Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 4)

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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Hey fellow fentanyl withdrawers!!!
This is what I love about being off the patch, as well as the breakthrough oxy's- no longer do I count the days beforey refill is due. No linger do I have to be treated like a potential abuser by my HMO, signing agreements that stigmatize me.. aluding to illegal use. I don't have rashes and adhesive marks anymore..I don't live in a fog...once I was through the worst of the withdrawal, I had a brain again. I look forward to more improvement. Thank all who offer encouragement on this site. All opinions are valid from those who have experiened opiate dependency. Our Docs haven't walked through the fire.. Big Phara is culpable to a large extent. Med schools now are educating more , to prevent iatrogenic addiction. Thre is a site called painEducator. that publishes an journal you might be interested in. We need to be partners in our Heath care. Knowledge will arm you to make the best choices. If I have known what I do now about drug toleance and withdrawal five years ago!

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my boy friend is de toxing cold turkey from a 50 mg fentanyl patch and he wants to rip his vains out. he is not under any care as he threw out his patches and pissed off his Dr. but he can go to the hostpital as he was advised, he is worried about that and embarrased. I am very worried about him, he is a wreck. Any suggestions? We need help

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C/T off the patch- why?
Whoever put him on the patch has a legal duty to taper him off- going down in mg -maybe with suboxone the last week... Go back to the Dr. Or find a new one! Educate yrself about the detox process, and get medical help ! Blessings for a good outcome.

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need help! We are about to go to the ER His dr has worked great with him, he was on a 100 and he wet to the 50, was going to be on it 1 month and was feeling so bad he threw them out. Well that neded his reations for now with his dr, who is currently on vacation. He is really hurting. Do you kno what they might do in the ER, that is where hi Dr. told him to go. He has needle surgery to deaden the nerves in his spine on Tuesday, I have no idea how he will make it threw it

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Sam, hopefully your beloved has been handled... It sounds like he wasn't in command of himself- tossing the patches. Hopefully he will be tappered off more slowly 100to75to5o on down to were he can come off without going crazy with the w symptoms. A pain management doc is needed. Make sure they understand he is not an addict!!!! He needs gentle care, not NA slogans. You love will be tested by this... But stand by yr man! ( whoa- must be channeling a country station) aloha

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I just drove him to the ER, i was told not to go in with him. I am praying they help him. He has been going nuts on any dose for 2 months, he could not take it anymore and figured he could tough it out, he did not tell till a week later and he was down to 1 patch, he made it threw my birthday. I really hope he is okay. We live in a fishing town were heroin has been a big problem and oxycotin too, they are very judgmental and I PRAY he will be alright, I hate these drugs!! So much.. they were killing his mind and his body, makes me cry. Thank you for writing and understanding.

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I have been on Fentanyl patch for 2 years along with Norco for breakthrough. I have MS and gnawing nerve pain from the knees down. I do not like the way the patch makes me feel ( tired, lazy, un-motivated, etc...) I was on 50 mcg and went down to 37 mcg and finally to 25 mcg. I took my last patch off on Thursday, and have had the worst WD symptoms, , more than I expected. I have still been taking the Norco, I figure that I can ween down on that after I get through the patch. The worst symptoms are restless legs and arms and sleeplesness. I have taken an Ambien the last two nights and that helps but as soon as i wake up and feel the restlesness in my legs and arms i have to get up and take a Norco and wait for an hour for it to kick in before I feel semi-comfortable. i am also taking Baclofen for spasticity ( a very small dose 5mg 2-3 x a day. Does anyone know how long the restless leg/arm takes to go away?

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They have taken him to a rehab from the hospital. Does anyone know what they will do or what he is going threw. I am so worried I am sick to my stomach. Will they put him back on the patch because he quit cold turkey from 50 mg? Any words of expierence or advise would great as I cannot talk to him and do not know where they took him. Many many Thanks! Sam

