Detoxing from Fentynal, anyone tried this?

I've been on Fentynal for a long time and I tried to get off of it earlier and it was bad, the withdrawal symptoms. I thought I was going to have a heart attack and go crazy with they feeling of something crawling under your skin all over your body. I'm still working on it though.
Just wondering if anyone else had tried and have some good tips for it.

Hi Trace, I have needed long-term pain medication, too. Years now. Mine is morphine. I have cut back 1/3 by going very slowly. Fentanyl is different and may be more difficult to titrate. I hope you have the help of the prescribing doctor? Some doctors prescribe clonidine or a similar drug when someone is withdrawing off of opioids (or alcohol).

Easy does it.

(((((TRACE )))))


WC

well the doctors were not willing to help for some reason, though the VA did offer to send me to a drug rehab program 40 miles away, out patient. Not going to happen. My last drug test came back negative for everything so I think I'm getting close to being done with it. I didn't wear a patch for about a day and a half and the "creepy crawlies" came on to where I couldn't sleep or sit still, it drives you crazy. So I put another old patch on and in about two hours the symptoms started easing up. It's just going to take some time I guess. Though the pain is getting worse, but I would rather try some non narcotic relief. Thanks for the response back.

I was on fentanyl, morphines and these other patches for a few years. After I had back surgery I was able to wean off cause the surgery fixed the problem. My pain med doc was weaning me down but not fast enough for me, I wanted off the meds and went down too fast. She was giving smaller and smaller patches but I was only wearing them for a short time, ands paceing out the time inbetween patches too. Had trouble sleeping, lost control of both bowls and bladder....would not recommend anyone else try that.

Wow, did you get the bladder and bowel control back? I was placed on them after the back surgery, then re-injury to my back. If I had only known how bad these things were to begin with I would have never started them. Thanks so much for your input and I hope you are doing okay now.

Yeah, it's fine now. Because I went off so quick it was hard on my body which was already in shock from the assault of surgery. I went into a severe depression that last all most two yrs before I got some help, I have a history of bipolar but pretty sure this depression was caused by the quick withdrawal. I holded up in my apartment and didn't communicate with anyone. Ran out of food, quit therapy, total isolation. I finally said something here on PC and everyone urged me to get help. It took another 6 months. But yeah, I'm fine now although that period of time haunts me.

I'm glad you are better and very proud of you for seeking help. We all need help at certain times. It's wonderful that you are here at PC to help others through your own experiences. Thanks again for sharing your story and wisdom.

Wow. I don't understand doctors reticence to help you with tapering off the pain med.

I am sorry you've had a negative experience with pain meds.

I have had a good experience. I had tried many different pain meds and chose one that was effective, but not mind-altering for me. I have stayed with low doses, augmenting with other types of meds (adding an anti-inflammatory or a topical, etc.)

the withdrawals can be tough. I get very sick within 4-6 hours if I have missed a dose.

Take it slowly.


WC

I'm trying. My last drug test recently showed negative on all substances. So the levels must be lowering below the cut off level. My previous drug test said my Benzo level was almost at OD level. That's a little suspicious to me how they could change that much without changing the medications.