HELP :::: i want off the FENTANYL PATCH -

[iwantoff]

i have been on the fentanyl patch for 4mths now because of chronic pain. i started at 12.5 then within a month i was up'd to 37.5
i still have chronic pain and a lot a breakthru pain for which i take tylenol 3 and clonazepam (for spasms).

i want to stop the patch because it does not work for me .... can i stop cold turkey ... so far i have got myself down to 25 and am prepared to drop to 12.5 but what process would i follow .. how many 12 patches would i apply before stopping completely.

i need help and advice ... has anyone gone thru something similar

[FATBOYHARLEY711]

I hope you are still off of them. I have been on them for 5 years & I am up to 250mg every 2 days. I think my addiction is worse than the pain.  I know I have a rough road ahead of me the next few months. I go to the doctor tomorrow to get off. So Good luck!

[mo2000]

Hi there!! CONGRATS on your month clean!! That's awesome, and I'm so, so sorry to hear about your chronic pain that you now have to deal with after the horrors of withdrawals are FINALLY through!! It really makes me realize that I have been blessed by God not to have such constant pain, and makes me realize that recreational use is almost an INSULT to those of you who have TRUE chronic pain!

As for a place where you can talk about your pain and find others who have the same issues as you.  There is a Pain Management group right here at Medhelp!! I have checked it out myself (just out of curiousity because you see a lot of them come from over there to over here after some time), and it sounds like exactly what you need! They can help you with homeopathic suggestions and just NON-OPIATE suggestions in general!!

Good luck to you, I can't wait to be where you are at.  You give me TRUE inspiration, because if you can deal with this pain on a daily basis, not to mention the mental "normal" withdrawals that any opiate addict experiences, then I can DEFINITELY do it!!  Thankyou and Congratulations!

[iwantoff]

hi
it is now one month since stopping the fentanyl .... this is good but the downside is I HURT something awful. i am trying not to sub for the tylenol 3 or the klonopin, but holy mother of G...D it hurts.
now i have to get past this and i dont know how. is there a such thing as chronic pain anonymous because i would join up ... this is ridiculous. i have buying books to read on the topic - i swear it feels as though my heart will stop ticking or if i stop breathing long enough to catch my breath in hopes of some kind of relief in between breaths.

[iwantoff]

hi
just an update ... i have stopped the fentanyl patch completely. with exception of the 5hrs i had it on last friday (03jul09) it is now a week plus. i have pain but that is something i knew would not change - as for WD, can't say that i am having any, at this point, i am in too much pain and difficult to recognise any if they were present.
the patch although i did not think was doing anything, obviously was but not enough. i would have been at the point where i would have been increasing and upping the dosage and this did not sit right with me which is why i wanted off and sought advice online and came accross this forum.
thank you all - if it were not for your support and time and caring i would not be off this med now. i now have to accept that i have chronic pain, and deal with it because meds only offer temp relief and even the fentanyl was not truly 100% effective. knowing this, i will never go back on this type of opiate/opioid at least not of that strength - tylenol 3 is a narcotic but there is no comparison as long as i do not abuse it and keep it in check.

again thank you
Nancy

[saphire1]

sorry to here about the stomache pain your going thru.  dont  give up.  Ive had for the past week tappering and getting off the tram.  Although you don't think so right now it will get better. My prayers are  with you.  

[whitie]

just work on tapering off, for now......................we'll work on the rest later.

keep fighting it.  in time you will win over this !!!