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tapering off Fentyl

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/14/2016 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Once again I am trying to get off my pain meds. I tried in January and failed. My doc threw me to the wolves with no plan. At least that is how I felt. He just dropped me from Fent 25mcg to Fent 12.5 mcg. After 4 days of total heck, praying for relief, I call and ask for help. I ask for clonodine (sp). I was in my bedroom for the whole 4 days and nights in total withdrawal. No, he won't prescirbe that med. You have 2 choices. Tough it out or add another patch. (back to 25). I gave in.

Next visit I saw my np. Told her I was doing this with a fail proof plan once I had my head and body back together. This time we have a plan. We took my last 6 patches 25mcg and I did 3 for 72 hours each 3 for 84 hours each. I am normally 48 hours. After the last one I put on a 12.5mcg. I am on my 3rd one of these with hardly any problems. Also have clonodine in hand and not used a one. This has been such a better experience than the previous ones.

I don't know the next step will be though. He told me it will take about three months. Meanwhile I have a grade 2 sprain that is not getting any better. This is been going on since Easter. I am wondering maybe a stress fracture that was not showing on x rays. Some days you feel like you cant win.

Well that is all I have for now.
Posted 5/14/2016 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Have you talked to your doctor about methadone or suboxone? I know opiod addicts often use that for withdrawal so i assume it would work even if the opiods are prescribed.
Posted 5/14/2016 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't needed anything so far. Stretching out the days really made a difference. This is my third time to do this. First time was prior to getting my medtronic implant. That time was a pretty bad too. I have the clonodine if I start having problems. I just dont want to take unless it is needed. Side effects of it is lower bp. I don't want to create another problem. I have plenty.
Posted 5/14/2016 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Big, sorry to read whats been happening with you. Fentanyl is super strong & no wonder you had so much grief on your first attempt at getting off of it. Shame on your PM dr, if he is going to prescribe these medications then he needs to be educated about them & what happens when you wean off of them. You don't just stop that drug.

As for the Clonidine they usually rx the patch for withdrawals, its a 7 day patch. The oral should work if you feel you need them & they are used short term. Don't worry about the BP thing provided its a low dose it shouldn't have an impact on the BP.

As far as the above poster suggesting Methadone or Suboxone, don't go there this person is a little misinformed on those two medications. You want no part of Methadone, for one thing it should never be used short term & if you think WD's are bad from Fentanyl, you don't want to know about WD's from Methadone. Suboxone is not the way to go either, if its ever put in your medical records that you took it, no dr would ever rx pain medication to you again. Its for addicts, you are not an addict.

How is your SCS unit working for you? What is this grade 2 sprain from? Keep us posted.
Posted 5/14/2016 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Totally agree with you about the other meds that were suggested. I don't want any other problems.

I am trying to depend on my unit to control pain. Had a few adjustments with it. I hope this works. I am tired of other issues pain med has caused. (Side effects)

I twisted ankle bad with a cute pair if shoes at Easter. 😊😊
Posted 5/24/2016 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Okay, finally! I've found somebody with some issues similar to mine. This is the second post I've made on this site today, and I've just joined today. I'm a chatty person. But, I have an SCS which I don't believe is working for me. It was implanted on April 1, 2015 and after four reprogrammings, they still can't it the area where my pain is, which is the middle of my lower back. First, let me give some history.

I've got a back full of instrumentation- Harrington Rods, four other infusion surgeries with screws and other metals so there was a space of about 2 inches in my spine for the doctor to go through with the leads. In the trial, the doc was able to get one lead in on my right side and I felt no pain, but when I finally found a doctor who would put the SCS in my back, the pain never left like it did during the trial.

Anyway, so I've got a SCS that gives me maybe 20% less pain (if that) and now we're experimenting with other options. I tried methadone for one month. The last pill I took, and I not joking, the pain came back. it was the craziest thing. So, I figured that one wasn't working and I wasn't going up on it. So, we tried the fentanyl patch - have you read the directions that come with the patch? Well, I didn't until the third day, when I was changing it. Holy cow, talk about a wake-up call. There went all my fun. We had just moved to the beach! No sunbathing. I love to have wine. No alcohol. or you will DIE!

But, by the end of the month it was making a difference in my back, only I still have pain during the day if I get up and do something. And then I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

So, I went to my pain doc and I'm trying oxycodone which is no help, well, it helps for 3 hours and I'm suppose to take it every 6 hours. So, I guess I'll go back on the patch. What I want to know is this...has anyone here ever had any good results by being on the patch? And if not, then what are you on for Chronic Pain?

Thanks a bunch!
Carolyn
Posted 5/24/2016 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Carol, if you would please copy & paste your post above into a separate post. More people will see it & be able to comment. And we don't want to hijacks Big's thread. Thanks.
Posted 6/3/2016 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Well just about finished with a month of 12.5 fentyl . I have not had any real troubles . Next week start demeral . The ankle is a little better . I guess the pm and myself now know this takes a good 3 months to wean properly.
Posted 6/3/2016 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
The key to any decrease or stopping a med is in a proper taper(excluding methadone and all bets are off) if you are lucky enough to have a Dr who will work with you in planning a slow taper,adding in the correct meds to counter the physical issues of associated with withdrawal the experience is much better and more apt to succeed. .

I used clonidine both ways but of course if your stomachs acting up the patchs preferable. It does actually help with the restless legs and the stomach feeling strange,headaches and allows enough relief to sleep.

I used a butrans patch instead of going with subutex and suboxen neither of which would have made sense coming off the methadone.

Wishing you luck!
Posted 6/3/2016 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't taken the clonidine so far. Symptoms have not been severe enough.
Posted 6/3/2016 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to read you are doing ok this time & hope it continues. Its such a strong drug & it makes no sense to not taper something that a person has been on for awhile. Not all drs see it this way & for that reason this is why some people cannot get off of a medication.

Take care.
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