Fentanyl Question

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hi everyone!

As you know I'm finally clean but my hubby is still working on tapering off his pain meds.  I think he's to the point now where he can quit the pills completely (taking one a day ... will tell him to do 1/2 for three days then off).  He also is down to a 50 Fentanyl patch.  Next week he is going to go down to the 25 patch.  He's been on the patch for over 10 years.  Now the doctor will pretty much do whatever hubby wants him to do as far as getting off of the patch...what I need to know is if anyone knows of a way to get off of them without C/T because that is too dangerous for hubby. Is there a pill equivalent that he can switch to and taper down that way.  I'm NOT asking for tapering advice...I'm just trying to figure out what he can switch to.  He's driving himself bats trying to figure it out and scared to death because he knows someone who went off the patch and had a horrendous W/D.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.  I probably won't be back until tonight or tomorrow.  Not sure if today is a family dinner day after church yet or not.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Thanks for the suggestions...I know he can have the oxy will have to check and make sure he can have the opana.  If he can he will ask the doc to switch him and to put him on a 30 day taper plan.  J is thrilled that there is something that can be used to help.  He can deal with some uncomfortableness...just not full out withdrawals.

Thank you!!!

[Jinx_777]

if his doctor will do what he needs to do, i would suggest using opana and not oxy just because the oxy doesn't work well at all.
if he really wants off the patch bad, right now, he could probably go from a 50 mcg to a opana 40.
then the doctor can lower the opana as he stabilizes.  it takes 20 some days for fentanyl to be out of your body.  it seeps into fat, bones, muscles,etc. so it takes a while.  so he will likely hurt for a bit even being on opana.

[Jinx_777]

i would suggest him getting down to as low as possible on the patch 12.5 and then switching to an oral opiate and then get off that.
fentanyl is a HORRIBLE detox.  the worst thing i ever experienced.  my doctor switched me from a 50 mcg patch to 10 mg oxycontin 2 times a day.  Lord have mercy, not even close.  
imo, oxy doesn't work like it used to before it became OP, but 50 mcg patch is supposed to be equal to 80 mg oxycontin twice a day.  25 mcg patch equal to 40, etc.