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Need some advice getting off Fentynl

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Posted 3/21/2008 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
  Hi everyone, I am hoping someone can help me out, I have been on the Fentynl patches for about a year now, Im up to 75's, I want to get off them for a while because I am going to be getting a new job (at least I hope I am) and want to be sure no narcotics show in the drug test, just a precaution, anyway my doc gave me 2 50's and 2 25's to ween myself down and off, I am on the second 50 and am pretty miserable sad   I was hoping someone out there might have gone through this and could let me know if I stand a chance at succeeding at this doing it like I am. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks. Mark
Posted 3/21/2008 8:18 AM (GMT 0)
why get off the pain meds?! they are a legit script, with a note from your doctor you should be able to test positive and still be hired; they're just looking for ILLEGAL meds, not your legal ones!

you really should NOT have to taper off of needed pain meds just to get a job!
Posted 3/21/2008 8:55 AM (GMT 0)
Exit, I know what you are saying, you are right I shouldnt have too, and I probably dont, but I figure it is just one less reason to not hire a guy, you know?
Posted 3/21/2008 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
I would definetly not stop taking my pain meds because of a new job. You should get a letter from your doctor and bring it to your employer if your so worried about it. It should have no bearing on weather you get the job or not.
Posted 3/21/2008 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
you really need to talk with your Dr. Dont try to get off on your own . Nobody should ever do that
Posted 3/21/2008 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
They say to step down off them like you are doing... I wouldnt think 2 50s and 2 25s would be long enough of a step down..... I went from 250 to 100 and started having withdraws...very very painful withdraws..
Anyway, they say that it can give you a heart attack if you just stop taking them... I would talk with you doc. and maybe do a couple more 50s and a 2 months worth of the 25s or stay on the 25s maybe..... I dont blame you for trying to get off them.. I always try to take less than Im supposed to, but sometimes cant handle it... They gave me oxy ir for the breakthrough pain, and it has to be a pretty bad day before I break them out....
Posted 3/22/2008 9:03 AM (GMT 0)
First, I doubt I would ever stop my meds for any reason! I am prescribed them by a physician because I NEED them. These are not the illegal drugs used for recreation. Unless you will be driving or operating some heavy machinery, there really is no reason to stop. Most companies run the drug screens to determine if someone is using illicit drugs and may be more likely to steal in order to support that habit.

I also have to agree that dropping down with 2 50mcg patches and hten 2 25 mcg patches is likely not a long enough taper. You might even need to go down to 12.5 mcg patches before stopping completely. Do yourself a HUGE favor and look up the symptoms of withdrawl. If you encounter them, call your Doc ASAP. DOn't suffer through it without the appropriate medical care you need.

Good luck with the new job!
Posted 3/22/2008 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I don't want to tell you what to do, but having just gone through this myself I'd like to offer you my advice. I don't have the job experience, but I did go off my meds...

First off, unless the company has a ZERO drug policy you should be safe. And if they do have a policy that prohibits narcotic prescription medicine use, then you would have to stay off of them permanently. The only jobs I know of that don't allow use of narcotics are driving jobs and law enforcement type positions. Do you plan to stay off of them?

Now on to what I know... Back like 2 or 3 months ago I seen a neurologist who told me my Oxycodone use was the cause of my pain. In order to apease this doctor's wishes of me to stop my intake of Oxy, I came up with a "plan" to stop. I figured I would stop cold turkey, and just get it over with. So I set a date that I was going to quit, it was over a long weekend for my wife, that way she would be around to support me. On a Thursday morning I took my last Oxycontin. I was rx'd Valium and loaded up on chamomile tea so I thought I would be good. Thursday went fine.. I woke up Friday morning feeling a bit icky, but not too bad. By Friday night I was getting ill. I took some valium drank some chamomile tea and passed out asleep. I woke up at like 1am shaking and shivering yet sweating.. Saturday I realized I was in over my head and re-evaluated my situation. I decided I needed to tapper. I took some Oxy to get over the hump until I could go back to my doc on Monday. Monday comes and my GP gave me a script for percocet tabs (so I could break them in half)and a plan to do a rapid tapper. Skip to the end of my rapid tapper. I was off the Oxy and taking valium for anxiety, I had also got some advice to get clonidine. If you are going to go off it, I would get clonidine. Clonidine really takes the physical WD symptoms away, but it also takes all energy away!! OK so skip to day 3 off the Oxy... My WD symptoms were going away and what not.. I was however in SO MUCH pain I couldn't function!! My back hurt so bad I couldn't even get off the couch without wanting to cry. I was also suffering from AWFUL depression..
(this is all true, but my days might be off)

So here it is summed up:
got of Oxy--->Extreme pain and depression!
My doctor put me back on it, and said not to go off it again until I get proper DX!

