Withdraw! What to expect?

Your plan is admirable but too aggressive. Decrease by 20%/month, no more. Plan to be down to Norco in 5-6 months, no sooner. Yes, use benzos for anxiety & ambien for sleep. If you are violently ill, you are pulling back too fast. You should feel uncomfortable, but not sick.

This is the way my PM instructed me to do it. This was all talked about. He did say if it was too much go down on the oxy and keep the fentanyl then when I'm over that withdraw to take away the fentanyl. He's been trying to get me down on the meds for 3 months. I'm 5 months postop.if it gets to much I'll be back in his clinic. I do still have several fentanyl patches if I need them he said put it back on. He just thinks it's better to go cold turkey and be done with that. I don't know what to do?

Hi proudmom,I too have gone thru almost the same plan to stop pain meds.It was a complete failure which sent me into the hospital,and back on my pain meds.I quickly realized that I actually needed my meds after all.I applaud your wanting to get off your meds but you may also find that you need to take some form of pain meds .Please be very carefully.

It is so understandable to just want off so the idea of just jumping off all at once is appealing but a recipe for failure.

Not good for you in your condition to go through vomiting and heaving and shaking. You might do some harm. Best to do this gradually especially given the strength of the meds. Why be miserable. I do understand the desire though and wish you well. Rufous

I'm glad to hear it's going okay so far--if being miserable can ever be described as "okay." I had to go cold turkey on opiates due to suddenly occuring side effects, and it's no fun, but it sounds like you have medical support to turn to if the symptoms get too bad. My doctor said--and check with yours of course--that unlike alcohol and benzo withdrawals, opiate withdrawals aren't life-threatening in themselves. Of course, the vomiting, diarrhea, and other fun parts aren't necessarily good for someone with other health problems.

There are lots of timelines online about what to expect, and though it's obviously variable among individuals, I found they fit pretty well and helped to remind me it wouldn't last forever. Google opiate withdrawal timeline, or something like that.

After the withdrawals started, the first four days were the worst for me, like the flu with the extra bonus of restless legs the first evening and anxiety. But it gets better. Good luck, and I hope you stay in touch with your doctor about anything that seems worrisome!

Today is much worse. They are supposed to be calling in clonidine and phenagran. The diarrhea and vomiting have me hurting pretty bad in my back. A little achy all over. Nervous sweats has just started. Just keep praying I can do this.

I totally posted that before I read the comments (sorry) and I am sitting her angry and nodding my head at Vickie and Suzie's comments because FOR REAL what he suggested was unethical. 50mcg isn't even a small amount of fent. You can't just 'rip it off' and expect 'slight uncomfort'. He's out of his mind.

So he hasn't even called in the comfort meds? I would personally be calling every hour until they took care of it. Also, again, incorrect: get off patches FIRST. They are a constant and there is no way for you to drop without using a breakthrough med, without going through what you're going through right now - all over again. Sound appetizing? I promise you, lower the patch first while using your oxy and then you lower your oxy. Gotta think: what can I control the most? The oxy. So you use the oxy to support what you can't control: the fent.

Also, immodium (specifically loperamide) will make you ten times better. It's in the opiate family and can make the cold sweats simmer way down. At least they did for me.

I hope you feel okay. Eat anyway. You will feel much worse if you don't...

I'm raging right now. I called him Thursday. Then I began calling at 7 this morning even speaking to the scheduling desk bc I didn't know if the symptoms I am having are ok and for him to call me in something. I don't have any oxy bc he changed it at my refill date. I do have the fentanyl. Would it be better to just put the patch back on till the can call me in those meds. I've had trouble with the nurse doing her job and was afraid of this. Today was just the 2nd full day off everything and I know tomorrow is going get worse. My pain level is a 10!!! I'm sweating, vomiting, have uncontrollable diarrhea, shaking, and achy. I'll be freezing one minute and hot the next. I've tried walking outside to get fresh air made it to the mailbox before I had to rush back to throw up. This is nothing like I expected. He told me as long as I has 30% opiates in my system I should go through withdrawal, but that some do. I'm miserable don't know what to do. Got lomotrin tonight for diarrhea and it has slowed some but still pretty bad. I know TMI! I just feel like if I do put the patch back on I've let my husband kids and family down. I haven't slept over 2 hours at a time since this started. Please tell me what ya would do.

