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Persistent High Blood Pressure After Discontinuing Fentanyl Patch
I was prescribed Fentanyl Patches while in the hospital with severe kidney issues which caused excruciating pain. I was kept on them for four months and I am the one who asked to be taken off them because of breakthrough pain and withdrawal symptoms at the 48-hour mark of the patch life...I just could not justify staying on them with the withdrawals I was experiencing on a patch that was not handling my pain.
My last patch was removed on Thursday, August 20th, which was 12 days ago. I had Clonidine and Vistaril to help with withdrawal symptoms. I had to discontinue the Vistaril because of increased agitation and anxiety and decrease the Clonidine due to a drastic drop in my blood pressure. The lowest it got was 99/56. I took a 1/2 pill and it was not much better. I went to a 1/4 pill. I continued taking it for about 8 - 9 days. At the lowest points in my b/p, I could not sit up or hold my head up..that is why I had to go to 1/4 pill.
My problem now is that I have experienced a drastic jump in my blood pressure since discontinuing the Fentanyl Patch and Clonidine...I only got seven day's worth of the Clonidine in the first place, so have a few left since I was splitting them into fourths during the later part of my therapy. I am in significant pain, but do not feel it justifies a jump in my b/p to 167/101! I have a contant throbbing headache, a feeling that the top of my head is floating, severe dizzy spells, vertigo and very loud ringing in my ears. I know these symptoms are from my high blood pressure.
I am not in my home state right now and can't see my doctor. I called him and he could only tell me to go to the local ER; they do not know me or my medical history there, so I didn't go due to the fact they would be of little help to me. I am due to see him on September 9th, the day after I get back home.
My pain management doctor has left me on two maintenance medications: Darvocet three times a day and Clonazepam (1 mg) at bedtime for sleep. I am neither relieved from pain nor am I sleeping very much at all. I try to sleep and, besides the pain, I feel the blood pounding in my head and ears. It only makes me more agitated and upset that sleep won't come and there is persistent worry that something is terribly wrong. My blood pressure is high from when I get up in the morning until I finally go to sleep. It is a constant problem.
My questions are these: Is it common for a person's blood pressure to elevate such as mine after discontinuing Fentanyl and, if so, how long do these symptoms usually last until the blood pressure issue resolves itself? Is it too soon to expect relief or am I an unusual case and perhaps something is wrong? Will it resolve itself without assistance and, if not, what might that assistance be? I feel that I should be much better at this point in time and so does my doctor. I am trying to find some answers because I still have over a week to go until I can see him, as my flight doesn't leave until then. I just do not want to feel this badly for over another week, I can't drive and I do not want to fly like this. I feel that Fentanyl has wrecked my life and peace of mind. I want to know how to get it back.
Thank you!
Lissy
P.S. Besides the high blood pressure and sleeplessness, I am doing just great from coming off the Fentanyl Patches!
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My last patch was removed on Thursday, August 20th, which was 12 days ago. I had Clonidine and Vistaril to help with withdrawal symptoms. I had to discontinue the Vistaril because of increased agitation and anxiety and decrease the Clonidine due to a drastic drop in my blood pressure. The lowest it got was 99/56. I took a 1/2 pill and it was not much better. I went to a 1/4 pill. I continued taking it for about 8 - 9 days. At the lowest points in my b/p, I could not sit up or hold my head up..that is why I had to go to 1/4 pill.
My problem now is that I have experienced a drastic jump in my blood pressure since discontinuing the Fentanyl Patch and Clonidine...I only got seven day's worth of the Clonidine in the first place, so have a few left since I was splitting them into fourths during the later part of my therapy. I am in significant pain, but do not feel it justifies a jump in my b/p to 167/101! I have a contant throbbing headache, a feeling that the top of my head is floating, severe dizzy spells, vertigo and very loud ringing in my ears. I know these symptoms are from my high blood pressure.
I am not in my home state right now and can't see my doctor. I called him and he could only tell me to go to the local ER; they do not know me or my medical history there, so I didn't go due to the fact they would be of little help to me. I am due to see him on September 9th, the day after I get back home.
My pain management doctor has left me on two maintenance medications: Darvocet three times a day and Clonazepam (1 mg) at bedtime for sleep. I am neither relieved from pain nor am I sleeping very much at all. I try to sleep and, besides the pain, I feel the blood pounding in my head and ears. It only makes me more agitated and upset that sleep won't come and there is persistent worry that something is terribly wrong. My blood pressure is high from when I get up in the morning until I finally go to sleep. It is a constant problem.
My questions are these: Is it common for a person's blood pressure to elevate such as mine after discontinuing Fentanyl and, if so, how long do these symptoms usually last until the blood pressure issue resolves itself? Is it too soon to expect relief or am I an unusual case and perhaps something is wrong? Will it resolve itself without assistance and, if not, what might that assistance be? I feel that I should be much better at this point in time and so does my doctor. I am trying to find some answers because I still have over a week to go until I can see him, as my flight doesn't leave until then. I just do not want to feel this badly for over another week, I can't drive and I do not want to fly like this. I feel that Fentanyl has wrecked my life and peace of mind. I want to know how to get it back.
Thank you!
Lissy
P.S. Besides the high blood pressure and sleeplessness, I am doing just great from coming off the Fentanyl Patches!
This discussion is related to Forum Guidelines - Please read before Posting.
