I haven't had an experience that bad, but I have had the actiq lollipops 400 mcg. of fentanyl and then I don't remember hardly anything that happened during that time. I fall asleep at the computer, or the t.v. and I am just beginning to fall asleep at the wheel which means it is time to quit, and if I don't quit to do them only when I am not driving. very dangerous drug and very dangerous addiction. I am doing better, but let me tell everyone as you stated above this is a horrible drug. Maybe if it is used the way it is supposed to be it is okay, but if you mess around with it for kicks you are gonna regret it. Has anyone ever noticed it helps stomach problems? That is how I got in this mess in the first place. I have cut down from 4 lollipops a day to one maybe once a day or every other day. Good luck with trying to quit. It is a very courageous thing to accomplish and I wish you well.
NAL

i overdosed on heroin laced with fentanyl. almost died from it. i know i probably deserved it since i was a drug addict and it gave me a wake up call but still. it was the fentanyl that almost killed me. i see people with these patches on their arms and think they are nuts. who the fuck invented this horrible shit and why is it even still out there when it has killed or almost killed so many people? if someone has chronic pain, there are plenty of non addicting drugs for them to take. thats all i'm saying.

Yeah, it's pretty bad. I know that fentanyl is the stongest narcotic out there - 80times more powerful than morphine and 8-10 times more powerful than heroin. It's scary how easy it is to get!
P

My sister has overdosed twice on the patches. She is prescribed (2) 200mcg patches every three days but she is taking every 2 days, (3) 80mg. oxycontin per day and (5) 10mg. oxycontin for breakthrough pain per day. This is for a disease called osteonecrosis that is painful but from other patients I have talked to does not require nearly this many narcotics after the surgeries which she has had. The last time she Overdosed was here at my parents. Nobody let me call 911 fearing she would "come to" and be mad and have her scripts removed. I am an RN and I knew better. Her breathing was shallow and 4 breaths per minute. I worked with her for 3 hours. Finally she opened her eyes. At one point she was blue and started chocking. I hate this drug. She will not admit she is addicted either. When she "came to" she said, "Oh, I just made a mistake and put my patch on too soon. Then she screamed and got on her knees begging "Don't let them take my medicine away". I once was an addict and friend THAT IS ADDICTION! She has the best denial statement I have ever heard..."I am not addicted, My body is!"

I, too, overdosed by injecting fentanyl while at work to 'get alittle energy' and I also still didnt get that I was an addict', that I had just 'used too much', that was in May 2002, then in August I finally went to treatment Yeah!!

Due to the fact that Duragesic is only prescribed for long-term, severe pain problems, patients must taper down slowly under a knowledgeable physicians care, or, enter a detox center for 24/7 treatment. With a moderate to severe addiction from relatively long term use, an in patient detox in a hospital or medical supervised setting is highly recommended for its multi- disciplinary approach. Dependence resulting from even a few weeks of regular use can usually be handled under a physicians supervision with minimal discomfort. Fentanyl Treatment will ultimately depend on the degree of addiction.

Be sure to check http://www.drugabusehelp.com/drugs/fentanyl/
There is some good info on fentanyl abuse there

I was first introduced to the drug fentanyl when my pc referred me to a pain specialist for severe chronic migraine headaches. I was put on fentanyl lollipops. The highest dose, 1600 mcg. Crazy!! Well as I got used to it I needed more and more of them and my doctor handed them out to me like candy. Before I knew I was a drug addict and was having a terrible time. I was using more than I was supposed to and if I ran out early he would just give me more. One day I realized this drug was running my life and I wanted it back. I found a new doctor to help me get off of it. I could not go to inpatient detox because I couldn't afford it so the doc and I worked on weaning me down slowly. I had been taking this horrible drug for a little over7 years. Well it took a total of 16 months to wean me off of the drug. I am proud to say that I am 7 days sober, the worst of the withdrawals are past and I already feel so much better, like I can think clearly again, FINALLY!!!! It was a very long road but I am so thankful to my doctor for his help and patience with me. You can escape this drug once it has ahold of you. Have faith in yourself. We can do anything we put our minds to but of course you really have to have the desire to rid yourself of this awful drug. It may take a while to get off of it but as I did just hang in there,you can do it!!!!!

My sister died at age 35 from Fentanyl patches. My dad is the one who found her and he was never the same again. She was living with him because she had no friends or possessions left. So sad for the addict and the family.

Dear tammib,
I am sincerely very sorry about what happened to your sister. It is such ashame that a medication prescribed to supposedly help people ends up hurting so many and their families.

I was in a bad accident in Iraq while serving in the Army I have been takking 600 morphine pills a month and a 75 mcg Fentanyl pain patch since 2004. I have taken myself off all medications almost 2 weeks ago and have been going through hell since does anyone know how long the withdrawls last?

usarmy! Thankyou for serving your country!

It's not a good idea to quit any narcotic medications, cold turkey! You could go into seizures!

A safe, medically supervised detox is the best way to go. You can do so by going to the ER or by having your pcp refer you but the ER is the quickest way to get admitted to detox. Especially, if you are still suffering from withdrawals.

Most recovering addicts can handle the physical withdrawals but the mental and emotional withdrawals may linger on for some time. Thats where your support system comes in handy. You can find that support at your local NA or AA meeting. I threw AA in there because many addicts like the AA meetings better. My AA home group has alot of drug addicts and dual drug and alcohol addicts in attendance much of the time.

Let your doctor in on what you are doing because if you are suffering from the severe depression (feelings of loss and isolation), like most addicts in recovery, he can prescribe antidepressant medication to help you through it.

Good luck on your road to recovery and keep us posted! We care!

God Bless!