[Marcus]

I have been taking the the fent patch for alittle over 2 months for chronic pain. I have a disorder that causes great pain in the joints and the doctors have no clue. All my blood results come back normal except for the sed-rate which is 80 when the normal person runs about a 25. I've been sick since i'm 6 and now 25. I took the patch off on thursday..I know a stupid move..Just wanted to know how long the withdrawl will last. I was taking the 100mcg strength..and almost on day 5. if anyone has any info I would be greatful. I feel like I'm loseing my mind...::sighs:::

Marcus

[nutkitten]

Since you have been on the patch an extremely short period of time, things may go ok, but please remember, whenever taking any narcotic, especially one as stong as fentanyl, (100 mcg is a large dose!) never stop cold turkey or without your doctor's supervision. Withdrawls can be very severe, even fatal! So please, always check with your doctor first.

I also am on the fentanyl patch (75 mcg) for about 2 1/2 years now, I would never just 'stop taking it'! Just the idea scares the ******** out of me.

Take care.

[spammy82]

Earlier, someone posted that withdrawal from narcotic pain meds can be fatal. That is not true, although it IS true for other things like alcohol and benzodiazipans. Although extremely uncomfortable, withdrawing from the fentanyl patch is not fatal. It's a fact, look it up if you desire.

I have a spinal cord injury and have been dealing with terrible pain ever since. I have been on a number of narcotics including methadone and oxycontin. Right now I am on the generic fentanyl patch @ 75uG along with 150mg of Lyrica, an awesome med for neuropathic pain.


Here are some suggestions... This has gotten me through some rough withdrawals: Benadrly or Diphenhydramine. This medication in some way affects the acetylcholine levels in the brain and will help with the restlessness, the anticholerginic effects will also help with the sweats. It took more than the suggested dose for me to feel any effects, but I have been taking benadryl for years for allergies. Never exceed the dosage if you are taking a preparation of benadryl and parcetamol (Tylenol PM) as the Tylenol can be toxic at high dosages... You can, however, exceed the recommended dosage of plain benadryl by quite a bit safely, but you may get some wierd side-affects. I suggest taking 2 or 3 to start out with before bed when you are starting to "get the shakes".

There are also some non-narcotic prescription options as well if you want to stop cold turkey.

Stepping down is a good idea with fentanyl because the med is lipophilic, meaning it stores in your fat and will take longer to detox from than other opioids.

If you have generic Mylan patches, not the true duragesic which are different, you can cut the patches down as the drug is simply mixed with the adhesive. True Durageisc brand patches have a reservoir where the drug is stored and cannot be cut.


Hope this helps, you can email me at sengwall@niu.edu if you have any questions.


***I am not a Medical Doctor. Always check with your physician before changing, starting or stopping any medications.***

[Chaoticangel42]

It will get better!! I am 3 weeks off and feeling a whole lot better. I am still experiecing hot & cold flashes and tearing of the eyes......but that is sooooo minute compaired to what I went through that first week.
The first week, I was pretty much in fetal position or vomiting the majority of the time, the second week, I was just really weak and still having diarrhea severly. Now....I am almost back to normal, I am still somewhat emotional, especially irritable more than usual, but those symptoms are going away. I sooo feel for you brother....just hang in there though, you are done with the worst part already!!!
Your detoxin buddy........Paula

[nilestheninja]

Hey guys, I am new to this site and suffer greatly from back pain and all of the other unpleasantries that accompany chronic spinal pain. I had a Laminectomy, Discectomy, and a Facetecomy back in Feb 2007. Things are probably worse now than the were, although I am not working anymore which allows for less stress physically. I am taking Norco 10/325; supposed to take like 7/day but often take more as they wear off so fast and the pain makes me unable to "live my life" in a quality way. I have a young child that I love to be with and do not want to spend the rest of my life in bed wincing in pain. It seems obvious to me that the Norco has too short of a half life, and that I need something for breakthrough pain. I have been suggested Morphine and Methadone by various physicians over the past few years, but I am so afraid. I am already so dependent on the Norco, where do you go from there? I don't want to make my situation worse, but I definitely need something strong with a longer half life. I don't want something that will drastically alter who I am (the Norco is almost something I am immune to side effect wise, no "buzz" or exhaustion, etc), dr says thats cuz I am in so much pain and have a tolerance. What's a girl to do? I lost feeing in the rt leg last week and fell down stairs in public, and the ER dr said even on an Xra they can see "bone on bone" at L5/S1. Am I crazy to ask for something more, or to ask for something for breakthrough pain? What works best with the least evil, long-term effects? I am super grateful for any info you can offer, thanks! Take Care!

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by nilestheninja

Hey guys, I am new to this site and suffer greatly from back pain and all of the other unpleasantries that accompany chronic spinal pain. I had a Laminectomy, Discectomy, and a Facetecomy back in Feb 2007. Things are probably worse now than the were, although I am not working anymore which allows for less stress physically. I am taking Norco 10/325; supposed to take like 7/day but often take more as they wear off so fast and the pain makes me unable to "live my life" in a quality way. I have a young child that I love to be with and do not want to spend the rest of my life in bed wincing in pain. It seems obvious to me that the Norco has too short of a half life, and that I need something for breakthrough pain. I have been suggested Morphine and Methadone by various physicians over the past few years, but I am so afraid. I am already so dependent on the Norco, where do you go from there? I don't want to make my situation worse, but I definitely need something strong with a longer half life. I don't want something that will drastically alter who I am (the Norco is almost something I am immune to side effect wise, no "buzz" or exhaustion, etc), dr says thats cuz I am in so much pain and have a tolerance. What's a girl to do? I lost feeing in the rt leg last week and fell down stairs in public, and the ER dr said even on an Xra they can see "bone on bone" at L5/S1. Am I crazy to ask for something more, or to ask for something for breakthrough pain? What works best with the least evil, long-term effects? I am super grateful for any info you can offer, thanks! Take Care!

