Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 71)

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 hope somebody answers this. I am 69 as well as a previous poster who wanted to know the same thing as me regarding the cutting of the patches. I have only been on Fentany 37.5mcg ( that's one patch of 25 and one of 12.5) due to the fact that 25 wasn't helping enough with the back pain after a disc prolapse and yet 50mcg just made me nod off all day long. So we settled for the 37.5 and that did the trick. I hated the spaced out feeling, the memory lapses the constipation and the sweats and extremes of freezing cold and being in a hothouse but at least the pain was gone pretty much. It's been only five months but now I feel my pain may be diminished somewhat and have cut down to see how I go. Trouble is I cut down to 12.5 thinking I could cope and for a week I seemed to, but the last three days have been hell with jitters and insomnia and anxiety. Three hours sleep if I'm lucky, at least I am retired and can cope with the overpowering lethargy by having a lie down. Because I am now left with a box of 25s I am going to go back up to use them for a while after reading all your helpful advice and then go down to the 12.5 after two weeks but cutting the 25s is worrying me .... I'm in NZ and not sure if our patches are the same as yours to be able to be cut. The are NOT the huge plastic sort I have seen pictures of but they are Mylan fentanyl Transdermal patches, tiny little transparent squares that have the dose printed on, but I think they may be a very thin plastic too, they are not webbing and the box doesn't have the numbers printed on them which was posted here. So I am a bit worried to cut them. Anyone from New Zealand here who is the same predicament/knows about the ones available here? Thank you in advance.

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Go to an addiction specialist see if they can give you a low dose of methadone without the blocker and decrease it daily so you don't get addicted to the methadone. I went from 100 to 75 that was hell then I ask them to drop me 12 milligrams at a time and they only gave me a 50 milligram patch I turned him in and said just give me methadone I'm done with this and now I'm going through the methadone detox this is my second day without fentanyl no side effects at all yet. make sure they don't give you either suboxone or methadone dose with Blocker, that throws you into a worse withdrawal. either methadone pills or subutex are the only two things that work well.

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I have reduced mine by cutting the BACKING and not the patch itself. The portion with the backing still attached doesn't stick to you and is still good to be used later. I'm having great success with this method without running any risk that could be possible by cutting the patch. Only the portion with the backing removed adheres to your skin.
I do adviser taping the other portion in place as mine caught on my covers during the night and pulled the patch off. I woke up in horrible pain and withdrawals. Since taping I've had no trouble.
Hope that helps.

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Thank you Yvonne, that is a brilliant idea. Actually, with my patches, they have a divided peel off backing which is divided into two thirds and one third so I could use the smaller half later on as I reduce! And yes, I understand re the tape, I already always use a product called op-site to cover the whole patch which is a breathable skin and recommended here, after I lost a patch in the night early on.

To the other poster; I am not sure if you are writing in answer to my query, but if so thank you too. The methodone and addiction clinic solution is maybe a bit hard core for my little dependency problem, I'm just a little old lady with a bad back and didn't know whether to be horrified or hysterical thinking of myself taking such a hard line. Having said that, I appreciate that it doesn't matter if you are old or young, male or female, from whatever walk of life, we all just want to feel normal, pain free and in control, and hopefully everyone here who is struggling will make it in the end. Very good luck to you all.

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Someone asked me to describe 'breakthru' pain. Is withdrawal pain the same as breakthru pain. I was only able to respond that breakthru pain can occur during regular fentanyl medication.....out of nowhere or after aggravating my spine by too much work or exercise. Withdrawal pain happens when withdrawing from fentanyl and the additional pain seems systemic or all over--feet, hands, head, etc. What causes breakthru pain? It may be another side effect of fentanyl. I can't wait to be rid of fentanyl. Going back to 25 from 12 has not been a good idea as I sweat so much the patch and tape has come off twice now so I moved the patch to my tummy. I cannot sleep and when I am finished sweating so much my head is wet, my body is wet and then I freeze! I might as well be still in withdrawal except my pain is better. God help me get thru this!!!!

