How to get off the Fentanyl patch?

[A man of faith]

After having a nerve condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy a lot of the symptoms miraculasly disappeared!  Unfortunately for over 7 years I've been on the Duragesic Fentanyl patch....2 100's every other day.  I've cut down to 100 every 3 days, but the pain is just awful some times.  Would it be best just to quit cold turkey to get it over with or continue slowly reducing it.  I would sure like to be off it to see how I'm really doing.

[scaredmommy2005]

This is an old post if you would like to you can start a new post in the forum at the top of the page. That way more people can help you. There are so many nice people here who have been through so much and may have similar stories to yours. We all would be happy to help. God Bless.

[SharonEvans]

I AM ON  THE FENTANYL PATCH100 MCG EVERY 48 HOURS, BUT THEY ACTUALLY ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 10-12 HOURS. I AM ALSO ON HYDROCODONE, XANAX & NUYNCANTAL (MISSPELLED) IT IS ALSO A PAIN MED. I WANT OFF ALL THIS CRAP! I HAVE BEEN OFF FROM MY JOB OF 22 YEARS FOR 4 MONTHS NOW , BUT ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THE REASON FOR THE PAIN IN NOW BECAUSE I AM GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWLYS. I AM HORRIFIED TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE TO TRY TO GET OFF ALL THIS MESS. hAVE BEEN TO A PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST & HE COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY DRYGS i WAS OWN & SAID HE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TALK TO ME UNTIL i GOT OFF THE DRUGS. WELL, HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DO THAT WITHOUT HELP.. I AM SO SCARED I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. ANYONE THAT CAN PLEASE HELP ME, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO. SHOULD I GO TO REHAB OR CAN I DETOX MYSELF? I AM MAD AT MYSELF FOR GETTING IN THIS MESS & AT MY DOCTORS FOR THEM LETTING IT GET THIS FAR OUT OF HAND. ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE TRULY APPRECIATED.

[AmigaMaria]

I just went off my Fentanyl patch 5 days ago "Cold Turkey" after coming down from 150mcg/hr for a year - 50mcg/hr another year, 25 mcg/hr for 6 years and then 12 mcg/hr for 1 week - then I stripped it off and am taking nothing!
My question is this:  after 5 days I am still going through HORRIBLE - SEVERE withdrawals and no sleep NONE for the past 5 days.  When will this end?  Does anyone out there know how long it takes to completely detox and be free from the withdrawals?
Also, to the person who said that 50mcg/hr isn't that much... ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY?  It's enough to kill some people. Fentanyl is 100 times more powerful per mcg than Morphine is per Mg.  And extremely addictive!  As most of us know.  I only went on the patch because I wasn't expected to live more than 3 months - What a good God to give me back my life!  Thank you lord.  

[lakedr7]

I want to take you for your post, I was a cancer petient for 6 mo. on Chemo. I was only given 30 % chance to beat the Cancer, a tumor the size of a baseball in my liver. I thank God through prayer the pease came and the tumor is gone. I had started Hep C treament right after the cancer, I just thought the Cancer treatment was rough. The side effects, lower back pains, landed me in the hospital. I was on occecotten for 7 mo. and methodone for 3mo. before the Fentanyl patch of 100 mcg. Just after 30 days I wanted off, the confussion, in ability to function at all. I stoped 2 mo. short of the liver treatment to help subside the side effects. I finally got to a pain manement, that had enough sence to see I was really  wanting off  the pach, I have been on 75 mcg for 6 days and really don't want t continue the additional 6 day/ or 2 more patches ,untill he backs m down to  a 50+ 12 mcg, but fear the doctors will walk away if I don't follow orders. I only get releaf through prayer. Cancer and hep C clean Thank  you Lord.  I just need his help now to overcome the patch and lower back pain the patch brings.


G.L.H

[littlebit667]

rissa, go up to the top of this page and start a new thread so others can see it and help.  Posting on an old thread sometimes you get missed.  Click on the orange ask a question and post away!

[rissa76]

Geez, I was without my patches for just a few hours, I was crawling out of my skin. I could Bearly get out of bed. I c/t Oct back in the days 4 days of yell but I did it.  I don't want to be a slave to the patches, I wish I could afford the rapid detox. I want off of the patches any suggestions?