Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 69)

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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I haven't read through other replies but Lyrica will help tremendously with the rocking, creepy crawlies, etc. But you must take about three times the recommended dosage. You may want to check with your doctor first but it works. Also, the only thing that really helps with the sweats is something called Oxybutin. Again, check with your doctor. I have been through Fentanyl withdrawals and it is the most horrible experience ever. I had no idea what was happening to me when I tried to get off of the patch. Nothing else worked. Ambien and Klonopin seemed to make it worse. I was still wide awake, having spasms and sweating only I was also in a daze. Good luck.

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I went from 75mcg to 25mcg in 1.5 months. I opted not to go down to 12mcg and took the 25mcg patch off 4 days ago.

When I stepped down to the 50mcg from 75mcg I had the worst withdrawal symptoms and I thought I was near death. I was in the fetal position for a week having involuntary muscle spasms just from that one decrease. I didn't sleep that whole week.

I was pretty determined to come off regardless how painful it was.

I started exercising and getting my heart rate up several days a week. This actually literally elimated most the withdrawal symptoms the next step down to the 25mcg.

4 days ago I had enough of the patch and removed it. To my surprise my withdrawal symptoms are very minimal to what I experienced that first step down. I have mild body aches and I feel like I'm sunburnt from inside out mildly. I'm able to sleep 1/2 the night. I'm able to fully function as normal as before. I'm fatigued, but it's not bad at all.

I believe the exercise and producing endorphins saved me from withdrawal. I exercised 4-5 days a week as long as I possibly could. I'm absolutely shocked I bypassed withdrawal through exercise. I've been on high doses of opioids for 6 years after breaking my neck and severe pain.

Self healing and exercise saved my life.

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Dear Jemmy,
I know it is a long time since you posted your message about the Fentanyl patch and the fact that you were going to try to fold or tape the patch while titrating off it. I am on a generic patch, not Duragesic, the one that has not liquid in it. I have been on Fentanyl since 2000 and want to go off. My husband is afraid I might die and has fought me going off it for years but I want off before I turn 70 years. I am 69 now. Why I am writing is to ask you if you were successful in going off by folding or taping your patch in this manner. I have got to be free of this. I have been on 25 mcgs for 14 years. I have never gone up. I never needed to. I have Fibromyalgia so my doctor put me on a 25mcg Duragesic just to shut me up and get he off his back for Vicodin. It leaked and I almost died when the patch was defective. I fortunately was not one of the 1500 who did die.

It manages my pain about 90% but the patch is causing many side affects: Nervousness, irritation, headaches, brain fog and the worst when in crowds. I can't attend church without having anxiety when around others. So really, I don't have much of a life. Please if you read this, let me know if the patch can be taped or folded even though the paper inside says not to cut or damage it in any way. This is why I haven't done that. Can you help? Thanks,
Lin B

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I also use the matrix type of patch , and I have cut mine before with no I'll effects. Kudos to you for remaining on such a low dose!! You can quickly be off of them with a taper before your birthday. Good luck , and all the best to you.

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13 days since I quit fentanyl. The withdrawal hit about 4-5 days severely after quitting. It was day 10-11 where the involuntary muscle twitching stopped. I'm on zero sleep, sick and achy. At least I've turned around with the severe part of the withdrawal. It's pretty agonizing, but temporary.

