In desperate need of help to stop fentynal patch:::::

[Justdremain]

I have been on the fentynal patch for 9 years plus, I no longer want to be on it. I'm only on 75 mg for 48 hours...it does'nt feel like it works any longer, plus i want my life back.  Somedays i take it off and leave it off for 24 hours just to see if i get sick an i dont but maybe it is still in my system.  How should i do this without suffering so badley..Scared but want to give it up so bad..I know my pain will always be there but i still have pain now. Please help me. Jeanie

[mellie4]

I was on it for nearly a year and I really believe it wreaked havoc with me physically.  It just didn't really agree with me.  My doctors had wanted to go up as well, but I just stretched it by a day initially (72 hours instead of 48.)  I did have some withdrawals and I was uncomfortable but it was only for about 2 days.  A lot of people like it for pain control.

The Pain Management Forum is a good resource for people who have questions about their pain.  Lots of people with great experience.

I am very happy to be off it, even though my pain is worse.  I'd rather have that than all the side effects I had with the Fentanyl.

[Justdremain]

Thanks so much, i have not ever heard of hyland for the restless legs..i also had dilaudid for breakthrough pain but stop taking those with no problems. but i know this patch is going to be alot harder. becuz i get WD even though im wearing it, which doesnt make since. the dr's want to up my mg and i keep saying no..i know many people that have been on them for only a year or so and have move up to 150mg every 48hrs (dr's are crazy).  i have a dr appointmment in 2 weeks so im gonna see what how i can start the progress to recovery...Thank you, much love  Jeanie

[mellie4]

Fentanyl can be hard to withdraw from.  Can  you talk to your doctor about tapering you down?  I tapered down from the same dosage and it wasn't too bad, though I was on oxycodone for breakthrough pain.  I do know someone who came off it cold turkey and they said the worst was the restless legs.  You can get a product called Restful Legs by Hyland.  A lot of people swear by it, and the person I know did say it helped.  They also said in their experience that even though the Fentanyl was harder than some other meds to come off, it was shorter.

But if you can get your doctor to taper you down, you'd be more comfortable.