getting of fentenyl patches

[lene54]

I was on hydrocodone for 3 yrs after 2 back surgeries.  Then changed over a 6 month period to methadone.  Took 20 mg of methadone for about 10 wks and 25 mg for 2 weeks.  New doctor changed me to morphine 40 mg a day(said it should be the say as methadone I was on) I went into w/d's He increased to 60mgs. Still couldn't function so he put me on fentenyl 50 one a day for one wk.  I got much worse.  He raised to two 50 fentenyl patches.  I've been out of work for several days.  I'm been in awful shape with nerves, walking the floor, very nauseaed.  I don't know what to expect when I go back today.  I think these patches are giving me several side effects.  Each time I go, he makes me worse.   I know I've told this story before, but I don't know what to do at this point.  I called my old pain specialist and told his nurse what I had gone through.  She said she was tell him and maybe  they would get back with me today.  I'm thinking of going back on methadone and tamper myself.  I think all this different medicines is hard on my body.  I also have an appointment tomorrow  to see about getting on suboxene.  I know I don't want to continue wearing these patches.  My back is the reason I ended up on all this medicine, after 2 back surgeries.  I'm having to wear my tens unit now.  I don't know why, but even with these patches on, I'm having back pain. Could someone that been here please tell me what to do at this point?    

[lene54]

Thanks for your comments.  I have taken off the two 50 patches and have an appointment for 10 in the morning for suboxene.  I pray this is the answer.  It may be coming, but I've had a better day without them.  He just had me on them for a couple of weeks and they were making me go through some rough stuff.  I had never done well with strong medicine, and what I understand this stuff is very strong.  It was a big mistake to go to this new pain specialist and let him start changing my medicines.  If I knew what I know now, I would have tampered on my own.  No one knows your body like you do.  Praying....

[marycarmel]

I don't know exactly what to suggest.  I do know changing meds and doses wreaks havoc on your body.  I went through this last year when tapering off Fentanyl and oxycodone at high doses, as well as other meds for nerve pain.

You may need to sort of tough it out on whatever drug you choose to be your taper.  Eventually you'll even out.  Tapering needs to be done very, very slowly, especially with methadone and Fentanyl.

Look up some of the answers from Gnarly as he recommends some multi-vitamin supplement that helps greatly with methadone withdrawals.  Personally, I don't think jumping back on the methadone is a great idea as it seems to be the worst to come off it.

I feel for you.  I went through some terrible times coming off the Fentanyl.  I'm a single mom of 4 and could barely put one foot in front of the other.  I will say it was one of my biggest challenges and biggest accomplishments. (To be fair and honest, though, my issue was dependence versus addiction.)