changing narcotics for pain relief

[detdon]

I am going to get off the Fentanyl patches and put on Methadone using Suboxone as a bridge
.I have never heard of this med called Suboxone.I am on 200mcg of Fentanyl how long will it take to get off the fentanyl?

[femmy29]

You are on a LARGE amount of Fentanyl.  It is best to follow a slow supervised taper from your physician.  Everyone is different with regards to how quickly they can taper from an opioid medication.  Fentanyl and methadone are two of the hardest opioids to taper from.  I have heard that Suboxone is also another opioid that is hard to taper from.  Suboxone is a newer medication that contains buprenephrine and is commonly prescribed to those looking to beat opioid addiction.  However, I have read of others that use it solely for pain management.  Buprenephrine also comes in patch form and it is called the Butrans patch.  The Butrans patch is strictly used for pain management.  

So I recommend going slow and listening closely to your doctor with regards to what the next steps are.  We at medhelp are not allowed to provide tapering schedules for obvious reasons.  Many here have successfully stopped Fentanyl through a supervised taper so it is best to talk with your physician and have him/her draft up a plan for you.

Best of luck to you.

femmy

[charmain711]

i take it you were just looking for advise i think the same as the above i am also on fentanyl patches oramorph and other stuff its ok listening what other people have to say but work with your pain management dr as fentanyl are very very strong and has to be stopped carefully i had tried ketimine perscribbed by the pain dr but fentanyl gave more pain relief they also recommended that i tried the methdone i decided against this as was told by dr that this is even harder to get off than the fentanyl.  i wish you all the luck and hope the new medication helps better then you can tell me if all the scary stories i hear about coming off fentanyl are as scary as i have read.

[Ginger077]

I agree! Your pm doc needs to tell you how long it might take. Don't do that without his supervision, it could cause serious complications and even death.

[Butterscoth]

Hi,your questions can only be answered by your pain management team.Why do you risk your welfare to uneducated strangers????????????????????? Butterscotch