fentanyl patch 25

I just started the patch last Tuesday.  I usually take Norco 10/325 4x daily.  Doc switched cuz the norco was not lasting long enough.  Anyway, it seems that the patch works good until about the beginning of the 3rd day.  I need to call my GI tomorrow for that & other results from a blood test.  Do I tell the doc its only really lasting 2 whole days?  I'm not taking anything else with it for pain management.  The acheyness will creep right back in & then here I go again counting the time down until I'll be able to put the new patch on.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

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Dx with CD 1987, 3 resections, 3 abcess sx, OA back & hips, bulging disk, Major depression/anxiety, kidney stones & sx to remove, now 44 yrs old.  Still trying to figure this disease out & of course all the little extra complications that come with this rollarcoaster of a life with CD. 

Hi Faith,

Absolutely yes! Tell your doc exactly how it's going. Keep a pain journal with times and all. He was making an educated guess at the dosage of patch for you and your input will help him adjust. It's the only way they can get your pain well controlled.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Chutz

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Co-Mod Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Forums
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Fibromyalgia, Ulcerative Colitis, Insulin dependent diabetic, collapsed disk, dermatitis herpetiformus, osteo arthritis in spine and other locations.
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The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. Albert Einstein: (1879-1955)

I am also on the fentanyl patch and my doctor has me change it every 48 hours. She said in her experience with her pain patients she has found it only lasts about 2-1/2 days. So, definitely, talk to your doctor.

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Mochiah/a.k.a. Sue

thanks you guys, I did talk to my doc & he increased the dose to 50 but said to keep the 72 time limit.  I hope it will last.  I know he's going to be gone for the holidays, so if absolutely necessary would it be safe to change it early?  God Bless

I am prescribed the 50 mcg patch also and change it every 48 hours...so it is safe for me. If you change it more often than prescribed then you will run out of the patches, which I have been reading isn't pretty. I would try using your other breakthrough medicine rather than changing the patch early.

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Mochiah/a.k.a. Sue

I am on the 25mcg/hr, just knocked down from the 50's, and I also noticed that they don't last the full 72 hours most of the time. I originally started on the generic Fentanyl patch and then my doctor switched it to the brand name Duragesic patch and I find that I have more success with the brand name for some reason. I get fewer patches that don't last the full 72 hours. Changing the patch early wont hurt you but you will run out early and most docs are really really skeptical if you run out early and it will cause you problems when it's time for a refill, also this could cause problems with your insurance covering the med. Sometimes if I get a patch that doesn't last the whole time I will just change it earlier on the 3rd day....like in the morning instead of at night so that I'm not running out early but I do try to minimize how often I do that.

Make sure you make an appointment as soon as you can to see your doctor and discuss with him/her these issues. Do you have medication for breakthrough? If so, try and save that to use for that 1/2 day your not getting relief from your patch. Also, this is a good time to break out the ice packs. I know we aren't supposed to use heating pads on the patch b/c of the risk that your rising body temp will release too much medication (I have experienced this in the sun) but lately I have been using mine for short periods of time and at a lower temp than usual b/c I find the heating pad so much more effective than ice for those deep muscle aches.

I hope you & your doc can figure this out so that you are getting adequate relief!

 

thanks for your reply Carina.  I hope this dose will last the 72 hours, I'll have to wait & see.  I have one for ?  I noticed this patch is different from the 25 dose.  Is the gel covered when you apply it, meaning the plastic holds it in or am I putting it on wrong?  Mine seems to just pull apart & then there is a sticky side which I believe is the side to go on the skin.  Thanks. 

It sounds like you are doing it correctly. There is a palstic backing you pull off to reveal the sticky side and then stick it to your skin. I use the Bioclusive or Tagaderm overlays to help keep it on but before that I used just plain old medical tape.