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this is so true. I have been on fentanyl patches and lots of other pain medications for 15 years. I Have gone completely off of them 3 times but due to the return of my cancer I had to start it up again. The first time I stopped, the withdrawals were so bad that I was sure I was dying. I was so shaky and jittery. It felt like my body wanted 2 jump around the house. So I decided to do what my body seemed to be telling me. Whenever I had severe withdrawal symptoms I would go on a walk or I would ride our stationary bicycle. This would nearly completely get rid of my withdrawal side effects. The only symptoms that stayed was the lack of sleep at night. I would encourage everyone 2 walk around the block or do a couple of jumping jacks and sit ups when there withdrawal symptoms are really bad. It works. Trust me. The reason we feel so jittery and shaky is because our heart rate is up due to the withdrawals. When are heart rate goes up And our bodies are still, that causes mixed messages to our body and it gives off that yucky feeling of vibrating. Thats why some people feel like they need to rock back and forth. Our bodies usually associate a fast heartbeat with some type of physical movement. Another important thing that I wanted to share was that I used the type fentanyl patches that were made of vinyl. There was no gel substance on the inside. These particular type of vinyl patches can be cut in half. I simply cut off a tiny bit more every time I changed my patch. Pretty soon I was down to a dime sized Piece. You must make sure that you have the correct type before you cut them. Otherwise it is FATAL. My doctor prescribed the type that could be cut and my pharmacist also told me that it was okay to cut them. The makers of the patch State that THEY SHOULD NOT BE CUT, but my pharmacist said that the same company makes the gel patches And the vinyl patches and oftentimes patients are prescribed either patch or whatever is in stock. They worried that patients will not know the difference between the two patches and they could Fatally cut into the wrong type. I used the Mylan brand NDC 0378-9122-16 of fentanyl patches. Like I stated before, there is no gel substance inside of these particular patches. The medication is in the vinyl patch itself.

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Thanks so much all for this info. Now I think I can begin to get off of them. I am on Mylan with not gel but webbing on the back. My only concern is what will I do about the Fibro pain that may still be there in the neck, back legs,and buttocks area. I was told that in time the body begins to make its own morphine that the patch has replaced. Any info on that? I exercise a lot so I know that walking and stretching are vital to success of any kind. How long will it take me to get off 25 after a 14-years dependence? How much do I cut off each time? Any help will be much appreciated. What nice kind ppl you all are. God bless you and keep posting.

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Lin, as you've already read from at least one person, you absolutely CAN cut the patches as long as you're not using the type that has the gel filled clear pouch in the middle. The Mylan brand, which just looks like a thin, rectangular piece of translucent sticky vinyl, definitely can be cut. I don't know how many manufacturers there are currently, not many I presume, but I've only seen two different styles in the 11 years I've been on them.

You're fortunate that you've only been at 25mcg, it will be so much easier for you to get off of them. As far as how much to cut, most people step from 25mcg down to 12.5, and then get off of them completely, so in your case you should be able to cut your patch in half and deal with the minor to moderate withdrawals. If they're too much for you after two or three days at the half dosage, you could try just cutting about 1/3 of the patch off and using the remaining 2/3 of it instead of half. Stay on the reduced dosage for at least 2-4 weeks, while your body fully acclimates, depending on your will power and desire to get off of them quickly. I wouldn't step down again or try to get off of them completely until you feel the same level of normalcy that you felt before you reduced the dosage (i.e. no withdrawal symptoms).

Read through as many messages here as you can for helpful suggestions about dealing with the withdrawals. Good luck, and please come back and post as you progress and definitely when you're completely off. The people here really need to see success stories for inspiration.

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I posted here several times 2-3 months ago as I started my journey to wean off of the 200mcg/48 hrs dosage that I've been on since 2003 (well, early on I was on a lower dosage, but I've been at this dosage for years). I haven't been back to post my progress because I couldn't find the right thread that I had posted to previously (there are so many involving the Fentanyl patches). I started the process about 3 months ago by cutting my 100mcg patches in half, and changing them on my usual schedule. As I mentioned before, it was difficult but not nearly as bad as I expected, with my primary symptom being a severe loss of appetite, and a general blah feeling. Took me a good 4-6 weeks before I felt the same as I did when I was taking my original dosage.

I finally decided to take the next step about 5-6 days ago, and dropped down to 1/3 of my original dosage (currently at roughly 66mcg/48 hours, though it's much harder to evenly cut the patches into 3rds than it was to cut them in half). Didn't have much trouble the first 2-3 days, but by the 3rd or 4th day I was starting to suffer minor withdrawals hours before I was due to change my patch, mostly in the form of the classic restless legs and jumpy body syndrome. No big deal, I'll live. If I have to change my patch a little early at first to avoid severe withdrawals, that's what I'll do for a week or two.

