Fentanyl Patch Withdrawal Symptoms And Duration (Top voted first)

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.

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I pray that all of you who are trying to wean yourselves off of the Fentanyl patch will have the courage, and that is what it takes, to follow through. I just went from 50 to 25 to 12 over the course of two months. I experienced
ALL of the withdrawal symptoms that you have described. Be of good heart and courage and prayer, especially during those times of depression when it is the most difficult. YOU WILL MAKE IT AND YOU WILL BE BETTER. THE MORE MEDS WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE BETTER. I know, I know, easy to say, hard to do. I've taken them all for acute fibromyalgia pain. Bless you. A retired university professor of 73yrs.......

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Yes, restless legs, chills, hot flashes, yawning, vomitting, terrible anxiety, muscle pain, stomach cramps, headache are all part of withdrawl from fentanyl. Make sure someone knows whats going on, someone you can call for help and support and possibly a ride to ER if necessary. You need some Pediolyte to replace your electrolytes if you vomit alot. Low electrolytes can cause cardiac distress. This is very very serious stuff. You really need benzo's, another opiod in your system or suboxone to help you through this or you may end up putting patch back on if things get really bad. Lots of luck. Meg

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I've been on fentanyl over 3 years now due to a serve motorbike accident and wrecking my knee. On waiting list for full knee replacement. I'm on 50 mcg an hour and is having these symptoms. The night sweats, the restless legs, my whole body feels like a tightly coiled spring. The shakes and cramps. Headaches no energy. If I'd of known this I'd of never of started the bloody thing. Hot baths do ease the restless leg but for only a short period of time. The lack of sleep is doing my nut in. Doc prescribed me amitriptyline 10mg x2 daily. They not doing s*** in helping me sleep. Agree wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I'm constantly having this craving feeling too and it's getting worse :-(. Thought drugs where to make us happy, not end up wanting to chop legs off and smack my head with a hammer to knock myself out.

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I'm 32 and have been on fentanyl patches for 5 yrs. for chronic pancreatitis. I was on 100 mcg/72 hrs. I am a married, stay at home mom of 2 boys. Recently my insurance provider dropped me (long story, but not my fault). I can not afford to buy my meds now. I currently cant even afford to pay for a office visit! I am now out of my meds and am going through hell!!! The withdrawls are too much for me! I tried going to the hospital for help, not for any pain meds, just help going through this. They would only tell me to get suboxone. Not so easy! Its extremely expensive! Not an option for me unfortunately. Ive tried clonidine and ativan but it doesn't help. I cant eat, sleep, get comfortable, stop moving and cramping..... I dont know what to do anymore! I feel currently like a horrible mom and wife because I cant move from my bed. I have zero energy. I dont think I can stand going through this anymore. I feel like the system wants me to fail and thats where I feel I'm heading. I hate what this is doing to me physically and emotionally.

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This morning at about 4 am, I had to head for the emergency room. My doctor went on vacation just as I ran out of Fentanyl patches (50 mcg/h). After three days sans patches, I went into withdrawal so badly that I thought my back was going to break. Fortunately for me, the hospital and my clinic are associated so the hospital knew I had been on Fentanyl for an extended period of time and they gave me a patch to tide me over until I can strangle my doctor (just kidding, she's one of the best I've ever had) but SOMETHING is going to have to happen. This is the third time she's been out when I needed a refill. Even my pain doc will not Rx me for more than five patches but when I needed him...yeah...he was on vacation, too. SOMETHING needs to be done to be able to register people who legitimately require opiate drugs so that physicians can write the appropriate 'scripts when required. The PROBLEM is that the prescriptions have to be ORIGINALS but only are good for about 72 hours. If the prescription is not filled, the paper is just so much paper. This was the first time I went into withdrawal pain because of withdrawing from Fentanyl, however, when I had to get off oral Morphine, that was...well, a b****!
I'm seriously considering starting a program of some kind that will never put anyone else at risk for being forced into unnecessary withdrawal pains.

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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 very strong opiate, so it isn't unusual to experience odd withdrawal effects, even with a careful taper.

When I stopped Morphine and Oxycodone cold turkey, it took about a month for all of the withdrawal effects to finally wear off. However, the good news is that it did get a little better each day and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to stick it out and be a little stubborn.

I found that sleeping on the couch, or a recliner, where I could prop my arms and legs up in different positions really helped, as did taking some nice hot soaks in the tub.

How are you doing? Is it still driving you crazy?

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You need to come down slower. It takes like six months to wean. Get Mylan brand. This brand does not have the gel inside. By the way the restless legs are withdrawals. Get another doctor.

