12 5 Fentanyl Withdrawal

Pain clinic increased the fentanyl from 12 to 25 and now I finally back down to 12mcg. Took the patch off today (I'd rather have pain than fentanyl). I am still having skin crawling, restless legs symptoms with each step to decrese the dose. I want to be off this horrible drug and go back to work. How long will the symptoms last? Also, the fentanyl has made me very emotional, and decreased my mental alertness. I have been forgetful and can not evn remember the first few weeks I was put on the patch. Is this medication this awful for all or am I just a rare case? The medicain was prescribed by a PA when my ortho surgeon was out of town. After only three weeks, I was having physical withdrawal symptoms between patches and when I tried to tke it off, I was in pretty bad shape. Thanks f...

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I have been on Fentanyl for pain of cancer treatment side effects & have been reducing from 400mc & down to 25 mc without any side effects. After 48 hours of last dose I have been having involuntary leg movements, first on left for 12 hours. Had a little relief and upon eating and taking normal medication, I began vomiting and got involuntary leg movements on right side. Are these withdrawal symptoms? Do I need to go in to a doctor? I have no small dose of Fentanyl left to take. Only 100 mcg doses. ## Have you consulted your doctor, yet? Those can be withdrawal symptoms, but it is always best to check with your doctor to be sure. In addition, they may be able to advise you on how to alleviate them, until the medication has fully processed out of your body. ## these are almost de...

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my Dr has suggested that I cut Fentanyl 12.5 patches in half to reduce dosage and eventually stop using them, I have been using them for about three years/3.5yrs But I am confused as the leaflet says not to cut them. I would like to stop using them and this has been his only advice. ## Hello, Dewi! How are you? It depends on the type of patch, it seems there are some that can be safely cut, but it would be best to ask your pharmacist, before doing so, to be sure. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. Is there anything else I can help with? ## There are differnt types of patches some have a liquid dispencing method and would not ...

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Hi all. I have seen a lot of posts in the drugs forum about Fentanyl withdrawal. I too have been struggling with the withdrawal symptoms for 10 days now. Trust me when I say it DOES and WILL get easier. I know that if you have just recently started a taper or have gone cold turkey because a taper hasn't worked for you, you're probably not feeling very well right now.Trust me when I say it will get better. It may take weeks to finally feel normal again, but the worst will be over before you know it! I was on 100mcg/hr for about a year, and just recently tapered to 12.5 but went through withdrawal anyhow. Here are a few things that might help, and that have helped me get through the worst of it. ****REMEMBER***** To consult your doctor before pulling yourself off any medication :)...

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Hello all, hope this message/question finds you well! So I've got a question, but before I ask I'll give some background information: I've been on varying strengths of the Fentanyl patches for almost 10 years for a failed spinal fusion, continued chronic pain due to the fusion degenerating the discs above it, and also for Fibromyalgia. But for the last 3-4 years I've been on 75mcg changed every 48 hours and this has worked super well for me. I am currently using the brand Actavis and it has the gel reservoir. Anyway, I've been through withdrawals before, but this last time seemed different. I usually start having withdrawals within the first 12-36 hours and I'm talking about severe vomiting (with sweats and chills) that can't be helped by any of the anti-naus...

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I'm being weaned off of 25mcg of fentanyl patches. The doctor gave me five 12.5 patches to wean me off of the 25mcg patch and told me when I felt it was the right time to take it off, to go ahead and do so. Now I'm still having withdrawal's. Granted not as bad of one I had when I ran out of the 25mcg. I'm restless and take .5mg of klonopin twice a day and vistril 25mg for break threw panic disorder I have and a slight heaviness and pain in my chest along with headache. I nausea. I've now turned to cannabis to cope with anxiety and nausea. I figure they give to cancer patients to help. Its herbal and non addictive except psychologically. The doctor never said or asked about an alternative for withdrawal. I've read a lot on here and has helped tremendously! I thank...

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I tapered off the fentanyl patch very gradually, going from 25 mcg to 12 to 6 over a period of more than a month. My doctor prescribed clonidine to help with the withdrawal effects I was experiencing and everything has seemed to go well. I have not had any fentanyl for 6 weeks, but I still have splitting headaches that started soon after I started tapering off. Could they still be from the withdrawal? ## It is possible, the length of time it takes for all withdrawal effects to wear off can vary from person to person. However, it could also be a side effect of the Clonidine, if you're still taking it, or the headaches may be due to something entirely unrelated, so it would be best to have them checked out, to be safe. Did you experience any of the other withdrawal effects that the FD...

