Anyone stop the Duragesic (Fentanyl) Patch?

[blondee68]

Hey everyone, I've been on here and posted a few times, but not lately.  My history since probably nobody may recognize me, is I've been taking pain meds like Lortab, Darvocet, Duragesic Patch, and even shots of stuff at the hospital for migraines since the early 90's.  I got into it really bad for awhile, and eventually even went to a couple pain clinics, but stopped in 2007.  I had been put on Methadone for my headaches, and got caught getting meds from another doctor, so he cut me off, and so I weaned myself off the Methadone, and it was HARD.  I was prob off of the meds for maybe a month and flipped my car, got serious back pain, and started with the same old stuff, Lortab, Darvocet and eventually back on the Duragesic patch.  I have quit the pills, since right around Christmas Eve, I think was my last one, and now I'm trying to come off of the Patch.  I was on the 50mcg, now, I'm on 25mcg, and my new doctor is going to put me on the 12.5 after that.  All for 2 weeks a piece.  It has been rough since weaning, which started New Year's Eve.  I had tried to just take the patch off and quit, but by day 3, I thought I was going to die.  I was at work where I was just hired, and felt like I was going to fall to the ground at any moment, so I put a new patch on and within 2 hours felt normal again.  I'm having problems now with minor withdrawals, like chills alot, and stomach stuff, shakiness, and I was wondering if anyone has tried to wean off the patch and what luck you had.  When I change from 12.5mcg to nothing I am going to be so scared.  My new doc says that I can't die coming off of it, I'll just feel like it.  She seems to think I'll just have maybe 2-3 days of problems, but I think I know better with my past.  I'm scared to death.  I can't call in sick to my new job because I just don't feel well.  I also have to do a drug test soon, but that's a whole other story.  I am happy that I'm off the pills, because honestly it is my bigger problem.  I crave them to cope, to have fun, to sleep, etc.  You all know what I mean.  But, the last few times I took the stuff, it just made me feel like ****, so that was my inspiration.  I'm hoping to not need the patch for pain once I get off of it, but with my headaches and still some back pain, I am scared.  I don't want to take this stuff anymore.  I want to be normal, if that's possible.  But, I still think of the pills and how uninhibited and fun I feel or felt before, but I haven't taken any, so I guess that's half my problem, right?  I'm just so scared about the patch.

This story has been way too long, but if anyone has come off the patch, or anything, please let me know what it was like, and what I can expect.  Good luck to all, it's so nice to have some great friends to talk to about something you can't just tell anyone about.  All of you understand, and it means the world to me.

Whenever I have pain, people like my parents recently say "oh just take tylenol", but they don't get that after you've been on all of these big time drugs, tylenol just doesn't do a darn thing.  Anyone else feel like that?  I take Excedrin for my headaches, and it helps some, but the caffeine which helps, makes me feel shaky and keeps me awake.  And, lately I haven't been able to sleep hardly at all.  

Hugs,
Blondee68

[IBKleen]

LOrdie..I agree with 1234...

[1234betterlife]

that was horrible advice. do not take lortabs for withdrawal. stick with your physician and her plan. she will not let you do anything that will hurt you. the fentanyl is no different than any other. you will have exactly the same symptoms. you can try the thomas recipe for the discomfort. if you are looking for an alternative for pain control start with your physician. do not seek another opoid to substitute. it will just keep you in the addiction cycle. some people just do not learn. i do not think you are one of those. stick with it and good luck!

[headies]

Get some loratabs and switch to those to ween off with. They are much better than the patches for withdrawl.

[sisk]

Have you tried subutex it has helped me so much