Chronic pain from Hydrocodone to Duragesic patch

[Hippiealways]

Due to chronic pain I was put on Hydrocodone (Loritab 750)  I  was prescribed 2 a day 500mg to start then 2 a day 750 up to 3 a day all in a 2 year period.  Just recently because of my drs concern for the tylenol affect to my liver I now use the Duragesic Patch 50 mg which has been such a relief...I am able to do almost anything without worrying about the pain I will feel tomorrow.  The dr was happy to give me the patch and I am happy to have it.  What is this doing to me physically...he even remarked that my dosage would be upped as my tolerance needed it. I expect to be on medically supervised narcotic pain relievers for the rest of my life.  Having no side affects now and  several people have commented 'if you are in chronic pain the medication goes to the pain and not to form an addiction' this doesn't sound possible to me...appreciate your opinion on this.  Thank you

[Witchywoman]

I'm very glad to hear that you've found something that will help give you good pain relief. That is very important to one's quality of life.

When people say that if you take pain meds for chronic pain you won't get addicted, that is a misleading statement.

If by "addicted" you mean most chronic pain patients don't abuse the medication, that tends to be true.

But anyone who takes narcotics round the clock long term will develop physical dependance on the medication.  This means that if you suddenly stop the medication, a syndrome of withdrawal symptoms will occur.  That is just what physically happens, regardless of the reasons or motivation for taking the medication.

Physical dependance is not the same thing as mental addiction though.  Some folks are able to take narcotics for pain, appropriately and as prescribed, without ever abusing them.

hope that helps answer your question!

WW

[Hippiealways]

Thanks WW ~ I take it all under doctors orders and do just like they say...my mixing drugs to get a buzz days are over.  Thanks for your response. I appreciate it...Hippiealways

[Metalback]

Good name.I too have chronic pain going on 30 of my 44 years. Early on the docs wouldn't give opiates for pain except for broken bones and surgery. But the pendulum has swung back. I have some questions for you. Did you abuse a lot of opiates before you got medical care? I ask because I did. I was finally put on Vicodin, which got rid of 20 minutes of pain per dose. Then I was switched to MSContin and then to Methadone. I have hit points of tolerance and have taken an extra pill only to get myself in trouble. I don't anymore for I finally learned my lesson. Tell me about the patch, would you. Where is it in the realm of strength? Have you had an increase? Sometimes I think the control should be taken out of my hands. I told my doc that she had to take control of my corticosteroids. I was worse with them than opiates and they don't give you a buzz, they will just kill you.
Metalback

[butterbeans]

Hi, I too would like to know about this patch you use for pain.  I take more than my perscribed dose and then run out of pills.  I would like to put this in somebody else's hands.  How does the patch work, is it a narcotic, etc.  Thanks!
Butterbeans

[ssfr]

patch info:

duragesic (fentanyl transdermal system) as far as i know they come in 3 strengths- 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 fentanyl-
delivery is described on the box as "in vivo delivery of 25 ug/h fentanyl for 72  hours"- this is obviously a chemistry term but i am not sure what it means scientifically-
what i do know is from my own experience- i was placed on the patch for 3-4 months (i still have the old box that i was copying info from) the patch was taken away from me coz of an errant random urine test in which the doc found something else that wasnt supposed to be there- anyway- the fentanyl is supposed to be a real strong narcotic- you wear the patch for 72 hours or 3 days- the boxes come in packages of 5 patches each- and they are expensive- even with pretty good insurance- i paid approx 30 bucks - according to the doc they are very effective pain relievers, but i noticed that i still had a lot of breakthrough pain when i used them- you do not get high off of them used as directed- but there are ways to get high off of them- the doc also told me he uses them to wean his patients off of narcotics-  the idea being that at the lowest dosage- (2.5) allows an addict to detox down from a much higher dosage of some other narcotic and ultimately reduces withdrawals- it definitely has the advantage of a constant flow of pain meds- and since you do not get high when used as directed- their abuse potential is somewhat less-
hope this info helps

[butterbeans]

Thank you for th patch info.   I am going to ask my doc for me to try it.  It sounds like something that may take care of my pain, but, not get me high.  For everyone out there who is wondering , thinking, what is my New Year going to be like.  Choose one goal at a time and work on it.  Let the other  be there, but, the hardest one is the one you should work on.  Don't expect miracles, only true happiness of oneself.  I love all of you.
Love Butterbeans

[T.Bear]

