Fentanyl withdrawal is inhumane

There ARE indeed other meds, you just have to find one that works best for you.. I was on Fentanly for a good while but got off it after a few months.. Inititally I went back to my max dose Dihydrocodine. However it wasnt wasnt strong enough.. So now I'm on Marol (Tramadol) & Morphine for breakthrough pain.

Hi, can I ask some advice please... I don't know what to do... I was on a lot of meds years ago due to my spinal injury and syringomyelia (broke back in 1991)- i managed to wean myself off 400mg tramadol and halved my fentanyl patch from 25mcg to 12mcg (I'm also taking gabapentin, coproximal, and robaxin)... Well I forgot to replace my patch a few days ago but only realised a few hours ago... I though the headaches, extreme fatigue, dry eyes, nausea and excruciating pain was due to the fact I doing a lot of studying at the moment. It dauned on me today it might be withdrawal from the patch. So now I have a dilemma... Do I put another patch on (until I have a period where I can deal with the withdrawal properly - I have a wedding cake to make and a considerable amount of studying before thyrs Eve)... Or do I take a tramadol again? I've been off tramadol about 2 years and went through cold turkey gradually weaning off it, and the same when I halved fentanyl about 2 yrs ago. I'm scared I will have to go through withdrawals again like cold turkey from even taking tramadol short term. But im also happy to have come off (albeit accidentally) the fentanyl... But I feel so dizzy and lethargic and exhausted and in excruciating pain... I need to take something! Help... Amy advice I'd be so appreciative x

Ps I've been topping up meds overbyheast few days with dihydrocodene- from reading posts on here, this is what might have masked some of the withdrawal symptoms (sweats, cold turkey shivers etc)... But I just didn't realise it was needed due to me not having replaced my patch- I actually can't believe I forgot to put it on again!

Dihydrocodeine (DHC) definately lessons the withdrawl symptoms of Fentanyl. I was on DHC for many years before being prescribed Fentanyl.

During the transfer stage over to 25mcg's of Fentanyl from Dihydrocodeine the withdrawls symptoms were terrible, almost as bad as coming off Fentanyl. IMO I should have been put straight onto 50mcg Fentanyl.

Anyway after about 6 months on Fentanyl I wanted to come off the it and go back to onto Dihydrocodeine as the 100mcg Fentanyl were not working.. The transfer back to max daily dose of DHC was amazing, hardly any withdrawls symptoms at all.

I'm now on Max daily dose Marol (Tramadol) and Morphine which for me work a little better than Fentanyl, however it still doesn't stop pain by any means, I don't think anything would appart from drip feed.

I remember after I'd had major surgery for a pelvic bone tumour, lying there on a spinal anaesthetic drip.. With NO pain!.. In fact I couldn't feel my right leg at all, even though the right hip and buttox had more than a 1 foot long scar in it, which was full of staples

I've been on a Fentanyl patch for chronic pain for over 5 years now & it's changed my life for the better-believe it or not. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, have had both knee caps removed, an artificial disc replacement in my neck, have extreme hypermobility, & dealt w/such debilitating pain in my hips, back, & knees that I pretty much had given up. But then my counselor brought up the idea of possibly talking to my Dr about trying out the patch. At the time I was taking MS-contin, Percocet, muscle relaxers, & other antidepressants/anxiety meds. I was even put on Dialodid at one point, which damn near killed me.

I started w/a 75mch patch then up to a 100, where I've been ever since. No more popping a handful of pills 4-6x's a day, but most importantly no more non stop pain! I don't have to worry about setting alarms, & only deal w/having to take breakthrough pain meds. My patch is changed every 72hrs, & my hubby puts it on my back & makes sure it adheres by putting tape around the edges.

The only major side effect I've had from it is horrible constipation. I recently have been put on Movantix for OIC, which honestly I had at least 10 years prior to ever being on the patch. It's helped me a lot, as well as taking additional stool softeners & increasing my water intake.

Kris 

You are doing great, hang in there!!

Yes this is all normal. Try and simplify your medication intake if possible and add back in if you really feel you miss anything. For pain consider aspirin with an anti inflammatory but do consult your doctor.

5-HTP is an excellent supplement for helping the body create seratonin, a feel good hormone, be careful not to take too much as it is known to decrease effectiveness at high doses.

The opiates slowed your digestive system to a snails pace and so the fact that you are going too often is just proof that you are healing. Try buscopan for some relief. It helped me.

