withdrawal from duragesic (fentynal)

So far so good. Day 3 of going from 50 mcg down to 25 mcg with using methadone 10mg twice a day instead of 3 times a day. Will continue taking and slowly decreasing the methadone over next couple of weeks then take off the patch for the last time. Please don't try and get off the patch on your own if you can help it. Methadone works!

Took the patch off for the last time yesterday and so far I've had no withdrawal problems while taking methadone 10mg twice a day. I wish I had done this years ago. I've had no pain at all during this. My head feels clearer than ever before. I've said it before but it's worth mentioning that methadone absolutely works for coming off the patch.

My wife has been on fentanyl patch for over 9 years, level 50mcg. She had 3 disks removed from her neck area back in 1995 and they damaged a nerve. She was given steroids and other pain medication for years until Fentanyl patch was discovered by us (not the pain mgmt. dr.) Fentanyl helped cover the pain, but then the side affects kicked in and she stayed nausious 3-4 days per week for these 9 years. Because of all the constant nausia and depression that it seem to cause, she had to come off the patch. 1st Pain Mgmt. said come off patch one step at a time every two-three weeks. DO NOT DO THIS! They were dead wrong. She had to go back to level 50 for another year or so because withdrawals were terrible. Finally we dropped that Pain Mgmt. Dr after 13 years with them and went to another Pain Mgmt. Dr. in Anniston, Alabama. This Dr. told my wife to come off the patch very very gradually. She cut down 12 mcg at a time over a one year period. She is in the process of coming off the last level 12mcg now. This Dr. prescribed Lyrica, Savella, Flexeril and Clonidine 0.1mg. The Clonidine makes my wife drowsy and weird and so she only takes 1/2 of 0.1 per day and Darvocet 100mg when she has break through pain. She is having some gitters and sometimes nausea, but most of the nausea stopped when she got to 25mcg Fentanyl. That was a blessing! She is still coming off the 12mcg and has not had a patch for over two weeks. Still not there yet, but we see light at the end of the tunnel. At least the drugs she is on now do not have withdrawal characteristics and the nausea from fentanyl have almost completely gone away. By the way, the fentanyl patch also caused decayed teeth and I am feel other organs in her body may have some damage, but not sure of that.

Hope this is of some help to whomever reads this post. Without the fentanyl at first, my wife did not want to live. However, the nausea that came later caused the same worries. Now hopefully we can do away with most of her side affects.

God Bless all of you who are in pain. As a caregiver for my wife, I know how tough it is for a spouse. However, this is when our spouse's need even more help and through God's grace we should supply all we can. Remember the shoe could be on the other foot one day.

I have some suggestions. I have on occasion cut a patch in half, making sure to spread the gel equally on each side. Then use a good tape tp seal the ends and prevent leakage. As long as you have even some fent going into your system, you should not go into real w/d, which in my days of oxycontin use, drove me to attempt suicide on more than one occasion. Medicare no longer covers oxy for the painfully disabled, so the MD switched me to 150 mcg patch. I have been on high dose narcs for 15 years, so the idea of a buzz is long past. If you are an abuser and have to go through the true hell of withdrawal, I have one other recommendation. You may not like it. Every time you feel like you are going to blast down the street screaming, Down a glass of vodka, stay semi conscious for 3 or 4 days, and the worst will be over. On the fifth day, get ya goni' on some OTC nausea meds, diarrhea meds, Doans pills for muscle spasms, and tons of gatorade. I've done it. I didn't like it. But it kept me from going hysterical to the local ER where they lecture you, put you on the blacklist, rat you out to every Doc they can, and tell you to F-off without giving you anything but 2 Motrin, and bill your insurance 20 grand. I wish all withdrawal folks my deepest sympathy. I wouldnt wish it on anyone. Remember this too shall pass. Patches will deliver meds for 4 or 5 days, not just 3. If 100 mcg patch delivers 100mcg/hr, then after 72 hrs, there is still 2800 mcg left. Save your used patches in their original wrappers, sealed, and use them for these withdrawal occasions.