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I was on liquid Methadone for chronic pain for years and while on waiting list to switch to a new Pain center, I was weaning off methadone rapidly at 2mgs a day from 120 to 38mg. I was also on 20 to 40 mgs a day oxycodone for breakthrough pain. Now, last month, my new doc put me on 25mcg/h patch. Yesterday, he informed me that I am now ONLY getting pain management from him (understandable) and cut me off and did not prescribe any more oxycodone and I was to stop at 38mgs methadone. Bottom line, will a 50mcg/h patch I started today be enough for my pain and withdrawals? I am scared. ## Did you discuss your concerns with him? The Fentanyl is a very strong narcotic, over 80 times stronger than Morphine actually, but while it can handle pain very well, you may still experience some breakthr...

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Hi pat and thanks for the input am trying to get as much information before my pain management appointment in 3 weeks, i am interested in how you received pain meds for your hep c and if you have received treatment, any input would be helpful, i am 43 with two grown daughters and a husband who are having a rough time dealing with me so this site is a comfort to me, i am 12 days off the patch and 5 days off the tabs, my sweats are still a problem but not as bad, do you draw ssi for your hep and i really have learned alot from your posts ## GOOD $ U to get off the patch. Ask your Dr. to give you lomotil & levsin..these will counteract & get youthru the irritable bowel that is accompanying this withdrawal. I used demerol to get off that HORRID KILLING patch. ## If Pat has a post on...

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After my patches were taken on a beach trip mith several families, I am currently on day 9 ofwithdrawals. Exhaustion, calves spasming are bad,but the chills almost seen worse and unbearable at times. Had major back surgery in November and was treated for pain using the patches for nearly 2 years. I've been through opiate withdrawal oncebefore, but this is nearly debilitating. I've not slept in days. ## Did you report the theft to the police? If you have a police report, your doctor may be able to help you. What types of symptoms are you experiencing? The FDA lists the typical withdrawal effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, fever, chills, diarrhea, anxiety and rebound pain. ## Day 12 now... Chills Insomnia Calves vibrating Yes on police report, but doctor sa...

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i have post sirgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg pat. ch and had side effects ans so decided to wean off. i finished with the 12 mcg patch a week ago and am still suffering from peroidic nausea, irritability, daily joint and muscle pain, but the worst is the consistant restless leggs. it is driving me crazy. my doctor says that is not withdrawal. is he right? i don't think so. if it is withdrawal, what can i do about it and how long will it last? i am going crazy. ## I have used the Actiq lozenges 400 microgram, 4 times a day for over a year. I too get restless leg syndrome as I begin to withdrawal after approx. 10-14 hrs after my last dose. ## @yvonne, Fentanyl is noted to cause "uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body" as well as a "heartbeat that is faster tha...

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My husband ran out of his 50 mcg Fentanyl Patches on Monday. Today is Friday 12/11/09 and he is experiencing withdrawals. The patches are supposed to be available today (it's 3 a.m. here). Is there ANYTHING that can help him until he receives his RX? He has the chills, sneezing, stomach cramps, moaning, restlessness, etc. Please help ... ## I have been on the patches for a wile now and the best he could do for the time being is to take the last patch he was wearing and cut a hole in the corner and push out a pea sized drop of the gel and {edited for safety reasons} just to be carefully only use a little amout to start with and give in about 15 mins and I promise he will feel tons better. Im not a doctor so im just tryin to help tell he can get a refill. ## Thanks for the reply. My h...

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I am now down from 12 mg Fentanyl patch to half, 6 mg. As I suffer from anxiety, I'd like to know if that can be one of the withdrawal symptoms? What are the other withdrawal symptoms? ## Yes, that can be a withdrawal symptoms, others may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, chills and fever. Learn more: Are you working with your doctor? They may be able to help you with some ideas on how to alleviate some of the symptoms. ## I've been on 150 mcg of fentenyl, yes that means two patches at the same time. I also take 15 mg. of oxy 4X a day for over 2 years. This is for 39 years of Rheumatoid Arthritis, since I was a senior in highschool. Two days ago my Rheumatologist informed me he couldn't write scripts for narcotics. I have no where to go. It's cold turkey! HELP! ## Also...

