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Fentanyl
Im wanting to know how long you have to take Fentanyl to start having withdraws if i stopped? My doctor prescribed me the 50mcg patch in May.There was 10 total in that script.I had them filled again a few days ago and after reading everyones horror stories ive decided to stop taking it.I have used 2 more patches this month already.So ive taken them for about 6 weeks total now.I have used exactly 12 patches total.Do i have a long road ahead of me now?Im scared to death!If anyone could let me know something i would greatly appreciate or welcome any answers.
what dose were you on & what dose are you now on? how long have you been on fentanyl total? I've been on it for several years, have dropped down a few times, experienced the withdrawals & am still on it. I will give whatever advice I have if you would like it & will be here to listen if you would like.
Oh my .. this scares me.... I'm in the process of just trying to get to the lowest dose and I'm haveing these effects just with the dosage change........
Great post! Since you wrote it on a very old thread, would you mind copying and pasting it to a new one? Just paste the copied text into the box that will appear when you click the green "Post a Question" button at the top of the page. More people will be likely to see it that way, and you've provided some really important information. It would also be beneficial for the Pain Management community. Thanks for sharing your experience, and congratulations for taking your life back. :-)
ANYONE EXPERIENCING WITHDRAWALS FROM OR ABOUT TO START ON FENTANYL
As I read through these postings, it reminds me of my own experiences. Multiple major surgeries, an MRSA infection and more, were the reasons that I found myself taking all this pain control medications. I also went through the various stages they lived. From when about 8 yrs ago, when my doctor suggested Fentanyl patches to augment the Vicodin, to years later when I was taking 1-100 and 1-75 Fentanyl patches every 3 days, 2-750 Vicodin every 6 hours, and I mg of xanex every 4 hrs .
I reached a point when it was not the pain, but the dependency that led me to start taking the Fentanyl every 2 days, then every day. If I did not wear the patches, Spasms, seizures, and severe anxiety would set in. I would also get cold sweats, heat flashes and my face would get distorted and get flushed. My pulse rate would get very low. My wife and anyone that happened to be present became alarmed at what they saw. I saw the frightened look in my wife; her eyes as if she was horrified. Several times I had to be transported by ambulance to the ER, once my pulse dropped so low and it could not be detected. They called a code blue {or red, I am not sure}. I finally realized that I had zero control and that instead the drugs had control over me. I decided to go to a detox clinic after release from the ER. I stopped taking Vicodin, xanex and Fentanyl.
Six days in rehab is not near enough time. As difficult as it was to be there, you need to stay longer or have a counselor or a mentor to help you get control of your emotions.
Once you check into rehab, no one from the outside can visit you. Take a pair of inexpensive but warm gloves. {You may need to cut off some of the glove fingers}, a sweater might be needed. Take all the medications in their bottles; they will give you some of the meds, such as blood pressure and others that you need to live.
During rehab you will go through a roller-coaster ride, both mentally and physically. You may go through chill spells then hot spells. Take a pair of inexpensive but warm gloves. {You may need to cut off some of the glove fingers}, a sweater might be needed.
Nausea and dry heaves, spasms and seizures will be part of it. The mind goes on a unreal unpleasant cycle; from reaching places in your mind that you forgot were there, yes even suicide. Those Thoughts went through my mind more than once. After 6 days I went to a Rehab clinic for cervical spine therapy and general strengthening exercises. The side effects from withdrawing took weeks to substantially subside.
As you recover you will notice increased clarity and alertness. You will be more in touch with your inner self. The only pain medication I take is Tramadol. Have someone gather and dispose all the medication you withdrew from. Early on, in desperation I may have taken a xanex if it had been available. Don’t take a chance, get rid of them. Our daughter got rid of mine before I came home
If you have not started taking Fentanyl, don’t start, if you just started, [few months} you should be able to wean off it. Develop a plan with your doctor to gradually withdraw. It is likely you may experience some of the side effects. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to mine, you need help; you more than likely need to check into a behavior modification center.
What I wrote is a rendition of my personal experience, yours might less severe. I wrote because I see some readers going through the stages I went through, some thinking of starting, some excited because the Fentanyl does ease the pain so well, others are already experiencing side effects and wanting to stop. Stop and read all postings here and other sources. Whatever you do, proceed with extreme caution you have the benefit of having read the experiences of all the postings.
