Fentynal patches

Has anyone tried to break free from these? I've tried several times and the withdrawals are horrible. Feels like things are crawling under your skin. Is there an easier way to do this?

I quit without any problems. After my surgery I didn't need that much pain meds and we end down to lower levers then off. Maybe you should try switching to morphine and ween off that easier?

I think the issue is I have been one these for 10+ years, I have really old patches and I would think that they are so weak that this would taper me off but hasn't worked out that way.

I was only on them for about two yrs so it wasn't that hard, sorry.

i was on fentynal patches for 8 years and and was addicted to them and oxys as well as xanax and vicodin. i got off them on my own and then was hospitalized for 5 weeks after to make sure i didn't go back . My family cleaned out my house and i had nothing left. I relapsed 2x and am now 5 months clean almost . It can be done and yeah the creepy crawlies last awhile after you stop but if you don't have benzo addictions they can help you withdraw a little easier if a doctor can monitor you. In the hospital or a rehab they can help you better than on your own.
Feel free to pm me anytime if i can help.
Tams

I'm not sure if the creepy crawlies are from the Fentynal or restless leg, because it's mostly in my legs. can't sit still have to move
I'm on patches that are 4 yrs old you would think they would be such low dosage that I would practically be off the stuff. But there must be more too them or else I'm way off base as to what I'm going through.

I'm sorry, congrats on being clean, that's something to be proud of for sure.

Just did the math and actually I've been on the Fentynal for 19 years. ugggggg That might be why this is so hard to kick. It was all prescribed and not used a recreational drug. I have chronic back pain after two surgeries .

Since you've been on them for so long, it is likely that you are heavily physically dependent on them. That's not the same as an addiction since you don't abuse them, but the end result is the same - bad withdrawal. I'd talk to your prescribing Dr. about how to safely taper, and if possible get a referral to an adddictions medication specialist. Theyd be able to help you taper safely and with as little pain as possible.

Good luck.

splitimage

Thanks, I kind of felt strange by saying it was an addiction since it was prescribed. But my body is obviously addicted since I can't stop it myself.
Thanks for the info.

Hey Tracie ..

I quit Oxy after a decade and the withdrawals where much like you described. Sick, restless legs, anxiety, insomnia. I would recommend getting some help and be cautious that you could fall into a depression after the detox is finished.

The way it was described to me was that your body makes natural opaites as feel good stuff.. When you introduce opiates from the outside, you go through a period where you have nothing until your own system fires up again.. and are pretty blue..

I suffered pretty bad and needed help. It was so worth it ..

Congrats to Tamster on 5 months.. Thats awesome .. Good work

Thanks, I just thought this would be easier with using the old patches to wean myself off of them. The level is so low it doesn't show up in my blood work. But it still has an attachment to me that's hard to break. From what I've read though it had a very high addiction factor to it. Most sites suggest getting off of it with help. I just have a hard time going to a substance abuse place when I'm not abusing the drug. Use it as prescribed, just want off of it.

I'm so angry with the prescribing doctor, I asked to for help to get off the Fentynal and do something no opioid, but they were not interested. I didn't have any idea how addicting, and dangerous Fentynal is. But since I've been on them 19+ years they may not have known. I really thought that using the old patches to wean off would work. Seems like I get to a certain place then all hell breaks loose with withdrawals , could be a day after I take the patch off or maybe two days but then it's hell. It's like getting so close ......then I self medicate to try to calm the withdrawals down and I'm afraid at some point I may make a mistake with that and not have to worry about withdrawals anymore.
*sigh* I've Googled Fentynal and can't find a solution to this.

I had been prescribed fentanyl patches for a short time in between oramorph prescriptions while living in England. I found fentanyl way too hard to use for pain, because of the dips in coverage hours for relief. It goes out of your system before it should, and for those times I was prescribed another pain reliever to cover those hours (which essentially became hours of withdrawal. I also have spinal problems, and have had two surgeries to remove discs from my lumbar spine. I found that with a lot of the pain medication I've had to take, and eventually get off of, valium/diazepam was the most effective in helping me cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I never had a seizure, and I kept the sweats, restless legs, and crawling flesh to a minimum. I know diazepam has its own warnings about addiction, but to be honest, when coming of one of the kings of pain killers, it was most helpful. My script for diazepam never went beyond 10mg/day, back down to 5mg day, and now every once in a while I'll take one for a panic attack, or to relieve the tension in my lumbar spine (I don't know if your doc has told you how effective diazepam is for muscle spasms). Apart from that, when I really couldn't manage much, I had to cut the patches in smaller pieces. Have you asked your doctor if they are able to be resized and still be effective? Also, a heads up in case you don't already know....don't shower with those things on. The heat releases the medication way too fast, and you once again run out of pain coverage for the rest of the time you need help. If you ever need to chat about pain killer withdrawal, feel free to drop me a line. It's a @#$$%@%## nightmare, and it takes TIME. However, once you make it, I think you'll be quite pleased. Just don't do it without some kind of professional to talk to, and do reach out for help. Be careful coming down on doses, as if you go back up to treat panic or pain without building a tolerance again, you can really f$$k yourself. Be careful darling!!!

Thanks so much. Everything I've read says I need to do it with professional monitoring. But the doctors seem very unconcerned about it. Never thought about the shower. I have thought about being at the beach and in the sun though. Trust me never again with Fentynal unless it's a cancer thing and the end result would not be good. Thanks so much for the time you put into this. Glad you are okay now. Thanks again.