I hope i spelled this right, fentanol patch? Does anyone know if the patch has the same side effects of other narcotics, like drowsiness and the relaxed feeling? Do they put the patch on the area that is in pain, like my neck, would they put it there?
Sorry for the silly question but I cant find the info online for this.
Hi! I have never been on that patch, but my sister in law has, and she was starting to get really strange thoughts, (suicidal) and she went off of them because it scared her. That is a side effect of those patches, so please be very careful!! Also, I think you just put them on your arm, and it releases the drug into your system over 72 hours (I think) It may depend on your dose.
Other than that, thats all I know.. But PLEASE keep in mind that it will make you think strange things.
My pain management dr has only suggested it as a possible option for now...I just like to get as much info as possible BEFORE I try something different. I dont like the way narcotics make me feel "too relaxed" dont want people to get wrong impression, Im not looking for a high, lol. Do you know what the dream pain med for me would be? Something that takes all pain away, with no side effects and maybe give some get up and go too. I dream a lot, what else is there to do?????
Anyway, I think I will try them next month, if she still wants to try. I cant take this, without pain meds, Ive got all I can do to get out of bed!! Funny thing is, if I lay down too much I ache too, this is a no win situation! SSOO frustrated today!
use caution when trying the patch. the fentanol patch killed my mother. it should never be prescribed to someone with breathing difficulties b/c it has been known to cause patients to go into respiratory distress. my mother's doctor prescribed it to her, knowing that she has asthma and frequent bronchitis and pneumonia. he gave it to her, and she passed away during a nap, suddenly, at the age of 51. while using the patch, we had complained to her doctor that she began sleeping at inappropriate times (during conversations) and was slurring her speech. he continued to prescribe it for her. anyway, please use extreme caution if you use this patch, and be sure to read all the possible side effects and instructions.
I just got off the fentanyl (duragesic) patch. I started off on 25mg and increased to 50mg month later. The highest dosage is 100mg. You can wear them on your arm or chest and change them every 3 days.
I felt no different from day one. They are slowly released into your body over the 3 day period. However; they should not be used unless you have used narcotic/opiod pain meds. They are 100x stronger than morphine of the same dosage. They helped somewhat for pain but did absolutely nothing when I had a flare-up so most docs will prescribe the patch and a narcotic like oxycodone for flare-ups (my doc wouldn't though). You'd better have good prescription coverage bcz they are very expensive (about $600/mth) for name brand or $350/mth for generic. If you have medicaid, they will only cover generic.
Also, I was only on them 4 mths and when I went off them, it took me over 2 weeks to get over the withdrawal symptoms. The higher the dosage, the harsher the withdrawals.
Annie,
I have not heard of these patches. But some of the feed back here makes a person wonder. I think I would check them out first. Donna did not seem to have a good result from them
I checked out those two links, they were very informative and scary too!!! Donna I am and was taking Demerol, Morphine, Percocet, and dilotted. Not at the same time, just kept trying different ones to find one suitable. Right now, I take 2 tylenol 3s a day, which are doing nothing for me! Depending on the type of pain I was experiencing would then decide the type of pain med I would be prescribed.
I'm worried that I have only been taking tylenol 3 for the last month and none for a few weeks before that, that she cant even try patch anyway? I am alos scared to say no to pain dr, I cant handle this pain much longer and if she says no to pain meds, I feel like I have no other choice. I know you must think Im crazy for taking the chance but I cant even explain the pain Ive been having. Its to the point now, where it feels like my head will explode, starting from my neck up!
I see a dr, the one who prescribed the tylenol3, on Friday....I dont know what to say to her...dr makes me feel like Im a druggie...if she would just take the time to read my chart, she would see that I used them responsibly over the last several years. I got to know my pain so well, my dr used to ask me what my pain level was and what type I needed.
Anyway, I have to go, my head is about ready to blow up, and I used my BIG TYLENOL 3 already, that dr makes me laugh.
Annie, at least your not stuck with Ibu800, and you made a good point, if the dr's would read the whole chart and see THE WHOLE person, they'd see we are not druggies. I have had the same dr for 9 yrs, (no history) and he should know.