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I am going through the EXACT same thing. Been weaned down from 75 to 50 and now on the 25 and my restless legs are driving me nuts! Can't sleep, can't get off my butt to do anything and am even suffering from depression. The pain is easier to deal with than the withdrawals, don't wish it on my worse enemy. HELP!!

I've decided to ask my doctor about Methadone, any suggestions with respect to the methadone use?

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BEVMAR, who are you mad at?? The world>??Or yourself??...you must be mad at your self because you in your wee little mind can not control others. First of all, I have had prescriptions that I held on to for weeks that did not expire. It is the sole direction of the pharmacy if they want to "expire" at script. And they must have see just how desperate you were to get your script. I have, on numerous time, been givin a script for narcotics, and some of these were patches, and did not get them filled. Even the pharmacy would hold them sometimes for a couple of weeks for me until my insurance would pay for them. Please don't come on here and try to "show" your authority by screaming about knowing it "all". You don't know it all. And screaming and telling others what to do doesn't do anything but show your ignorance. So please don't scream at anyone. Thank you , and have a great day. Us who want off this deadly patch, good luck and stick with trying to come off. Oh, and BevMar, if you don't want off the patch, and think it is the only thing that will help you, what are you doing on a blog about "fentanyl withdrawal, and what will help with the withdrawals"? Don't slam someone that is wanting to come off this drug and get back their lives....have a good day..

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Mirapex is the best for restless legs. I take .75 mg, but you can start much lower.

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I know its been a few months since you put up this question, but I only found this site tonight while searching the net to be sure the way I was weaning myself off Fentanyl patches wasn't going to kill me, lol...

First, I hope and pray that you have either safely gotten off the drug, or if your still getting off it, that you are having an easier time now than when you posted your question.
Second, Yes both the nausea and the "Restless Legs" can and most likely are W/D symptoms. They will get easier and eventually go away, but that can take up to a few months. All I can say is that I wish you the best of luck and if theres anything I can help answer for you, I'll be happy to, b/c I'm going thru that again myself for the second time because of Cancer and other illness.

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Re: Beverly. You do not say whether you have gone off the fentanyl patch and are having these symptoms from withdrawal, but I am assuming you are.

Amitriptyline is an antidepressant. Your doctor probably prescribed it because 1) depression is a common side effect of opiod withdrawal 2) antidepressants relieve pain in about 10% of chronic pain patients and 3) a side effect is drowsiness which may help you get to sleep (as will the pain relief it gives, if any). Like you, amitriptyline failed to help me sleep or relieve my chronic pain. The prescription sleep aid zolpiderm (Ambien) helped me sleep the first two weeks I went off the fentanyl patch. After that I use it occasionally as needed. I am still ripped out of sleep by pain each time I wake, but at least I sleep... the complete lack of which is extremely dangerous.

Re: restless leg syndrome during withdrawal. Valium (a skeletal muscle relaxant) dramatically reduced restless leg for me. I used it each night for the first two weeks of withdrawal, but haven't needed it since.

Re: withdrawal strategy. The only benefit I have as a decades-long chronic pain patient on opiod therapy is that I have been through withdrawal several times and know my major symptoms are 1) zero sleep and 2) restless legs... so I get Ambien and Valium to relieve them. Hot baths of at least one hour also help relieve restless leg and chills/hot flashes. There's nothing I can do to relieve the flu-like symptoms--I simply endure them. Like the flu, they tend to last about two weeks.

Depression has never been a withdrawal issue for me. If it is for you, get your doc to try different antidepressants until you find one that works best.

Best wishes on your knee replacement and a return to normal life.

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I just turned 60 and have a lot of back pain and hip pain which is referred pain from back they say. Also arthritis in knees,etc. Over the past 10 years I've worked up to a 240+ mg dependency on Oxycodone. Was taking at least 8 30 mgs oxy per day. So, my doctor got called on the carpet for over prescribing to his patients and decided it was time to retire. He started taking me down fast. Every week I went down 30 mg until I reached 3 per day. I had an appointment for a pain clinic or he would have kept going and it was too fast for me and I was struggling and did have some bad days for sure. Been at the pain clinic for a couple of months now and they put me on 3 per day of the time release Morphine pills. They wanted me off any instant release meds I guess. I was struggling to keep within the prescribed amount and running low when time for my next prescription so he switched me about 3 weeks ago to Fentanyl 50 mcg patches. It's a big switch not feeling like you have any control of when you take something for pain and you certainly don't get any of the feelings you get from the pills, but I thought fine they seem to help the pain and it will stop me from taking an extra pill when I am in pain or my brain just tells me to from past habits maybe. Problem is sometimes they seem fine and then the next time I feel like I have withdrawal feelings by the 3rd day. I think that problem is getting worse each patch I use. I get hot flashes where I just break out in a sweat and I wondered if that might make it worse. Also, when I take the patch off it is usually wet underneath. Is it me and my system most likely or are these patches at once every 3 days just not going to work for me. I have read where others have said there doctor lets them change every 48 hrs because of this problem. Also everything I am reading on here makes me wonder if these patches will be harder to get off of than pills if that is the end goal the doctor has in mind for me, which I think it is.