These are great suggestions! I've been on the 50 mg patch for 4 years and want to to get off of it since I'm so sick and tired of always worrying about them falling off and running out. I also just want to find out how I feel without the pain medication in my system and see if I can get by without it.

I'm going to try and find a dr who can give my something to help with the w/d symptoms so it's not pure hell to get off them. I wish I'd never, ever started in the 1st place and saw a show on HBO about opiates that said that synthetic drugs are so much harder to get off of then the natural or partial synthetic. Wish me luck and good luck to everyone else who's trying to get off this drug :)

Iam not sure were to start .Here I go !!!!!!Iam going crazy !!!Please someone tell me something that HAS worked to get off these patches.I wish my dc would have told me .I got the flue really bad ended up in hospital. after realizing that i hadnt changed my patch after5 days and was off work already with flue not to put patch back on .he sidw effects were crazy ..felt like i was dieing .legs gave out ,couldnt funtion mentaally,felt neeed to have 10 baths aday I called pharmasy she said noo problem..just take a couple tylenol to get through..after day 3 i called back 2nd pharmasit said no put patch on {sorry i was on 2-25 patches 72 hours.i tried cutting one in half so i put 1 full and 1/2.its helpped after 24 ours .but now at 48 hours im starting withdrawl,praying to god to please help.I have noone to onfide with that i was sooooo stuip and believed that what ever dc gave me would be totaly safe.i decidd to tell my husband ..hes not being supportive at alll..please give me some inspiring words and some facts that have worked .i love my kids to much for them to watch me and think that its the flue. :'( >:( ? ! :-( :-( :-(

Hi all,
I'm new here, first post, but have read all the messages and have something to add. I'm trying to withdraw from the Fentanyl patch too. I'm at 12mcg's now and having no problems. I have been as high as 50mcg's for 10 years just recently beginning withdrawal. The reason being that the VA will not rx the Fentanyl patches and they are my sole source for medical care beginning this year. I HAVE to get off of them. What I will do about the pain is not made clear to me yet. The VA is that way. I hope none of you are at the mercy of a gov't Dr!

The reason I am writing is to say that I have read a message or two about cutting the patches Mylan being the ones to cut BUT I talked with my pharmacist and he says "No" very emphatically. He says he's heard of it but when you cut the Mylan brand you destroy the matrix of the patch and can kill yourself doing that. He said if you have read or heard any reports from Lawyers about people dying on the patch that's what they are talking about. So, whatever you do don't take the chance. Leave the patch intact. He did say you can fold it however and wear it to only get half the amount. Please don't take chances with your life.

That's all I needed to say. Good luck and warm thoughts to all of you trying to rid yourself of this drug. For some it is a life saver for others a very large burden.

Liz

I am withdrawing right now from having 100mg patches on BOTH ARMS and been on the patch's for years (4) my doctor just decided he's not writing anymore scripts anymore. WTF
I just feel like dieing :$

(I have no idea how long I'll have to feel this way??? Walking helps, and as crazy as it sounds, so does masturbation!! Helps Alot so I've been masturbating about 4 times a day. I guess it helps your body produce endorphins.)

Least theres one plus for me,It'll take it up to 8 times a day....

Hello all, 29 y.o on 150 mcg/48hrs of Fentanyl patches for 4 years. I too just went through the worst withdrawal ever. 2 days after getting my Rx's filled, my roommate stole 2 boxes of each from me, so I had exactly 4 patches of each 50 and 100. Fortunately I always get the brand that doesn't have the gel, so they can be scissored, and I basically weaned myself down, but even with that it was terrible, as I was suffering dramatic pain on top of the withdrawal. So it's been 6 days since I've had at least around what I think is 25cg even, and everything but the insomnia and diarrhea has abated.

If you're fortunate to have the gel-less patches you can do for yourself what your dr's won't but even stepping down you can still have significant withdrawal symptoms. If you are diligent about know everything about your medication as I am, and I mean ALL of it, (wikipedia, PDR"s, google) you might be surprised to know what you have in your very medicine cabinet that can help you. (i.e. certain bp medications can help with withdrawal) I however didn't have any of that. :-(

I'm a little concerned because as I've mentioned, it's been almost a full week without any pain med what so ever, and my tolerance is surely down, so throwing on a full 150mcg might be too much.

