you to do what I did but that's always been my personality. I quit smoking this way as well. Its not for everyone. Good luck all. After the storm comes the sunshine, TRUST ME!

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HI Iceman,

Thank you for your input! I definitely don't recommend going cold turkey off any medication, but I'm glad that you were successful and have turned to exercise as a method of pain management. I definitely notice that any pain/ inflammation I have subsides once I stick with a workout regime and juice plenty of fruits and vegetables. It's important that others know about the alternative ways to becoming pain free and healthy. Essential oils are also great to try when battling pain, here is a link to a page that offers information about different essential oils for pain: experience-essential-oils.com/essential-oils-for-pain.html

I hope this helps!

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I'm very glad to hear that things are going well for you.

Quitting such a potent narcotic cold turkey can be very tough, even if you weren't abusing it and were only using it as prescribed, so kudos to you.

I also sincerely hope that you continue to do well and that things continue to improve for you in the future.

Can you post back and keep us updated?

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Hi . This is really unheard of. Kudos to you. Is there anything else u used to help.


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Yes I can say kudos, however my story is a little different, I live in a small town very small !!!, My sons car was stolen and my 100mcg patches were in the car, I had some norco and other meds in the car when it was stolen, I took some old methadone and i also had an old rx for morphine I my doc decided to test me and guess what, she stripped me from my meds, and I have a bad degenerative disc disease, I want back on my patches and no other doc in town will take me on as a patient I am not ready to stop my pain meds and really need help to get another doc to help me with this, I thought doctors signed an oath to do no harm, well I am harmed if anyone has any advise please help me.., I am suposed to write a letter to my doc asking her to take me back on as a patient, and sign a new contract but i cannot even get her to call me back, I really need help now very uncomfortable and that might be because I was not ready to get off of the meds. thank you painful in Janesville.

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Hi, I know what you are going though, having been admitted as an emergency to hospital was put on morphine liquid fo a fortnight,then I came home on Fentanyl patches, I decided to come off them as they made me feel so spaced out,BIG mistake i have had sweats,cannot sleep get intensely hot throw off all bedding then get cold then hot again,I get weepy for the silliest things,legs ache,BUT I am determined to do it been off them for 5 days now and cannot say its any easier but am trying to be upbeat and think in another 5 days I should be possibly there,my DOc was no help so had to do it alone,so be brave all of you it can be done just believe in your own inner strength.

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6

I've been on 75mcg Fentanyl patch for eight years...

12 days ago I just ripped the damn thing off. Cold Turkey is a heartless woman(didn't know if bad language was allowed. lol)

I was lifting heavy weights and doing some serious labor before then. Now in the morning I'm okay but by noon I can barely lift a cup to my mouth. Can't sleep. Nausea and cramps.

I want to stay busy but there are hours I can barely stand.

What gives? Will this pass?

How long does it take for your body to be your own again?

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7

Omg how u must be suffering....go to your Dr..tell them to give u a duff med to wean off or to use permanatley, I feel your pain !!
The withdrawal that you suffer is much worse than the pain although then you have both to deal with which is quite unbearable, I see why some people just take their lives!!

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Im off morphine completely and utterly all withdrawal symptoms have gone and I feel normal again took me good month before I felt I was winning so all of you who want to get off morphine patches etc be brave you'll get there in the end.

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9

A few years ago, I stopped smoking cold turkey. The way I did it was to have my first heart attack! Some voice asked if I smoked. I said no. The voice once again asked how long ago I had quit. "I don't know, what time is it?"

After smoking between 2 to 3 packs a day for almost 30 years, I just quit. Reason? PAIN. Nicotine damages heart cells. Congrats on your courage in quitting Fent the way you did. If I quit, I would not be able to walk because of the neuropathy in both feet.

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What kind of medication can they give to help? My doctor was just having me take my dilaudid which ddoesn't really do anything since it is my breakthrough medication but take it daily. Just wondering if it's worth the time to call and get an apt.

