Seeking Advise

[JacksGramma24]

I was prescribed the Fentanyl patch for pain related to Crohns disease, back and neck pain.  The Crohns now appears to be in remission. I got a nerve block on my lower back and a facet block on my neck.  So all appears to be good so it's time to come off the patches.  I have been on the 50 mg Fentanyl patch every 2 days and 10 mg Vicodin (3 to 5) every day for almost a year.  Had they told me what the withdrawals were going to be like i would NEVER have agreed to the patch!!!!  I am on day 4 and I'm feeling very bad.  Sometimes I just want to slap back on the 50 mg and say the heck with it.  I'm on Clonidine 3 times a day and Vicodin 3 times a day.  What I want to know if how long is this going to last?!?!?  I still have to drop from the 25 mg to the 12.5 mg - OMG how am I going to make it?!

[JacksGramma24]

Thank you so much for you advise and understanding!  It's been a rough day and this site has helped me make it through the day!  I had no idea "the problem you have is your body has nolonger been making natural endrophins. your brains recpetors have been living off of strong opioids instead of what it made naturally. did you know your body actually makes endorphins that are as strong as morphine? the human brain works every thing from vison to bowel movements.........thats why you have all those things messed up when you go through WD's."  This is very valuable information!  Why the heck didn't anyone and i mean NO ONE in the medical industry explained this to me.  Makes me want to cry but what doesn't right now?!

[JacksGramma24]

The only good thing about all this is that I'm only physically addicted.  I don't crave the 50mg patch to get high. I just want the awful WD's to go away. I just want to know how long before things level off?  It's only day 5 now. I'm going down to the 12.5mg in a week and I guess I'm going to through all this **** again and then again when I step off the 12.5mg.  Doesn't sound like quality of life for a long time?!?!
What do you mean about by "an impossible taper"??

[IBKleen]

If in-patient treatment is a possibility, please consider it. Treatment facilities do not deal with just the physical aspect of this disease (withdrawal) but they help with the mental aspect which will be with you for the rest of your days. Through counseling, group sessions and possibly outside meetings they will re-train your thinking so that you learn to live without the use and abuse of drugs.

In your case it is most difficult because you are dealing with another painful disease and they will be able to help you find a way to live with your discomfort and pain.

As was mentioned, please be careful coming off of the patches. they are difficult at best because it is nearly an impossible taper. Please don't think about cutting them in half or doubling up on them, as tempting as that is when you are in withdrawal and in pain.

Let us know how you are doing. I am concerned for you.

[whitie]

they probably did not make an issue about it because you have crohns disease. Sorry to read that, I heard its tough.

the dr. at the pain clinic said it was going to be easy........sounds like another doc, that is clueless.  there are quite a few out there. I have seen people on here being prescribed 120 oxys a month??????? some more,  wow !! absolutely insane.


not to scare you, and again, there are some that have taken stronger amounts of hydro and oxycodone, than the patch. but the patch has a bad track record, look at all the commercials by the amublance chasers on the tele.

the problem you have is your body has nolonger been making natural endrophins. your brains recpetors have been living off of strong opioids instead of what it made naturally. did you know your body actually makes endorphins that are as strong as morphine? the human brain works every thing from vison to bowel movements.........thats why you have all those things messed up when you go through WD's.

one year on them is not as bad as being on them for 5 years like me, so now you should work getting off them. you can only hope it wont be that bad, but if it is, so you go through a few weeks of missery for a life time of freedom. its well worth it.


as for rehab, many here suggest it as a must. I have a different out look on it...... I would say try to spare yourself and the insurance company the tens of thousand's, and try doing it yourself first, if that dont work then go to rehab or what ever.

[JacksGramma24]

thanks for the advise.  I was starting to wonder if I really was alone out here.  This is doctor prescribed. I don't know if 50 mg Fentanyl every 2 days is considered a heavy user.  Maybe if you throw the Vicodin in the mix.  It really makes me angry they didn't tell me what i was getting myself into. The doctor at the Pain Clinic actually said it was going to easy?!?!  I'm tapering from 50mg to 25mg to 12.5 mg but i'm tempted to go to rehab and get it over with?!?!?!

[whitie]

it all depends on how long you were on the opioids. patches are strong, but just as many pills can be the same thing. tapering does not mean you still wont feel wd's, but in most cases, the eventual ending wd will be somewhat less.

there are different stages of wd's, for heavy users. with the first3-7 days being flat out bad(I have a list of symptoms in my journal) then the next week, some what better, then from there each day gets a little better. fatigue and other symptoms may linger on for a month or two. and unfortunately for some real haevy users, it might take even longer.


If you have been on strong opioids for a long time, then best you start studying your enemy well, and be prepared for a longer fight. but the good news is the worst part of wd's usually ends in a week or two.