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I'm saying this for the whole board :I have done every drug made, legal or illegal. I WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU THE BEST, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL. IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST B4 IT GETS LIGHTER. HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD, GET A GOOD SUPPORT TEAM, AND TAKE YOUR TIME TO EASE THE PAIN. GOOD BLESS AND GOOD LUCK TO THE WHOLE BOARD.

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May I impart the courage, comfort and strength for all those pulling off of Fentanyl. It may seem like you're going to feel awful forever, but I promise... I swear, you will eventually feel better.

Remember a time that you had the flu or equally nasty cold? That you thought you'd never, ever feel better again? Then a couple of weeks later, you forgot how bad you felt?

Sort of the same thing, but a lot worse. It will probably be the most difficult experience of your life, but I swear... it will get better. Not as fast as you'd like, but... it WILL get better. I promise, I promise, I promise, that one day in the near future, you'll wake up, and for a while, not even remember the hell you went through.

Then, another day, and another, and yet another, you won't define yourself by what you went through.

You are stronger than you can even conceive, you will get through this no matter how much it sucks at the moment - you WILL win. You are not alone, you are incredibly powerful, and you'll learn that you are unbreakable, your strength is beyond measurement, and when you eventually pass through this time, you will be left with the knowledge and will to achieve anything you previously thought was impossible.

I believe in you.

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I just wanted to update. I am fentanyl free! I did it. Just over 3 weeks now. It hasn't been easy. Hell actually. I am still on 20 to 30mg of Oxycontin daily. I have had awful issues even tapering as slowly as I did. It really is unimaginable what you go through with this. I am still not great. I have restless leg but only in my right leg (left one suffered recent damage after another stroke). I am so happy the sweating has reduced almost to nil. I still have insomnia but have had for about 6 years. I have days where withdrawals are still nasty but only if I don't take the Oxycontin on time. I will start reducing it too shortly. I will remain on the smallest amount I can to try and help with the pain. My pain levels have increased terribly. It gets overwhelming and I am trying to get by but not managing well a lot of days.The relentless fatigue I had for months on end is starting to ease a little. I can at least get up now for more than an hour. I still rest throughout the day but that is normal with the CFS etc. I am not eating a lot but what I do eat is pretty healthy. I've had lots of infections, viruses etc lately. The Dr thinks my immunity is worse at the moment. I have immune deficiency so will try and manage as best I can. I want to say that even though it's been horrendous I am glad I've finally done it. For those who have been left without by Dr's I hope you can find someone to help you. I was left without numerous times and know how hard it can be. I'm so glad to tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Support is really important. It takes so much strength to get through each day early on but it is possible. I know I am going to feel better a little more each week. Pain levels are my real issue now but I needed to be as drug free as possible, at least for a while. Still challenges to face but taking it one minute at a time.

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Restless legs where they go up and down g or no reason is definately a sign of severe fentynal withdrawl. I went through it. The I asked my pain management doctor for methadone. I took 5 pills a day each time I went down a level. It was a breeze no withdrawl symptoms. I had to wait 2 weeks total before going to the next lower amt. But I only took the methadone for five days each time. Another time I used ativan, 10 pills a day for five days. It worked OK but the methadone was great. Ask your dr for 25 pills for each level you have to go down. Good Luck.

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I feel for you. I am also a mother, and went through severe withdrawl.
I couldnt have done it at home though. I was blessed enough to have my daughter be able to stay with her father while I checked in to the local detox centre for 2 weeks.
My severe wd only lasted a couple days, but.I was just exhausted. I stayed until I could eat, and gained my strength and energy back, so my daughter didn't have to see me looking like crap lol

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Amitriptyline is the only antidepressant with a sleep aid in it. That's why it's used for sleep. I take 150mg a night. I was started on 25mg. Can't imagine only 10mg.

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Dee, do you have any benzos, such as klonipin, or valiume? This or soma will help with the restless legs. I was on zanaflex (simular to some) and it help but dropped my blood pressure. Clonidine, for blood pressure help also. but be careful taking that. Good luck and hope you do good...I have been clean off thesse patches for over 1 1/2 years..and got my life back....woohoo...

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