At this stage feeling rotten is a badge of honour, it is testament to your courage in finally making the jump and staying off. Wear it with pride as everyone here will be proud of you and take one day at a time. You will feel about 80% very soon and function quite normally.

Harvey

Hello Again!

You mentioned that 5-HTP is an excellent supplement for helping the body create seratonin, a feel good hormone. 

How is it administered?and could it possibly (hopefully) take the place of 450mg/day of Welbutrin, (I take a 300mg + 150mg pills-the max).

My dream life would be to just stop taking everything and feel great. Imagine the freedom. I seriously have an apt. with my GP tomorrow, and I will ask about it. I am so done with pills, choking them down with drymouth every day. I have all kinds of biotene but it gets nasty after awhile too.  I feel like all I do is Bitch! Which is persisely why I avoid meeting people - all I'd have to introduce is pain. 

I also have COPD (its nor severe) so getting going seems like hell for just not quite enough oxygen, so concentrating on my breathing sucks. Literally, hahaha I quit smoking 4-5 yrs ago (30 yrs), and being ignorant to the fen flu, laying around like a dog, then my lungs were caked with phlem (I filled an empty yogurt container/3 days)That and fentanyl (and myself) probably caused the pneumonia, laying still. I was fading away, called a wonderful woman to watch my son, called 911 and they wheeled me away. For 5 days. It was all a big blur. I have at least 3 inhalers, but only use the emergency one before going out to walk around, and am my own worst enemy because the procrastination to be mobile has one time and time again. I think its time to look into this a litter closer and follow the rules. I will die if I do not pull my lazy ass off the couch and slowly bloom into the happy person I was meant to be.  I just wish I had a buddy to walk with 

Im rambling now, but im really interested to know what is or if 

you know anyone who has had 5-HTP ? is it a shot? I'll be seeing him (GP) tomorrow with my list in hand (hahahaha Thank you again for the correspondance. Im new to this and I dont want to get on  anyone's nerves, so next time it won't be a novel. Promise

ttyl take care, and please let me know how you're doing!!

My doctor is taking me off 25mcg every three daays cold turkey I have been on for about 10 months. What can I expect as far as withdrawels? Thanks in advance

DebraHa-

What mcg are you starting with?

Restlessness, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, restless legs, etc.

Is your dr educated specifically in detox?

Let us know how it goes.

Melissa

25mcg every three days he just took me off it cold turkey I'm worried about withdrawls

How many days are you without anything?  Did he give you anything at all for your pain? I am attempting to get off Fentanyl 50mcg, which I have been on for 14 years.  We are doing it very slowly, currently I am increasing the time period between patches. I have started every 72 hrs x 1 week, yesterday was my first 96 hrs and I have started having some nausea, stomach aches, diarrhea, very gasy, insomnia.  It comes in waves, so far it's not constant. He is a pain management doctor and very experienced in detox.  He told me what the plan is and said that I need to go as slowly as I feel comfortable doing.  If it gets too bad then go back to the last level until I feel I can procede again.  Because of the length of time I've been on it, it will take a longer period of time to detox from it.  He said that there is no way I won't have some withdrawal symptoms.

Keep us updated on how you are doing and I will do the same.

patti 

Yes, I'd be concerned too....

Hi Patti, Debra

I came off Fentanyl 50mcg Patch after coming off Actic the oral from 10 a day to 4 then cold turkeyed . I waited till day 11 of stopping the Actiq then went 50mcg to 37.5 to 25 to 12.5 to nil every 72 hours over 12 days. It wasn't as bad as the oral fentanyl. What ever way you do it you'll get withdrawals. Consider the following

Loperamide for the diarrheoa and stomach cramps take as many as required to stop it or you become dehydrated which is what gives headaches.

Diazepam if required to help with anxiety help you forget but no more than 3 days after you stop.  Symptoms are worse by day 3 then dimminish.

Frequent baths or showers for Sweating takes longer.

Lots of vitamin and amino acid shakes.

Warm wraps for the chills.

Allow 3 days when you finnish to lie on the sofa /bed and watch commedy film to make you laugh and raise your endorphine level.

Excercise daily again to get your own endorphines going.

Be aware of mood changes I got tearfull a few times (not my normal)

and angry at other times but the world will become a much brighter place so keep going,

Pain levels initially go up "rebound effect" then level off.