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I was on Fentanyl Patches 100mg for over a yr. for 3 herniated disc, mid and low back pain, genetic hemochromatosis and endometrioses. I also suffer from PTSD. I never would have used Fentanyl if I knew how strong it was. I did all PT they asked me too, no surgery and weaned myself off the patches after having radial ablation surgery on my mid back hernias. I went so slow weaning off even then my Dr. thought I did it too fast. I was cutting my flat patches down lil by lil. I went down 10mgs a time then in the end jumped off at 5mgs. I still had withdrawals. After 48hrs I had the absolutely worst night ever. Sneezing, shaking, internal vibrations, uncontrollable freezing and then burning and hives so bad I thought my eyeballs were itching out of my head. My Dr. explained to expect this & I am very determined and stubborn & the patches took away my life that I desperately wanted back. I had No energy whatsoever even quit my job. I pushed past the 48hrs & Dr. gave me Klonapin for anxiety and a low dose of Percocet 4xs day for pain. I am soo much better & soo proud of myself. My husband held me through it all & even wanted me to put another low dose patch on. I just kept saying my mantra " I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me," he said it with me and prayed for me. I never even tried drugs in High School so I prefer if I can go the PT and exercise route with B-12 and nutrition if at all possible this will work for me.

Thank God I had these patches when I needed them. I couldn't even lie down with mid thoracic and lower back pain so bad for two yrs. WE bought a temperoedic mattress (a Godsend for me) an electric blanket and slept with a heating pad on low with icy hot on me.Also started 20mg 1x daily with Prozac which helped me tremendously with the back pain for the better! :} God Bless you all you can do anything you put your mind too if you want it bad enough!. I used oral Benadryl and hydrocortisone crème 1% for the hives and itching that at times you couldn't even see a rash but woke me up at night and drove me to the edge of insanity. Swimming also helped in the latter part of PT. Hope this helps even one person then my pain will have been pain with a purpose! Much Love and Healing to all!! :} Everyone's journey is different and this is just my experience and is what worked for me! Best of Luck!!

JR. I will be glad to answer any questions and support you in any way that I can. e-mail below! :} {edited for privacy}

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Hi, I would like to talk to you about your Crohn's & use of pain medication! I've had Crohn's for @ 15 yrs & usually can tolerate the pain or combat it w hydrocodone, but lately it's been unbearable & I've gone to fentanyl patches. My Dr's aren't very willing to prescribe narcotics for it, which leaves me in a great deal of pain & unable to function/work/enjoy my kids etc. Any advice? I'm getting sooo frustrated with dr's not understanding that I need relief!!

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Oh man you should ween off, you will really be torturing yourself to days of in needless agony.. Good luck.. Reed the Infoseek and suggestions in the forums, a lot of goog help here...

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FENTANYL TRANSDERMAL SYSTEM 50 ug/h PATCH, EXTENDED RELEASE may interact with some other drug or may have side effects as it is Full Opioid Agonists [MoA],Opioid Agonist [EPC].
Side effects and drug interaction caused by FENTANYL TRANSDERMAL SYSTEM 50 ug/h PATCH, EXTENDED RELEASE on different organs can be calculated using ATC CODE.

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15

I just stop 175 mg every 2days.have been on pain meds for 13 years,all of them, and have had enough!! (great job)

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I have been on the 75mg fentanyl patch for four years along with taking 180 mg of oxycodone per day. I want off of both but am very afraid of the withdrawals I will go through. I only weigh 84 pounds. What should I do?

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Hi, my name is Mark I have had 6 surgeries on left shoulder, I'm currently seeing a Dr. Under W/C he's to the point of not helping with pain,tried NSAIDS, did not work, so I started treating myself when he took away pain meds. I started using internet but has been 5.5 years since injury & 1.75 years of my own treating, I'm so tired of the meds.but I hurt so bad. Tramadol was the med that worked the best, I was just so tired of depending on it for pain, so I stopped, started using fentanyl 7.5 for last 2 months but tired of meds controlling my life, I'm on day 7 now and still W/D symptoms sneezing,tightness in chest runny nose restless legs no energy plus dealing with the shoulder pain can't sleep but maybe 4 hrs nightly so how much longer on to feeling better want my life back & Family

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I am taking fentanyl for chronic back pain. now my doctor has passed on and I'm having a hard time being able to make it two appointments due to the withdrawal. I cannot find another doctor soon enough in order to refill my script. what should I do?