This is some info on the Duragelsic patch: first it is a class 2 narcotic(which is the strongest legal narcotic there is) it is highly expensive I am on the 75 mg. patch and it is 370.00 per. month(that is 10 patches) They are highly effective in controlling withdrawl symptoms and controlling chronic pain.Quitting taking pain killers is the hardest thing I have ever attempted, this is my second shot at it and I have to make it this time. As for the expensive part if you weigh out what you would spend on drugs on the street to me the money is well worth it . I am spending alot for the patches but, I still am not spending as much as I was on pills. If you have any other questions on these patches please feel free to ask if I can help and answer I will ... T. Bear

[Telby]

I am trying to get through oxycontin withdrawls by wearing a patch.  I am learning from others how addictive fentinyl is and now I don' know if I'm doing the right thing.  I wore the 50mg. for over 72 hours and now I am feeling some withdrawl symptoms. I think the further away I get from the oxycontin the better my chances but maybe I'm fooling myself.  Thinking about going to a lower dosage and then being done.  OC withdrawls are so hard I was hoping I could taper down with the patch.  Any thoughts or insights will be appreciated.  love, Telby

[T.Bear]

Telby, These patches are highly addictive as I stated earlier they are a class 2 Narcotic.I was told by my doctor that it would probably take me a year to come off of lorcet 10/650 then he would begin to lower the dose of duralgesic until I was off of it also. I will try to find out more information for you if you wish... Good luck in this fight that has been set before you

[rocky road]

greetings to all pain warriors!needless to say i,ve seen it all like many of you.i've been every where from sissy hydrocodone to the 4 mg dilauded/hydromorphone taking up to 15 pills a day.what i can tell you is this if your pain doc is willing to give the duragesic patches a try, go for it.if you are also taking some sort of other opiates in pill form,stop taking them now!.

if you are opiate tolerant, and have been on these nasty meds for 6or more months, you will probably be given the 50ug/h fentanyl patch/duragesic.you will be very happy to see that you will no longer reqiure the pills anymore, you will probably not sleep all day/nite, you will! be able to attempt to live your life again.a little trick i use to help with the sudden breakthrough pain, and when being on the patch and no opiate pills, is to take something like aleve/naproxyn.the reason this will work is simple, you already have the narcotic in your system working on your perception of pain and threshold to the same, now by taking the naproxyn/aleve or something with the same type of result, acetaminaphen, ibruprophen, ect this will give you a true pain reliever along with the narcotic.ask your doc i'm sure if he/she has half a brain, the will jump at switching you from pills to patches.from my past, i think anything over the 50 ug/h patch is to much and you may see some negative side effects you most likely will not see by staying with the  25 or 50 ug/h patch.

anyway, have the courage to fight and make that change on your own. you WILL NOT! get to where you want want to be in life as the same is true for these getting off or down to a functioning level on these wicked meds.

so long, and watch that rocky road! if  you have any questions ask, unfortunately i did have a doctor with half a brain!

[Confused Canuck]

First, I'm a novice at the internet.  Please be patient. I am looking for assistance given my very limited research ability.

My story is simple.  I was in a motor vehicle accident while on military duty.  I now suffer from chronic pain and no long meet the universal terms of service required of a soldier.  I have been medically released and am trying to adjust into civilian life.  Seeking medical assistance is now an urgent requirement.

I had been prescibed Tylenol 3's,and their effectiveness was OK provided I took about 10/day.  I was then prescribed the Fentanol (smallest) dose patch.  It worked but my spouse said it me even more unpleasant than I already was.  Comments by the Dr appeared to indicate that I was addicted to the 'heavy artillery' narcotic so I 'turned' them in.

I was then prescribed codeine phosphate but I don't think it works worth ****, excuse me.

Can someone plse give me some thoughts on how a person should consider in moving towards a solution for the pain relief?  Is there a progression that should be a reasonable procedure?
Thanks for anyone who replies.  Currently I feel as successful as a ***** in a church.

[skipper]

confused canuck:
welcome to the forum. for someone new to the web (internet) you
have managed to land in a place that may have exactly what you
want/need.

first of all a suggestion. try posting as close to the beginning
(top) as you can. don't worry about going in under a unrelated
question, as this is done on a frequent basis.

i've used drugs since i was 14 years old. i'm going to be 51 this
year. in the late 70's i took what turned out to be a 17 year
break. several years back  i started having trouble with an old
neck injury. 2 surgerys later the doctor told me nothing more
could be done and refered me to a pain clinic for the intractable
pain i expierence. 20 years ago i would have been overcome with
joy. every month i come from the pain clinic with a huge Rx of
oxycontin. i'm not quite as happy today as i would have been 20
years ago. the important thing here is i may never have the life
i used to have, but i still can have a life of some sort.