Without the love and support from our Lord, faith hope and from my family, there is no way that I could have survived what I went through. Thank you Jesus!
As I read through these postings, it reminds me of my own experiences. Multiple major surgeries, an MRSA infection and more, were the reasons that I found myself taking all this pain control medications. I also went through the various stages they lived. From when about 8 yrs ago, when my doctor suggested Fentanyl patches to augment the Vicodin, to years later when I was taking 1-100 and 1-75 Fentanyl patches every 3 days, 2-750 Vicodin every 6 hours, and I mg of xanex every 4 hrs .
I reached a point when it was not the pain, but the dependency that led me to start taking the Fentanyl every 2 days, then every day. If I did not wear the patches, Spasms, seizures, and severe anxiety would set in. I would also get cold sweats, heat flashes and my face would get distorted and get flushed. My pulse rate would get very low. My wife and anyone that happened to be present became alarmed at what they saw. I saw the frightened look in my wife; her eyes as if she was horrified. Several times I had to be transported by ambulance to the ER, once my pulse dropped so low and it could not be detected. They called a code blue {or red, I am not sure}. I finally realized that I had zero control and that instead the drugs had control over me. I decided to go to a detox clinic after release from the ER. I stopped taking Vicodin, xanex and Fentanyl.
Six days in rehab is not near enough time. As difficult as it was to be there, you need to stay longer or have a counselor or a mentor to help you get control of your emotions.
Once you check into rehab, no one from the outside can visit you. Take a pair of inexpensive but warm gloves. {You may need to cut off some of the glove fingers}, a sweater might be needed. Take all the medications in their bottles; they will give you some of the meds, such as blood pressure and others that you need to live.
During rehab you will go through a roller-coaster ride, both mentally and physically. You may go through chill spells then hot spells. Take a pair of inexpensive but warm gloves. {You may need to cut off some of the glove fingers}, a sweater might be needed.
Nausea and dry heaves, spasms and seizures will be part of it. The mind goes on a unreal unpleasant cycle; from reaching places in your mind that you forgot were there, yes even suicide. Those Thoughts went through my mind more than once. After 6 days I went to a Rehab clinic for cervical spine therapy and general strengthening exercises. The side effects from withdrawing took weeks to substantially subside.
As you recover you will notice increased clarity and alertness. You will be more in touch with your inner self. The only pain medication I take is Tramadol. Have someone gather and dispose all the medication you withdrew from. Early on, in desperation I may have taken a xanex if it had been available. Don’t take a chance, get rid of them. Our daughter got rid of mine before I came home
If you have not started taking Fentanyl, don’t start, if you just started, [few months} you should be able to wean off it. Develop a plan with your doctor to gradually withdraw. It is likely you may experience some of the side effects. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to mine, you need help; you more than likely need to check into a behavior modification center.
What I wrote is a rendition of my personal experience, yours might less severe. I wrote because I see some readers going through the stages I went through, some thinking of starting, some excited because the Fentanyl does ease the pain so well, others are already experiencing side effects and wanting to stop. Stop and read all postings here and other sources. Whatever you do, proceed with extreme caution you have the benefit of having read the experiences of all the postings.
Without the love and support from our Lord, faith hope and from my family, there is no way that I could have survived what I went through. Thank you Jesus!
i have been on the fentanyl patch for 4mths now because of chronic pain. i started at 12.5 then within a month i was up'd to 37.5
i still have chronic pain and a lot a breakthru pain for which i take tylenol 3 and clonazepam (for spasms).
i want to stop the patch because it does not work for me .... can i stop cold turkey ... so far i have got myself down to 25 and am prepared to drop to 12.5 but what process would i follow .. how many 12 patches would i apply before stopping completely.
i need help and advice ... has anyone gone thru something similar
i still have chronic pain and a lot a breakthru pain for which i take tylenol 3 and clonazepam (for spasms).
i want to stop the patch because it does not work for me .... can i stop cold turkey ... so far i have got myself down to 25 and am prepared to drop to 12.5 but what process would i follow .. how many 12 patches would i apply before stopping completely.
