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655875 tn?1295695107

Took of fentanyl patch, how long before full withdrawal?

I seriously want off fentanyl patch and I never quit before.  I had a horrid withdrawal cutting back from the 75 to the 50 mcg.  It was absolutely agonizing.

Yesterday I was down to the 25 mcg and I took it off.  I have some withdrawal effects, but nothing like that first drop 75-50mcg.  I have leg/arm aches, sunburnt looking body, feeling like I'm on fire, but not NEARLY as severe as before.  I have a script to be filled for the 12mcg, but I'm thinking its a waste of money and will return the slip to the pain clinic.

I do still have Percocet and Valium I take as directed, but I question if it even works after being on so long.  I'll start weaning off of those after the fentanyl withdrawal is over with.

I've been exercising inbetween the decreasing dosages. I'm starting to think this itself is helping?  I don't know.

It's been 24hrs since I removed the patch, will it get worse?  My hubby offered to stay home tomorrow if I needed him especially getting the kids off the bus.  If it does get worse, it will be over the weekend.

What do you all think?  I've been on la meds for 6 years.  

Thank you very much!
22 Responses
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1926359 tn?1331588139
Unfortunately there is no quicker way through this process.  It takes as long as it takes.  The good news is that while you may have a day or two where you feel you regress- you will get better bit by bit.  Think of it as if you are fighting a bad virus.  Be gentle with yourself.  Also, if you have access to an infrared sauna it can help speed up the detox process.  Once I was through day 5 or so I did these daily and drank a TON of water and I believe it really, really helped.
Be proud.  You're doing awesome.
Lu
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I can't thank you all enough for your kind comments.

Today is day 5 since I took the patch off.  I feel worse physically with the body aches, feeling like I'm on fire and tired today then the last 5 days.  I am nauseas too.  Instead of a long walk, I took a 2 hour nap.  I must of needed it.  The weather is finally warming up, so I'll go out for a walk and maybe a jog if I'm up to it.  Surprisingly I am still able to function normally, but feeling under the weather.

I kinda wonder if the fentanyl is completely out of my system yet.

The first step down from the fentanyl patch was absolutely physically agonizing.  I was having involuntary muscle spasms and didn't sleep for 4 days!  The next step down after that was pretty unpleasent too.  I'm quite shocked how well it's going now that I completely quit.  I ALMOST went the suboxone route, but deep down inside I felt like it wasn't the right thing to do.  I'm glad I didn't.

I just wish this was a quicker process.  I am very grateful it is going easier now then when I first started.  

Thank you again for your support!
Helpful - 0
1926359 tn?1331588139
Hey You've got an awesome attitude and should be proud of yourself.  Fentanyl is awful to come off of.  I did it 3 years ago but took oral opiates and tapered off them before I jumped.  The hypnotherapy and meditation is excellent as is the exercise.  Be patient with yourself and don't try to go too quickly.  As Deb mentioned it will take awhile of clean time in order to evaluate your pain levels.  I found my pain way less off opiates than on but it took about a month of being clean to figure this out.
I am rooting for you.
Lu
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Your attitude is awesome and it has everything to do with your healing.
You are do wonderful.
Yep those endorphins need to repopulate.
It could take a month or so to re-evaluate your pain off the opiates.
Keep moving forward.
Happy you are feeling so good.
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
Congrats..U r doing this..be careful with that hardware inside.I had a screw put in my knee in '87 and it is now broken in half..Ouch..do what u can and keep on going..Hugs
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I ended up forcing myself for a walk outside.  That really helped me feel better mentally.

The doctor knows I'm walking and jogging.  The hardware in my neck better not break.lol  I honestly think the endorphins that are being released due to the exercise is changing my life and making me feel so much better.

I really am amazed that I took the patch off 4 days ago.  I still had 1.5 more months to taper, but I guess I was on a mission.  While on the patch I could smell an awful chemical come out of my pours and I was always sweating.

I've been using meditation and hypnotherapy to help with the pain as well as positive thinking, which always isn't easy.lol. My whole attitude has changed.  I'm very excited for future plans.:)  Things I'd never be able to do while in severe pain.  I will only use medication of any sort as a last resort.  I do think they are very helpful for many people, but I chose to not use them if possible.
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
Thank you everyone!

I might take the dogs out and play in the snow with them.  We got over a foot of snow and I feel like being a kid again right now. :)

I might go sledding down the hill a few times too.  The kids are at school.lol

I already cleaned the house and don't feel like cleaning anything extra today.;)
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
You are doing great. Take hot baths with Epsom salts. Also magnesium supplements, these both will help with the aches and pains.
It's great you are eating. Drink lots of water and fluids.
Drinking protein shakes will also help your muscles.
Try to move around as much as possible, cleaning, vaccumig,
Climbing up and down stairs. It will help you heal.

Keep moving forward. You are healing every moment.
Praying for you,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
Day 4 my body aches all over.  It's very uncomfortable.:/
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I pray this is the worst of the withdrawals.  It's much more mild then my first decrease.

My arms ache from the bones up, I'm still on fire too.  I wasn't able to go out for a walk, so I grazed on food all day long.lol. It's raining/snowing and very cold.  I actually napped too.  