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Cali Girl..I have been hearing a lot of people say how bad the patch makes them feel..I am glad that is one opiate I wasn't prescribed. Have you thought instead of trying to go CT off of the patch to just ask your doctor for something else?? My uncle has MS and talkling to him I know for him at least it is impossible to go through life w/o anything for pain. That of course is your choice, but for heavens sake, don't do this on your own. You haven't even started WD's yet, and after that, you have to deal with PAWS..For most people it can last from a few weeks to a few months, for me, it never went away. PAWS is post acute WD's. The symtemss vary, but can include depression, RLS, never having any energy, not feeling well, and in the worst case, wanting to die. I did try to commit suicide because the PAWS didn't go away even after a few years of abstinance, All I am saying is, no one can tell you You can do this everyone is different,. Make no serious medical decisions W/O talking to your doctor first.Your life is too important to just throw away because one drug is horrible for you. I take an opiate that has no side effects at all for me (I am not saying for you to take it) I am only saying that this is what helped me when I wanted to die because of pain and depression and the worst case of RLS in the world (at least I thought it was the worst) I take methadone, I feel like I haven't taken anything, no cloudy head, no tiredness, but it takes the pain away ,,Ask your doctor because only he/she can tell you what the best course of action is,, Good luck!!

Pat

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Sam- does yr bf have any relatives nearby? Did he go in under some legal status? If it was with his consent, you or a relative can be kept inford as to treatment. Likely, they will have him on a cocktail of drugs manage the detox.
Since he kinda went a little nuts , heat ne under a pysch.
Yr job is to find h a savvy drvto help ho taper off meds. Heat be given suboxone , or put on methodone.It works for Pat.
If he wants to Be off all opiate meds, post and I will direct you guys to methods of non drug pain management.
Stay positive!
Don't let the authorities bully you or him!!!
Get help
stay calm
be strong
you aren't alone, there is a community of people that know what you are going through... And we send peace to yr heart and healing to yr boyfriend.

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He called, and your right he was nutty! They had him on suboxone and a slue of other things for cramping. He signed a consent and the place I was told is okay as they go.I think he is there for a bit. I will hopefuly be able to speak with a Dr. today but did speak with a nurse. He wants to be opiate free. He went on the patch after being on and detoxing from Oxi. and he hated that too. he does not want me to visit, I will wait and try to be patiant and send my prayers and love to him. He was NOT him self and wanted to break out, said he was measuring the fence, oh dear no. I know he needs their help. Thank you for writing HB. I really mean that. Still praying and trying to stay calm. Sam

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He is home!!! Thank god and so happy to be off the patch. He feels pretty good but I know the drugs the put him on are in full effect. So I have no idea what is next to expect. He is having needle surgery on his back in morning to deaden his nerves that the spine is pinching. Hawaiian Boy, thank you and we would love to hear about pain releive staying opiate free. He wants nothing to do with them. THANK YOU again...Sam

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Hawaiian boarn..The doctor does have a legal oblagation to taper him, but unfortunatly doctors arent always ethical nor do they give a darn about us. I was cut off of some very dangerous medications to go cold turkey. I wasn't abusing them, but I couldn't pay my whole bill off at once so he dropped me as a patient. AFTER BEING IN HIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I was cut off of benzos which may in fact kill me when I run out. I am suing him right now. The paperwork is in and hopefully he will lose his liecense for medically knowing he could kill me. Don't always think doctors have your best interest at heart, they don't. To the poster who is being cut off, file a suit ASAP. It is time these doctors who think they are God be put out of business..
Pat

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Sam, if your BF is being given surgery to deaden the nearves that cause him pain, is it possible that after this surgery he will no longer be in pain? If that is the case, then both of your nightmares are over. But if it doesn't work, what can you do to ask a doctor to help him? I truely wish I didn't have to take opiates either but sometimes we have to do things to have a somewhat normal life. I tip my hat to the people here who are able to live in severe pain W/O opiates, but some of us can;t do it, They are truly the lucky ones,,I tried living opiate free, it just didn't work. Your BF was taking a brutal narcotic (I Have never taken it, but when I hear about it, it makes my skin crawl) I really hope he can live opiate free, but if for some reason he can't don't be upset, there are other opiates that don;t cause the misery that Fentanayl does.. Leave your options open and whatever happens, I wish you all the best
Pat

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Hi Sam and hi also to your Person!
Glad u r off the patch. If you are on suboxonne, y are stll on opiates, of course, and hopefully on a taper schedule, after your procedure.
Do the research. Get a doc involved, someone in pain managemt. Try staying away from adjunct drugs like anti-depressants
IF you can, is my advice, strictly as a layman who has suffered through withdrawals from benzos, opiates, neurotin, and ADs.
Read some books on mindfulness.
I really like Pema Choldron the places that scare you. It's about not getting into the drama of your pain... Leaning into it instead of trying to escape from it. It works!!!
Find things to laugh about. Send good thoughts are attention to others who are suffering like u.
Chi gong... Helps move energy.
You will go through some tough times dealing with symptoms fr withdrawal and the nerve pain. Just kee telling yrself it's worth it to be free!
Hope allgies well ! Keep posting and Hang Loose,Bro!