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Report the doctor fist to your insurance as they always follow up. This is occurring too often and patients are just taking it, as if doctors words are gods. No one should ever go cold turkey or seizures can happen let alone the sickness that follows. All should taper slowly. I'm down to 4 mcg and will be off soon and still have withdrawal symptoms. Opiates fray our nervous system, so the nerves take time to heal also. Dr's should give calming agents to those who are weaning. If no Dr's to help, essential oils, homeopathic and herbal calmer is best. Accupuncture helps also as they can be specific to your needs.

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20

The doctor ought to be sharply condemned for doing that to you. You filed a report when the vehicle was stolen? That ought to be enough.
Some doctors go on huge power trips, and you need a new doctor. One that judgmental and rigid ought not to be allowed to practice medicine. Going without those medication could have done real damage to you..............I am too disgusted for words. I have doctors in my own family, and if one acted like yours...........I don't know what I would say.... You need a new doctor. If worse comes to worse, contact one who will listen to you........You don't need such a judgmental jerk in your life.....I have too many related to me, and if they acted like that, I would have a lot to say to them.................Good luck to you. Take care and let us all know how it works out for you.

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Re: Blint792 (# 35) Expand Referenced Message

Sorry, im trying to do this on my phone also while having issues with multiple medical and medication issues. I just wanted to add that the information i believe could be of help is all from personal experience so it is not 2nd hand stories that i am not 100% sure to be accurate. Thank you.

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Re: A budside for Add (# 29) Expand Referenced Message

Hi, i would like to discuss with you pain patches, pills, and other medications. I have some stories i believe may help you, but also you may be able to help me.

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Re: tasc5678 (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

That’s a tough story. Sad but true, you sign a Agreement when taking opioids. If I were you, I would have I contacted the Police and got a report. Second, I would have went in to see my doctor and told them what happened. You should always tell your doctor in advance what happened and that you have old meds that you will take until your next appointment. You violated your agreement in so
Many ways. And if this wasn’t your first time , I can’t imagine any physician treating you with
Opioids. Good luck.

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33

I couldn't get the information without a password. The page that popped up didn't offer a way to sign up.

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I have to start off and saying I agree a thousand percent you should never stop any kind of medication especially the ones you're talking about it can cause death plus you saying your success story my influence someone else to try it and that is not a safe way only safe way as you slowly go off of it slow enough that you don't have withdrawals and I know what I'm talking about I was on 100 milligram of fentanyl for four years for a break it back and also one two forms of morphine my doctor gradually took me off all the last one being a patch that patch going to be the worst withdrawals he had to give me more stuff and it didn't help I know what you're saying though when you figure out these medications are controlling us and said they were controlling them exercise and all the other stuff it helps if you have the personality like you do very strong and disciplined it helps the pain I've been there too I lived in a pain clinic for two weeks and I was on a good schedule and then I still went back to pain doctor but I'm 58 years old and I'm always 15 milligrams of an opiate and I choose to stay there but be so very very very careful not everybody knows they could be younger people older people anybody that was on even one of those medications honey and they could to stop and think they could do it you did they could turn a dead that's not just a myth it's a fact it says it on the bottle the only I've worked myself off and it had to be slow and I have very strong will and I had to put it my head these medications are controlling me and I need to start controlling them. Little breakthrough other time and I am a walking Miracle with what little I'm on one pill for all of my injuries one if I've said already I broke my back and I wish I could kick myself in the butt and get out there to exercise. I approve this to myself from laying around for half of that 16 years taken all those medications it doesn't take all the pain away at all when I start getting up and making myself to stuff a little at a time the more I do the better I got it took years but I can't lay around one day and my pain increases if I have to get out and go walk around my yard any kind of activity helps keep your joints moving and my muscles moving thanks a lot guys Tammy

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31

The link to oils about pain management does not include or show information about it.

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30

I had a pretty invasive surgery two years ago to remove a tumor from the roof of my mouth Basically, they removed my pallet on the right side along with all my upper jaw, teeth and sinus tissue on that side as well. I am grateful to say, that after all that and 7 weeks of radiation treatments, I am still cancer free today (two years later last week)!