Also, for some of you that have several pain meds as do I for BTP, try google-ing a opiod equalinegesic calculator, and you can calculate how much of one opiod it takes to roughly be similiar to another. Just remember the only CURE for opiate withdrawal is an opiate, but as soon as you do, it basically starts over the process. As I'm sure alot of you know, the medication binds to receptors in our brain (I imagine it like a ping pong ball on the end of a vacuum cleaner hose) as it prevents and blocks dopamine from being sucked up, and as soon as it wears away, (the ping pong ball) the hose begins to suck up all good feeling and regulating chemicals in our brain. Few other substances precipitate physical dependence as do Opiates, but even their mechanisms aren't quite as complex. (Benzos and Alcohol) I believe cause physical symptoms. But Sorry, I digress...I taught for a couple years before becoming disabled.

Good luck to you all, hope this will help someone.

hello,

I have been on 100mcg durogesic patch for 6mths now, when i first changed from oxycontins to the patch i suffered withdrawals, let me explain! the doc gave me 50mcg patch which was not strong enough to be the equivilent to my dose of oxy's. I suffered for 12 days before i could no longer handle the withdrawals any more. Now i want to stop taking the patches as i am having side effects anyway still. now I am not looking forward to the withdrawals again but I am determind to get through it even though I have been told it will last for MONTHS... I am currently getting KETAMINE infusions to help with pain receptors in brain to reduce pain levels - so far so good! My withdrawal experience was bad...sweats, chills, convoltions, pulpitations, chest pain, nausia, vomiting bile, diarrea,weight loss due to the fact that food disgusted me, the smell, taste, I could not eat for the whole 12days. I lives off hydrolite iceblocks and sipped water. I would take baths up to 6 times a day and i would lay in bed and cry just waiting to die! i could not sleep and time felt like it stood still. Mentally I was a mess! I was only on 50mcg patch so it will be interesting to see how I go with the reduction from 100mcg back to the 50mcg and so on! My pain level is alot lower thanks to the ketamine, stretches and exercises learnt from a physio and relaxation techniques taught by my shrink, positive thinking and a never say I can't do it attitude has and will get me through this. I have nerve damage to my thorasic spine for 3 yrs now. I have lost my kids, my job, my dignity, my friends, my independence, and a big part of my personality and I refuse to lose any more!! I am claiming back my life piece by piece... Yes I am depressed, frustrated, lost and lonely but reading these blogs gives me strength in knowing I am not alone, I am not the only one out there fighting to get their life back. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUT THERE WHO ARE DITCHING THE PATCHES.

Ive had problem like that.I want to stop too.I had back and neck surgury and they ruined me.Try a hot bath.It relaxes mussels.Have someone get to drug store and get melitonin.Might relax you.It is nerves doing it too.Its not pleasant.If I quit does anyone know how long withdraws last?

