Where do I go with this. Fentanyl to Transtec to?? Please help me do the right thing!

[My_Life]

I am going to try and condense this best I can.

Important to add that I am in England-so meds may be different!

I was on Fentanyl patches 37 mcg and 3 oxynorm 5mg per day for 5 years. I found that the tablets were becoming a problem in that I would save them for times where I felt insecure or needed a bit of courage.

I had weight loss surgery and have lost 230 lbs. I am in therapy as well for body issues and feelings of self loathing. Issues which need to continue to be addressed.

I weighed nearly 400 lbs and did not get that way for “no reason”. I feel I am very aware of what my addictive behavior is creating.
I have arthritis and joint issues due to the excess weight I carried. Because I had surgery on my gastric system-I do not absorb things as well and cannot consume anti-inflammatory.

I got hurt recently-last month I fell down an entire flight of stairs on my bottom. I hurt my shoulder and my tailbone. I went to the doctor and she said “But you are already on A LOT of medicine!”. To this I said true! I imagine you can’t just keep adding pain meds to my body!

At that moment a real fear washed over me. What if I get REALLY hurt or my joint issues progress. How will they be able to treat my pain if I am already on such heavy duty meds. I felt it was time to start coming off of these for a reassessment.

I asked her to stop prescribing the tablets first. She upped my patches to 50 from 37 mcg-because of my severe fall (pain). I agreed-apprehensively to up the patches.

Well-it only took two days to realize that was a MISTAKE. I felt HORRIBLE. Too drugged and at other times withdrawal symptoms! Weird! I also started to have crying jags and just feel OUT of it.

I researched and found out about Suboxone/Subutex (Buprenorphine).  I decided I could do the subutex (the nalaxone sp? Can cause gastric bypass folks some bad symptoms).

I went into the GP with my plan. She did not seem keen to put me on subutex as she didn’t feel addiction was the worry. She put me on BuTrans patches 10mcg. I decided to TRY them-with the HOPE that maybe some of the good qualities about the med (reducing cravings) would happen. She wanted to go with the patches because they do have some pain control effects.

Firstly-it took two days for me to realize she did not titrate me right! I was on 37 mcg  of fent-and she had me on what was equivalent to 6! I was a sick girl all weekend. Finally-I asked her to put me on Transtec 52.5 mcg Buprenophine. I got a script for that and 20 oxynorm whilst this took effect.
Did I do the right thing??

My biggest concern is STILL the oxynorms…or lack thereof since they became an emotional crutch. Can these patches ease some of that by working on the receptors the way the suboxone/subutex does? I know this is a MUCH weaker dose-but could it help me??
Or-should I throw it all to the wind and insist on the subutex and ultimate ceasing of meds for reassessment?

I am sorry this was So long-but I REALLY want to do the right thing and I have never been so afraid in my life. I am scared, and disappointed and feeling really fragile about all this. How did I get here?!

Where do I belong? Addiction meetings? Pain clinics? Therapy? (I am in therapy now). I feel I am just another casualty of the “fix it with meds” movement.

Thanks for ANY input/info/help!

[My_Life]

Hi and thanks so much for your reply.

I have heard that coming off Suboxone can be a real challenge and that is putting it LIGHTLY! However-I think it has served some good purposes.

I have been reading about research being done about using the patches as another way to help someone come off of the Suboxone. Since the trouble is getting the doses small enough using the tablet form. I REALLY hope they can start doing that-because I do believe it would be SOME help.

I think they go like this:

70mcg
52.5
30 (something?)
20 mcg
10 mcg
5 mcg

The 70-30's are called Transtec
and the lower are Butrans
In England those are the names of the patches.

Hang in there and I wish you the best!

[tryntogetwell]

I think you are going in the right dirrection.I need to tell you that I have been on suboxone for a year and a half. I have tried to quit several times with no luck. I now am going to ask the doctor to taper me very slowly. And I think this would be the best thing for you. The withdrawls may seem like ther gonna kill you at first, but you should level out fairly quickly. After reeding everything on here I have learned alot. But just remember that the simple fact that you recognize you have a problem is the first step.Good luck and keep up the great progress.