my dad died using fentanyl and alcohol

[daddysgirl9]

I don't really know why I am writing.  I guess it is a desperate attempt to find some answers.  My dad died 3 years ago when he used fentanyl combined with drinking.  I don't think he knew the effects that it could have and from what we know it wasn't prescribed.  He had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. We don't know why he was at the place where he was found when he died and nothing makes sense.   We know someone gave it to him, I guess we'll never find out who and the police don't care.
I guess my question is, the patch was 25 mg,  how much would he have to drink for it to kill him?  How long would it have taken for him to die?  Would the people who were there know he was dying.  Would he have just passed out?  Please be as honest as possible.  

[AnxiousGuy99]

Fentanyl is the DEVILS drug. Before answering your question I have to tell my story. The day after thanksgivings in 2015 I went to pick up my brother (has been a heroin addict for 8 years) to see his son who was at my house. When I went to get him we had a plan to get some H. It took us about an hour to get it and my parents were getting worried and upset that it was taking this long to pick up my brother.  When we got it he did his fix on the way home, and then he prepared my fix, when he mixed it you can tell it was poorly mixed, I could still see the powder in the needle but we didn't have time to mix it out more so he injectioned it into me right before pulling into the neighborhood. I felt it as soon as I got too the drive way, then it happened, I was trying to parallel park into my spot but I passed out with the car in drive and barely hit the house. The last thing I remember is my parents coming around the corner. I overdosed, idk if it was because the 'H' was poorly mixed or that I took a 1mg klonopin that morning (not supposed to mix benzos/alcohol and pain killers) my parents called 911 and I was taken to the hospital. The cops searched my car, but.. my father obtained the 'H' before the cops could find it and arrest me and my brother. Anyway I was going into and out of consciousness until I was recovered at the hospital at about 3 in the morning. I swore never to do that **** again. However EXACTLY 2 weeks later, I went to go to the downstairs garage to get some duct tape for my warts, when I found that the door was locked which was unusual. I went outside to look through the blinds of the door to the garage and I couldn't see anyone (I thought we were being robbed). I got the key and went into the garage where I discovered HELL. My father sitting down, bent over the work bench. At first I thought he was sleeping until I saw a large amount of saliva on the work bench right next to his mouth. I went to get my mother and we preformed CPR, this was the most emotional/traumatic moment in my entire life. It was too late. Once the paramedics declared him dead, me and my family all broke down. I was so confused on why he was dead, until called me into the garage and showed me a round tin foil thing with a brown shiny ball stuck to it. I couldn't believe my eyes I really couldn't, after all my life my dad telling me not to do heroin because (he didn't want me to end up like my brother) it was so deadly. The death certificate came back and it wasn't heroin. They found high doses of fentanyl in his body. Keep in mind my father drank beer every night with my mom so my father had at least 4-6 beers in his system when he died. TOO answer your question, that's not a very high dose of fentanyl but if he had alcohol and he had a older heart, I can see your father died from a mixture of that. And it would have taken about 10-15 min for him to die after he passed out and yes your father passed out from the combination. Since I overdosed on the same stuff I can say it hits you hard, not like heroin where it puts you into a sleep, fentanyl hits you like a stone because it is 30-50 times more potent than heroin. But I just had to say my story because it reminds me of my situation. And if makes you feel any better, our fathers didn't suffer during their death, they went out peacefully. I'm sorry for your loss.
RIP WESLEY ALAN

[Frankie63]

Wow. I am so glad I found all these experiences. My husband  has been on fentanyl patches for years. At present he is on 25mg. For years he is crook for days after having a drink. He is so lethargic, he sleeps for ages and spends entire days on his back. After drinking in excess at Easter over a number of days he has spent the last four days in sweats, sleeping, lethargic, dizzy and at one stage vague and confused. We knew that you shouldn't drink whilst on fentanyl but didn't realise it could be so dangerous. Looking back, I can relate so much back to drinking. He is only a social drinker. What a wake up call, I've read all these posts to my husbands who has now sworn off alcohol. Let's hope he has, and good luck to the next person who reads this his.