Since then I have been on very high dosage of pain meds. 150mcg Fentanyl patch along with 10mg oxycodone for break through pain. After a year and a half, I knew it was time to get off the pain meds as it was severely affecting my cognitive function. I struggled at my job as a manufacturing supply chain/production manager, as my role is for a large part, solving problems "on the fly" and relying on my previously sharp memory to recall a lot of detailed information about our complicated processes used to manufacture aircraft engine parts.

Following my doctors recommendation, I tapered off 25mcg at a time, with a month in between step downs to give my body time to adjust. Each time, the first 2-3 days were rough (headache, body ache, nausea), but then things returned to somewhat "normal".

10 days ago, I finally went completely off the patches. The first few days were about the same as before, but since then I have been suffering from severe joint pain, mostly in my shoulders, back & hips. It is not too severe during the day as long as I keep moving, but as soon as I lay down to sleep, it quickly becomes impossible for me to get comfortable. I toss/turn all night. I have not slept more than 2 hours straight in 10 days now, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I have tried taking Advil and Tylenol, but the have no affect. I have tried hot showers and heating pads, also with little/no improvement. I have started "sleeping" on the couch to prevent keeping my wife up all night as well. I am desperate here, and haven't gotten any help for my doctor, other than"hang in there, it will get better with time".

How long will this last? Is there anything I can do to help with the aching?

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29

Hi Ang, I know this is post 6 months old.. however, I wanted to ask how are you feeling? I am not trying to "market" the newest detox places nor am I saying suboxone is what we should even put in our bodies. I am writing a "documentary", of sorts that I'm not only going to publish, but I am still trying to work alongside a producer (as well) for assistance in making this come to life in a documentary film. I am not asking for your time or personal info, I'm low budget so I'm trying to ultimately have this produced and filmed ASAP. If you ever have anything that you would like to have considered as a personal mini-bio for this project, please email me at {edited for privacy}. I, myself, am an addict (I stay away from 'recovering' as I know I'll never be a recovered addict. This isn't a broken leg or injury from trauma. It's often accidental however that doesn't mean I accidentally went to my specialists office and "accidentally" filling the rx for norco he wrote at maximum qty (monthly 2009-2014). I AM an addict SHOPPING & I'll never be CURED, yet I hope to be ok W/ OUT chemical ALTERING PRODUCTS TO face life's tougher moments as well as happy celebrations.

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I have went cold Turkey ON 100 McG of Fentanyl Cold Turkey this past March after it became a PA Drug that needed Authorization from my Doctor which he ignored. Had 1 box left (15 days). I ripped it off & Went through the withdrawal which was a Nightmare for about 7 days & lost 42 lbs. Then went in for Ankle Surgery April 15 2016 & got home & took nothing and Finally Learned to live with the pain after being on the Patch, Vicodin 10/660 & now it's 10/325. Same about Percocet and other drugs since my back went out about 30 years ago which I finally had back surgery February 4 2012 & 4 months later it went out again. So I like you live on Advil but you better eat something as it can & will cause Ulcers.

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Hi Jon, I feel your pain. I am 100% disabled and have been on every pain pill known to man, now I have been on 75mg fentanyl every 48 hrs for 2.5 yrs. Yea they do help a little but I don't get anything for breakthrough pain and now I am having to start over with a new Dr.. I had a heart attack in 2010, I have degenerative disc disease, otheoarthritis etc. So I consume a little cannabis to help with the pain (works great) but new Dr won't write Anything until the lab shows No THC!!! I'm freaking out because I know I'm going to be in severe W/D, no sleep, eat, walk etc... This Sucks! Drs don't like to write the stuff that really helps me, like 40mg opana, 30mg oxycodone, and valium. I am a 55yr old married man who Needs help but can't find a dr that will help me because of the drug abusers ruining it for us that Really NEED the stuff. I'm in Ms.. My wife and I drive 3 hrs, 1 way, mthly, to be treated like a junkie and I only get the 75 mg patches.. Thank You for listening, any and all advice appreciated.

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