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starting patch reduction feel like death!!

Posted , 3 users are following.

angela52924
angela52924

Hello, three days ago I changed from 50 mg to 37.5mg. First day nothing and foolishly I thought great!! Today I feel like death!! Not sleeping, bad tummy, restlessness, sweats, chills. Does anyone know how long this goes on for? Two days no sleep now...

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • karenlh23
    karenlh23 angela52924

    Posted

    Angela

    How are you feeling now?  Sorry what you are going through. It’s so hard. 

    I’ll tell you this is a brutal withdrawal. 

    Are you on medications to help with the withdrawal symptoms. They will help, but definitely do not take away all the discomfort. It’s a rough go. 

    Just knowing  this is normal helped me when I was going through this a couple years ago. 

    The first 2 weeks were really horrible. Then it took 2 months to be able to leave the house, the fatigue was bad. Each month it gets a little better. I would say the first 3 months were my worst. It will take a total of 2 years for your pain receptors to rebuild, and be back to your normal. 

    It’s brutal, but worth it!!!

    Hang in there and if you don’t have medications to help you, please see a pain Mgmt specialist. 

    Any questions come up, please ask, others here helped me get through these hard days!!

    Take care. Karen 

    • angela52924
      angela52924 karenlh23

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      Thankyou for taking the trouble to reply xx two years ago I was on 300mg tramadol twice daily, 150mg of pregabalin twice daily and 50mg fentanyl patches. In two years I have quit the tramadol and pregabalin and thought I should now tackle the patches. But I never had withdrawals like this!! It got so bad I had an old 50mg patch that I put on, just to feel normal as I couldn't take it.

      What should I take to help with the withdrawal symptoms because I've not been prescribed anything? Thank you again xx

  • karenlh23
    karenlh23 angela52924

    Posted

    Angela, I was on about 3-4 different drugs to help with withdrawal symptoms, the constant shaking, headaches, restlessness, anxiety and not sleeping. 

    Can’t rememeber the names of them now, you should seek medical advice from a pain or withdrawal specialist. They will know what to do. This is not something you want to be doing cold turkey.  Nothing will help the flat out fatigue, except time. One day at a time is all you can do, if you keep going back to the Fentanyl, you’ll be starting all over each time.   You definitely cannot do this on your own. It’s brutal even with the medications. Just know going forward it’s going to take 1-2 months, possibly longer to get through this.  All the online advice says 1-2 weeks, I’ll tell you that’s absolutely not going to be the case. 

    You can do this....the end result has been worth every miserable day of withdrawal. 

    My life has improved beyond expectation, I feel Fentanyl should only be used in terminal cases. 

    Let me know how it goes?

    Take care, Karen 

  • Stormee
    Stormee angela52924

    Posted

    HI angela ...

    I was just reading about your taper down from 50 to 37.5! Congratulations, you made it. Be kind to yourself angela, be gentle. Your brain is so p****d off at you but don't let it win! It will get better. Trust me, I was there ... Be strong ... be well

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