Fentanyl Withdrawal

100+ Topics Found

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...

7 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

8 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl-100

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 :)...

17 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

1 REPLY Filed under Fentanyl

I sit with a 73 year old lady. I take care of all her meds and refills. I thought she had a refill on file...long story short,she didn't. She is on 25 mg patches. Her patch was supposed to be changed this morning at 9 but they wont be ready til mnday morning. Should I give her as needed lortab to keep her out of withdrawal or will she be fine til Monday from Saturday? ## HI Cheryl, I believe that the lady you care for should be fine until Monday since it's only a couple days and there should still be some of the Fentynal medication in her system. However, if you she doesn't get the medication Monday she might experience some signs of withdrawal ie: nausea, vomiting, insomnia, headaches etc.. You may want to consider refilling her medications a week ahead of time just so you ...

11 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

HELP; i suffered severe spinal injuries nov 2004; first i was prescribed T3's for pain, then tramadol, oxycocet,then oxycontin, anf finally was placed on fentanyl; Due to problems with the patch I chose to start a drug reduction strategy; I went from 50 mg patch's every 48 hrs to every 3 days for a month, then to a 25mg patch every 3 days for a month; then stopped cold turkey, i have some 10 mg ihc oxycontin i take when the pain is unbearable but am having terrible insomnia and just feel like hell warmed over, chills, nausea, feeling yukky. so far i have been able to limit the 10 mgs to 3 a week, but when i take a 10 mg oxy, i feel alot better...what can i do to get off all meds? ## Well, the first thing you have to understand is that Fentanyl is a very potent narcotic, it is ac...

4 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

2 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

1 REPLY Filed under Fentanyl

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. ## Yes, that can be caused by withdrawal, you probably jumped down in dosage a little too fast. This med is very, very strong, 80 times stronger than Morphine and it has a half-life of 17 hours, so that means once you take off the patch, it takes 17 hours until it has dwindled to 50% off the full dose in your body, then it slows and actually takes 3 or 4 days before it is all out of your system. So if y...

1672 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

6 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

So, this is my situation. I was on Fentanyl 75, and oxycodone 15 for breakthrough pain.my pain stems from a bad back which led me to have three back surgeries and still have inj's. radiofrequency ablation's with not much success. I just moved back here to AZ from Colorado and saw my previous p.m. Dr. Because of Swimming I've had a couple patches falloff and even lost one in the pool. So when I went to the p.m. Dr. he wouldn't help me wean off fentanyl cause I was 10 days early on the script. Even taking my oxy 15 I had horrible withdrawals. Headache, ears ringing, restlessness and worse to me restless legs. My p.m. Dr. said he would switch my patch to something different and wean me down but not until a months time. After complaining and explaining the pain that I was go...

6 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

5 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

My question is that I have titrated down from 75mcg to 50 and had some times that were NOT fun, I must say, but I figured that was going to happen. What is the problem and my Question to all of ur, is: Do u jave problems with ur heart rate, at all because of just titrating(going down or up on a medicine)???? IT is going crazy up and down..IT is anxiety..I know,well, I THINK, but I have just gone down one dosage and don't understand WHY it is still doing it after 20 days or do I just need more time..HOW LONG?? And how long will it take me to get this heart rate issue gone? Should I attempt to get it out faster? I know, that isn't much time when u write it down, but I can't get up or walk around because , my HR, gets up there and just resting it goes up and has gone up to 108....

13 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

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...

5 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

Has anyone out there come off of fentanyl delivered thru a pain pump?? I've gone from 1.9 mcg/day to .385. At what point can the pump be safely shut down. I'm going to have the pump removed soon. But feel my Dr is not sure how to completely get me off it. ## Are you not seeing a pain specialist then? Because they should be specially trained in handling this type of thing. It's really difficult for anyone else, including a general practitioner, to know, because much of it depends on you and how severely you react to the withdrawal of such medications. Learn more Fentanyl details here.

1 REPLY Filed under Fentanyl

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 ...

3 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

I have been on Fentanyl 100mcg/hr, In vivo delivery of 100mcg/hr for 72 hours and I change them every 2 days instead of every 3 days so the amount of medication doesn't drop too low. I am wondering how the withdrawal is with this drug. How severe, how long it takes to get out of your system and if there is another drug used to help with the weaning? Does one need to be hospitalized & under a doctors care? There are also other drugs involved- Hydromorphone 8mg,2 every 4 hrs,Tizanidine 4mg 2/4 times daily,& Baclofen 10 mg 1 twice a day. ## Ask your doctor about Suboxone. it is a truly miracle pill. you will have absolutely no problem at all going through withdrawal, i personally know for a fact that suboxin will supress all symptoms and will keep you energized, like youve neve...

9 REPLIES Filed under Dilaudid

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...

16 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

Hi all, I was on 50mg patch and lots of tablets. I have Behçet's disease so the patch helps a lot. But I'm fed up being like I'm on another planet some days so I spoke to my doctor and he said to lower it to a 25mg patch. This is my 3rd day. The first couple days I was very sleepy but now my whole body is aching and I can't relax. My body keeps shaking, I can't sit still and it's now 2.30 am and I'm wide awake. Is there anything else I can do to help? Many thanks. ## Hello, Chris! How are you? That was a pretty big dosage change, so such withdrawal effects are normal, as listed by the U.S. FDA, you may also experience rebound pain, fever, chills and diarrhea. Has there been any change? A slower taper would likely be better. ## What other medications are ...

2 REPLIES Filed under Fentanyl

I have just switched from oxycodone to fentanyl patches. I will be withdrawing from them following sugery. any suggestions as to which is easier to withdraw from? Thanks!!! ## Well, the Fentanyl is actually much stronger than the Oxycodone, a 0.025mg dosage of it is equal to 5mgs of Oxycodone, so it is going to be the harder one to withdraw from, if it is stopped abruptly. However, the other fact of relevance is how long you will be using it. If it is only for a short period of time, them the withdrawals may not be too rough, though they may still be annoying. Has your doctor provided you with any advice? ## i have been on fentanyl for a long time. prior to this was on a bunch of oxycodone. to give you an idea i was taking anywhere to 3 or 4 of the 80s per day and 5 or 6 of the Roxi 30s...

74 REPLIES Filed under Oxycodone

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