[LaylaLu87]

Randolpho.. I'm on 50mcg Fentanyl & I drink Voda or whisky quite regularly.. I think the fentanyl/opioid combo is probably the main reason behind you're fatigue! I didn't feel the fitgue that much at 37mcg..but wow when they upped my dose to 50mcg I can feel major fatigue if I drink hardly hardly any hard liquor even if it's just one glass.. Before on 37mcg I could have 4 glasses & be ok.. From experience I  definitely think think the opioid/alchohol combo is the cause to ur fatigue.. Cut the alchohol & if thing's do get better I'd look into whether maybe you have too high/strong  of a fentanyl dose than what you can handle without the so much of the fatigue/lethargic feeling...  Alchohol wise techniquely consuming alchohol with opioids is playing with fire..We really shouldn't be drinking period while we're on fentanyl so.. Reading about the have died from mixing opioids /liquor is a major alert ⚠ I really need to stop mixing the two.. I just lost my Mom recently & I know my family wouldn't bear to lose me too so close because of a stupid mistake.. More like a selfish mistake..

[Randolpho]

Thank you N.A. I've got a few days of not drinking behind me, and have cut
my fent. use down to about 1/3 the amount I have been using. It was suggested that I have my testosterone checked to see if it is low, which I
plan to do. I'm hoping that after a week I notice a difference in my energy
levels. I think if I feel improvement at all it would be one of the best days of
my life. Havn't had a problem w/alcohol w/d yet, so that may be the easiest
part. Thanks again, and I'll keep you posted. Just wish I could get a re-
sponse from someone that went thru a similar condition, Randolpho

[NeverAgain127]

Honey:

When was the last time you had a full physical exam?   I think I remember you saying the fentanyl you take is prescribed, correct?   You should tell your doctor about the excessive fatigue.

And please, please, don't drink any alcohol while on opiates.  Our bodies change as we get older, every day, hour, second.  What you did before with impunity might kill you today.

Let us know how you are doing...

Hugs,
-Robin

[Randolpho]

I have been taking fentanyl and drinking vodka,(not excessively) for 12 yrs.
or more. I don't know if that coIImbination is the cause of my problem or not,
but have decided to stop drinking and cut back on the fent. use. My problem
is excessive fatigue. Fatigue to the point that I spend the majority of my day
on my back in bed. I was very active prior to the point that the fatigue set in.
Until recently I had not concidered that combination as a factor. After read-
about this being a possible cause, I have decided to find out by doing what
I stated above, cutting back. If anyone has had similar problems, please
respond. I can't describe how the fatigue has affected my life so considerably. What was once enjoyable, has turned into a nightmare.Thanks, Randolpho

[RHRH]

As a paramedic I understand how hard this is to share with the public. I sincerely wish you both the best and only hope you can live your life with peace and try to continue to reach positive goals. I too have lost, my sister died of a heroin OD a year ago. I was starting day shift when the police called me. We have many scars we wear which are not our own through our actions, mearly ours by blood and love. I can assure you that a OD with alcohol and medications, namely opioids or synthetic - fentanyl would be a unconscious passing.

All my blessings x

[Prospero73]

My father died 46 years ago, at the age of 50, from the combined effects of alcohol and barbiturates (probably Seconal, which he took for sleep).  It was not well-known at that time that that was a potentially lethal combination, as it can paralyze your respiratory system the same as an opiate OD.  As in opiate overdose, it can happen too fast for you to do anything about it, so if you're alone it will probably be fatal.  As deaths go, it is relatively quick and painless, and your father probably didn't suffer.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I accidentally overdosed on opiates/alcohol at one time. Was a really close call that left me in intensive care on a ventilator for awhile. Actually I was quite unconscious when the paramedics got to me and transported me to a hospital unconscious and in respiratory/cardiac distress. The events before I woke up in the hospital were not unpleasant at all. I simply percieved it as going to sleep peacefully. In fact it was so calm and serene that I was almost ticked off when they revived me. I am certainly glad that they got to me and did pull off a difficult save. Since that experience I havent feared death at all.......I am a Vietnam era vet and I used to fight death or all its worth. Also saw more death than I care to think about. I have a totally different view of death today. Nature does incredible things and when bad stuff comes down your body gets flooded with dopamine and adrenalin and everything to combat the events. I doubt that your dad was in any sort of pain or anything like that at all. He just started breathing more and more slowly until the oxygen level left him unconscious. Then while he was unconscious the organs did not get enough oxygen to function and they shut down. I know this isnt much consolation ....... but perhaps you will feel a little better to know that he really didnt suffer.