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Five years ago I was prescribed the Fentanyl patch for a rare autoimmune disease that literally destroys your shoulder and hip and thigh muscles. The highest I've ever gone is 100mcg. For the first two years I was in heaven. No pain. But something else started happening. Yes, it numbed the pain but it also numbed every other emotion. No libido. No desire to be with friends or family. No desire to do anything but lay in bed and watch television. I would dose off in the middle of a conversation. I was also on very serious DMARDS which caused me to throw up, lose hair, etc. And like most of you, there were several times I lost a patch, or put one on too soon, etc. and ended up in withdrawals until I could get the new script from my PM doc. The worst withdrawals EVER. Three months ago I went into remission and immediately made the decision to come off the patch. I weaned down from 50, to 25, to 12.5, to Norco 5 in about six weeks total. I am now at the three week mark and down to 1/2 Norco 5 twice a day. I still feel terrible. The worst has passed, the creepy crawlies, can.t be still, the sweats and chills, the urge to jump, stretch, jerk, the sneezing, yawning, watery eyes, and the smell of it coming through my pores are for the most part over. But the pain in my legs and back are killing me, Nothing helps and I have tried everything recommended on this site. I still have no energy and I'm soooo depressed. My legs feel like they're encased in cement. The one thing that helped the restless creepy crawlies was Lyrica. I had to take a very high dose and it literally turned me into a drunken zombie for three days but at least I could sleep. Clonidine for the sweats. Trazadone to help with sleep, too. But some nights nothing worked, I was still wide awake, twitching and jerking but exhausted and just zoinked out of my head while doing it. If you can get a muscle relaxer and something like Klonopin, those help too. But the sad truth is, you just have to get through the worst of it. And it is hell. I've started walking and lifting very light weights. My doctor said it might take three to six months before all of the withdrawals go away. If you have any other option, do not start the Fentanyl patch. It is a hellish roller coaster ride I NEVER want to get on again. I also think it is very, very important to mention that if you wear a Fenanyl patch and have surgery, your pain will NOT be controlled post surgery by them adding a Norco 5 or even Oxycontin. To steal from another poster, those things are like Tic Tacs compared to Fentanyl. Unless you are end stage, please try every other option. I realize sometimes Fentanyl is all that works. It was the only thing that worked for me. It was a life saver actually. But then it turned into a killer of life. No one deserves to suffer needlessly. Just be very, very careful.

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I AM 51 YRS OLD,,,I HAVE BEEN ON FENTANYL PATCHES FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS,,,,LOTS 50+ POUNDS, NO APPETITE, SICK ALL THE TIME AND STILL HAVE PAIN,,,,,I CAME TO A REVELATION AND ASK THE DOCTOR TO WEIN ME OFF THE PATCHES, I WENT FROM 75MCG PATCH DOWN TO 50MCG PATCH AND THEN DOWN TO 25MCG,,,,,TODAY IS MY 4TH DAY AND I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL BACK TO NORMAL WITH LITTLE WITHDRAWAL,,,I AM TAKING EXTRA STRENGTH ADVIL TO HELP ME WITH THAT AND DOXEPIN TO HELP ME SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN SLEEPING, JUST GONIG THROUGH HELL,,,,,DON'T GIVE UP,,,JUST DO IT, LIKE I DID,,,GO THROUGH THE HELL FOR A FEW DAYS ,,,,IT IS BETTER THAN STAYING ON THIS FATAL DRUG,,,,,BEST WISHES

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Hi. I posted not long ago about how I was tapering my Fentanyl patch by removing part of the backing instead of actually cutting the patch. It worked greatly on reducing my dosage, but I never could understand why I still could never increase the time between patch changes. Finally, after three months at 25 MCCs, without even hurting from it at all, my patch had been left on for 75 hours with no I'll effect. I was amazed and almost just left it on longer to see how things went, but was going to sleep and afraid I'd wake up in full w/d so I changed it. It has now been nearly 90 hrs since I put the last patch on and I feel NO ILL EFFECTS or need for a new patch! I'm confused! I even moved and drove a 7 hr drive day before yesterday and only feel my normal fibro pain. Other than half a 10 mg Vicodin a few times, I haven't felt this good in years! Any ideas, anyone? Thanks.

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Yvonne ..... Waiting with interest to see what happens with your patch!
Good luck. (cynically, I can't help thinking it can't be that easy, though! :-/ )

