Insomnia after deoxing from fentanyl

[taraann31]

Detoxing from fentanyl as been the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life!! The first week was a living hell.... I cant even describe the pain and anguish i was in. I was basicaly in a fetal position puking, sweating , shakeing, my bones felt like the were on fire and I had cramps so bad i could only crawl to use the toliet... i wont even go into how messed up I was in my head.... I basically wanted to die!

  Well it's been 4 weeks and all the above is over... I dont no how to describ how i feel now. Not myslef thats for sure. I feel like my whole personality has changed. The fun loving energetic person that was always kinda a spaz is gone...Its like the light inside me has been shut off. My main problem right now is insomnia for sure..Im hoping if I can ever sleep again I might just feel normal. Im only sleeping around 2.5 -3 hours a night...it's physicaly breaking me! I can barley function during the day and feel all around crappy. I know this can be a long lasting effect of stoping this drug...and was curious how long it took people to get there normal sleeping patern again....if ever!!! Thanks for any info!! Im new here and feeling pretty hopeless. This drug has turned my life uside down!!

[taraann31]

Hi Viki and thank you for the reply!!

  I was taking seqerquil but had been long before I even started the fentanyl patch. I just plain wasnt working anymore so i decided it wasnt worth poisning my body anymore. This kinda all started by accident. I was in therapy and the idiot doctor there there put me on so many drugs it was out of control. Everything from Lorazpam, tamazpam, seraquil, prozac, truxal, xanx and finaly after complaing to him about pain the fentanyl patch. When i said enough is enough " i was pretty normal before he came into my life" he basicaly told me I was on my own and to contact my GP..  She was also worthless i I ended up having to quit cold turkey on my own....

  Sorry got side tracked there...Anyways Im not taking anything to aid seep..But i will look into the melatonin..It's about the only thing I can get here in The Netherlands without a prescription.. And thanks to my lovely doctor even though i never asked to be on any medication Ive been black list as " An Addict" and they wont prescribe me anything. I am eating (force feeding myself) I lost about 25 pounds ( i was already quite thin to begin with) in this whole drama so I think my body is pretty worn down.

  Its been 4 weeks.. I wasnt expecting this to last so long and its disheartning :( Thank you for your words and advice!

[mellie4]

Congratulations on fetting off Fentanyl!!!  It's a huge accomplishment.  I came off it in March (though I'm still another narcotic, low dose for pain.)  I agree it can change you.  I feel like it affected my short-term memory and contributed to some depression, though some may have come from chronic pain.  I don't know why I know the Fentanyl made a change in me, but I know it has.  I've been on a lot of pain meds but that one seems to have had a negative affect.  I still have trouble with sleep, whether it's from that or pain, I'm not sure.  I can tell you that Melatonin works pretty well for me.  It's not habit-forming.  Sleep deprivation can really get to you.  I hope you try the Melatonin or the Alteril ... haven't tried that myself but I may.  It has Valerian root in it as well as melatonin and something else.  I have tried Valerian root in the past and found that helpful.  Good luck.

[vicki595]

Hi and welcome!  There's no question that the insomnia is horrible...and seems to last forever. It probably accounts for your low mood right now.  It gets better and the time frame is different for everyone. It seems when you stop thinking about it...it improves!  

What have you tried to help with sleep?  I don't suggest Benadryl. Look for some Melatonin or an OTC called Alteril. It really helps. Are you drinking enough everyday and eating properly?

Sleep is always the last to return to a normal pattern. Just be patient and good luck!