perhaps you should look into a pain clinic. i don't want to sound
like i advocate the use of drugs, but i know how bad things can
get for someone in constant pain.

this forum is full of many people who have expierenced a lot of
the same things as you are going thru. i look forward to seeing
you post again, as i am sure everyone else is.

kip

[SuPaul]

I am writing for my husband who is addicted to Norco< I don't believe he gets high from it although he admits that he gets a better feeling sometimes when they take affect. He is taking 12 to 14 a day, before(3yrs ago) our doctor had him taking Ultram which at the time was described as the non narcotic non addictive great pain killer. Obviosly we found out this was not the case. His pain is the result of breaking most the bones in his body 27 years ago. I guess seeing him start withdrawl today made me look to see what I could learn.......not on the internet much but after reading what some of you have written I realize how many others are on the high doses and living with chronic pain helped me understand. By the way he also tried oxycontin and found that at the recommended dosage (2 per day) they were not as effective, with more side effects.

[greebs]

Hi, I am new to the forum. So here goes. I was diagnosed with Parsonage Turner Syndrome in October. I was in the ER with severe pain, and the doc gave me a mega dose of Morphine IV. Anyway, then I went on Vicodin 7.5, didn't touch the pain, then I was prescribed Fentynl Patches, first at the lowest dose of 2.5, all the way up to 7.5, I am now weaning off to the 2.5 again, but am having HORRIFIC withdrawl symptoms, like shivering, and anxiety. The doc gave me Xanax o.25mg. not helping ,any suggestions?? I had 7.5 vicodin left over, but am afraid to take that, any suggestions for the withdrawal symptoms?? PLEASE HELP!! THANKS, DEB

[Telby]

The vicodin might be used to slowly lower your tolerance so the withdrawal won' be so severe.  If you look furhther up the board you will find much dialogue about opiate withdrawal including the address to another board which has a "detox receipe by Thomas" which is very helpful.  Opiate withdrawal is very scary if you haven't been through it before but it is not life threatening (unless there is another health condition) although it is very unpleasant both emotionally and physically.  I encourage you to read the other postings and know that you are not alone and that there is hope of getting out from under this addiction.  Best of luck, Telby

[Frenchee]

I was on Vicodin ES, Soma and the patch... the hard part was to get off the patch! I got rid of it one month ago and I am doing fine without it. I am still dealing with a lot of pain (headaches, cramping, back etc) but I beleive that the patch is very addictive and does not take care of the pain that much. At least, it did not work for me. I was on it for about 8 months and I really got tired of putting it on and off every 3 days. I have to tell you that the symptoms when you get off are very strong. Sweating, not sleeping, shaking, hot flashs and cold sweats. If it helps you, that's good but keep in mind that the day you decide to take it off, it will be another battle. I am currently dealing with getting off the pills and it is hard mentally. I keep reading all the comments and it helps. LEt me know if I can assist anyone. Take care.
F

[ned407]

Hi, on those transdermal patches. I first saw them at VA OutPatient clinic. The vets could not believe what we were giving them and actualy got mad thnnking we were giving them some type of placebo. The effects though were great. We had substancial pain relief without worrying about patient capability for injections or counting out and keeping track of a bunch of MSIR tabs.

[ned407]

Hi, on those transdermal patches. I first saw them at VA OutPatient clinic. The vets could not believe what we were giving them and actualy got mad thnnking we were giving them some type of placebo. The effects though were great. We had substancial pain relief without worrying about patient capability for injections or counting out and keeping track of a bunch of MSIR tabs.

[Bigare]

I was checking the doses of the fentanyl patch for my wife who will be going to the Dr. today and I wanted to get the dose correct.  I work in a pain clinic doing research on new types of pain medication and things like oxycontin that will no longer be able to be abused (they will be putting another drug with the oxycontin that if it is crushed for snorting or whatever, it will inactivate the oxycontin.
My wife has a drug problem, but also has MS and needs something for pain.  I feel like some of you that it will be less likely for her to abuse the patch.  The patch works by slowly allowing a small amount of drug to enter your skin and your body.  It is less likely to be abused because of the way it works, but of course anything can be abused if a person works at it.  By the way fentanyl is considered much more addictive than morphine.
Another form of fentanyl on that market that works through a unique delivery system is a drug called Actiq.  This is fentanyl in a lollipop, but I have heard these are extremely costly.
Lastly, those that talked about wanted to withdraw from narcotics, there is a relatively new medication that helps facilitate this and is not the same as just slowly tapering off of the medication you are on.  The drug is called "SUBOXONE" and I understand it is a lifesaver for many addicts in helping them get throught the withdrawal process.  Look it up on the internet and it will tell you all about it and you can go to your Dr. with this information.
Anyway, I will let you know how my wife does on the patch.  I am hopeful and I am also sick of seeing her gorked out all the time by taking too much of the liquid morphine she was on.

