Fentanyl Withdrawals - how long do they last Cold Turkey?

[AmigaMaria]

I've been on a Fentanyl patch for the past 9 years. I went from 175mcg/hr down to 12.5 mcgs then 5 days ago I stopped cold turkey.  I don't take any other drugs except for my blood pressure meds.
The withdrawals have been BRUTAL!   I mean the most horrific thing I have even gone through.  When will this stop?  At night the minute I start to fall asleep it's like a demon takes over my body and I jerk and jump, twist and shout all night long - I get up and down out of bed, I exercise and even lift weights to try and stop the demon - but nothing works.  I haven't slept for more than 20 minutes at one time any night since stopping.  I'm scared!  I will choose not to live if I have to go back on Fentanyl but I can't take much more of these withdrawals.  
When can I expect the withdrawals to end and how long does it take to get back to my normal self with no effects whatsoever of the Fentanyl?  I seriously need help!  
Thank you

[PharmaVictim]

before Im through id like to say my prayers........(Jethro Tull)

Fentanyl is HORRIBLE. I hate my dr for ever putting me on this knowing what he knew. chronic back pain, started me with percosette back in  2006. Worked right up the chain to oxycontin 30mg then to the fentanyl patch. Two years of this i was on 50mcg and I am DETERMINED to get my life back!
Depression? huh! The psyches want to medicate that and have been unsuccessful. Anxiety? Same thing. How about no sex drive, no appetite, I dont feel good about myself as a man, a husband , father and grandfather! I HATE THIS STUFF! I went down to 25mcg on my own. Wasnt too bad. But when I tried to go to 12 mcg, the S%*T hit the fan, I thought i was being exorcised of a demon! Thashing around! so sick I couldnt take it and put the 25mcg patch back on. Went for help. my dr......what a joke. Told me I should just plan on being on fentanyl my entire life! WHAT???!!! SCREW YOU DOC!   went to a pain management clinic looking for help. They tried to substitue vicodin for the fentanyl in hopes of weaning off that after. gave me meds to combat the withdrawal symptoms. the diahrea , the spasm, NONE of it worked and at 36 hours of vicodin my body demanded the fentanyl back and man did it let me know!  On my knees, praying to god to help me out of this hell..........
so today i went to a suboxone dr. 2.5 hr visit....he prescribed the suboxone for me to substitue the fentanyl once I get to deep withdrawals...not before or it will give you withdrawals! Confusing? yeah... Ive had the patch off for 27 hours now......not looking forward to the witching hour of 36. I wish anyone who has the guts and stamina to get off this EVIL medicine the absolute best and my prayers, for what they are worth, are with you. god help us all.
PharmaVictim

[Brasil2014]

Dear AmigaMaria, all I want add here is that you are one very brave person.
Thank you very much for sharing with us your experience. I am also having problems with Fentanyl for 4 1/2 years now  that I would like to get reed off it. I was on 75 then 50 and now I am on 25. My idea is to take 12 and go from there. I tried many times myself CT, but I was too weak to finish it up , but it was very hard for me to go CT when I was on 50. Good bless you . I will follow your steps to clean my system. Good luck and enjoy your life.  

[Brasil2014]

I was on Fentanyl 75 and  50 I am on Fentanyl 25 now.. In January (following) year 2014 I will ask my Doc. for Fentanyl 12, couse this is the lowest number of this patch. What else I should do to get reed of this patch because I wish to be clean. It is recommended by a doctors that cutting down Fentanyl in numbers of mcg is the wright way to do so. Is the CT unavoidable.
I dont need to explain to you of how hard time I 've had  because I am 100 % sure that you now all of the rest of the story. In the past I tried many times to do it my self (Could T) but was unable to do so simply I had no experience . Following those comments of those brave ones  I think I can do it too. You did a good job. Good luck  

[jacksplace]

God bless you!

[jacksplace]

I was on Fentanyl 50mcg for a year after I broke my back and then surgery. I am detoxing now and I'm on my tenth day. The first week was HELL thought i would rather die then go through this any longer. I took 2 Benadryl 25mg 3 times a day witch helped come me down. Take as many HOT showers as often as you can stand it! I drank about 1 gallon of water a day witch is a ***** because you wont be thirsty. Around the 8th day I began feeling alot better. I'm still anxious and a little edgy but much better. I ate 2 potatoes a day and 4 bananas. Eat one potato before bed for the magnesium that helped me sleep 2-3hrs at a time the first 5 days. THIS WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! i WILL NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR PAIN OTHER THAN ADVIL! Hang in there.

[mamaannj]

I am on day 1. I am terminally I'll with less than 7 months. Still fighting for my next miracle. I have gone cold turkey eight times, on purpose, throughout the last two years, just to keep my tolerance from building. Four, were just hydrocodone 25/325, one was oxycontin and liquid morphine, and three others were hydro and cent patches. I have chosen to live in pain for months at a time, to achieve this and to be present for my husband and four sons. I have had several painful surgeries and I treat, quit and withdrawal. Your body is trying it's damnedest to get that comfort, but you are doing great! I'm been through each level of this hell. Hydration, antioxidants, and sweating is the absolute best way to get it out. Protein and nutrition replacement is huge. Adding you to my prayer list. Thank you for much needed reminder that I am not alone.