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fentanyl
Hi, I have been taking fentanyl for aprox. 8 yrs and have been on 150mcg every 48 hrs. I started weaning off at 25 mcg at a time. After getting below 100mcgs all hell started. Then I was so miserable and when I was cut to 50mcg I couldnt stand it anymore so decided to do cold turkey just to get it over with. I was like I wanted to die from all the withdrawal symptons. It now has been 30 days and still feel like ****. It took 3 weeks to finally tell that I started getting better ever so slightly. Still miserable and but can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I expect it may last for moths.If anyone has been there where I was please let me know how long it took to feel good again. Thanks,
Best Answer
You can not know how much I admire you. You are the one that gave me my most strength. I cant thank you enough. Ray
I know what you mean about the worry of being around others while in withdrawal caused by anxiety. My pain Dr also offered that option but didnt make sense to me but might make the long process.
About nutrition I would take your advice and research " The Thomas Recipe". I had another setback yesterday but the feelings were less intense. I actually am starting to think more clearly and things WILL get better probably faster than I expected. You are more brave than me by going into the hospital as it might be a faster withdrawal.I have spent too much time in hospitals in the last few years to even think about. I have a bad knee which makes it hard to walk and get enough exercise.
. The tapering ***** I know It I think wise to get it all over with as soon as possible. I wish I could help more but TheMadMan who posted has much knowledge and much insight to the process. I hope your recovery goes as well as possible. I know we CAN both make it thru this process With time.Thanks for your help it really has helped me.
About nutrition I would take your advice and research " The Thomas Recipe". I had another setback yesterday but the feelings were less intense. I actually am starting to think more clearly and things WILL get better probably faster than I expected. You are more brave than me by going into the hospital as it might be a faster withdrawal.I have spent too much time in hospitals in the last few years to even think about. I have a bad knee which makes it hard to walk and get enough exercise.
. The tapering ***** I know It I think wise to get it all over with as soon as possible. I wish I could help more but TheMadMan who posted has much knowledge and much insight to the process. I hope your recovery goes as well as possible. I know we CAN both make it thru this process With time.Thanks for your help it really has helped me.
I can honestly speak for my doctor who understands my medical condition. He has given me every avenue of help with pain issues and 'suggested' Fentanyl. He knows I don't abuse drugs so the day I called him in so much pain, offering Fentanyl was an option that I had not tried.The medication is very deceiving. You don''t always recognize if and when it is working. It has a gradual effect over a 12 hour period. Apparently, there is enough of this drug to actually DULL the brain functions (for lack of a better description) without you ever realizing. From that point forward, you are addicted. Fentanyl seems to grab at the brain functions and totally take hold.
In defense of my doctor, he was offering this drug for pain control. My pain issues were severe enough that I wanted to try anything to numb the pain. Fentanyl did!!!!
I think I was on the drug for about 6 months. While taking this drug, I had no sense of reality, didn't care about anything around me, lost my apatite but didn't care and sleeping became my best friend. My caregiver was telling me how bad I looked but I didn't see it. I defended myself by saying I was eating but didn't remember my last meal.
Pain...the answer to this question is as follows:
Did I have pain? My mind could not comprehend the concept of pain and they were like two different realities (my mind and the pain) out in space.
I was invited to a graduation of a friend who just completed law school. I pulled out one of my suits that I had not worn in years and then I saw what I really looked like!!!!
A skeleton with just barely enough skin to make out that I ever had a face! That scary! That was enough fear to get me to stop and I did!
From my experience, friends...DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!
In defense of my doctor, he was offering this drug for pain control. My pain issues were severe enough that I wanted to try anything to numb the pain. Fentanyl did!!!!
I think I was on the drug for about 6 months. While taking this drug, I had no sense of reality, didn't care about anything around me, lost my apatite but didn't care and sleeping became my best friend. My caregiver was telling me how bad I looked but I didn't see it. I defended myself by saying I was eating but didn't remember my last meal.
Pain...the answer to this question is as follows:
Did I have pain? My mind could not comprehend the concept of pain and they were like two different realities (my mind and the pain) out in space.
I was invited to a graduation of a friend who just completed law school. I pulled out one of my suits that I had not worn in years and then I saw what I really looked like!!!!
A skeleton with just barely enough skin to make out that I ever had a face! That scary! That was enough fear to get me to stop and I did!
From my experience, friends...DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!
when i read these scary stories about how hard it is to get off these drugs Doc put us on. Well it is scary. Its like they test you to make sure your taking it and taking what they tell you to take, then that become not enough and they up it. But if you want to take less and they test you and that show they though you out. You dam if you do and dam if you dont.
You are doing great! It's also really helping me to message with you b/c of my decision to go to medical detox on Friday (I have a bunch of other health conditions that make it dangerous for me to go cold turkey at-home). I need distractions to get over this the fear and waiting, so thank you.