High pain levels will cause your blood pressure to be high. Also the clondine will cause your blood pressure to be low. I seriously advise you to go to the ER as soon as possible. As Red said it is better to be safe. When your blood pressure is so low it puts a strain on your heart and you have other medical issues as well so please go ahead and see the the ER doctor. True he does not know your history but you can fill him/her in. Please do not let this get worse go to the hospital and have it checked out. Waiting eight more days is not really safe in my opinion.
Let us know how your doing. I hope everything is fine. Please take care of your health as you know how important it is. I hope your feeling better very soon:)
Let us know how your doing. I hope everything is fine. Please take care of your health as you know how important it is. I hope your feeling better very soon:)
You also need to get your kidneys and thyroid checked out as it may just be a coincidence that this happened once coming off the Fentanyl. I am saying this because you have not mentioned the dosage of the Vistaril or the Clonidine you were taking that took your pressure to 99/56.
BTW: How did you obtain this reading of 99/56? It is low, but not dangerously low. When it gets to anything below 90/50 it is too low, however there are people that have pressure that low all the time.
Your pressure would come up with minimal activity such as walking.
BTW: How did you obtain this reading of 99/56? It is low, but not dangerously low. When it gets to anything below 90/50 it is too low, however there are people that have pressure that low all the time.
Your pressure would come up with minimal activity such as walking.
You are having withdrawals and it may be from more than one medication you were taking. Your blood pressure numbers are close to the point that you should go to the ER as you were directed.
The fact that you stated that it is staying consistently at 160/100 indicates need for treatment. Usually, if it were due to just the withdrawal of the opiods your blood pressure would fluctuate as would your pulse rate. This is due to anxiety and your organs becoming dependent on the drug.
You may need treatment with different blood pressure medications and may just have hypertension to begin with. They will usually administer a nitroglycerin patch in the ER to get your pressure down. If that is not successful you may be admitted.
I advise immediate medical treatment. Better safe than sorry.
The fact that you stated that it is staying consistently at 160/100 indicates need for treatment. Usually, if it were due to just the withdrawal of the opiods your blood pressure would fluctuate as would your pulse rate. This is due to anxiety and your organs becoming dependent on the drug.
You may need treatment with different blood pressure medications and may just have hypertension to begin with. They will usually administer a nitroglycerin patch in the ER to get your pressure down. If that is not successful you may be admitted.
I advise immediate medical treatment. Better safe than sorry.
Have been on Fentanyl patches (100mcg) for 3 years for neuropathy of both feet/legs and fingers (thank You diabetes type 2). Put them behind each shoulder abd also use Fentora 800mcg for breakthrough pain, but it doesn't always work depending on what type of pain it is (ie: Fentanyl will not stop a toothache). I stopped taking it for 3 days and the pain that came back was beyond what I'd felt ever before and practically ate the patch to get it on to start working. I haven't heard about a blood pressure issue after going off it in all I've read---but I take Atacand for high BP. I'm really wondering if it's the non-use of the patch that causing the problem as others things could be at work--your pain doc should know that answer. For sleep I also use the Clonazapam for sleep. but also with Lunesta, and have no problem there. Hope things work out--sure they will when you get back.
sounds like your a going through major wd's. you are on a super strong drug, known for its law suits....wd on it will cause high BP, which would be normal. not getting sleep is wd related and I know my blood pressure went nuts any time I went thourgh wd's and after 3-4 weeks or so it was the best its been in a long time. as for the clonidine, I do believe it does effect blood pressure and when you get off it, that may be part of the problem.
I know the lack of sleep is not helping, the wd's do effect it. until you get back to normal, which means getting off all those pills(if possible,given dr.s orders) for atleast 2- 3 weeks. plus keep in mind, that mentally you dont want to amke it worse by worrying too much either.
but certainly keep getting checked out at the er if thats what it takes.
I know the lack of sleep is not helping, the wd's do effect it. until you get back to normal, which means getting off all those pills(if possible,given dr.s orders) for atleast 2- 3 weeks. plus keep in mind, that mentally you dont want to amke it worse by worrying too much either.
but certainly keep getting checked out at the er if thats what it takes.
I am sorry to hear your BP isnt any better. Either you are going to have to go to the ER as your doctor suggested or you will have to wait and see him and feel like this. This isnt something to mess with. The ER can give you something for your BP. Please do something about this as this has been going on long enough. Be safe sara
That's a long time to have high BP. And that's pretty high. But I don't know much about Fentanyl or its half life.
I had two days of very high BP coming off hydrocodone similar to what you are experiencing. I didn't take anything. It came down on its own.
Being upset won't help it. I know that's easier said than done.
I would definitely see a doctor now. You need to get it down.
I found this on rxlist.com re clonidine. Don't know if this could be the reason or not.
A serious rapid increase in your blood pressure (rebound hypertension) may occur when this drug is suddenly stopped or if you miss 2 or more doses in a row, especially if you have been taking it for a long time or at higher doses. There have been rare reports of serious (possibly fatal) problems from stopping this drug too quickly, including stroke. Therefore, it is important that you do not run out of this medication.
I had two days of very high BP coming off hydrocodone similar to what you are experiencing. I didn't take anything. It came down on its own.
Being upset won't help it. I know that's easier said than done.
I would definitely see a doctor now. You need to get it down.
I found this on rxlist.com re clonidine. Don't know if this could be the reason or not.
A serious rapid increase in your blood pressure (rebound hypertension) may occur when this drug is suddenly stopped or if you miss 2 or more doses in a row, especially if you have been taking it for a long time or at higher doses. There have been rare reports of serious (possibly fatal) problems from stopping this drug too quickly, including stroke. Therefore, it is important that you do not run out of this medication.
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