Is weening off of the Fentanyl patch possible?

[boothole]

To: Anyone who knows about Fentanyl patches

I have been on these Fentanyl patches (100 mcg) for about a year and I am desparately looking for a way off them. HELP! I've hed many medical problems lately and ended up on the "patch".

What I would really like to know is: Is it possible to ween off the patch? Right now I'm more concerned about what is happening to me mentally than physically. Has anyone ever heard of weening off? No doctor I've seen has an answer for me. I was told Suboxone isn't for me. I heard once about detoxing at a place somewhere and that sounds very expensive.

Is weening possible?

Thank you for reading this and any help you might provide.

[boothole]

Thank you so much for your time on this. Because I change this patch (100mcs) every 3 days, my plan is to wait 4½ days and then introduce myself to 75 + 12.5 and hope I can go 3 days like that. If I can (and dilaw808 makes it sound so possible) I plan to stay like that for a month or so. Then go down and down until I don't need these d***** things anymore.

I get extremely depressed the day before the patch will be changed. I get depressed from the withdrawal that seems to come sooner and sooner each month. That's why, instead of asking for more, I will ask for less. And less, etc. I hope to be back with my news (hopefully, all good) for someone else to hold on to.

I think one thing in my favor is I really don't like anything about this patch business anymore. At first it heklped with neoropothy (spelling) in my feet from diabetes, but now I'd rather have the pain than this depression. Must sound silly - but that's how I have gotten.

Thank you both again for your time and support.
Tony

[neverb4addicted]

My husband was on the patch, for 8 years then had heart problems and had to come off it.  They just weened him off like everyone here is saying. He dropped on his faster however but prob due to his heart he had too. They replaced it with perks, big mistake, those were hell for him to get off.  The patch however did not give him any of the same w'ds other than the depression..and his insides were shaken alittle.  Didnt have the RSL, ect that the others give, maybe he was just lucky but I have heard the same from some others on this site.
Good Luck, and keep posting and let everyone know how your doing, they truly are angels on this site and will be thinking of you ,,,promise you that...
Take Care
Neverb4

[dilaw808]

I was on 100 and the went to 75, then 50, then 25, 12, now I have been off for over 24 hours. I had leg cramps but took clonadine for that, I had anxiety but  took clonipin for that. I really am amazed at how easy this is. I thought it would be hell since I had horrible withdrawals when I was on the 12 and they ran out. I had members from my church come and give me a priesthood blessing and I have been praying like crazy, I feel like god is watching over me. So I have 4 more days and just wondering when the crazyness starts. So there is a way.

[boothole]

Thank you for your time. I still have 2 boxes (100mcg) I have to do something. My next persciption will be 75 + 12.5 and try it. And do it.

I haven't read much about the psycological effects of this stuff, but, for me it's bad. The day before the patch has to be changed I get seriously down - confused, sort of. Very depressed. So, when I start to ween off I will be back here posting again to help myself through it. I wish I knew about this Forum long ago. I may never have started.

Thank you all again. (slow and easy is it)

Terrysa, you sound so very supportive. Thank you.
Tony

[worried878]

sounds do-able and encouraging..never been on the patch but have heard how awful getting off can be..sounds like slow and easy is the way to go..good post

[Florida_Guy737]

Hi...I also came off the patches but I was only at 50 and for only 6-7 months.  I used percs to replace the patches and then tapered the percs until I stopped completely...that was almost 1 year ago today.

Good Post

[soldierswife007]

sorry directed my comment to the wrong person.......

[soldierswife007]

The person who told you about the weaning off is correct my dr never did that for me and that would of been ideal. I also agree those things need to be removed from the market. sometimes i think when you are given the "chronic pain" answer we should all be started with things like motrin, and also warned about the withdrawls you get when you decide enough is enough. If you have any questions please feel free to msg me i will help you if you ever need it.. and Remeber it is always just ONE DAT AT A TIME...Terrysa

[boothole]

Thank you for taking the time to answer me. You know, you read all kinds of stuff on the subject and (even my Dr) says it's virtually impossible to get off them. I am going to try to get off this stuff. I figure I will start with a 75 + 12.5 and so on. I will plan on taking a year or so, but I will do it. If you're interested I will get back on this subject here and look for you.

Thank you again for taking the time. And, the vote of confidence. I am not affraid of the pain coming back as much as I am the psycological effects of getting off. I always know when the patch is ready for a change because I get very depressed (more than I usually am) and I have this wicked anxiety with it. Stuff is vicious...

Thanks again.

[BornTwoRiff]

GOSH I should have proofed that, I sounded high writing that,, but you get the idea.. YES you can wean off it and its not that bad,, atleast it was not for me.. like I said,, I had began to hate it far more than love it and that made me want off even more,, The side effects of that patch is a nightmare..

Sorry about any typos but again you get the idea,,

[BornTwoRiff]

I was on them for 6 years and I thought I was losing my mind,, they were making me depressed and I begged the DR to get me off them, he has no clue how,, so one day I said lets drop down to 75mcg and see how it goes,, I felt NOTHING, after 6 years I had zero withdrawlals,, this was this past march, monday before easter,,  I stayed there on 75 for 4 months or so,, I then ask him lets drop again,, we did to 50 and i felt bad for about 2-3 days,, and in 3 weeks I was back in to ween down to 25.. he did not want to do it but hey ,, I felt nothing by then,, the 50 was making me high again ,, he wanted me to stay on 25 from then on or for several month,, I stayed there 3 weeks and started down to NOTHING,, When I got down to 25 I did feel a little bad,, not really bad,, my bowels and all that stuff that had been gone came back,, ok then he wanted me to drop to 12.5  and I had been off the 25 for 3days when I went to get them ,, the pharmacy was out as they are mainly for kids,, I stayed off and,, I felt like ****,, mainly chills,, NO restless leg of anything mainly cold and did not sleep good,, couple night none at all,,

its been almost 1 year,, hell I cant belive it,, I am off that poison,, START today and wean down to nothing,, only mistake I made was not to go on down to the 12.5 and I think it would have been a piece of cake,, I think I listen to them tell me how hard it would be that I began to believe them,, ITS NOT,, you can do this,, if you need anymore info email me,,    it took me a total of like 5 months and I was off 100mcg that I had been on for 6 long years,, Dont waste anymore of your life,, hell I had rather suffer the pain that that ****,, it really should be taken off the market,, I had started to HATE it more than love it and thats all it took,, I am off and  clean from it and you can be too,, START today,, dont put it off another day ..

STEVEN