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Where do you get the tagaderm?  It sure would help.  I'm using hospital tape, but, it itches a lot. Also, how did they diagnos your fibromyalia.  I had a chiroprator tell me I had it, & then a rheumatologist said no.  But, sometime I really believe I have it. God Bless

Can anyone tell me exactly what drug this patch contains.  I know its a narcotic but what kind?  Thanks

Fentanyl is in the patch.

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Diagnosed with DDD, Tarsal Tunnel, 3 Herniated discs, Arthritis in hands. Asthma, Hypertension, Diabetes.

Ohhhh, I feel stupid.  So basically fentanyl is just another name for an opiod?

Hi all!

I was given duragesic patches, first 25 then increased to 50. I found that they started to fade before it was time to switch them (72 hours)

 Also, did anyone else have a tough time getting adjusted to them either initially or if a day or so was missed? I was extremely nauseated at first and vomited a lot! I really think it was just too strong at first as I had not been on any constant pain medication.

I have recently had to stop using these due to lack of insurance, and my doctor prescribed Lortab 10/325 (cheaper without insurance) how do you figure these equate? I know it sounds like a dumb questions...but I am trying to figure this since he wrote the Lortab prescription "take two tablets three times per day" does that sound like a 50 duragesic??? (I realize this is comparing apples to oranges!!! lol)

Thanks!!!

 

I'm so frustrated!  I am now taking the 50 fentanyl patch & it seems like it doesn't work.  I mean it does a little, takes care of the hand & feet pain/acheyness, but, the neck & back pain is still there.  Also, I'm having increased leg pain.  Am I crazy or what, shouldn't this stronger dose work better?  I'm afraid to call my GI again & complain its not working, please someone give me advice what to say to the GI.  It seems like nothing works for me anymore & I can't stand the acheyness.  Today, I slept until 4pm. 

Faith,
It really sounds like you have fibromyalgia mixed in there and sometimes nothing relieves the pain. Do you have anything for breakthrough? I am sorry that you are in so much pain at this time. The weather has a lot to do with the fibro. I think I have talked to you on the fibro forum.

Let me know

hugs,

getting by

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fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, clinically depressed and allergies

The problem with pain killers (opiods) is that they make you not feel the pain, so you don't "take it easy" and hurt more after it wears off.

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Age 3 fell on my knee.  I have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in all my joints, Patellar-Femoral Syndrome, GERD, noticable breakdown in hips

You can get the TegaDerm at the drug store, they really work good. Susie

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Different brands of patches also seem to work better or worse. I've found the Mylan generic actually lasts the full 3 days. Recently, Watson pharmaceuticals was approved by the FDA to sell their version of the fentanyl patch. It must be a great deal cheaper as all of the pharmacies in my area jumped right on them. They're horrible! They dispense so quickly the first day that I'm sick due to overdosage, and by the last 36 hours, withdrawal begins. I'm going to ask one of the grocery store pharmacies if the can special order the Mylan patches for me, because the Watson's are the worst ever.

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Living in the Republic of Texas minus a gallbladder, a couple of cervical discs, appendix, uterus, and 18" of colon; but still alive and living with my husband, 2 dogs, 1 cockatiel, and 2 gold fish. 

Happy New Year everyone!  How many of you were sleeping by 12?  I went out to dinner & of course felt like crap afterwards & cancelled my plans to go to a party.  My pain & fullness (I have crohns disease) got the best of me.  I became very depressed as I sent my husband to go & have a good time.  Anyway, I had to stop the 50 patch cuz of vomitting.  My GI told me to go back on the norco 10/325.  Yes the ones that weren't helping & thats why I got the patch.  So now I'm right back were I started.  I'm so fatigued & my body hurts everwhere.  I'm going back into a deep depression.  My mind says get the heck up & enjoy life.  I try like heck & don't last long & then feel bad again.  I need to address my pain mgt with the gi again!  I feel like a pest but if this is how life is going to be.....Once again I ask for your advice on my pain mgt.  The 4x day norco just doesn't do it!  Help.  God Bless