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5135507 tn?1367163227

NEED ADVICE: HOW LONG DOES FENTANYL WITHDRAWAL LAST?

Hi, I've been on the fentanyl patch 75 mcg for about a year...trying to wean off the 100 mcg that I'd been on for 4 years.  About 2 weeks ago, time for my refill of the fentanyl patch and ocycodone 10/650, my dr office called stating my dr was fired and I was on my own.  I've had 3 back surgeries and horrible pain, legs n back.  I called everyone and nobody's taking pain management patients.   Finally got into a pain clinic but it will be a month and I have no patches left.  NOBODY CARES!  I'M SCARED!  I finally got into a dr who put me on Clonidine for withdrawal and Remeron to sleep.  I'm on my 3rd day with no patch and there are times it's miserable with leg n back pain and I have to take a percocet.  I've been doing this 2-3× daily and thru the night.
Does anyone know how long this is going to last?  Is the pain real or in my head? Why can't I sleep due to uncontrollable spasms in my legs?  PLEASE ADVISE...I WILL BE SO HAPPY TO GET OFF THIS HORRIBLE DRUG!!
Best Answer
Avatar universal
I feel your pain Cinderelly. This has been very difficult getting off the Fent. I am at day 12, coming off 125mcg,  and felt I turned the corner after about day 9-10. I am also coming off other scripts at the same time, so my experience may be a little different.
The Velarian root (I got the liquid extract) from GNC really seems to help. I take 2-3 doses daily. I try to stick to 2. The clonadine also helps, I take it twice daily when I feel my heartrate and BP going up. I can actually tell by looking at the veins in my arms and hands, they get very plump. It takes about  1-2 hrs to work usually. Be careful not to take too much though.
I have tried several things to help me sleep, but I think it really depends on your and your body. And I hate to say this, but I don't think much would help with sleep in the first 7 days or so, as far as sleeping. I just had to push through and grab 15-20 minutes here and there. Vitamins also seemed to help quite a bit.  I take hot showers and sometimes have to just sit in the shower, or tub, because I am so weak. I feel sooo much better after the hot shower or bath. I always take one about an hour before going to bed.
I am still not near normal, and go to my new PM doctor in a few days. I will not get back on Fent, I just hope the doc will actually help me and listen to me and my experience. If I would have known this was  one, if not the strongest opiate you could take, I would have told the doc to give me something else. I still have another 40-50yrs here I hope, and have to think about tolerance, dependence, and how much I am willing to be limited in my mobility. I don't want to be 80 and taking 200mcg of Fentanyl.
This too shall pass, just hang in there. When this is over, you will be very proud that you were able to quit one of the strongest meds there are. In the meantime, I would do what hope6hope recommended and call to see if you can get in earlier, or if there is a cancellation. All my best, and you are in my prayers.
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Avatar universal
This is to Cinderelly70 and all the rest of you who are trying to wean off Fentanyl. I am another Nana trying to get my life back after being on Fentanyl patch for about 12 years now! Exactly 2 months ago today I received my neuro pain stimulator and it has been a Godsend! I had one before but it just never worked as well and a doctor cut the good leads while trying to add some more leads for me RSD in my legs and my low back issues along with my thoracic issues. After the 1st month being on the stim I asked to PLEASE let me start weaning off the Fentanyl patches. The pain doc said I amy never be able to completely be off of them as my pain level is just too high and I am dealing with too many pain issues as well. Well he gave me 12's and 50's as I was on 75's. and also gave me Clonidine. Well, luckily I am a research fanatic about what I take, and as I changed my 1st patches down to 62 I remembered I did not read up on the Clonidine yet and was already having issues so hurried and read about it, thank God! As I have unusually low blood pressure and if I would have taken even 1 Clonidine it would have killed me, as it helps lower your BP! I called his office immediately and he prescribed Flexerill and Valium, I am now down to 37 and believe it or not this step has been the worst so far. Luckily I am able to sleep so I just try and stay in bed and asleep as much as I can so I do not have to deal with the withdrawals. But I have stomach cramping, vomitting, shakes, itchy all over, you name it, the sweats and chills too...I do notice that it is usually the day I change my patch and the day before I change it, leaving me with one 1/2 way decent day, but I still feel miserable, the headaches are outrageous...I wait about 2 weeks before going down another level. I noticed my 12's are different than the 50's and 75's in that they are not gel filled, so what I may do next step is to just cut it in half and see what happens, then it is a slower drop. My youngest grand child will be 1 on Oct. 13. My goal is to be med free by then. I was on over 21 meds in January of this year, now it is Sept.and down to 5. The other 4 should not be a problem and I will always have to be on 2 of the meds, but they are not anything that causes problems or addiction. I just hope I can endure the pain as well. The stimulator helps a whole lot, but I do have lots of break through pain. But my daughter and her husband will not allow me to watch or be around the grand kids alone if I am on anything. Kind of a double standard when his mother is on somethings that are very dangerous as well. But I have to think about me 1st and get my life back, it's been a really long time! the most Fent I was ever on was 150 and with that I had lots of other narcotics as well, so thanks to the Stimulator, and a strong will power, I think and hope I am on the road to recovery once and for all! the fibro stuff I will just learn to fight as well! the worst part of everything is that I feel that I am not getting much moral or emotional support from my family, which is REALLY important. I wish you all the best with your w/d too! Email me if you need to!!! ***@****
Helpful - 0
5135507 tn?1367163227
I'm so sorry for you.  I hope they help you today.  I didn't make it, we had a blizzard and woke up to 8 inches more snow.  I have to reschedule.   I'm so frustrated!   This back pain that supposedly is all in my head sure is excruciating.....and I know about the leg pain you're having.   As soon as you close your eyes, there it is!!!!  HOW MUCH LONGER?  I REALLY CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's great you found someone to take you. Hope last night was not to terrible for you. The restless legs were the worst for me also. I would seem to just fall asleep, and then my legs, or body, would jerk me awake.  FRUSTRATING...
