On Fentanyl - need help

[notsowise]

I have been strugling for nearly two years with Fentanyl addiction.  Prescribed for a back injury, I was unaware of  how  horrible the side effects and the addiction were until it was too late.  Much like the posting of aakh87, the spasms and panic are unbelievable, even when the patches should be working.  As I wrote earlier in a belated response to aakh87, I've never posted anything on the internet, but I' so sick I had to give it a try. Is there anyone out there who's restled with Fentanyl who would be willing to share their experience?

[Jacqui805]

By the way, I had w/d s/d while on the patch too.  

[Jacqui805]

Hey dude,

     As GoingToMakeIt said, I can relate to this more than I'd like to.  I was on Fentanyl 200 mcg for four years until very recently.  I was put on it for severe pain.  As a nurse, I was well aware of what the risks were and what was going to happen to me when I stopped, but the benefits outweighed the risks as I was just a mess from it, couldn't leave the hospital.  In any event, I had to stop for a few reasons (my choice) and first tried to wean off myself.  I wore two 100 mcg patches and started cutting them down (which I have since found out is the wrong way to wean since the med is not evenly distributed), and for the reason in parenthesis, failed miserably.  I was in severe w/d and felt like I was having a heart attack.  I wound up in the e.r. with that one.  I went back to my previous dose and asked my doc to wean me off at 25 mcg less each month.  I started that in Nov. last year, and was at one half the dose I was on, and finished in January at 25 mcg.  There is a 12.5 mcg dose, which I intended to go to next, but since the 25 mcg's sent me into full-blown w/d.  I have been off them for 19 days today.  I have been going through hell.  It has been very difficult and I am thankful for this site.  I am severely anxious, restless, rls, have insomnia, sneeze, have more pain, and I could go on.  I can say that the s/s were super bad the first week, and although bad, they are diminishing to some degree.  It can be done.  200 mcg is a HUGE dose, I'm small too. It's an extremely potent med, and I was on it for a long time.  You can't beat yourself up over this, because first off, you took it for pain, but honestly, even if you hadn't, doesn't matter.  Dependence on that drug is inevitable, as is tolerance.  Addiction is not usual with that med if it's taken as directed, but it can happen and happen to anyone anytime.  I feel for you.  I really do.  If you're stopping, just know you can do it.  If I can get through this, anyone can.  I'm not special.  I'd be happy to chat with you anytime about this or anything else.  PM me if I'm not here.  Ok?      -    Jacqui

[notsowise]

Good for you!  It's wonderful to hear that you're making it.  I had so many good years before this darn back of mine went bad.  But that's no excuse for being stupid.  I was an active member of a twelve step group and got complacent and full of self pity.  II was having to crawl around on the floor in pain from my second and third herniated discs and didn't remember where I had come from.  I don't know if I have another recovery in me.  I'm pretty well beaten up, but trying.  As for you, keep up the good work.  I'll be pulling for you

[jim811]

Hey There...

I was on the 50mh Fentynl Patch and was taking 7.5 percs for breakthrough.  I was probaly taking 6-8 percs a day while wearing the patch.  The patch is a really strong narcotic...I remember when I took off the patch, 48 hours later, I needed almost 10-12 percs to stablize me (not at once...for the day).  I built a taper with my percs...I had 100 and cut them in half.  I am almost 18 days clean today....c/t would have hurt really bad and I had business trips I had to take so taper was my only option.

Hope this helps...

Peace,

Nick

[GoingToMakeIt]

I just sent a PM to Jacqui.

[notsowise]

Don't feel ignorant.  I'm a novice at this.  I am trying to stop using the patch.  I was getting as much outpatient help as anyone could hope for, yet when I've explained to my doctors that the anxiety attacks and twiching are more horendous than anything one could imagine, I get a pat on the head and and sent home with yet another antydepessent.
I can't say that I'm blameless in this matter. Thirty years ago I did use narcotics, which my personal Doctor was well aware.  We had an arrangement for treatment that kept me in bounds since my first back surgery some twenty years ago. But when I was seen on an emergancy basis two years ago in muscle spasm, a doctor who didn't know me prescribed the patch.  I had no idea what fentanyl was, Fent not having been around thirty years ago  And anyway, the pain I was in at the time was so great that I stupidly went ahead and used them.  I relapsed into addiction so quickly it would make your head spin.  From 50 to 150 mics in no time. That being said, I was still unprepared for how my body twitches and spasms even when I use what should be a normal dose.  Iasked to be put on Methadone, and was, only to find that it had no effect on the spasms and makes me nautious as ****.  At this point the pain management doctor simply dismisses my complaints as if I were merely some hysteric. It seems that only if you've experienced Fentanyl can you apreciate that it a monster the likes of which I've never experienced.
So, yes, talking to anyone who's been there would be a great help

[MikeWithFamily]

If this appears ignorant, I'm sorry for it, but are you trying to stop using the Fentanyl patch and you are expiencing W/D? or is the patch doing more than killing the pain and you just want to talk to someone about it? This certainly is a very good place to start either way.

[GoingToMakeIt]

See if Jacqui805 responds. She has been going through tough w/ds off of it.