So my question for you is; What are you going to do for pain control? You are on the fent patch, so you must have some pretty decent pain. And are you prepared to deal with the depression that comes with opiate dependence? I'm not being snotty or preachy, but these are the truths! Opiates are powerful and they change who we are....

If you are going to come off it I would suggest you get clonidine, and prepare for depression. You can come off it, no doubt about it... But be ready.

Good luck, and keep us posted!
Posted 3/23/2008 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies everyone, I just started the 25 now and I seem to be feeling better, body must be getting used to the smaller amount, I understand those who say I shouldnt have to get off this for a job, but we all know the real truth, if it comes between two people one on narcotics and one not we know who they would hire, so I am willing to do this for this particular job, once I do the urine test I will go back on the patch I like the ease of using it. Again thanks all who responded nice to have you all around for support :)
Posted 3/25/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)

KREF said...
Exit, I know what you are saying, you are right I shouldnt have too, and I probably dont, but I figure it is just one less reason to not hire a guy, you know?

Actually, no! That is DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES!!!

I am not kidding, or exaggerating. Employers are legally bound to disinclude your taking of legally prescribed medications unless it directly impacts your ability to safely or legally perform the job they are considering you for.

That may sound like a loophole that they could use, and they might if it is really borderline, but frankly, a positive opiate test doesn't mean much. Anybody with half a brain should know that it is quite possible to test positive for opiates and be not in the least impaired to do most types of work, or even drive!
Posted 3/25/2008 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
I do understand that employers shouldn't be able to discriminate, but hiring discrimination is the hardest type to prove. If there are other qualified candidates (and you don't know what those are), an employer can just pick someone else. So I understand Kref's concern in this tight job market. But Kref I'd also say be careful you're not committing some type of fraud. There are lots of things you sign in the fine print of employment applications, etc., and if you will need the patch or other pain meds in order to function, but hide that during the hiring process, THAT may be grounds for firing you later. As someone said earlier, what will you do to manage your pain after the hiring process? If your employer does periodic urine screens, and many do -depending on the job you're in, they could find out later. There are some rules about when they can obtain info. from tests like a drug screen - has the employment offer already been made? I'm not sure if they can demand a drug screen BEFORE an offer of employment. A lawyer would know - or maybe a web search. Because then, once the offer has been made, they can't not hire you based on a disability unless it is a BonaFide Occupational Qualification - in other words, can be shown to direclty influence the job (and this would already be in writing somewhere in their policies, not just based on hiring you). Anyway, be careful you don't shoot yourself in the foot regarding what could be perceived as dishonesty later on.
Posted 3/26/2008 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Well I guess I will have to take my chances with the test with the patches still on, I just couldnt get off of them, I guess I needed it too much to quit, even for a short time, I felt so bad on the last 25 I figured there was no way I was going to make it so I slapped a 75 back on and had my doc give me the script for it. So I guess I wasted you alls time with this question, lol, sowwy :) Thanks for all your replies though, nice to have someone care enough to take the time to respond, great bunch of folks on here, thanks again.
Posted 3/26/2008 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, I'm happy you took it easy on your body and are back on your meds. If you need them to function, you need them to funciton. How long could you do this job without them? You didn't waste anyone's time at all! I think there are plenty of people in the world faced with exactly your same dilemma when it comes to opiate therapy. Landing and keeping a job while taking narcotics is a big reason why some refuse to even take them. You made the right decision for you, and that's really what it boils down to. ANY medical treatment is such a very personal decision. Do we have surgery? Manage with meds? What meds? For how long? What treatment will best fit a patient's life? There is no cut and dry answer.

I went from 75 to 50 last year and I have never been so sick in my life. Food poisoning was a walk in the park compared to withdrawal. I know withdrawal hits everyone a bit differently as far as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea but one thing we all experience in increased blood pressure. That's why it can be dangerous to quit opiate therapy cold turkey. If you have an underlying heart/ vascular issue, that blood pressure spike just might kill you. Clonidine is a very old blood pressure medication, and is used (off label) to help withdrawal symptoms. Some county jails will administer it to inmates who are opiate addicts rather than dispensing methadone.

There are a couple of over-the-counter meds that can help take the edge of withdrawal. Sublingual vitamin B drops help with the lethargy and fuzzy thinking. Hylands pharmaceuticals makes a homeopathic remedy for restless leg syndrome (RLS) that contains quinine. The quinine helps with the feelings you get of having RLS all over your body. Even better, a hot bath works wonders for the RLS, but you obviously can't live in the tub for days at a time. Sleep is an elusive commodity where withdrawal is concerned, and melatonin can help with that. Phenergan for nausea and vomiting, immodium for diarrhea, and lots of time and suffering before you're through the worst. Just like chronic pain, withdrawal is not for the faint-of-heart.
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