I expect to be mostly acclimated to the new dosage within a few weeks, but I'll probably wait at least a month, maybe more, before cutting down to 50mcg/48 hours, and then from there I plan to step to 25, then either to 12.5 or cold turkey from 25. When I get close to the point of quitting completely, I may ask my doctor for some assistance with any medications that can help with the withdrawals, but for now I'm doing this one on my own. One nice thing is that I have a hefty supply of patches now :). I've still been picking up my usual prescription of 30 100mcg patches/month, just in case, and I've accumulated over 100 patches since I started tapering down :). It's nice not having to stress every month about making sure I get my prescription and get it filled before I run out! (one of the long list of reasons I want off of this hellish drug).

Rayman - if you happen to come back here again, let us know how you're doing.

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Thank you and God bless, for taking the time to explain that to me. I wish more people were that way. It sounds like youve had quiet the health problems yourself. I wish you comfort and, a cure for all your health problems. Lol. Its nice to dream. = )
.

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LittleDavid...how long were you on the 50mcg patches for?

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My Dr. has me on 125 mcg of fentanyl and he got mad at me because I wouldn't give him the name of my neuro but I was just kidding so he told me to find a new Dr and wouldn't give me any new media including my fentanyl or Coumadin. Now I'm worried about withdrawal and don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be great.

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Apparently your Dr. doesn't appreciate wasting his time with jokes as it were. Doesn't sound like you know him real well. You sure it just want the last straw?? No dirty tests? No other unfunny " jokes " in TBS paddy?

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Hi there Enonumus, good to hear from you yes I do read the post on here and seems like we all want the same thing FREEDOM from the pain patch, freedom from the doctor holding us hostage with a percrription pad, having to call and ask for another months worth of patches, and as you said wondering if you have enough to finish the month out, because some fall off, and others, I have pulled off my body because they irritate me so much. I praise anyone who has completed the process of getting off fentanyl compleatly

I did alright getting down to a twenty five, but than hit a road block, after four weeks on the twenty five and having terrible withdrawal problems, and returning pain I chose to go back to the filthy until my life got back in order. Dealing with the wife's cancer and my Parkinson's I made the right choice for now. That being said I do still plan to try again, as we know you have to be honest to yourself and do what ever it takes to be in piece with our own body.

Sounds as though you are still working at it and doing well, I wish you the best, and cutting them works well if you have the right patch. I do read the posts on here, hope to hear from you. Rayman

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They make 12.5 mcg patches? I want to get off of the fentanyl altogether. And then I want off the oxycodone.

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Hi guys! I can't tell you how encouraging this site is. I have never taken hardly any prescription drugs in my life until a car accident 1 1/2 years ago. They are no closer to finding the root of my problem. I am tired of all the meds they throw at me instead of trying to fix the issue. My doc (who happens to be my next door neighbor) gave me Fentanyl 25mcg patch due to Percocet and other meds I was unable to stomach. I have three herniated discs, three bulging discs, facet issues, sacroiliac joint problems, piriformis muscle problems and the grand finale...a terrible sciatic nerve problem that will not go away. It has just stopped my life. I can't exercise, I can't sit, etc. fentanyl made me feel awful, dizzy, loss of equilibrium, insomnia, etc. so I just decided to go cold turkey on this drug...bad choice. I am on my 6th day and I still get the chills and shakes but I am determined to see it through. Fentanyl is so much stronger than morphine. I figured I would wait to use it when I really needed it, etc. my doc was mad but understood. He told me I could have truly harmed myself. I am doing pelvic exercises to move my pelvis to release pressure off of sciatic nerve. It helps some. Am I just doomed to never getting this fixed the rest of my life??? I want my life back!