[faz84]

Hi there,
             Im 24 years old and have just lost my mum (6 weeks ago) to what we think was an opiate and alcohol accidental overdose she was only 40.  She was found on the bedroon floor , naked , and had been there approximately 8 hours.  My mum had always taken opiates since i can remember anyway codeine/dihydrocodeine but eventually took recreational drugs aswell.  She left my dad for another bloke 6 years ago and began also drinking heavily.  I have seen her in hospital with liver and kidney failure and a 40% chance of survival, she survived but her boyfriend was bringing pills into the hospital for her and she continued to drink.  The doctor refused to prescribe my mum pills anymore and she began buying over the counter meds with 500mg of paracetamol in , she was taking up to 40 a day and god knows how much drink.  I cant answer how your dad died , im awaiting the inquest into my mums death , however i do beleive it was years of abuse taken its toll on her organs.  If it was a heart attack it would have been a fainting sensation or he may have just gone to sleep/ passed out and had a heart attack which is probably most likley due to the fact that fentanly is a depressant and alcohol a stimulant the 2 combined usually end in heart attacks.  Just like you i feel i have many unanswered questions and dont believe my mum was alone when she died.  Like your dad she may of passed out and whoever they were with left thinking they were ok, just sleeping it off, i honestly can think why someone would not have called for help, i have to therefore summise they diddnt know she was dead/dying.  In response to the time it took to die if it was a heart attack from organ damage it would have been really quick, im not saying that to make you feel at ease (well i am) but it is true , a minute or so at most.  
I know exactly how you feel and all the questions you have unanswered, im torturing myself with visions of her dead and i have an unhealthy obsession with death and thinking im gunna die at the moment, im frightened to sleep incase i dont wake up like my mum, i have 30-40 severe panic attacks a day to the point i go blue , and like you will understand i miss my mum more than i could explain.  Will this get better with time? Im terrified , im lucky my husband has started to support me more cause the only way i can relax to sleepis when he is cuddling me and i feel safe , sad i know!! I also am addicted to codeine but am tapering and dont drink that dosent help my anxiety.
I know we will probably never get the answers we want and i will forever vision her last moments but the lifestyle they led would only ever end up this way, hey i bet he had some fun at times though i know my mum did (not that i condone what she did), sadly she became lonely and depressed and i cannot forgive myself for that. was our dad depressed or lonely? i dont know much about your relationship so im scared to comment .
I really hope this brings you some peace although i realise it probably wont , you need answers, did the inquest show anything? I genuinly wish you the best and hope your mind can settle.
All the hugs in the world jem xxxxx
P.S you arnt alone , i know how your feeling xxxxxxxxxx

[worried878]

in reality..that would be a low dose for someone who had a tolerence to narcotics..it really would be..so u would tend to think he did not have a tolerence to narcotics to die from that low a dose mixed with alcohol...now i am typing what i think and i realize we r all different...it woulda had to be a whole lotta alcohol if he had a tolerence to narcs...if he did not then it wouldnt have to be a bu11load of alcohol....or//there is sumpin else involved in this scenario....but i can relate with ur wanting to know//even tho it will not really solve anything...it is sumpin that helps to figure out//but u may not ever really know....

where did they find him?  dont say if u dont want to as it is none of my business