Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 10)

I'm trying to wean myself off the Fentanyl patch. I went from 75 micro-gms to 50 now I'm on 25. Having a problem and not sure it is related to the decrease in the med. It's been 20 days on the 25 micro-gm and I'm going crazy. I need to keep rocking, moving in any way b/c my body is very restless. Is this a symptom of withdrawal and what do I do? I cannot take it any more.

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tigerlily what did you mean to ignore you ....i haave had no patch since thursdy .....its awful im trying colosapam and badryl ....and many hot baths ....im going crazy .....any suggestions .....im waking up at 130 everynight ,,,and cant get back to sleep.....im praying !!!!!!!!

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If I would have known....Apologies, I was under the impression you were still on the 12.5 patches. If you were down that low, and nothing since Thursday...HANG IN THERE!! I don't know what Colosapam is ....the only thing I could find is Colospam which seems to be an antispasmodic, antivertigo thing. I don't know anything about it. By Badryl did you mean Benadryl? I found it did help a little with the itchy crawlies, but worked best at bed time.
Have you been going through this just since you quit on Thursday?...or did it start already earlier as you were tapering down? I'm interested because everybody wanted me to taper, and I refused and went cold turkey from 100 to 50 to zero in 2 days. Its BAD...but I wonder if it is really any easier by tapering?
My life saver so far is the Valium! I doubled the Dr's dosage for the first 2 days, and am gonna cut back now...so I took 6 first day, doing 5 today, then following Dr. who said 3 one day 2 next and then 1. That leaves 3 left over just in case.
I honestly felt ALMOST human this morning, although the symptoms are coming back now...but not quite as strong as before. I HOPE, given a couple more days I will be done with done with this, please GOD!
Talk to Tessie...she has been my inspiration throughout this so far!

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To all...does anyone experience a distinct body odour coming through in your sweat when you get the hot flashes? I swear I can SMELL the Fentanys still oozing out of my pores! Am i going insane? My daughter says she smelled it too...but is it the Fentanyl?..or something else entirely? It drives me crazy on top of the rest of the hell!

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tygerlilly....noyour not crazy ,,becauzse if you are than iam ..i smell it in my breath ,,,and skin ....my day is ok ,,im starting to get shaky ...anyone know when it will start getting nbetter ...i must admit tappering is alot easier cause when i was sick with H1N1 ..i didnt change patch for 6 days instead of 3 days ..it was awful.....im praying for everyone...

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I'm so PROUD of both of you Tyger and If only!! AND you're not crazy, the withdrawals should be much better and you should about be done with the WORST although I did find good days and been for 2 weeks afterwards, but NOTHING LIKE THE FULL BLOWN withdrawals. AS FOR THE smell the fentanyl or what is is based in actually stays in your system for 27 days, DON'T PANIC, I mean the smell and stuff, noticed it was well and I swear I could taste or smell it sometimes. I WAS TOLD THIS BY THE SAME REHAB SPECIALIST THAT TOLD ME THAT IT TAKES A FULL 72 hours after patch if OFF before you are in FULL BLOWN withdrawals. You guys are so great. I'm so glad to hear you had a better night tygerlily. It will get easier, just don't get discouraged on the bad days, keep hope that the next day will be a good one, I've found through the 37 some days now a POSITIVE ATTITUDE is as essential as anything. Sounds corny maybe but I keep thinking back to the FULL BLOWN WITHDRAWAL DAYS AND NIGHTS and it helps me remember that THINGS COULD BE WORSE LOVE AND PRAYERS TO ALL!! HANG IN

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If I would of known, I was looking through posts again, didn't realize you had had patch off since thurs either...
you will have a couple more bad days/nights, they ran together for me, sleep when you can day or night if you can... Is is klonepin of clozepam that you are on, I know one of them is a relative of the benzo family (like valium and xanax) which should help a little, you will have a couple more tough days ahead but ITS WORTH IT I PROMISE!! The Benadryl does really help as well as the hot baths, there were two nights in a row I had 3 hot baths, about every two hours, heating pads, ben gay rubs, whatever works best and/or helps you best!! Hang in there.

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If anyone here doesn't feel better in a Couple of nights Or I should say in a couple of months, then it may be a case of PAWS..That is why I have never lied and told people that I PROMISE IT WILL GET BETTER Chances are it will, but if you don't get better in a few months, feel depressed, feeling of doom, etc, you should get to your doctor ASAP because PAWS is a serious medical condition that for a small group of patients, it just stays on, for me it lasted YEARS. I tried suicide before I got the help I needed..That is why no one should attempt this on their own,,And it doesn't matter if you are a chronic pain patient or an addict or both. Opiates affect us wheather we like it or not. There happen to be forums on this site and other sites that deal with fentanayl and PAWS..My God Tessie you are willing to say anything that would make you look like your way is the only way,,I just hope that no one gets hurt by your one sided so called IT ALL GETS BETTER BS. For those of you that have been able to taper congratulations, just make sure to find a support group while you are going through everything..This board can help you want to taper, but it won't help you stay that way. When people here get over their WD's they just decide to leave (If you look back from just a few months a lot of the women have left because they are over their WD's..You need to talk to people AFTER YOUR WD'S TOO..