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Dear Klasychic,
No one here can say whether they will be able to fix you like new but most here are in many ways like you are....we have lost a large part of our earthly lives but isn't not the end. Often these things are allowed to happen to us to bring us to that place where we realize there is more to life than what we see, taste and feel. For me, after my DX of Fibromyalgia, I was spiritually awakened to God's love. I found too that giving to others took my mind off myself so I began to quilt and sew for charity and for my family and I did that for 13 years. After that I took up my guitar again and began singing and playing music to take my mind off my limited lifestyle. I also began to study the Scriptures avidly to find the answers to life and why I am here. I am not preaching, just letting you know that there was hope in my pain. I am greatly comforted knowing that there awaits me a new body made without hands. It is my desire to among the faithful who are given eternal life through overcoming faith.

I am still on Fentanyl and have been for 14 years. I am one of the few who can tolerate it and have some kind of life with it. Without it, I am debilitated. This is my choice: Fentanyl side affects or my bed. And I also chose Jesus. No, I don't like being on the patch. No, I don't like being looked at as if I am an addict. But, they don't know my life so I look at them and think, "you don't know my pain so that's that"!

I pray that you will slow down looking for your physical cure long enough to seek your spiritual cure which is a New Nature/The Second Adam. With this New Nature, you will know help in time of need and also look forward to your New body made without hands. If you care to discuss this more, let me know and we can connect. I will be praying for you.
Lin

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I totaly agree . I come off 100 patch after 4 years with no probs . I think you can really wind yourself for a hard time, but you need to stay calm and centred and things will work out good. I'm not saying it's always easy, I came off oxycontin 80's three a day five years ago and it was pure hell . Good luck to all having a go. Xx

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Stopping by leave another post for anybody following my effort to get off of these damn patches, and hopefully inspire somebody who might come along in the future who's struggling with getting off of these things, or considering starting the process. As my previous posts have indicated, I've been on a 200mcg/48hr prescription for several years now, starting with a 100mcg/72hr dosage as I was transferred from my first trauma center to a second hospital in 2003, following critical, near-fatal injuries from a skydiving accident. In late January of this year (2014), I'd had enough of these things, and built up the courage to try and wean myself off of them, after some internet research of course. I started with a very hefty drop from 200mcg/48hrs to 100mcg/48hrs, by cutting my 100mcg patches in half, and continuing with the same regimen of changing one patch each day (as opposed to changing two patches every two days, which always left me miserable on the second day). The withdrawals weren't too bad, no restless leg really, but it severely affected my appetite. Took me over 3 months before I was ready to step down again, and in early May (almost exactly one month ago) I stepped down to 66mcg/48hrs (technically 33mcg/24hrs).

Today I'm dropping down again, to 50mcg/48 hrs (25mcg/24hrs for my regimen). I still have a ways to go, but I'm very confident that I'll be off of these things this year, without any severe problems, though I'm definitely not looking forward what's going to happen when I stop completely. I told my doctor last month that I had started weaning myself off, but I didn't admit just how much I had dropped so far, since I didn't want him to cut my prescription yet (just in case). In the meantime, I've managed to accumulate 4 full prescriptions at my original 200mcg/48hrs dosage (30 100mcg patches/month). That's way more than enough to get me off of these things this year, or even halfway through next year, but the co-pay is a tiny fraction of what I pay for my insurance each month, so it would be stupid of me not to pick up the prescription. I did have my doctor write me a prescription for something to help with restless leg. He supposedly wrote me for Levitra, but screwed up and the pharmacy hasn't gotten it yet. Hopefully I won't suffer any major withdrawals from this drop-down before I manage to get the scrip.

Anyway, that's just my update. I'll be back to report on my next drop.

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I to am on Ambiem 10 and Percocet 5/325 and also Fentanyl 37 so I wear a 25 and a 12.5 . I have forgotten to change and end up taking more Percocet then realize I need to change my patch . I've also gone through the body being restless and irritable . See I got hurt and feel at work . I ripped something in my neck so I have a lot of shoulder and neck pain along with bad migraines which I take Immatrex when needed. I also take an antidepressant for chronic severe depression. Not being able to work sent me in to a down hill of withdrawl itself . I was used to bring in money and supporting myself and helping with bills my whole life but now if I even go for to long of walks I am down the next couple of days. I have often wondered about getting off all these meds but am so scared I won't be able to handle the pain again.

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