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Changing Meds Withdrawl

I broke my back in three places and me leg (compound facture at the knee) 4 years ago. I have been on pain medication ever since. I had a good doctor who sent me to a pain specialist. At the top of my pain meds I was on 2 -100 patch Fentanyl every three days plus 10 dilaudid 8 mg a day. That was overkill and I knew it. I started taking less and less. We moved across the country and got hooked up with another good doctor. Basically I was on 1 - 100 patch of fentanyl every three days and up to 200 dilaudid 8mg a month depending if I needed them for breakthrough pain. This worked great for about 2 years. As time went on the medication started to not work as well and my tolerence was growing at a fast pace. I decided on my own to go in and ask to change everything up for three months to see if I could re-boot my system. In any event, my doctor reduced my dose to 2 -20 mg oxycontin a day and 5 1 mg dilaudid. Well I might as well be taking sugar as the dilaudid. Its been two days now and I am starting to feel the pain again from my accident ( it will never go away, too much damage). In addition I am sick, my muscles are contracting and I am at a loss. I see my doctor again in two days. What should I do? Is this far too much of a reduction? Should I just go back on what I was on? I am self employed and my wife goes to school. If I dont work - no money. I cant work in this state. Please can someone give me some advise what I should do or what I should ask my doctor to do. Should I ask him to admit me to the hospital?
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Thank You!
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Avatar universal
Dropping the Fentanyl is likely the culprit. That is the strongest opoiod made, so I think you may have dropped too fast. Rather than switch it up so much, I would stay at an uncomfortable, but tolerable level to lower your tolerance. That is the problem with opiates, no matter what, we always need more. After a time of slight discomfort, your old dose will work better. This will continue to happen, sorry to say. A slow, real slow reduction would be much easier on the body and mind.

If you are not an addict looking to get clean, this thread may be moved to pain management forum. Just wanted you to know.
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4113881 tn?1415850276
"In addition I am sick, my muscles are contracting and I am at a loss. I see my doctor again in two days. What should I do? Is this far too much of a reduction?"

From what you described, it sounds like a big reduction and you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Is it too much?...well your doc doesn't seem to think so. Just be honest with your doc when you see him next.

"Its been two days now and I am starting to feel the pain again from my accident ( it will never go away, too much damage)."

That's very common when we stop pain meds. Its called rebound pain. It should subside over time. You just have to be patient. If you decide to stay at this dose and just deal with the withdrawals, check out the link to the Thomas Recipe. It will help you deal with some of the symptoms.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Thomas-Recipe-Re-Posted/show/16?cid=66

Best of luck to you.
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