Fentanyl Patch Withdawal?

I'm sorry for the remote area and widow info, I just meant to say that I don't have many people to talk to so I really do appreciate everyone here. - Vicky

Many people have stopped the fentanyl patches , at your current dose, and simply stopped applying any more patches with minimal difficulty, while others have had some withdrawal. The good news is that you are currently on the lowest dose, and your doctor should easily be able to provide you with either a taper plan using other oral meds in lieu of the fentanyl patch, or give you some other meds to help manage any symptoms of withdrawal if they arise .
I would strongly suggest that you contact your PM doctor for a proper tapering plan to stop the fentanyl.
Best of luck
Sandi

I wish you luck but if they help your pain I would stay on. I recently tried to do the same . I had the same feeling, I dumped a half a bottle of percocet down the toilet. After taking this for a year for fibromyalgia and rhuematoid arthritis. I thought I can do this without these pain meds. Not a good idea, I should have called the doc before and unfortunatly for me it was Easter weekend. I could not get ahold of my doctor. I suffered horribly for three days. During this time of hell I realized how bad my pain really was without the meds so whe I went back in Monday the doctor switched me to the butran patch! This has been a lifesaver. Before on the perc I still was at a pain level 5 daily. Now I am pain free with a day here in there I have to take BT meds but I finally have a quality life again. So I would talk about it with your doc before you do it....Good Lucl

Welcome to the boards...

I was also a bit confused by your posts saying that you are fine with staying on the Fentanyl but then calling it poison...

We all have to make choices for our own health care....and if you can get by with a level of 5 or so on the pain scale without taking any opiates and using a muscle relaxer here/there along with modalities of exercise, yoga/stretching, aqua therapy, eating healthy, massage, acupuncture, TENS unit, counseling, CBT....etc....

Then that would be great...No one "wants" to be on medication....But for me, I use all the other modalities every day/week/month but also require medication to keep my pain at a 5-7 on the pain scale...

But I didn't come here overnight...it's been years of slowly moving into taking opiates and starting at the lowest level possible. Even now, my PM would rather have me on a bit stronger meds because he doesn't like to see me or anyone suffer but I just feel that if my pain is chronic...then I want to stay as low as I can.

If for any reason you decide to go off the Fentanyl...you ABSOLUTELY should do this under your Dr.'s supervision. And let him know that you have this old prescription of Norcos in your home...do NOT take those without his permission/knowledge as you may be subject to a drug test and could get into trouble...

If he chooses to have you taper...he may have you use these (if he prescribed them) or use something different..

So...it's really up to you to decide here....and any Dr. that doesn't support you being off narcotics if your pain is manageable is one from which I would run away!!!

Good luck!

I don't know your dr, but I know many who cannot find a dr to script them meds, even legitimately needed ones. It might be your viewpoint on the medication itself could be coloring your idea of your dr because he's willing to prescribe them.

I understand not wanting to be on pain meds, I have horrible side effects from mine...but I have Cerebral Palsy...(a muscle imbalance in my back, my hips dislocate from their sockets, I have tendonitis, and muscle spasms pretty much everywhere). So in order for me to have a normal life...go to college...work on my career...walk my dog...take a shower and dress myself. I have to take medication, pain meds, muscle relaxers, etc. Even on all those medications I suffer from severe pain...but they give me enough relief so that I can live my life.

It sounds like you need to evaluate your life and see what's most important...are you able to do all the things you want to in life without the assistance of the fentanyl? Or are you just afraid of the withdrawls? Or is it something else you're afraid of entirely?

Honestly...if I was able to control my pain so well with such a low dose...I don't even know what I would do.

I say to each his own. Do what's best for you, be honest with your doctor, and see what he says, you may be surprised...just because he'll script meds doesnt mean he won't be happy to see you not need them. He might be really supportive and give you what you need to get off the Fentanyl safely without thinking you're weird.

Most of what's in the news about pain meds is very narrow minded and just a small piece of the whole picture...before the "pain pills" it was something else, and after them it will be something else again. I would focus more on your own personal experiences and beliefs than what you hear or read in the news. That's what I've done and it's worked for me.

Hi -
As mentioned above, I don't think any of us who take pain medication for our real horrific chronic pain really wants to be on pain meds, however the alternative is much worse. I think having an option to take something that helps even a little bit is a Godsend. I personally can't imagine not having anything to help my pain.

What you 'may' be going through is what a lot of people who take meds for depression etc. They start to feel so much better so think they don't need them, when in fact it's the medication that is helping.

I don't think if you go off of it any later it will make much difference. You're on a super low dose. If/when you do decide (w/your Dr.'s guidance) I would think that pills would help, but you're trading one for the other.

Whatever you do - I hope that you're as pain free as possible!