Sweetie my heart goes out to you! But there is no easy fix. i was on a 100mcg patch for 4 years and almost lost everything I had. Not to mention the 100 30oxycodone I was doing. Snorting and by mouth. I got so sick of trying to quit for a year and hiding it I was either going to kill myself or get off. You have to want it. Your addicted and its not your fault so do not be ashamed. I flushed all the drugs I had down the toilet and quit cold turkey. Anyone would say this is crazy but i was so sick of it I couldnt do it anymore. I also have 2 kids and a wife and I sat all of them down and came clean. They said they already new it. Powder on the counter, wrapers ect. my wife stayed by my side for almost 20 days before I could move hardly and she made me eat even if i threw it up. It brought us closer than ever and we cried and hurt beyond any wildest imagination on earth. I would rather have been tortured so atleast I might have a second of relief between whatever. I thought I was dying but I am good and i do not crave or want anything to do with any drug ever again. I would rather die. Everyone said there was no way I could do it but I prayed to god every 2 seconds for 20 days. This is not funny and its your life and if you do not give up 30 days of it you will eventually kill yourself or you will be in so much misery you might as well be dead. All of these withdrawel medicines are c**p if you ask me. Thats why people relapse because they do not feel the pain. And everytime you feel more pain just embrace it because once its done sweetie you never have to do it again. Do not trade one drug for another. Drs make money and its about money. Go to a pain clinic and tell them you are about to die from withdrawels and they will say make an appointment or give me 150 to 300 and thats cash please or debit if your lucky. Im sorry to say it but man up and do it and do not give up. It will seem like it is never going to end but it does. I am not a doctor and would never want to hurt someone but this worked for me. I am a diffrent person and enjoy things I never thought I would and the grass even looks greener than before. Do not take the easy way out. No pain no gain. You will come out a diffrent and happy person and that is a guarntee. This is the only way unless you want to chase doctors all over the place looking for withdrawel medication and your family will have no respect for you! But you lay in that bed for 20 days feeling like your dying and watching your muscles contract and your chest beat so hard it moves the covers then they willl respect you. This is the only way to never do this drug again! Go into a treatment center and ask how many times all of them have been there! Its BS! Man up and do it. Its one month. If you have to have your husband handcuff you to the bed thats ok! Do not give in and this tapering c**p is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! Thats why they are still on this site telling there story and what to do. Just so you know I pray to god every chance I get for helping me. I sleep like a rock now and for some reason I just got out of the bed and read your story. I still do this periodically to try and help someone! There are very few good doctors and god bless them great people. But honey this is about money and they are killing your beautiful life for it. They should be lined up and __________! And that would not even be justice enough for they are doing to people with these drugs. Breakthrough pain, what they hell is that when you have a patch on your arm thats 80 times more powerful than morphine! They do it because they have to by law right you more than once script. Sometimes they throw some horsecrap in there like 800 ibuprofen or some other c**p. They are legal drug dealers and I promise you they do not give 2 _____ about you! Get a grip sweetie it only is going to get worse. I wish I would of stopped on the dose your on. You might only be down for a week or so. I was a bad case but I beat it and thats by the grace of god! Just keep praying he will answer and I am not some devout christian its just all I knew to do. 6 months later I have my familys respect back and my business going stronger than ever. Your life will change. And fast. Pain medicine makes you in more pain. I take a non narcotic muscle relaxer in the morning and night. Thats it. No pain. You and any others can do what you want with this information. Its not going to affect me a bit. I got what I wanted but it wasnt given to me! I earned every second of it and you will to if you want it bad enough! You can visit every treatment center in the us and listen to all the c**p and reprogramming your brain and hundreds of thousands of dollars you are taking from you family! So keep being a selfish son of a _____ and think its all about you! What you fail to realize is that you are sick to look at to your family and causing them more heartache than you know! Its not about you! Get better and quit looking for an easy way out! Theres not one. Even detox medicine can have worse withdrawels than what your on. And just to leave you with a little knowledge I was the president for a fortune 500 company and made over 6 figures. Remember drugs and addiction do not discriminate. It will bring you to your knees and for some of us thats what it takes. But you can always make more money (even if you think there is no way you can do this or give up the time off work to do it) well honey one day its going to happpen anyway so get it over with and live your life and hug your kids and thank god everyday for what you have and I do not care if you live in a trailer!

YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT CUT OR TRIM FENTANYL PATCHES!!!! whoever wrote that doesn't know what they are talking about. IT CAN OVERDOSE AND KILL YOU because when you cut it, it releases all the medicine at once. People really need to work with their doctor for tapering off or go to a detox so its safe and not just rely on web forums where people who are not medical professionals are giving advice like this that can kill you!

Hi I'm Kat, I have been on morphine and 75mcg patches for 6 years, I stopped cold turkey. First i was already into withdraw from the morphine, then stopped the fentanyl on the 1st of June 2012. Holy my god am I ever sick no one knows how bad this can get until you are in the midst of it. Hearing that you still have residual effects 6 months later is very horrible. I don't know how to hang on that long. I'm so dizzy can't stand to eat or anything, even my skin smells bad , dispite the 3 baths a day just float and get warm. My god I'm praying every day. And I'm not a real religious person by god have mercy, cause I still have the chronic pain which is haunting me big time.



god bless all who are in my shoes...Kat