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Well, he had the procedure, no drugs, very painful, four needle sites in his spine! He is still very grogy and in allot pain. We will have to wait now to see how the detox and the the pain do. He is whipped. I think it's time for new Dr., Now how to find one that will be his primary care? THATS A BIG QUESTION? He has had a hell of week. Thank you all, we keep you posted, maybe this can help someone else out. I still don't know how this is quite going to all be managed? Hoping for the best. But wow was he happy to be out of the rehab. Again our Thanks!!!!! Sam

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As you predicted the Suboxone has worn off. He is drug free. But cannot sleep up last two nights all day and bad crmping. But no sleep is driving nuts. PLASE any suggestions on what to take? Is in further detoxing as you thought he would HB. How long do you think it will last ? Not sleeping and the detox. The pain from the needle surgery is so bad we do cannot tell yet if it worked or how well it worked.. But the SLEEP thing is making him crazy.. Plase advise if you have time,, Many Thanks! Sam

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Just a quick post.
First, congratulations on getting off the patch! If u can focus on that, it will help.
Go back and read the posts from the last two weeks and u will see the progress made. Also, they is some good advice from many people about withdrawal.
This is the actual withdrawal state- the acute stage. Insomnia is the most common W/S in detox. Also the runs, spasms, electrical zaps,restless legs, chills. Okay?
Now- you can get back in bed with Big Pharma and take all sorts of drugs to control it, or just let your body come to it's own healing.
Do you want to get the crap out or stop it up with a pill? Seems to me it is better to clean out.
The sleep will return. If you take drugs, your body will never re adjust to natural sleep. I took benedril and melatonin drugs when desperate. A dr will perscribe Valium, lyrica, or one of the z drugs. Short term, not every night, may be ok for him. Get a Dr on board with you if u are going to use more pharmacuticals.
Otherwize- progressive relaxation, music, baths, prayer, meditation, good clean food, loving,and acceptance will led the way back to health. Hope the procedure helps with the pain. Swimming helps me a lot! aloha from Maui

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I know people mean well, but there are addicts who have been on opiates for so long that they are incapable of ever being 100% drug free. I am one who says try everything to stay clean, but it after a long time the PAWS doesn'r go away and it isn't working for you, then there is no shame in using pharmacuticles with your doctors help and permision. None of us has the right to make a statement like youre body WILL heal itself. For some people that is not possible. My best friend shot his brains out with a 44 magnum because people made him feel like a failure for not being able to stay opiate free. For him, death was better. so please don't tell people how things happen when you don't know. Opiate addiction is a different monster, and some people CAN'T live W/O them, and there is no shame in that. I am so happy you found peace with yourself and are able to be abstinant, for others it isn't peaceful. it is a living Hell on earth. that is what it was for me. I am not ashamed of that. I would no sooner tell you that you need opiates, so why would you tell a person you dont know that they can do it. Only that person and their doctor can answer that.. What happenns one day if you have an accident or need major surgery? are you going to have surgery with a local and take motrin for pain? Good luck finding a doctor who will treat you. People have died from shock due to pain. I know you are sincere. but please do some serious reading on opiate long term abstinance and then look at both sides of the fence. There are 2 sides to every story

Pat

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SAm, What kind of needle surgery did your BF have, and how long has he been in pain. On a scale from 1-10 how bad is the pain? If he is still not better PLEASE take him back to his doctor and let them decide what to do. As for the insomnia, I have had that my whole life and it is Hell. If he hasn;t slept in a long time he will get sick. Tell your BF to listen to his body, he will (with the help of his doctor) know what he needs to do,Why live in constant agony if you dont have to or you just can't?? Only your BF and his doctor can know what will help him. Not any self help books, or eating right is going to help if he is in constant pain wheather it be actcuall pain, or mental pain. Life is too short to live in agony...You and you BF are in my thoughts...

Pat

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