Pat

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I have read through all of my posts, and NOWHERE have I said anything against anyone wanting to try and get off of opiates. Tessie, your posts were great up until a few days ago, You were telling people the same thing I was DON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT MEDICAL HELP. Now all of a sudden you have changed, and yes you did tell someone they would have to get off of the benzos also...Whatever beef you have with me, is nothing..I will continue to tell people to do nothing without their doctors advice, and I will never tell anyone to not quit..I have stated several times that if I could live w/o opiates I would be very happy, but I have given it my best and I can't..But that is me, and no one else. so before you accuse me of saying things I haven't said, go through all of my posts and see where you are wrong,, You should be working with me and not against me, I am here to tell peoplw about responsible use of prescription medication. you are here to let people know they can be prescription free from opiates if they wish,,..I will continue to try and help anyone I can. and I hope you will to, but I will call anyone not just certain people on the BS that WD's can't kill you, that is ALWAYS GETS BETTER, and that prayer works for everyone..Prayer doesn't work for me because God either never existed or he just does't give a crap anymore, and that is just me. Prayer works for a lot of people, but you can't say it works for everyone because that is impossible..Some people are atheists and some are Agnostics like me..You do give a lot of good advice, just be careful with the feel good crap it isn't realality for a lot of us,,No one size fits all, and arsehole are like opinions, everyone has them..

Pat

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Pat, this is MY LAST POST ADDRESSED TO YOU...SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT ME AFTER THAT. I feel good, I pray, I believe in God and I feel better off the opiates that I have in 25 years, I NEVER SAID I WAS TOTALLY DRUG FREE, I still take an occasional antianxiety medication and have been off and on different anti-depressants throughout my life. IF YOU DID LOOK THROUGH THE PREVIOUS POSTS YOU WILL SEE YOU ATTACKED AND FOUGHT WITH MANY PEOPLE....ALL OF WHOM WERE and are just trying to help OTHER people. THAT IS WHAT A FORUM IS. I never said others couldn't go to WEB MD or other sites and I am not ASS U MING that they are too stupid to know there is other information out there. ALSO ONLY IF I HAVE BEEN ASKED A DIRECT QUESTIONS by a person have I GIVEN WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL MEDICAL ADVICE. Some doctors are freaking idiots just like some people. I only want to support and HELP ANY WHO ASK ABOUT THE PATCH and MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT. Sorry you have such a hard time with your health and your life but I'm not going to bring OTHERS on this site down by arguing with you about stupid crap!! You are only right about one thing EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS, but everyone has ATTITUDES and AGENCIES and SMARTS and I PREFER to let OTHERS decide if they want my advice or not. If they address YOU then I WON'T BOTHER THEM.

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Tyger and If I'd have known, If you have any other questions or need support I'll BE WATCHING FOR YOU!! Hang in there and I hope you both continue to get feeling better. Happy Holidays and God Bless with your trials and struggles.

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tesse.its been since thursday ...and even though its not as bad the first time i went cold turkey ...there are times in the days when i feel like iam going crazy ...i take gravol benadrtl and colaszpam.sometimes i get urge to put on a little little piece....when will it start to get better .....please pray for me ..thank you for your support....

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to If I would have known....I know exactly how you feel about putting a little tiny piece of a patch back on! I have been sooooo close to doing it, but I listened to Tessie! I think it will only prolong the agony. Do you have anything else at home? When I just couldn't STAND it, I broke down and took a tiny 1/2 Hydromorphone...only 2 mg...but its a fast acting fast disappearing opioid...it got me over a real rough spot! Just too afraid that even a sliver of a patch will last another 72 hours in your system....extending this misery by another 3 days again! The other day I took a couple Motrin...not an opium based thing, but it also seemed to take the edge off....along with the Benadryl, valium etc. My recommendation...follow Tessie's advice....do NOT touch even a smidgen of Fentanyl, and find anything else that is short acting short term that will carry you through....even if its a very occasional very small opioid of some sort like 1/2 a 5mg morphine if you can beg or borrow one from a friend.I only took 3 valium today..no opioids at all...it was hard..but I'm getting there. I really think I just MAY be at the 1/2 way point. You and I ditched our patches on the same day...but I think you were on it longer than I was...it may take your body longer to rid of it all. I will keep you in my prayers, and hope it gets better soon. I am actually looking forward to see what tomorrow brings me......hope I'm not disappointed....I'll let you know!

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Does anybody find that smoking Marijuana can help take the edge off withdrawals for a few hours ?

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Steve...sorry I wouldn't know...I don't have any access...but I think if you look back, someone DID recommend it.