Not sure what to tell you about Suboxane. I have read that they can be pretty rough getting off of also. Guess it is like everything, lowest dose possible to handle your pain. Try to do some research on this site, I know there is some good info about Sub's.
I have one more day to go til PM dr myself.  I did sleep a little longer last night, about 6 hrs, I think. My mind is so sleep deprived at this point, I am having hard time remembering if I and when I wake up at night. I did sleep til about 8am(about 4-6hrs sleep). I am very glad you will be getting some help. I am trying my best not to get too anxious about my appt. It raises my blood pressure, LOL.
Helpful - 0
5135507 tn?1367163227
Hi again,  after seriously debating on going to the ER, I called a pain clinic that I use to attend until August 2012.  I had quit going b/c my mother would drive me the 6 hr trip , up n back....anyway,  she had a stroke.  I ONLY went for injections,  nerve burning,  ect....no meds.  I do know they write meds.  They got me in , in the morning and I'll explain what happened with my primary dr n hopefully they write me something for pain.  NO FENTANYL!   I figure they'll want to hospitalize me and detox the fentanyl with suboxane.  Ive heard once you've taken suboxane,  no pain clinic, or any pain center will ever treat you again.  IS THIS TRUE?
Helpful - 0
5135507 tn?1367163227
Yea, me too.  I don't want to be a grandma dependent on the patch.  I'm already proud of myself b/c for the 1st time in about 5 yrs I'm patch free.  It's strange not to have one taped to my belly.  But let me tell you, its been almost 48 hours w/o and this evening and tonight have been almost unbearable! !  My legs are killing me, my back hurts.  The doc said the Clonidine would help a lot taken 3 times daily, couldn't imagine it being worse!  They also gave me Remeron to sleep but my legs wake me up, I've been taking 1mg ativan with it, as well as a couple times a day.  I only take Percocet when absolutely needed as I'm down to about 5 pills left.  I wish I could find a dr to take me.  Does anyone know who I would contact about the way the hospital fired my dr and made her shut down her practice leaving about 250 patients doctorless?
I'll def be thinking n praying for all of you too and I so appreciate your kind words and honest answers, as scary as they are.  I'll be glad to hear of your detox and I'll keep you informed of mine.
Thanks everybody!  :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I took it before when I tried tapering off the patches and it helped. But once I completely went off them I didn't try it cuz I took suboxone for my w/d which took the w/d symptims away. Sorry I don't have more experience with it but maybe someone will come along that will.
Helpful - 0
5135507 tn?1367163227
Thx for all your help.  I did call the pain clinic to call me if they have a cancellation and the ER said they couldn't give me medical advice over the phone but they'd be glad to see me (its a small town where I live, everyone knows about my dr but immediately treat me like a druggie when I call for an appt.  These are drs given to me by the ER and my old drs office) .  She was my family dr who treated me for pain, as well.   I'll sure be happy to look up the sites you both told me about.  Has anyone ever taken Clonidine for withdrawal?   How did it work for you?  Thx so much and God bless!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also did you try talking to your family doctor or the ER to see if you could get a script just until you get in? You could also call the pain management place explain your situation and call to see if there are any cancellations.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm not sure how long it lasts I would guess the worse of it 2 weeks. I just stopped using fentanyl patches the end of feb. I had to go 24 hours without a patch before I started suboxone. That was the only way I could get off the nasty patches!!!! I feel so bad for you it is pure hell. I have been told its the 2nd hardest thing to w/d from :( I'm currently weaning off the subs I have w/d but no where near the fentanyl w/d. Look up the Thomas recipe that helps people a lot. The warm baths really helped me also I take 1/4-1/2 of robaxin (muscle relaxer) and that is helping a lot. Hang in there if I can help in any way let me know.
Helpful - 0
1551327 tn?1514045867
Helpful - 0
1551327 tn?1514045867
I don't have any experience with this particular pain patch but I will make this current because I know that there are others on here that do.  They may not come on until late tonight or tomorrow but be patient because someone will respond.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have withdrawn cold turkey twice from Fentanyl patches 100 mcgs.  The effects were brutal for 5-7 days as my pharmacist informed me.  The best thing I wish people would understand about Fenatny patch is that Mylan brand makes a version that is like scotch tape so you can cut it down every 7 days just a little each week until you are completely off.  I don't think they should make the patches that are filled with the gel liquid because you cannot cut them down.
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