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Sid .. I read your post with sadness and I hope things come better for you, and for everyone of us in this situation. It's hard sometimes to decide which is the lesser of the two evils, the pain, or the side effects of firstly the narcotic, and secondly the withdrawal from same! My condition doesn't come close to yours in severity and I hope, one of these days to feel "normal" again, but every time I try to cut down the dose I am stymied by the nasty symptoms. Taking the drug certainly controls the pain but I too am in this half life of fog. My husband is recently retired and very fit and I even feel guilt I can't do more than trudge around the block for half an hour a day with him. Everything is an effort and books and my ipad are my little world. Just no interest in ANYTHING at all, including my kids and grand kids. Afraid to drive now and I probably shouldn't be anyway. Cutting down so so slowly, with support and helpful advice from this site but am still on 31.5mcg./72hours. I thank heaven I have a husband who is very good in every way, and feel so very sorry for people who are isolated in this position. Good luck with your battle. We'll get there in the end, but reading your post it seems that it's not going to be quite as soon as I'd hoped! The withdrawals were so nasty they drove me back too almost the same dose I was on originally and now have to do it all over again! My doctor has prescribed an anti anxiety for when I attempt the next reduction in dose. (More drugs... Whoopee ... :-( )

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LynneB, believe me, it has been hell in earth up to this point. I lost 140 lbs in 9 months, had to go live with my grown sons, couldn't drive anymore from panic, contemplated ending it all. It destroyed me. What's happening now is astounding me. At 10:30 last night it was 130 hours on this patch. I've quit counting. I still have 3 weeks supply and expected many more months of tapering ahead. I've had numerous extremely ho showers and soaked completely immersed in many hot baths with this same patch. I just can't fathom there's anything left in it. My pain is back of course, but the usual withdrawal stuff isn't happening. Will keep you posted, as I'm baffled myself! Fingers crossed.

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Don't give up. I suggest you try water exercise in warm water pool.....start with slow exercise where you are not bearing your weight.....water up to your shoulders.
Try Pramipexole for restless legs.
Try clonazepam for anxiety.
I find that day 3 of my patch is the day I feel withdrawal pain and agitation.
Get out of the house as much as you can, smell the roses, per c'est.
It is torture but if you can make it through the night, tomorrow will be better.
The Medical profession has reneged on their provision of narcotic pain relief, mainly because of millions on now narcotic dependent patients. The medication is worse than the disease.
We have to learn other pain relieving techniques and that is not going to be easy. Hypnosis, meditation, aqua therapy, massage and physiotherapy, and mild exercise as old as time--walking. Walking poles help tremendously!!!
Pray for strength. Seek our Pain Clinics for more information.
Good luck!

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I am 62 years old. I have osteoarthritous and need a knee replacement, but due to my weight the Dr wants me to have gastric bypass surgery. I also live with sever lower back pain and left hip pain. I've more or less have lost my mobility except for small walks. I went to a pain management Dr. and was put on Lyrica and oxycodone. My back hurts just to stand doing the dishes. To get to the point...I abused my oxycodone, was falling...not remembering things etc. I wound up in the hospital for three days not even knowing how I got there or why. Needless to say I was put in a Mental facility for almost a week. Labeled an addict, and tossed. Was told I could not ever have opoids. I was not discharged from the pain management dr i had been seeing. But nothing she would give me gave me any help with pain at all. I realize that I put myself in this position. And I have been paying for it. Now I
am at another clinic, he has started my on fentanyl, 25 the first two weeks, and now 50. 25 did very little. 50's seems to be working much better. But here I have been up since 2am, hurting so bad I feel like going to the ER room. I can put another patch on later today. The pain feels worse than before I started taking fentanyl...has this happened to anyone? Worse pain? I just can't go through withdrawals again , I am thinking about just dealing with the pain and being homebound.

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Hi there. I'm happy to say things are improving every single day. I am off ALL narcotics. I'm still having random withdrawals. Night before last I had the restless leg thing. I still am very fatigued but when you've been in bed for most of five years, it takes time to get strong again. The main thing I'm suffering from is severe depression. I think it's a mixture of coming off all the meds and realizing that I've lost five years of my life. I came sooo close to calling my PM doc and getting back on the patch to do a slower taper but I knew I would just have to go through WDs all over again. Stay strong everyone.

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Hey everyone. Updating on my Fentanyltaper. I know LynneB said she is following my progress. After all the months of tapering, and expecting many more, I found myself being able to wear the same 25 mcg patch 7 days straight without much discomfort. This was miraculous as I struggled with horrific panic attacks and withdrawals starting as soon as 23 hours into each patch. When I hit the 72 hr mark with just the heavy leg feeling and leg pain I decided to leave that patch on until it fell off and never put another on. Well, it wouldn't fall off. On day 8 I noticed open ulcerations all along the perimeter and knew I had to remove it. I laid my hand on it, thanked God for deliverance, and took it off! My trusty phone calendar notification just messaged me I'm 36 hours patch free!!! Hallelujah! Today I am in the hydocodone pain realm. Those make me hurt worse and am down on them to two halves a day. I wean myself from these all the time and know after a few days of a few halves, that pain will be gone.
Sid...... praise God and congratulations to you. Well done, and IT IS an acheivment to glory in!
LynneB, you're right where I was up until a week ago, before this dramatic change hit me. Keep on keeping on. I'm so excited and thankful. I thought the taper would never end. But it has! And sooner than expected.
Now Im struggling with not beingable to do what I could with the pain meds. But in truth I was still in great pain and very limited. Ill not be robbed of the joy of being med free! Prayers for everyone in this struggle, and prayers appreciated.
Yvonne