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If I'd have know, DON'T PUT PATCH BACK ON, IF YOU REALLY WANT OFF IT!!! Tyger is exactly right, it is a slow release, therefore even after you take it off its still in your system again. She is also right about any short acting opiate especially now that you are this far out or the benzo's, valium, xanax, etc really do help!! If you feel you truly NEED/WANT something go with the short acting, like the percocet or whatever you doc recommends, I had some some of the hydromorphone tyger was talking about and a little tiny bit can help. How long did you say you had been on patch though because tyger is right about that too, I was on for over five years, I felt like it took a little longer than some others to get out of my system. The rehab docs I spoke with and my two friends who have rehab experience BOTH say at seven days, with patch, you are at end of worst, I noticed the same BUT I didn't feel GREAT, the 8th day just a HECK of a lot better than the others, it still takes a little while to get back to yourself. I don't know if you read my previous posts but when I first went off the stuff and was lucky enough to have friends with access to rehab docs (who know what the heck they are talking about) I was told the PATCH is 80 times more powerful than morphine, that is to say because of the amount they have to put in one to get you through 3-4 days and then the left over effects that stay in you after you take it off it is a *&^% of a POTENT bad drug, thus what people have said about it being easier to withdraw from heroine than the patch, believe it or not, every minute, every hour, every day its getting out of your system and your body is getting better and better, I HAD DAYS I HAD TO JUST THINK THAT OVER AND OVER!! Hang in, you can do it. Is your clozepam stuff like the muscle relaxant stuff or does it have an anti-anxiety in it?? Do you have a GOOD doc, or one that will prescribe you a little bit of valium or something?? THAT is what really helped me and it sounds like it really helped tyger too!! Also, I will & do pray for all of you!! and everyone who is trying to get rid of this evil patch!! I don't like pain, and I'll be the first to admit I'd take a percocet rather than gut out some BAD pain but these freakin patches are plain wicked!! Good Luck!! Hope this helps. I know its hard when you feel like crap but keep up your status, it helped me feel better to read other peoples status and there will be others who need your help. Good luck to all.

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Looks like everyone has deserted. Its day 6 for me and I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think as you said Tessie, the turning point will be day 8....I hope I don't regress!
If I would have known....how are you coming along? Getting better? Let me know.
Tessie...you have been my lifeline! Thank you ever so much for your support, your advise, and your prayers!

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Tygerlily, there are hundreds of people going through the exact thing you are going through. I can't help you because I have no desire to get off of the opiates I need to live a somewhat normal life. I have noticed that when the people here get better they stop posting,. I am not saying Tessie will do that because I dont know her, but you aren't out of the woods yet and you need to talk to some people that are going through what you are. I wish you the best in your taper, and remember, if you do feel PAWS coming on, get to your doctor ASAP..... Happy Holidays.
Pat

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Thank you allllll.Today is day 8 ...nights are realhard BUT iam sooooooo excited I did it ........Thank you to all.Iam going through a real bad deppression ....has anyone had that happen to them ..i feel like iam loosing my mind .....BUt I promise I will not put a patch on ...never again .I reall y wish we could meet in person ..to really have that bond that we share on here ....I was on patches for almost 3 years .If i would of know what they were I never would ......

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If I would have known: have recounted & today is day 8...and its as if the SUN has come out to shine once more! I am FREE!!!!(I HOPE)
THREE YEARS!!!... I cannot imagine...I was only 6 weeks!..I did sort of deal with a tiny bit of depression....more like extremely vulnerably moody...started crying at anything...but I'm positive that the Valium helped with that. Have you managed to get any yet? It for SURE helped me! I am so proud of you for not giving in!!!
Spoke to a neighbour today who I discovered is a drug & addictive substance counselor...she says Fentanyl is one of the absolute WORST things to get off from....and many many people can't handle it and give in and put on another patch. If you can possibly do it...keep hanging in...it will only get better day by day considering how long you have been off now. KEEP IT UP....WE ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU I'M SURE.

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I tried to reply to this thread, but it isn't showing up. I am going to give it another go. I have been on the Fentanyl patch for 5 months now, due to a horrible accident. I was hit by a drunk driver while riding my bicycle. I had a crushed spine, and broken pelvis. I had a spinal fusion of the T11-L3 and a pin placement in my pelvis. Before the accident I was an avid triathlete. I am wanting to get off of this patch. My doctor has me on 100 mcg every 48 hours. Yesterday I went 72 hours with the patch, and toward the end of the evening, I was very restless and I felt like I couldn't sit still. I have Oxycodone for breakthrough pain, and I immediately took one, and decided to change my patch. I felt better in a couple of hours. I am very afraid of the withdrawls. I do not think I have the energy to go through them if they are as horrendous as I have seen described. I am considering cutting my next patch in 72 hours. I have the Mylan patch. I know my doctors would be supportive of tapering down. Is that the better option? Or would c/t be the best? I read on the thread about not having w/d symptoms if you taper the dosage of the patch. I am getting very depressed about this. I am very sad that my body is addicted to this drug. I just want to be pain free and drug free. I am a Mommy and I could not imagine taking anger out on them. They have been through enough with this accident. If any of you can please help me, I would be so grateful. I am also a devout Christian, and I do believe in the power of prayer. Thank you so much. Hugs~

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