i need help and advice ... has anyone gone thru something similar
i have been on the fentanyl patch for 4mths now because of chronic pain. i started at 12.5 then within a month i was up'd to 37.5
i still have chronic pain and a lot a breakthru pain for which i take tylenol 3 and clonazepam (for spasms).
i want to stop the patch because it does not work for me .... can i stop cold turkey ... so far i have got myself down to 25 and am prepared to drop to 12.5 but what process would i follow .. how many 12 patches would i apply before stopping completely.
i need help and advice ... has anyone gone thru something similar
i still have chronic pain and a lot a breakthru pain for which i take tylenol 3 and clonazepam (for spasms).
i want to stop the patch because it does not work for me .... can i stop cold turkey ... so far i have got myself down to 25 and am prepared to drop to 12.5 but what process would i follow .. how many 12 patches would i apply before stopping completely.
i need help and advice ... has anyone gone thru something similar
Yeah, i was on tramadol and lortab for years.Ive been through w/d with them several times.I seem to be doing pretty good considering what ive been reading.It dosent help though that i know were there at and it would be real easy just to go get one at any time.I think at this point i might have beaten it.
I can appreciate where you are, but I am quite concerned. One shouldn't stop any narcotic cold turkey. You need to be weaned off the Fentanyl.
I'll share with you a bad experience I had behind my patch just coming off once. I didn't realize it until I wound up in the ER with the most horrible symptoms; I thought I was dying, so weak I could barely move, cold sweat pouring off of me, throwing up...It was only later on the ER stretcher that I realized that my patch had fallen off. I'd been on them about six months then, about a year now.
For me, Fentanyl has saved my life. I was in such horrible pain before that my life was barely worth living I thought. To each his own, however.
I'll share with you a bad experience I had behind my patch just coming off once. I didn't realize it until I wound up in the ER with the most horrible symptoms; I thought I was dying, so weak I could barely move, cold sweat pouring off of me, throwing up...It was only later on the ER stretcher that I realized that my patch had fallen off. I'd been on them about six months then, about a year now.
For me, Fentanyl has saved my life. I was in such horrible pain before that my life was barely worth living I thought. To each his own, however.
good for u.....try to hold on.......but she was on them much longer than u...just feel safe in the fact than u can ask ur doctor for help if need be...sometimes this can take the panicky feeling away...i dont think at this point...less than 24 hours? that u would be in wd from the patch yet....but the worry and dread is what u may be feeling...and it can be just as bad as 99 percent of wd is mental....relax...6 weeks is not a long long time...u may feel uncomfortable but dont compare urself to long term use of this patch...were u on a narcotic before the patch?
I appreciate all the comments from everyone.Its 8 pm here now.I feel a little sick like i need to throw up.I feel real jittery.My back of course is hurting again.Im afraid cause i have to go to the doctor on the 23rd.Thats when there going to setup my surgery date.Dont know what they will be giving me for pain but i know im going to keep fighting this fentanyl thing.
Get a good nights rest and don't worry about tomorrow,it may not be as bad as you think it's going to be.No sense worrying about it until the time comes and when it does you take it minute by minute,sometimes second by second.Just know that we will all be here to help and support you in any way we can.Until tomorrow.Sweet dreams. Peace.
Well its 2 am here in the morning.Im wide awake still.I guess im going to go take some of my sleeping medicine and try to get some sleep.That way i dont sit up all night and worry about what i got coming tomorrow.
Ok,thanks i appreciate the feedback.I figured that because of all the bad things people were going through on here.I read a post were a guy said he had only been on Fentanyl for 30 days and he had bad withdraws from it already.Im just really scared and dont know if im going to be able to fight it off. I took the patch of earlier this evening about 8:00 pm or so Central time.I heard half life is like 17 hours i guess.So maybe at around 1:00 pm tomorrow i should start feeling some effects of it wearing off.
Hi - I was on 50mg patches as well; prescribed for 6 months. In the beginning, I used sporadically because mybreak through meds were easier. When I started using the patches regularly, my estimate (IMHO) was that within 6-8 weeks I had built a dependency on them. Fentynl is a very difficult drug to withdraw from because the half life of the med is 2-3 days. Since you haven't been on them to long, you should be OK...maybe minor wd issues. Read the Thomas Recipe, Aminos, etc. I stopped using the patch by using my break through meds, percs, to taper.
Good Luck,
Guy
Good Luck,
Guy
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