I was prescribed very high dosages of Oxycontin and Oxycodone at the height of my illness and chronic pain issues. After my last reduction, I have tapered down to 15mg of Oxycodone 4 x per day, and, like you, I just want this to be over with. It's been a year of tapering, and this last reduction was brutal. I am still very irritable, and can relate to what you're saying about no one being able to understand it. I honestly don't want to be around anyone at all, and the medical detox I'm going to is apparently pretty hectic, which freaks me out. It has been me and my laptop for 2 1/2 weeks, and that is what has gotten me through this last taper.
You should really congratulate yourself for saying no to those offers of pain meds. I am surprised anyone offered them to you, but I guess they just don't get it
I am surprised about your doctor not wanting to get involved. You deserve a supervised taper, and I would go back to him to talk about it. If not, start tapering off of the Xanax once you are able to sleep. Because you've only taken it for a short-period of time, I don't think it will be a problem. You may need to start doing more exercise to wear yourself out so that you can sleep naturally.
Which supplements helped you the most? I am going to pick up what I can, but because I'm on disability, I have very little money. I'll get what I need the most, and pray I get through this.
If you can't get all of your feelings out here, try writing in a journal.
All the best -- you're doing great!
I was prescribed very high dosages of Oxycontin and Oxycodone at the height of my illness and chronic pain issues. After my last reduction, I have tapered down to 15mg of Oxycodone 4 x per day, and, like you, I just want this to be over with. It's been a year of tapering, and this last reduction was brutal. I am still very irritable, and can relate to what you're saying about no one being able to understand it. I honestly don't want to be around anyone at all, and the medical detox I'm going to is apparently pretty hectic, which freaks me out. It has been me and my laptop for 2 1/2 weeks, and that is what has gotten me through this last taper.
You should really congratulate yourself for saying no to those offers of pain meds. I am surprised anyone offered them to you, but I guess they just don't get it
I am surprised about your doctor not wanting to get involved. You deserve a supervised taper, and I would go back to him to talk about it. If not, start tapering off of the Xanax once you are able to sleep. Because you've only taken it for a short-period of time, I don't think it will be a problem. You may need to start doing more exercise to wear yourself out so that you can sleep naturally.
Which supplements helped you the most? I am going to pick up what I can, but because I'm on disability, I have very little money. I'll get what I need the most, and pray I get through this.
If you can't get all of your feelings out here, try writing in a journal.
All the best -- you're doing great!
TheMadMan, Thanks for your responses.
Thanks for your responses. I know exact what you mean by just looking into a mirror as I also see it. I have lost my zest for life from this drug and dont enjoy the things I used to. It has been aprox. 4 wks. since I went off and am starting to feel a little better. The restless legs and arms are almost over with and the sleep is getting better taking xanax but feel soo guilty about them cause I was just weeks off from them before going cold turkey from fentanyl. But right now i an more concerned about getting clean from fentanyl. You are a insperiation to me. Thanks so much!!
you
Thanks for your responses. I know exact what you mean by just looking into a mirror as I also see it. I have lost my zest for life from this drug and dont enjoy the things I used to. It has been aprox. 4 wks. since I went off and am starting to feel a little better. The restless legs and arms are almost over with and the sleep is getting better taking xanax but feel soo guilty about them cause I was just weeks off from them before going cold turkey from fentanyl. But right now i an more concerned about getting clean from fentanyl. You are a insperiation to me. Thanks so much!!
you
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I was taking both Fentanyl and Morphine for pain issues. What a double whammy!!! After I looked in the mirror and scared myself to death, I stopped the Fentanyl that night. The FEAR is what made me do it!
Yes, it was rough but worth it!!! Yes, I went through the withdrawal and yes, it was hard on me also. Looking at death in the mirror was enough to get me started.
After a few days I called my family doctor to advise him what I was doing. He gave me zanex for the anxiety but told me he is only giving me an emergency short supply and to use it only as needed. That same day, I stopped the morphine (about a week apart from one another)
It took me about three days to feel the full effects of the fentanyl withdrawal and the morphine. Stomach cramps, sleep deprivation etc. I took the zanex only at night until it finally kicked in. Eventually I got a couple of hours sleep and that is the start of the medications looking control over your body and mind. Plenty of water, to clean out my system, vitamins, food and only muscle relaxers for pain issues. I had to sweat it out but withing a few weeks I was feeling better. I could think a little better. That also was an improvement. Since I saw improvement in my thinking, I felt confident that I could do this and stick with it and have for over 5 years now.
I will never go back to fentanyl again. That drug took too much away from me and the deception is that I did not even know it. When I began to think clearer, I noticed an overall feeling of better sleep, wanting to eat and clearly thinking now.
It is a rough road as I mentioned but worth every second invested so PLEASE STICK WITH IT!!!! You will see positive results shortly and understand HOW MUCH CONTROL THIS DRUG HAD ON YOU AND WILL NEVER HAVE AGAIN, RIGHT????!!!!
So stick with it and you will see daylight in a whole different view and I promise you, fear will never take you again...unless you let it, so take back the control and do it!!!
Good luck!!!