I am still on the same ole 'same ole'. Don't tylenol 3's have codeine?? I know that when our bodies built up a resistance to pain medication, it's hard to touch the pain. It seems we are still in pain. It's strange because some days, I get used to the pain??? And then I don't???
I know you sent that letter to your doctor. Did you ever get an appt to see him to discuss your current regime of treatment and to get something stronger for pain?
Annie, I am in the same situation you are in. My pain mgt doc wouldn't prescribe the meds I've been on for over 3 years. He offered me the patch. I only took it bcz I needed something for pain. It took the edge off the pain but did nothing when I had a flare-up. Everywere I read that when you are on the patch, the doc should prescribe oxycodone (percocet, etc.) for flare-ups, but he refused.
My GP is just as bad. He told me he couldn't prescribe the Vicodin unless I stopped seeing my pain mgt and got off the patches. I did as he said, stopped using patch and went to him a couple days later, expecting to get my usual meds. I've been on Vicodin for over 3 years. Over time, my (old) pain mgt doc would increase the dosage maybe twice a year-that's it. But, eventually I was on the highest dosage possible before going on opiods. Didn't want that so stayed on Vicodin.
Anyway, sorry got off the subject. I go to my GP and he prescribes 5/500 which is the lowest dosage of vicodin. AND, instead of giving me 4x day he prescribes 2x day.
So not only did he decrease the dosage, he decreased the amt I take a day. I have done everything I know to try and explain to him, that with the pain I experience every single day, I can't go backward with my meds. I'm like you, I don't know what else to say. When I ask him to give me the same dosage I was on (and I too took them responsibly).
He also makes me feel like a druggie when I ask him to increase the dosage. I'm seeing him again Monday about my hand. Ever since I had that episode with my arm/hand, everything returned to normal, except the skin on the top part of my right arm is completely numb-can stick pins in it, doesn't have feeling. Also, in my right hand, I have no strength. I can't pick up a cup of coffee or hold anything in my hand, bcz it just drops out.
It's depressing to know we have this pain and when we try and explain to the docs, they look at us as drug seekers. Like you, if he would take the time to read my folder (which, by the way is about 8" thick bcz I'd seen my pain mgt doc for six years) he would see that I didn't just start out on the highest dosage, it took years of trying dosages and gradually over 3 years increasing. But now, the sh.. he prescribes, I take one and might as well be taking tylenol bcz it's just not strong enough to handle all the pain I feel, so (and I know I'm not really supposed to do this), I take 2 at a time which still barely helps the pain-only thing doing that is I've taken my 2x day in one dosgage when means when it runs out, I'm left in pain the rest the day and night. I need to talk to my doc and try and make him understand I would give anything not to have this pain. But I do have this pain, and I need help dealing with it. I need something that will take the pain away, so I can function half way normal during the day.
I really don't think our GP's have a clue about the pain we go thru. They have not professional training on pain, so can't understand how someone can be in pain every single day of their life. If they could understand that, perhaps they would help us. I'll find out Monday and see if he has the backbone to prescribe the right meds for me.
See if there are other options and treatment as drugs are all temporary and build resistance. I was on pain meds anti spasmodics and neuropathic pain meds plus anti inflammatories for 6 years. Now I use a Laser and electronic accupuncture,the drugs stopped helping, my husband was the same and we have no more pain with or with out drugs...I was glad for them when they worked and understand the pain can be so bad you need to do whatever you can to stop it but they don't fix anything
The original post from Annie is from Nov. 2006. I have no other comment about the patches. If my sis comes on, perhaps she would care to add to this, but may not since it's so old.
The only problem with the fentanyl patches is that they are very powerful and god forbid if your doctor stops prescribing them or your insurance stops, the withdrawal is very bad. I don't know first hand, but know of someone who that happened to.
Hi all!
Nice to see the comments, it has been a long time...this post is a few years old,,,and i decided against the patch. I didnt exactly hear a lot of good things about it.
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