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9262784 tn?1402699755

I am finally getting off of FENTANYL!

Hello.... First off, I suffer from a bunch of health problems all stemming from Gastric Bypass in 2006! I have been on Fentanyl  and Oxycodone for 5+ years. I am on 75mcg every 48 hours under doctor's care. I have never once abused these patches ever! Last month I had a bit of a disagreement with my PA at the pain clinic when I questioned why they were testing an area that didn't bother me and my mouth said something about erroneous billing, she got mad, I got mad and I left. Before that, I kept telling her I wanted off of Fentanyl because I felt so crappy and have been on it too long. Today I was supposed to start my new patch of 75 and I did not. Instead I used 48 (i had 12's from last month when I stopped them). My family doctor is very happy about my decision to stop the fentanyl so he gave me breakthrough meds to help. CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW LONG THIS TAKES AND HOW BAD IT REALLY IS TO TAPER DOWN TO NOTHING? Keep in mind, I had gastric bypass so I don't absorb things properly anyhow. Does anyone have experience with this? PLEASE Help and tell me something positive....I would be so grateful!
6 Responses
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7721494 tn?1431627964
You need to taper slowly. Fentanyl 75 is a strong medication, and you are opiate dependent.

I would begin by lowering 12.5 micrograms at first, perhaps lowering by 12.5 micrograms per month. Your body will tell you how slowly you need to go.

Ask your doctor for help and be patient.

Best wishes.
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
Taper as slowly as possible.  Stabilize between drops.  It is very strong.  
Helpful - 0
8976007 tn?1413330650
i cannot wait til i can post i am finally getting off this stuff.  hate it.  i have read almost every post on here about fentanyl and the ones who slowly tapered had less problems.  actually seen one the other day that said they had none of the horrible withdrawals they were expecting.  i am going to be reading that one a lot.  lol.  most are horror stories, but each person is so individual that you cannot believe the worst will happen to you too.  each person's tolerance to pain, rls, etc is also different.  some cannot take it at all and some don't seem to be too bothered.  i tend to want to think positive about it.  easier said than done, but i will keep saying it until i believe it.
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
I think if I wasn't blindly tapering so fast with so many other things itnwuldnhave been different.  Take it as slow as you need to.  For me, the worst was nausea and vomiting. I wound up severely dehydrated and in the hospital I also had other health issues.) My doctors at the time woldn't work with me.  Hopefully you'll have supportive doctors.
Helpful - 0
9262784 tn?1402699755
Thank you for being positive! I think what I have on my side is the gastric bypass.... I don't properly absorb anything the way it's intended anyhow. My oral pain meds go right thru me and I've been on the patch at 75 for years that it probably wasn't helping me much anyhow. Flu symptoms are so far the worst thing that is happening. I am now at 36 from 75 and I started weening Friday. My pain clinic was so eager to always UP the dose but then when I continued to tell me No that I wanted to stop altogether, they didn't return my calls and left me hang on my delivery. Thank GOD, GOD only, that I have an understanding family doc who is very happy that I am going off! So again, I thank you for your positivity because all of the posts about tapering are pretty darn scary haha!! I don't know your current situation but I'll be pulling for you and praying for you!
Helpful - 0
9262784 tn?1402699755
Thank you for sharing your experience. How high were you when you went off? How long were you on Fentanyl? How are you doing now???
Helpful - 0
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