Its inspiring to see someone who takes high dose of opiates and actually wants to get off, the truth is I believe once you are off, and you can be, people do it everyday it does happen, you may actualy find that the pains you have aren't so uanageable after all, once I got clean I realized that I could handle pains and aches better, either with ibuprofen, or nothing. What people do you realize slot of the pain comes from and is inside of our minds, and we have control of our minds 100 percent. Tell yourself your getting off the drugs, and you will do it and find that once your body detoxes your body will be stinger and healthier than ever before, and your body will be poison free, and will no longer depend on drugs to survive. Good luck you got this
You are having a lot a symptoms that may or may not be associated with the use of Fentanyl patch. I strongly advice you to get a second opinion befor you take any decisive measures to rule out anything that is really wrong and can be fixed. Make sure they check your hormonal levels, cortisol and thyroid as well.
However, I do understand your frustration and wanting to get off chronic opiates. At home, the basic technique is to cut down on the patch a little bit at a time or ask a doctor to write 25 mics less every week until you are down to nothing. If you do have some symptoms of withdrawals, here are some suggestions depending on severity:
See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take a bit of time - a few weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime. You will be feeling better before you know it.
We have detoxed many people off of Fentanyl in our clinic and they tend to do very well, but since you do have chronic pain issue you need to have a back up plan together with your pain doctor on how you are going to deal with your pain if you still have it.
Please take a moment to read my blogs as some of them address this issue. You can find them by clicking on my name in blue and than "blogs". You can also click on my clinic's logo to get mor info. Good luck to you.
Hi, I would suggest that you post under the opiate withdrawal page. A lot more answers and help...