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I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy....it has been a little over two years now that I have been on narcotics...I started off on Avinza, but it made me feel really bad. My dpctor then switched me to the Fentanyl patch. I worked my way up tp 100 mcgs every other day on that but could not stay awake. ( I have children and did not like sleeping my life away) I was then switched to Opana ER which I was taking 60mgs twice a day and then I had 10mg breakthrough pills that I could take every 4-6 hours...but tried desperately not to take at all. I have wanted to come off of this stuff for a while but my doc won't help. I just want to live my life...my 7 yr old son died in my lap from cancer 3 yrs ago and I know how precious life is. Anyway I quit the Opana ERs last week I think it was Wednesday...I did take 2 or3 breakthroughs a day for the first 5 days then I went to hydrocodone for a couple of days 2 a day and now nothing but vitamins. I also quit Cybalta 60 mgs at the same time(but my doc knows about this...he had me drop from 120mgs to 60mgs a day for 5 days to none). I am miserable...right now i just want to pull my hair out. Is there anything I can do....any help please
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Avatar universal
Just FYI, that heavy feeling in your chest could be your blood pressure going way up.  It happened to me several days ago when I came off of hydros, and is one of the many reasons detox hurts so bad.  If you have a BP monitor, use it often to keep an eye on your blood pressure.  Hang in there and check back here often.  This website helped me a bunch this past week, at least by keeping my mind occupied while I talked with others.  I was holding tightly to a blanket with one hand, and typing slowly with one finger on the other hand.  There are some great people here.    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes I have quit a lot of stuff at once....not the smartest thing I can say I have ever done....but I had the bright idea that if I did it all at once then I would only have to go through the withdrawals once....DUMB HUH??? I really don't know what to do now....I am miserable but I am already into the withdrawals now....so I guess I don't want to go back and start over either  LOL. Anyway...TY so much for your help everyone....I appreciate any help more than you know.
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Avatar universal
TY road2recovery....I do really want off....my son was dying from a brain tumor and still denied his morphine because of the way it made him feel, and he was only 7. I took him home on hospice and was giving him his I.V.'s, Ativan, Morphine, Dilantin, Steroids, ETC. ETC. ETC.....I was not put on any of this until after he passed away. I fell and hurt my arm then next thing I know they say oh well you have RSD....OK I can live with that but before I was hurting, then with the meds I was hurting and felt like c**p all the time too, slept half my life away and was miserably depressed when I was awake. I know if I made it through my son dying while sitting in my lap, then I can make it through this for sure....I guess I am just frustrated and wondering how much longer it is going to be.
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Avatar universal
My doctor perscribed me 60 mg. Cymbalta after using 30mg for 1 month, for no reason. I was doing great and suggesting getting off. Another friend I have, her doctor put her up to 60mg. also for no reason. She was getting real tired. I think they must get a payback or something. So I just empty have the capsule and take half still. Maybe 60 was too much?????

You really have tried quitting quite a lot of things at once.
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Avatar universal
WOW---i am surprised you can type after getting off of all of that...But i mean that in a good way!!!
i am over 90 days clean from hydro';s, i had to stay on lexapro , and i think that helped me alot..
i know what you mean about not feeling anything, and you are right that is not a way to live..
As far as smoking i am still working on that..lol
I think everything you are feeling is normal and may get a little worst before better, but you hang in there, it will all be worth it..
I think if you can find ga guys' name click on it in blue and he has it on his profile, you will get lots of info on here...
you sound like you really want off and that is great, i wish you the best of luck
r2r
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Maybe the Cymbalta did help....I know that they use it for nerve pain....that was originally why my doc put me on it.....but boy did it make me sad and gain weight....it was awful.....I still have some though if anyone knows  that it would help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ty about my son....I was blessed to have him...he was and always will be my hero. I have not taken anything for 2 days....have not had the Opana ER in 9 days and the Opana immediate release since Monday I think. The doc took me off of the Cymbalta because he thought it was making me more depressed ( I sat in his office a cried the last time I was there....but I think now that it was because of how bad all of the meds were making me feel....I was like a zombie...no personality at all except when I was complaining and that is not how I am....I love life and appreciate everything I have) On the meds I got to where I didn't care about anything, did not want to go anywhere....not myself at all. So anyway that is the only thing he would take me off of and he said to do it that way. I decided it would be great to just quit all at once, and quit smoking too....REAL BRIGHT HUH??? I know that was stupid but like I said I have not had the ER's fpr 9 days now...and just Vicodin a couple days ago and then I only took two....but I don't know if that makes it worse. By the way I saw something about Thomas recipe in a post....but cannot find that recipe....what is that exactly???? TY everyone
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I quit hydros 10 days ago. I've been taking Cymbalta for 5 months now. 30mg . I've never been a depressed person until I couldn't get enough pills. If i forget to take one in the morning, I've noticed that I get real aggitated and aggrevated real easy. So I decided to quit the Cymbalta in another month or 2. Get through the pain killer deal first.

I also haven't really had much withdrawl. Maybe the Cymbalta helped.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It seems to me that the taper was way to fast...Exactly how many days since you have had anything??
I am no doctor but to me it seems very fast, why did you get off of the cymbalta too?
good luck
r2r
very sorry about your son....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh a couple more things....as if I have not complained enough....everything tastes weird....is that normal??? I also have my spinal cord stimulator....would it help if I turned it on??? heck if I know just thought maybe the tingling sensation might help. My doc is not much help at all.....it just prescribes like it is water....he does not want to hear that I want off of the drugs...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank You so much for your replys....I mean it just seems like my hair hurts...ok I know that is stupid since your hair can't actually hurt, but that is how I feel. I feel like it is hard to breath...meaning I feel like someone is sitting on my chest ( now that being said I was just at the doc for a CT scan of my brain and I told them about the breathing so they did a chest x-ray and I have a sever sinus infection and bronchitis on top of everything. Anyway I am determined...just feeling very down that I still feel like ****, and it is taking longer than I thought....How naive could I be??? I hurt all over...sore to touch and feel like my skin is crawling. I just wish I would feel better. Did I screw up taking the hydrocodone for a few days to help???Should I have just tuoghed it out??? Again TY everyone.
Helpful - 0
352798 tn?1399298154
That does seem to be a fast taper, on both the hydro & the Cymbalta. Although Cymbalta is not a drug with w/ds. Are you really mentally able? If feeling down, depressed or lethargic either see your Dr or at least take some supplements like L-Tyrosine & or SamE 400mg. Rhodiola is very effective too. I got very irate on Rhodiola but it sounds like that reaction is extremely rare. You say you want to pull your hair out. Could you be more specific.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just wanted to add something....5 days seems like an extremely quick taper down time to me. I've been on the Fentanyl patch too and changed back to 40 mg oxys....I couldn't imagin tapering that quick...you might wanna say omething to your Dr.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hang in there Avery...sounds like your going thru alot. There's gonna be several miserable days to go thru but I promise you'll start feeling better....everyone's different so I can't say how many days. There will be several people posting to give some advice...you've come to the right forum. Hang in there!
Helpful - 0
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