This will be a MIRACLE if this is as bad as it gets!  I'm decreasing at a much more rate then the first decrease when I started 2 months ago.  I still have 1.5 months of patches that go back to the pain clinic, so I quit much earlier then expected.
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
I am happy to hear you're Fentanyl withdrawal is manageable.  I would also say that ths Percocet is definitely playing a role in keeping them manageable.  Also, occasionally a person will seem to somehow escape the brutal withdrawals.  It doesn't happen often but it does happen on occasion.

I tried doing a fast taper from Fentanyl (really more of a CT,) and at the same time came off oxycodone, flexeril, ambien, ativan, and maybe more I can't remember.  I wound up in the hospital ssvsrely dehydrated.

When I tried again, I tapered one drug at a time and it was still very difficult.  I was coming off these voluntarily.


  
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Good for you, you're doing great!  Just stay vigilant about how you're feeling, and keep your doctor posted on what you're doing.  I think you're very smart to tackle one med at a time.  If you're still taking the Percocet regularly, that's probably at least helping a little with the Fentanyl w/ds.

As for assessing your TRUE chronic pain levels, that's going to take some time.  Usually it takes a month or more of being free of opiates before one can accurately assess their true pain level.  Just try to be patient with yourself.  For a while, the pain is definitely going to increase.  

Hang in there, and keep up the great work!
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I'm pretty proud I'm 3 days patch free!  It's a huge step!  Not an easy one either. :)
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
The withdrawal worsened, chills started
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
Honestly I don't even know if the Percocet works anymore.  I've been taking them for BT pain for 6 years now and never increased them.

They are going next!  The fentanyl patch was the one I was worried about as far as withdrawal goes.  I can easily taper off the percs when the fentanyl withdrawal is over with.

I hope this is the worst of it.  That would be very nice.  I don't feel like I'm in agonizing pain and dying, so that itself is a blessing!
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
Congrats on taking your life back.I dont have experience with the patch but,did take pain meds so,understand the dependence on them.I think ppl here missed u saying you r still on perks.This should help but,also u should try and taper some more.the advice u get here will be very good as there r a lot of ppl that can help u with it.I jumped off methadone a couple weeks ago and glad I am no longer giving them 100.00 a week.That said it has been awful.I should have tapered more I believe now.No turning back though.Keep on going...
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I've noticed I've had increased pain a 24hrs after taking the patch off.  I'm sure this is normal.  I don't know how long it takes to get this out of my system.

My body does burn from the inside out and I do have bone pain, just not as bad as that first taper I did. Plus I can sleep 2-3 hours at a time before waking up.  Last time I was up 4 days straight.
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
So far so good.  The withdrawal is not too awful yet, unless I haven't given it enough time.  I was expecting to have involuntary muscle movement, but this hasn't happened even taking the medicine completely out of my body.  Its been well over 24hrs since removal.

It was agonizing when I took the first step down two months ago.  I'm doing this taper very quickly!  I didn't want to spend another $100 or so on the 12mcg script.

If for some reason this does not go well, I'll have hubby get the 12mcg script, but I'd rather turn it back to the pain clinic at my next apt.

Quitting at a quick rate will give me time to know if I need meds or not for the chronic pain.  My plan is ultimately not to return on pain meds.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
I understand you tapered, but you could taper a good bit more.  That's what I would recommend.  Taper down to the 12.5 like your doc recommended, then ask if perhaps they will transition you to an oral opiate to continue tapering down.  When a taper can be done, and is done slowly and gradually, it's MUCH easier on the system.  NOT perfect, but much less of an insult to the body, and any w/d symptoms should be reduced to a much more tolerable level.

I'm sure you're fed up and frustrated, but why the rush?  The slower you go, most likely, the easier you will get through this.  Because you're dependent versus addiction, that increases the chances greatly that you would be able to manage a taper.  Just my opinion, but I think you should take it slow, and taper down as low as you possibly can, to reduce the severity of the symptoms.

We're here for you either way!!
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Congrats on sanity to reclaim your life.
I would follow doctors orders and fill the 12mcg  script.
I would be best to continue your taper.
Exercising will definitely help. It helps to repopulate your brain chemistry.
It definitely will make you feel better.
Moving around as much as possible is better than laying around.
Make sure you are staying hydrated.
Eating light foods, soups, toast, crackers,fruits, yogurt.
Keep up the good work. You are doing awesome.
Praying for your healing,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
655875 tn?1295695107
I did do the taper. I just chose not to fill the 12mcg script.  My body was dependant due to breaking my neck.  I wasn't addicted though, these meds make me sick physically when first adjusting to them.  I chose a fast taper since I want off bad.

I realized how strong this med actually was the very dirt decrease.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Fentanyl is usually a BEAR to come off.  Can you ask your doc for a taper plan?  A lot of times, a doc will switch a person to an oral opiate for easier tapering.  It's good that you've got yourself down to a lower dose, but it still may be pretty rough for you.

Do you abuse your meds, or are you just dependent?  

MY advice is to try to enlist the help of your doc to see about doing a slow and gradual taper down before jumping off.  

Best to you!
Helpful - 0
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