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i have post surgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg patch and had side effects and so decided to wean off. i finished with the 12 mcg patch a week ago and am still suffering from periodic nausea, irritability, daily joint and muscle pain, but the worst is the consistent restless legs. it is driving me crazy. my doctor says that is not withdrawal. is he right? i don't think so. if it is withdrawal, what can i do about it and how long will it last? i am going crazy. ## Of course it can be from the withdrawal, your doctor might be surprised if he talked to some former addicts and learned the various things they suffered, when withdrawing from their drug of choice and you don't have to be abusing a medication for such things to happen. Learn more Fentanyl details here. Fentanyl is a...

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If a patient has used Fentanyl 12.0 mcg/h for a long time, how can they wean off of it? It's the lowest dosage, so how are the withdrawals managed and how long does it take? My husband wants to quit using it and will be seeing a pain management specialist soon, but I'd like to know what's in store for him/us if anyone else has already gone through this. ## How is your husband doing? It would probably be best to use some other medication to help mitigate the withdrawals, because Fentanyl is very potent, so they could be dangerously severe. This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. What has he been advised to do?

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i have been on fentanyl 25mcg for about a yr. i am decreasing to 12.5 mcg for a week and then no more patches after. how long will it take to considering the info. will it take for the withdrawal to start and stop. i understand everyone is different. i will be taking valium 5mg for a couple days to ease the effects. any info would be great. ## Yes, everyone is different, so it really makes it hard to say, because it is going to vary. I stopped heavy doses of Oxycodone and Morphine cold turkey, after being on them for about 6 or 7 years for pain management and my withdrawal symptoms lasted for about a month. Hopefully the Valium will help. Has your doctor given you any other advice? ## Thanks for ur info. Several yrs ago I stopped fiorcet w codeine (on it for 4 yrs) and it took about tha...

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I was on 25mcg Fentanyl patches for about 2 months. I went down to 12mcgs to wean myself. After the 12s ran out, I was extremely sick for about 4 days. It's now been 2 weeks since the sickness of withdrawal, but every now and then, I have weird symptoms like nausea, rapid heart beat, jitteriness, insomnia, that last usually a few hours then go away. Is it possible that I am still feeling the effects of the Fentanyl withdrawal? ## Hello, Husky! How are you feeling? Yes, they can linger for quite awhile and, just like you've experienced, they tend to taper off in severity. Things should steadily continue to improve. However, if they don't, or if they start to get worse, please be sure to contact your doctor. This is a very potent narcotic, so you do have to be very cautious. L...

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I was on 180 mg of ms contin after tapering down from 300mg for 16 yrs. I wanted to try fentanyl patches so my Dr gave me 75 mcg patch. Wow I had absolutely no pain .....but after 55-60 hrs I would wake up sweats flip popping all over totally withdrawals then I talked to a friend, she's on 50 mcg. I'm back to ms contin 120 mg ready to taper to 90 mg but it doesn't help the pain. So the pharmacist said since I also felt anxiety, depression the two weeks I tried the patch he said that maybe it was too high of a dose. Anyway my friend said she's on 50 mcg which is what I would go on and she had same thing for about 3 weeks. My ins will pay for 15 patches for 30 days so why can't I just change them every 2 1/2 days so that doesn't happen or will my percocet 10's ...

My husband was in a major car accident a year ago that left him on Fentanyl. He started out on 125 ug and weaned himself over this year down to 25. He decided it was time to get off of the terrible stuff after 2 months on the 25s (with his doctor's enthusiastic approval). Last night he started having the withdrawals... shaking, sweating, insomnia, terrible headache, feeling like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. He took two hot baths and between that and the med he uses for muscle spasms he was able to fall asleep. He's sleeping comfortably now but I am so worried about him. I understand it could take weeks or even months before he feels fully normal again but how long does this initial part last? What can he do about the symptoms in he meantime? Please help :( ## Oh, I pr...

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I can't seem to find a straight answer. I'm stopping the 12 mcg fentanyl patch (with Drs instructions). I have 7.5mg Percocet for withdrawal for a few days but everyone is leaving me believe my withdrawal won't be too bad. I called the pharmacist. She said withdrawal will last 48 hours. That seems too good to be true. So, anyone know?! ## It really depends on the person and how long they've been on it, so you may not experience any withdrawal symptoms, or you may experience them for a few weeks, there's no way to be certain. I believe the pharmacist may have been referring to how long it takes to exit your body, which is approximately 48 hours after last use. The FDA warns that possible withdrawal effects could include nausea, vomiting, chills, rebound pain and diarr...

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