ASKING FOR HELP TO WEAN OFF FENTANYL PATCH!

[sick_n_overit]

I am prescribed quite a few pain meds and benzo's for Chronic pain and anxiety but need advice on getting off Fentanyl Patch ASAP.

I am prescribed Fentanyl Patch 100mcg every 36 hrs,  Diladid 8mg 2-3 daily, Percocet 7.5 4 daily, Norco 7.5 4 daily, klonopin 1mg 4x daily, Valium 10mg 2-3 daily, Flexeril 10mg 3x daily, Phenergan 25mg 2x daily.

I now am down to taking 50mcg Fentanyl every 72 hrs, 1/2 so 4 mg of Diladid if needed 0-2 a day, 1/2 of Percocet so about 3.5 mg 1-2 daily, Norco 1/2 so 3mg 0-2x a day, Klonopin 1/2 or less so .5ish 2x a day, Valium 1/2 so 5.mg 1-2 x day, Flexeril 1&1/2 daily, Phenergan if needed 25mg 1-3x a week.

So obviously a lot of progress has been made in the past few months. I know how to taper off pills but the
Fentanyl patch is a *****!!

My ultimate goal is to be off of everything and re-evaluate my pain.
Any advice or help/support would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank You!

[GANeedHelpMarie]

Hi, I just got an email from MedHelp with your text.  It is terribly frightening.  I pray it goes well!! Read my above texts. Hugs, Marie

[cin333]

I want to come off of fentanyl also..I have a appointment with a new pain management dr. November.  I am very scared about going through the withdrawls of this horrible medication. I have been on this for three years now d/t DDD and fibro.I need support for the symptoms of w/dand any other needed information I need. Thank you and smiles to you and everyone here at this site.

[TheMadMan]

Well first of all I want to congratulate you on your attempt to get off the fentanyl. This drug is a very powerful drug and does more damage than you can imagine.
FOR ME,....
I developed pancreatic problems and it doped up my mind so much, I had lost weight and had no idea. I was 150lbs before and my family doctor who I have known for 30 years want to do anything he can to help me with my pain, so he prescribed fentanyl 50mcg. I was on the patch for about 6 months but one day, looked in the mirror and it scared the hell out of me. I looked like death. I stepped on a scale and found I was down to 108 lbs!!!!
That sickened me. I was also on morphine as a back up pain reliever.  I had to get off this stuff.
FOR ME, ....I went cold turkey. First the morphine and then the fentanyl. I called my family doctor to advise him of what I was doing and he offered his support and yes, he said the same thing, there is no substitute for fentanyl. All he could offer was another opioid.
I have been through withdrawal before so I knew what to expect. The morphine wasn't a major problem but naturally the fentanyl was. I read up on withdrawal symptoms, stopped the patch and increased the water intake to start. Also added vitamins. As many as I could.
The worse for ME was the sleepless nights. I called my doctor and he gave me an anti anxiety medication to help but ONLY AS NEEDED. The rest was up to me to clean out my system.
I won't lie, it was rough but it can be done with determination. The fear of what I looked like is what worked for me.
I suggest you start by tapering down and watch the opioid medication you are taking. Increase the water intake and vitamins, food intake and try stopping the medication WITH YOUR DOCTORS ADVISE. Advise your doctor of what you are doing. Read up on withdrawal symptoms and what you can do to help with it.
AGAIN, I EMPHASIS,THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME.
I have been fentanyl and morphine free for over a year now and can think clearer and have4 put back some of the weight I have lost but this took time.
You will notice a clearer thinking over time and this will help with the determination to get off this drug.
It appears that you have a lot of pain issues going on so read up on what is the best method for you and advise your doctor and seek medical attention for what you are doing.
This is a very powerful drug! You have no idea of how damaging this drug is until you are off of it. You will notice a change in your thinking, once your body is clean of this drug.
I sincerely wish you the best of luck and focus on what you are doing.
There is life out there, so go find it and leave the drugs for a time when you really need it.

[sick_n_overit]

I asked my doctor already what meds in pill form are equivalent
to the fentanyl patch and he said there are none. That is why I
am stuck here trying to find something close so I could taper like
with pills.
Thank You!

[sick_n_overit]

Thank you so much for your support and info. It is nice to not feel
alone. :)

[shinty]

I got off of fentanyl by being prescribed other opiates instead of the fentanyl. This is done when i become "tolerant" to an opiate. I assume if you wanted off of fentanyl forever you would have to be prescribed something else, and then wean off of that other opiate, because i agree, fentanyl would be tough to come of off by itself. you say you know how to taper off of pills-- There you go then.

[GANeedHelpMarie]

oh my doctor is Dr. Steven Scanlan at Palm Beach Outpatient Detox.
In order to learn about what the optimum treatment is in my opinion, besides inpatient for the Fentanyl, please look at his writings and videos.

Perhaps there is a doctor like him whereever you are.

Hugs,
Marie

[GANeedHelpMarie]

Getting off the Fentanyl is very tricky.  I came off of Opana ER by tapering down a lot to Opana IR, then I had to go inpatient for the end....that is an option, I hope.....the other way I know of is to change to suboxone, BUT ONLY ALLOW A DOCTOR TO TAPER YOU DOWN ON IT OVER 21 DAYS, or you will put yourself in a much harder situation than the Fentanyl.  I am aware how addictive fentanyl is..  Opana is in the same category (or classification) as Fentanyl (and heroin), so these are intense drugs...... the problem is to find a doctor that really understands Suboxone......please read about it on my doctor's website.  He has an article on there about suboxone.  Just don't stay on the stuff....it really is harder to get off of than any opiate.  I made that mistake.  Just so you know I was on Opana ER for 6 1/2 years around the clock, and had to do a taper off a benzo during this last year too.  I had pretty bad pain, that is actually so much better.  Please PM me if you want to talk. I am hoping that some people that have come off Fentanyl by other means also post here.  HUGS! Wish you the best from the bottom of my heart.  Feel your pain.  Congrats on the work you have done.
Hugs! Marie