Sorry you've had to do all the back surgery. These are surgeries with a fairly good success ratio, but having had a bunch of sports injury related surgeries I know they don't always end up with results like what we had hoped for. Pain is often the end result for us. I remember after one knee surgery that for two years my right knee hurt worse than prior to the surgery. It finally recovered but it was painful and took a long time even with rehab and working it hard. Point is that these surgeries often leave us with a lot of extra pain to work through besides the original pain.

There are lots of RX choices. The Norco you are taking is not a really strong pain medication. Its very unusual for a dr to suggest transitioning directly from Norco to Methadone. There are lots of medications in between that would probably work just fine for you. I don't know if you need to go with an extended release med just yet or not, but a stronger med than you are currently taking is a possibility. Who knows you may need Methadone. It just seems like too big of a jump to me. There are all different strength opiate pain meds, lots of things the dr could prescribe ... its a very long list. He/she may decide to put you on something like Oxycontin that is time released. You need to discuss this with the dr to choose the specific med.

As far as taking something for breakthrough pain, that is what you are taking pretty much now. A med for breakthrough pain is just a fast acting opiate ... hydrocodone, oxycodone are the most common. Norco is hydrocodone, but hydro comes in lots of doses. The patient would commonly be taking an extended release med like oxycontin or fentynal patches for a maintenance drug and a fast acting med like percocet for breakthrough pain.

All drugs have side effects, short and long term. The fast acting opiate meds normally have acetaminophen, or apap, which can be detrimental to your liver. We have to keep our daily consumption of apap down to less than 4000mg in any 24 hour period. Over 4000mg is a toxic amount for the liver. It normally takes a few years to do serious damage, but some of us are affected in a shorter period. The liver is resilient and can come back fine from abuse. A simple CBC blood test will give the liver count.

I don't think you are crazy at all to ask for whatever makes you more comfortable. I know you realize the potentially serious situation you are in though, just like you asked about the side effects. When we have chronic pain, and its something that isn't likely going to stop soon, we should try every possible avenue available prior to depending strictly on meds to help with the pain. Sometimes we can take less meds if we are doing some type of physical therapy, even if its just exercise at our own home or walking a couple times a day. If you need the meds take them, don't deprive yourself or your child. Just take care and be cautious. Good luck and God bless.

[lanimal12]

It is actually true that fentanyl withdrawls can and have been fatal before. Although it is not common it can be fatal you can look at http://www.kerrysteigerwalt.com/publ...ylpatches.html, to see for yourself that most labels include this message: While too little of the drug produces extremely uncomfortable but rarely fatal withdrawal symptoms, too much of the drug produces fatal fentanyl overdoses.

So you can see that yes it is fatal to all of a sudden stop cold turkey with fentanyl.
please do not tell people it isn't, that is not fair to those who may believe you and then what chances do they have when they think it is ok?

I am not a doctor but I know many doctors and my mother is a medical transcriptionist, which does not make her an expert but it does mkae her more qualified than me and she said it can be fatal aswell as my primary Dr. and my neuro and PM Dr.. so don't take my word for it but ask someone qualified to give you a correct answer and never under any circumstances quit cold turkey any NARCOTIC!! it is just insane.

[Robert_325]

While it can be fatal in some instances to cold turkey off a few drugs saying that no one should ever cold turkey detox off any narcotic is a bit paranoid. Saying to never quit narcotics cold turkey is just not correct information. That is a fact.

[lanimal12]

bytheway benadryl does help with withdrawls and it is safe to take at most 24 in a day but I would recommend only when the withdrawals are to great.

question I have been on fentanyl now for 1 year and would like to come off everything but the pain is unbelievable. I has surgery in september on 2 herniated discs, one which was causing stenosis, which is nerve pain due to a pinched or completely blocked nerve. my whole right leg was numb and painful daily. the surgery was a success and my right leg pain and numbness went away but my lower back pain was still there and even worse than before now it is less than 3 months later and my leg pain is coming back on and off. I am married with a 20 month old and I want to enjoy life stay married play with my kids and such, but being constantly on meds that change who one is don't make any of that easy. is it ok to come off all my meds and deal with the pain? Has anyone had experience with that? or is it not worth it and I should just find a way to deal with the meds? Any experience let alone hel p with this would be great. I DON'T want to become more toleraNT THAN i ALREADY AM AND i DON'T WANT TO become addicted and worry constantly about withdrawl from it. What should I do?

[lanimal12]

telling someone to never quit cold turkey any narcotic is my opinion and the great thing about opinions is they are never wrong. try reading it again and trying to understand the context implied. It was a reply about how dangerous withdrawl can be from fentanyl. it is insane to stop cold turkey any narcotic because of the withdrawl symptoms involved not because it can be fatal. who would in their right mind want to suffer withdrawl symptoms? so yes it is insane to stop cold turkey any NARC. and no it is not incorrect. but if you think you are right prove to me it is wrong show me why that statement is incorrect and sight atleast 5 reputable links I can go to that will prove to me that that info is incorrect, or in the future don't correct someone if you don't have the credentials to back it up!