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MedHelp Member's Question

Help please..Doc switched me to the patch

by Linco, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
Hi all and thanks so much for your help in the past.  I don't post very much but I'm totally confused this time.  I was trying to taper off about six 7.5 vikes per day without much success.  The worst part was the nights.  I would wake up with the runs, horrible anxiety in the pit of my gut and to make it all worse, I experienced vivid and very disturbing nightmares.  My MD has switched me to the 25 mcg fentanyl patch and 3 vikes for breakthrough pain (chronic osteoarthritis) Next month we'll reduce to two supplemental tabs, then one, etc.  I don't feel great--no high--but the sleeping has improved dramatically.  I can even fall back asleep without additional "help".  What I worry about is the possibility that I'm taking even more opiate medication than

before.  My research hasn't  really given me any definitive answers.  If anyone has had a similar experience, I would really appreciate some input.  THANK YOU!!!!

Linda
Member Comments (46)

by mrmichael67, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
The 25ug/hr patch is equal to 22.5mg to 67mg of oxycodone.  That is the thing with the patches.  There is a swing in dose as everyone is different and get the drug from the patch at a different rate due to how they absorb the drug.  Not everyone is as effecient as the other.  That is about what you want to go with as oxy and hydro are relatively equipotent.  You would have been better staying with the hydro.  I don't think the patch was a good idea.

by mrmichael67, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: vettezr1
I just wanted to say that if you were to talk to me, you would be very surprised.  I am writing hypothetically here.  I am the opposite of serious.  I am just to the point here.  Sorry.

by vettezr1, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: mrmichael67
Mike, Truce I did not mean to take one last poke really. I have to be serious all damn day and deal with this stinking pain as well and I know you do too; I just blow off some steam. It’s hard to convey a sense of humor in written words I did not mean to offend you. I don’t relate to the addicts and I have no friends that are in pain they are all dead really. I may be an engineer computer geek and work with all engineers but I am also an Extreme sports nut I race MotoX and SnoX and a bunch of other crazy stuff. I am stuck working with weeners all day so my sense of humor is off sometimes. You have an incredible knowledge of pharmacological issues I find interesting and informative.  

So at the risk of being redundant I did not mean to offend. Enough said.

  

by steve1981, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: linco
Hey, I have those nightmares too during withdrawals.  One time I was awake and dreaming at the same time.  I won't go into the details, but it scared the F--- out of me!  I know where you're coming from!!!

by Duragesic idiot, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
I know a little about the patch as I am on them myself, the conversion charts I have read says that 100mcg/hr is equal to 600mg of hydro/day.  In your case that of course would be 200mg/day or 40 of the 5mg's or 20 of the norco 10mg's.  That would obviously be a step up for you.  The peak effects don't hit until 24-48hrs so your sleep may get even better!  I'm just afraid that when you go to detox, you have place a much bigger monkey on your back.  If you want the conversion tables, here are the two links you have to do two to get the hydro calculation, you will see what I mean...

http://www.globalrph.com/narcotic.cgi

http://www.globalrph.com/fent.cgi



PS both those links have ALOT of dosage info, very interesting readint to know what comperable does you are taking



Good luck,

Duragesic Idiot

by whatitistoburn, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: Vette
Hi Vette,



I'm a CP patient too. Today was the first day since I got clean that I woke up with pain from head to toe. I was unable to move all day. Wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle the CP because I hadn't felt anything unbearable until today. My thoughts, were exercise, more exercise, yoga, breathing technique's, an even more natural diet, etc. Today was a total drag, but I am so determinded to remain drug free, I just had to go with it, and lay flat on my back all day. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with another day like this one, as my doc didn't want me to go off the drugs in the first place. I was put on high doses of Neurontin, but that can be pretty begnin for severe pain. Don't ever want to go into the drug hell again. I'd rather be alive with pain, than dead on drugs. Today sure put me to the test though.



How are you doing it/dealing with it? Any thoughts/suggestions would be welcome.



Hope you're having a good one.



Burn

by mystere, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: Burn/Everyone
It seems my pain came back with a vengence this time too!  It's not enough we have to worry about all of the mind games we play with ourselves but you're right the "pain thing" really drags you down--I had neck surgery several years ago (bone graft from hip to replace ruptured discs)--well the "grafts" didn't take and I've been told another surgery could be in my future--Advil used to pretty much keep the pain in check at least to where I could function normally--but these last two days have been rough--I am 17 days post hydro-hell--I know that things will eventually settle down and the Advil will once agin do its job--but hon I can relate to what you are going through--We have to believe that things WILL get better--I know that part of it is my poor run down body is trying to adjust being without the hydro's--I am sooo glad I cancelled an appointment with a pain mangement specialist because the way I physically feel I probably would have taken a rx if it was offered! I know tomorrow I will be damn glad that I'll be looking at day 18 out of hydro-hell--As bad as the pain is, it is nothing like the pain of withdrawals--so I'll stay the course--use this wonderful web sight as a source of inspiration--Take care Burn--We WILL feel better tomorrow!--I'll keep you in my prayers--Mystere/ AKA N.O. Lady



Anne

by mrmichael67, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
I just used that converter and I came up with the 25ug/hr patch being equivalent to about 75mg of hydro a day.  Instead of going from fentanyl to hydro, go from hydro to fentanyl.  If you do that, you will come up with 0.25mg of fentanyl which is 25ug.  I use this one:  http://www.globalrph.com/narcotic.htm which lays it out easier, but the converter gives a more exact number.  Just keep in mind with the patch and people's differing capacity to absorb it, the number can vary.  The converter gives the oxycodone dose at about 50mg.  But, the number does swing widely.

by mrmichael67, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
By the way, I am right there with whoever on the pain deal for the last five days.  Absolutely miserable.  I am working again, so I think that is contributing.

by whatitistoburn, May 07, 2003 12:00AM
To: Anne,Mr...
It's good to be not all alone in situations, but wish it weren't this one. I feel like I have been hit like a Mac Truck, and then beat about the head with a baseball bat. What's the deal with all of us?



Anne, thanks for being so supportive, and for reminding me tommorw will be another day clean no matter what.



Burn

by bigmistake, May 08, 2003 12:00AM
I have not posted in so long -- I guess because there seems little sense in describing my daily torture so everyone can read it and relate.  No one can really benefit from what I have to say because I definitely do NOT have any answers...I am still struggling and would love to be able to say that I got thru just ONE DAY without a pain killer.  I can't sleep because I am so stressed out about the direction my life is going in.  I think about how much my personality has changed since I've become addicted -- I used to be outgoing, social and enjoy hanging out with friends and family....I don't ever want to leave the house now.  And when I do go anywhere, I am so quiet and lame that I feel embarrassed -- that's because I am so f*!ked up that if I did open my mouth nothing normal would come out!!!  My therapist wants me to go to rehab -- I keep telling her that I can do this on my own, but it's not looking good.  I just feel like going to rehab would be failing -- I feel like I should have the strength to just STOP EATING THESE PILLS.  But if I don't take any, I am not even capable of getting out of bed...in fact, if I don't take any pk, even lying in bed hurts.  This blows.