No I went in for my monthly refill. He changed the oxy 20mg to hydrocodone 10mg. I am drinking and taking the Imodium hourly sorry previous post I said lomotrin (athletes food med) I can't even think straight. I've had a headache all day but BP was not bad 128/89. I'm sure that is bc of pain. How long is the worst of it? I mean how many days. If tomorrow my 3rd day is the worst of it then I am just gonna try to tough it out but if I'm still looking for another 10 days then I will put it back on.

Also is a fever normal. Low Grade 100.4-100.6

I know what you're going through. We all do. IMO I would try to stick it out if your symptoms don't increase because you are getting closer to the end. If they do increase, or you feel like you may be in danger, by all means put the patch back on. Your first post stated that your doc advised you to do just that if the symptoms were more than you can handle. It doesn't mean you are a failure. You can reevaluate and adjust (with your physician's assistance) if needed. Hopefully you've made contact by now.

I also decreased my dose by 50% 2 weeks ago. It was really tough the first 3-4 days, plus I had to work, but I was pretty good by the end of the week. I noticed the difference by day 4.

I know you want to be off of it all. I know I do. Hang in there. It's hard, but you'll get there. Oh and yes, sometimes ppl will run a fever during the worst of it.

Take care

I'm on the verge of tears and having heat flashes myself just picturing what you're going through. I would do a couple of things. 1) if I had matrix patches I would immediately cut one of my 50's in half and slap that puppy on. It will take about four hours to get back into your system enough to lower the body chills and sweating but still keep you on a (still quite aggressive) taper plan. 2) instead of taking immodium once an hour I would take a high dose every six hours starting now. So if they're 2mg, I would take at least four. Drink a full glass of water and then find a shady spot out in your back yard to catch a breeze and some Vit D. Google 'loperamide for opiate withdrawl' but make sure not to go crazy and take 30 at once, there does seem to be a ceiling affect and then you're just creating one more thing to taper off of.

If you only have the old school gel patches, I personally would put the full thing back on so I was at least comfortable while waiting for the doctors office to open Monday so I could get WHAT HE PROMISED ME. There is no need to torture yourself without having a full toolbox. He did not prepare you for this one bit. That is not your fault. And if your husband truly had any idea what it felt like to be in your head right now he wouldn't give you grief for slowing this process down. And I'm sure your kids just want you safe and comfortable.

Keep us updated. Take a bath too. It tricks your brain into thinking you're not having hot flashes. But have the immodium and water before hand.....

Post Edited (AnnaBananna) : 5/30/2015 2:29:33 PM (GMT-6)

CP 101 friends who are not CPers don't count! ! CP 101 lesson #2 best not to share med information the less they know the better off you are.

Raining on your parade is not my intention and w/d can vary person to person but this is by no means over. Fent adds a entire different level of sick as well as for how long. Your not doing one med that pings off one receptor but two meds that ping off two different receptors.

Why in the world would he not use clonidine? It's not a biggy, no control, very few ever reported side effects. I truly believe some Drs put patients through this as a deterrent for ever asking for another opiate for pain.

Watch the phenergan it's a class of meds that can actually cause your RLS to be worse.

As for the pain that's naturally going to bounce back when your not treating it. Isn't pain why you were taking it in the first place? Then we/d causes body aches to boot.

I wish I could say that this is it or even next Sundays it but no one can guess how long it can take your body to rid itself of the opiates it has stored nor how long it's going to take your body to learn to function again with out the presence an levels of narcotics its grown accustomed to.

Brain fog, inability to concentrate, irrational thoughts, memory all part of this.

There are some things that trigger the release of endorphins and those trick your brain into thinking alls well and most are emotions. You actually get a temporary reprieve from w/d if you have a good cry, throw a tantrum, or take a good roll in the hay with hubby. Lol and NO I'm not kidding. Its not long but half hour of not feeling like death warmed over is better than nothing.

Distraction helps but it's got to be something not requiring you to think since you can't such as crossword puzzles but rather music via headphones.