Fentayl Pain Patch

Hello everybody I need some advice.  I am currently on 25 mcg of a Fentayl pain patch, and 90 Mg of Oxycodone a day.  I just recently saw a doctor at NIH who wants me to get off all the narcotics, so that we can start over and figure out what is going on.  I was misdiagnosed with Lupus and Neuropathy.  I am starting a Suboxone program on Friday but I have to remove my patch on Wednesday.  I was told to use the Oxycodone more in order to keep the withdrawals down until thursday night, them stop everything so that I go into mld to moderate withdrawals.  I am very nervous to remove my patch tomorrow.  Will I go through withdrawals?  I have only been on the patch for a month or two.  Please Help!!!! I have experienced withdrawals before and was put into the ER for it.  Does anybody have any advice for me?  Thanks

[Tuckamore]

Hi JHud,

I don't blame you for being concerned. I would be concerned also and I have never been through withdrawals. I have to admit that I have very little information on this subject.

I can tell you that it should take at least 24 hours for the fentanyl to leave your system. Oxycodone is a shorter acting med and obviously will dissipate fairly quickly. The fact that you have only been on the fentanyl for a month may make a difference.

Please do not think that I am suggesting that you have a substance abuse problem because I do not. Also please do not think that you are not welcome here because you are always welcome here. However the Substance Abuse Forum really should have better answers for you than I do. They are supportive and knowledgeable and will have more information regarding your questions.

Good luck to you and please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your updates with interest.

Take Care,
Tuck

[katarina777]

Your doctor is doing the correct thing by having you withdraw under medical supervision. Iy makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to be taking 25  of the patch and then  90 mg of ocycodone on top of that. I am sorry though you will have to go through this. i think you will be OK taking off the patch now and continuing with the other. I think you won't suffer too much at all that way. Best to you, KAT

[seano]

I disagree that it makes no sense! We are all different. Different things work in different people. That is all!
                       Sean

[Mollyrae]

Hello JHud and welcome to the Pain Forum:

In my opinion...and it's just an opinion...you will be fine. The Doctor is right when telling you to increase the Oxycodone. If you do so, you will not face much if any discomfort for the 24hr period. Anything longer than that will be hard on your system.

I have used the Patch for a year and in the beginning I needed an extra patch because one had fallen off and was useless. The Doctor asked me if I had enough Oxycodone left to improvise which I did, so that is what we did. I was fine and really had no w/d's.

Listen to your Doctor, he is right and you will be fine.

Warmest regards,
Mollyrae

[Mollyrae]

Katrina77:

He is taking the Oxycodone for breakthrough pain. It is very common practice in the Chronic Pain world. So it makes perfect sense. I'm wondering if you have chronic pain? If you do then you should know that the Oxycodone is commonly used as a back-up medication for many ppl.

Thanks,
Molly

[concerned621]

I am thrilled for you. I wish a doctor would have done this for me. Now I was on Fentaly pain patch. I had no idea how I would react so one evening I just took it off. I went through horrendous withdrawals.  You are on a low dose of the pain patch, I did this on 100 mcg, you are on 25 and not for a very long time. In addition   you have drugs that will help you detox.
Be very positive and be so happy someone caught this.  You were misdiagnosed and it was caught,  you aren't going to spend years on these awful meds.  When I say awful, they help  pain but who wants to be on these forever. I don't!!!! So I am happy for you.  

But also talk to the doctor. There are lower doses of the pain patch.  Call the doctor and ask him if it would be better to ween off of it. Meaning drop down to 10 mcg then 5 to lessen the detox effects.   Also you have oxycodone to help with the detox and Suboxane is used to get heroin addicts off of heroin. You are going to do good.  Again, be positive, eat well, drink a lot of water and don't be alone during the detox period.  

[JHud]

Thanks everybody for all the comments, doing alot better, the Subxone is really helping me alot.  I'm trying to get the correct dose in order to not have withdrawal is a task in its self, but one day at a time.  I have been off of all the pain meds for almost 65 hours, I just wish i could get some sleep, but that will come.  The dr. that I am seeing at NIH has been the best dr. I have ever talked to, he has called me everyday to check on my progress.  Even today which is Sunday, that is amazing.  I really look forward to tomorrow and know that I am going to be getting better.  Thanks again everybody I really appreciate it.

[concerned621]

Wonderful!!! I am really happy for you. Ask the doctor if Trazadone is an option for you. It a mild sleep aid, helps a little with pain and its a mild anti-depressant.  Keep on going.  Great health is ahead and you are so fortunate to have that caliber of physician.