Fentynal addiction

[Rickt011]

I'm going threw major anxiety been on the patch 6 years, 75 mcg, and I just want off, the withdrawal cold turkey has failed every time I try. I need help, left messages with doctor, but none returned. Where cann I go for help with this. I want off the fentynal period.

[NearlyInsane]

Wow... I hope everything goes well.  I would recommend tapering - I got off it the same way Jaybay describes - cutting slivers off each patch until there wasn't much left.  No withdrawals, no probs.

You reminded me a lot of what I went through on that drug, but my docs were better at managing it.  I don't agree that the drug should be off the market, just that they should educate docs better about it & patients should be told what they're in for.  I was put on anti-depressants for the anxiety, and took citrucel & ate all the fiber I could for the constipation.  I can't even remember all the drugs i was taking - 1/3 for my back pain, & 2/3 to counteract side effects of the meds I was taking for back pain!  I was glad to be rid of all that when I finally got off the patches, but that was after I got the pain under control.  I wouldn't go back to just being in pain & untreated again for anything.  Also I was only on 25 mcg, so I imagine every side effect I had you had 3 times worse...

Again, I hope everything goes well & you get off it w/out too much problems.

[scoenen]

For me, the 4-6 days were the worst.  I literally could not move, getting up for one of my many bathroom breaks was like doing a marathon but I got through it because I wanted it so bad.  If I can do it so can you.  I know a lot of people have better success with tapering but for me I had to just get it over with and be done with it.  I did not want a long drawn out process.  If you have any questions send me a message.  I will help anyway I can.  Good luck and I will be praying for you.

One thing I forgot to mention- Prayer was very powerful during this whole process for me.  I don't know if your spiritual or not but it really does help get you through the toughest parts.  

[scoenen]

I came off 50 MG cold turkey.  I was like you- just wanted to get off the stuff.  The withdrawal was tough, I won't lie to you.  I spent the first 7 days hundled in a ball rocking back and forth.  After the 7th day it does start to get better.  The lack of motivation and anxiety does last a lot longer.  I really did not feel good until 30 days out but each day it did get better.  If you have kids see if you can get some help the first week and try to stay around other people.  It really does help keep your mind off the misery to some extent.

[mellie4]

Oh you are in a bad place.  Please, please do your research on this detox under sedation.  It is really controversial and you really need to know what you're getting into.

Obviously Fentanyl is not the right choice for you and shame on your doctor for having you suffer for so long.  But it does help a lot of people.  It's been working great for me with no side effects.  When I do taper down, I'll do it under the doctor's supervision, more than likely in a similar method to JayBay. I'm fortunate that mine is covered under worker's comp and I pay nothing.

There are other medications they can give you to help you with withdrawals.

Whichever way you go, I hope you get the success you want to get off and the peace you seem to need so badly.  But again, please check out this detox.  I saw a program on it and thought it would be good for my ex and then started researching it and now I have big reservations.  Nothing ever comes easy or free in this world and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I hope you'll let everyone know how you are.

[Rickt011]

I'm a 51 year old man who has been on it for 6 years now. Anxiety, fear, stomach issues, constipation, compression in the legs, I thought it was my diabetis screwing with me, all along it was Fentynal. They originally had me on 100MCG patches and I was hallucinating, They backed me down to 75 and I've been there since. I had back surgery in 2004, and I've had problems all along, doctor said it was my diabetes causing the side effects. It was Fentynal, and I want off it period, no more, this stuff needs to be off the market, the benefits do not out weigh the mental anguish. The withdrawal starts immediately after 48hrs with me, and is very intense, constant crying, can't move, the pain is outrageous stomach wise and the fear, puking, dry heaves, the anxiety, I can't take it anymore, doctor is having me put in the hospital in Parkersburg for detox. Plus my marriage is headed for divorce, the anxiety is out of this world, I have never feared anything like this. I'm a 20 yr military vet, seen some wild stuff, but nothing like this. Please do not ever let anyone talk you into this drug, once they detox me, I will never let another opiates in my body again. This is serious, not a drug to play with. The anxiety over the 6 years has been phenomenal, and the doctor told me I had to stay on the drug, now I know I can get chemical cleaned under light sedation, and supposedly it works. I am so afraid and fear this drug now, I just want it out of my system and as if I never took it without withdrawal. I can't take the withdrawal, when that happens, I just want to die, I put my guns up for fear I would commit suicide when I talked myself into it. I'm leaving for the hospital in a few minutes. I hope and pray this works and i am free of fentynal is a few days. The say the cleansing takes a couple of hours, and the withdrawal is gone after a couple of days. Anxiety and that who knows, but I live in fear now, when will this drug kill me? I'm not joking, this drug means death to me, and I have got to get off it.

[Jaybay]

I'm not at all surprised you couldn't deal with CT from 75 mcg.  That's a BIG dose.  I know because I've been tapering from that for several months myself.  It's my choice to do this.  I'm just sick of dealing with the rules and regs of schedule II narcotics and the associated worry and hassle of juggling monthly appointments.  Since I have no insurance, I'm through paying $220 a month for it too.  Withdrawal comes hard and fast when I forget to change a patch, and what I went through dropping to 50 mcg I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  

This time around my doctor has me using the Mylan brand patch (not with the gel pouch) and cutting slivers off of them to taper.  I've done really well with that method.  I'm taking my time so it's been several months since I began dropping from 50 mcg.  Of course, the pain has noticeably increased but some of that is just rebound pain.  When it gets to be too much, I just wait a few weeks before dropping again.  The trick with the patch is to go very slow and wait to see where your pain levels stabilize before continuing your taper.

Why do you want to discontinue the patch?

Forget about waiting for a return call from your doctor.  Just make an appointment and state your case.  

[mellie4]

Why on earth is your doctor not returning your calls?  Obviously he prescribes them for you.  What kind of doctor is he?  I'm not sure why you're on it but seeing it's been six years, you must have some kind of pain condition.  How are you going to treat your pain when you get off it?  It seems to be a positive sign that you haven't increased your dose over the years.

There are several people here who have discontinued the Fentanyl patch, both cold turkey and by tapering.  There are also posts on the pain management forum, and I would suggest you look at those posts.  I know it's very difficult to get off so if you can do it under a doctor's care, I think that would be best.

I'm also on 75 mcg every 3 days (it's prescribed for every 2 days but it makes me nervous so I stretch it.)

You don't say why you want off it.  Is it the side effects?  Or are you just sick of being on it?  And I'm sure you know there is a world of difference between addiction and dependence and tolerance.

Best of luck.