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Thank you Eunie, I'm on my 2nd day of the 50. I am thinking of just not using them anymore...Do you think, since this is only my 3rd week, I would go through any type of withdrawals, other than just get used to my pain again?

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Good for you Yvonne! It is quite amazing the way you managed to avoid the WD nasties at the end. I wonder why, but then it doesn't matter in the end as long as it worked! I am very interested in how people are coping and was good to hear that Sid was Fentanyl free at last. I honestly can't imagine being in severe pain and being house bound for so many years as some of you have been. I feel so fortunate by comparison! I don't know what sort of pain is in store for me under this blanket of drug induced foggyness and that is scaring me somewhat. My problem is "only" a prolapsed L4/L5 disc which occurred nearly two years ago and was diagnosed by MRI after an acute admission to hospital at that time. Due to stomach problems and reflux no oral drugs of either pain relief or anti inflamatories could be tolerated and so began the on again off again Fentanyl journey. I went off them about every six weeks and controlled my pain with Panadol and Voltaren suppositories because I was so afraid of the dependence issue. But then while on them again last February I had a fall due to being so wobbly and unsteady, and fell backwards on the beach. Back to hospital and same disc of course! It's now been 6 months on F and here I am trying to get back to normal. Fingers crossed and all that! So I am doing the 25 and doing the little slivers off the backing of the 12.5 and in six more days I will be off the 12.5 and start reducing the 25mcg. I figure I'll do it in a month. Do you think that will be too quick Yvonne? I don't want to stuff it up again. By the way, that weight loss was extreme. It's really a terrible way to lose weight but if I may ask a personal Q .... Was some of it weight that was excess? And if so I guess that fact will now help you in your recovery as far as becoming more mobile and getting stronger and healthier? I lost about 7 pound only but nausea and vomiting was never a side effect for me, although lack of appetite and taste certainly is.
Do let me know how you are doing from time to time, and good luck to everyone else who posted about their battle with Fentanyl WD. Some stories are so terrible, I really feel for you all, not just the WD which is the subject of this blog, but the stories of pain and despair over many years. Peace be with you.

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I'm having a setback but staying drug free. My disease causes weakness in muscles closest to the trunk, shoulders, hips and thighs, neck and over the past few days these symptoms have recurred. I'm struggling with stairs and washing my hair. My rheumy wants me back on Methotrexate injections and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it. So far the pain isn't bad. Advil and Flexeril plus my daily bath soak are doing the job. But boy, I'm depressed as crap. Cried my eyes out all weekend. Found a 25 patch and immediately flushed that poison. Unless I get to endstage, that stuff will NEVER enter my body again. I like my PM doc but I think they should be required by law to detail how addictive Fentanyl is, how difficult it is to come off of and how HORRIBLE the withdrawals are. Keep up the good fight all. There HAS to be another answer.

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There is a medical term for it, Read on. .Akathisia, or acathisia kathízein - "to sit", a- indicating negation or absence, lit. "inability to sit") is a movement disorder characterized by a feeling of inner restlessness and a compelling need to be in constant motion, as well as by actions such as rocking while standing or sitting, lifting the feet as if marching on the spot, and crossing and uncrossing the legs while sitting. People with akathisia are unable to sit or keep still, complain of restlessness, fidget, rock from foot to foot, and pace. To me it is the most horrible wd symptom of all.

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I did not experience too horrible withdrawal symptoms until I started on the 25 patch. To be on the safe side I would still withdraw slowly. Everyone has different body chemistry but only the rare person escapes with few withdrawal symptoms. I am back on the 25 patch and have still restless agitation, very few nights of sleep and sweats and chills drive me bonkers. I honestly think I may as well start withdrawing slowly to 12.5 again as other than some pain relief, I feel miserable, still have diarrhea almost daily. Please be careful. And good luck!!

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