It is do able

Best wishes to you both and lots of hugs

Hi Debra,

That's how I did it . Worst withdrawals day 3 then it improves.

I'm now day 30 still have difficulty sleeping and only occasional sweat now. See my reply below. Rebound pain has now settled down.

Well Done !!! Lots of hugs xxx

Hi Actiquser,

Very well said, nice post. Many people I have met or known, have been under the impression that withdrawing is something uncontrollable, unless other medication (or should I say, toxic chemicals) are involved to "help".

Of course to a certain degree this is true, but as you say, the 'simple' things, which sound "silly and obvious" can be a huge help, like you say, watching a funny film that makes you laugh, exercising a bit (if not too painful) etc etc.

One thing I would add: no matter how nice, kind and pleasant person you are, it may well be necessary to be SELFISH for a time, during your detox/weanin. By this I mean, warn those around you that you may have mood swings, be grumpy, tearful, no fun, seem uninterested and so on, during this time, but IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. If someone near you, say, accidentally took a small overdose of Paracetamol and had terrible stomach pains and did not want to go into town with you, would you berate them and be angry? Of course not. You would understand and try to help, right? That's how I explained it.

And showering. Again, tell those near you, but BE SELFISH. If you get the sweats and are soaking for however many days, then take 3 showers a day. Again, it is NOT your fault, and if this is what you have to do to successfully get off the patches, so be it.

One last point. This is a bit controversial, and some people will disagree with me. But I read a study while still on the patches, claiming that consuming between 75 an 200 mg of caffeine per day, greatly helped people in chronic pain. If drunk alongside taking pain meds (even just paracetamol, if you are getting off the fentanyl) the apparent relief was much greater. For me this worked wonders, and for weeks after starting my detox, I would have a coffee or two from a certain well known, Seattle-based coffee shop. I know this sounds wrong, since withdrawing causes insomnia, spasms, anxiety etc., yet for me the study rang true and it was a huge help. Try it if you like coffee; what have you to lose?

To everyone going tru this: Stay strong, it CAN be done.

Mark.

 

Yes  coffee all day long and music it helps a bit but not enough maybe because i am on it 19 years then nothing to help me between .This is the hardeast thing i ever had to do 

i am broken  lost sad and in pain my brother told me not to get off  it was safter to stay on he started to get off the patch and lsot his fight he hung himself last year he said no one gets out alive he said even if you get clean a part of you will always be dead 

is he right?? i am still fighting to feel better i wont give in no patch on me ever again even if it kills me 

god bless you all may god helps us though this living hell 

Hello billytom,

First of all, I may sound like I'm repeating myself as I say this often in cases like you, but....19 years is a heck of long run of use to come off the patches. Can you give some background?

Why are you coming off? Is it through choice, or are you forced to, or other reason?

What was the time-span involved? I mean, from your usual dosage, you cut down by a half. Then for how many days/weeks did you go, before cutting down again by half, etc?? This is really important, because, (especially without the help of some short-term substitute, like another weaker opiate or a benzo just for a while) that is a very steep reduction. After 19 years, many people cut down at much more gradual pace.

The short answer to your main question is, YES, virtually everyone gets out alive ( there are a few reported cases of tragic deaths, but I don't know the proportion. I'm pretty sure it is very, very low.) I, like many others I'm sure will agree, OFTEN wanted to die while coming off, or even just if I run out, or ran low, for some reason. But it is so important to hang in there and see it through. It DOES get better. If you relent, and put a patch back on, you may have come a long way for nothing! You may even be near the end of the withdrawal, and put yourself back to step one! That's  why it's important to know how long you've been doing this.

As a minimum, follow the basics that get repeated over and over here : stay hydrated!! Many people find cola and other fizzy drinks are best as the sugar helps. Try some excercise, no matter how light. Try and distract yourself with funny books, movies etc. And perhaps most important, have someone with you, through this. If not someone physically there, then keep posting these forums. Post updates, questions, anything. Many people here will reply to try and help. And if things are intolerable, or you think you are really, very unwell then always consider the emergency room.

I hope this helps even a little! Please post again, to update, and say how you're doing!

I see your post is a few months old and hopefully your symptoms have gone away. I will say that since I stopped the patch I am more regular than ever which is a total turn around however I seem to be starving to the point of nausea. It reminds me of morning sickness. Positive I am not pregnant. I eat s lot of tums and pepto but it's getting a little better. Hope you have recovered and know I think this can be normal

Carol