Best Regards, Bigare

[Frankfrombirmingham]

Hi - I had lower back surgery in feb of 05, fusion L4 and L5 and it's been a long road.  I have had continous chronic pain. I have had numerous injections and my dr has had me on percocet 10/325's up until about a month ago.  Now I'm on Duragesic pain patchs, 25's and they seem to help more than anything I've ever been on. I guess one day they won't work though, like anything else, you get addicted to it.  BUT I can tell you that this has enabled me to live a normal life, I've had no side affects and I hope that continues.

[Mathman]

Be careful with the patches.  I have chronic lower back pain and have been treated by pain management doctors for 10 + years.  I was on 3 of the 100s of Duragesic for over 2 years.  It didn't relieve all the pain, but when I was tapering off I found out how much in control of my brain it had been.  Try anything else first.  It was really nice to get my head back.  The nausea was very bad and I lost 40 pounds.  
Mathman

[Mommy-In-Pain]

I have fibromyalgia and have been on pain meds for 4 or 5 years.  I had endometriosis first and had a hysterectomy in January of this year to relieve that pain.  The fibromyalgia is awful.  My husband will hug me and I cry out from the pain or just putting on a shirt will cause pain.  Some days, I have trouble walking from the pain and other days, I just have trouble getting out of bed.

I was first on Vicodin 5/500, but ended up taking 3 to 4 tablets of that for any kind of relief.  My doctor then switched me to Vicodin ES, but again, I have to take 2 to 3 tablets to get any relief at all from the pain.  I am not looking for a high or anything like that, but I feel like the pharmacist thinks I am a drug addict because I need refills so quickly on my medication, but the Vicodin just doesn't work.  I think it is perhaps because I have developed a tolerance to it.  My doctor has talked about putting me on the Duragesic patch, but she wants to save that as a last resort because of the high capacity for addiction.  

I don't want any mental addiction, but I do want to be able to get out of bed in the morning and take care of my kids and go to work.  I have lost one job from pain and I don't want to lose another.  I am a nursing student and getting ready to apply for clinicals and I am scared that without having this pain under control, I am not going to get through the program.  Is there something other than Vicodin, but without going to the patch, that might relieve this pain?

Thanks.

[Mommy-In-Pain]

I should also add in that I am currently seeing a chiropractor, scheduling physical therapy and exercising and working on a weight loss program with my doctor to get the symptoms under control, so I am trying therapies other than just pain medication, but I have gone without the pain medication before and I just have no kind of life at all.  The pain is almost overwhelming and I usually end up in the emergency department.  

I just wanted to add that little bit.

[FLaddict]

this is the addiction forum.. since you are wanna to know info about pain meds I would ask you to go to the fibromyalgia forum.. we are not the ones to tell you what meds to go on for pain.. we have abused all of them so i doubt we would be good for this question.
Thanks and good luck

[crazyone]

My doctor started me out on the smallest dose of Vicoden when I injured my shoulder at work.  I ended up having two surgeries but it didn't help.  So I was put on Norco because of the amount of the Vicoden I was taking due to the amount of tylenol that is in the Vicoden.  Along the way morphine was added but that didn't work, so I was given Methadone.  That didn't work either.  My doctor also tried injections which in both instances I ended up in the emergency room because of reactions to the injections.  They caused my blood sugar and my blood pressure to get to high.  So the doctor started me on the fentanyl patches.  They worked very well.  I lost my health insurance and I can no longer afford to get them.  They are very expensive.  I have had to go back to using only the Norco and Soma for my pain and there are days that I just can't get out of bed.  The patches work!!!!!!!!!

[balmygirl]

Hello, I have had bad back pain and feet pain for over five years and have taken norco for all five.  I have finally found a good pain clinic and a dr willing to help me.  He has given me the option  of the duragisic patch, methadone, oxycontin and mscontin and kadian.  I dont know anything about any of them but i have one month to give him my answer.  Right now he has me on lortab 10mg.  Can anyone lead me in the right direction?

[jobaby]

I've been put on the Duragesic patch 2.5 after the DEA came into my office to question Percocets. I had been taking 6 - 8 percocets a day for back pain. I had back surgery in Feb. 2004 and had been taking them since, along with injections, etc. The patch is working, but I find I need more than one. I'm worried that I'm just an addict, but when I put the patch over the scarred spot on my back, I'm able to sleep through the night without problem. I'm 44 and have been taking opiates for many years. I'm trying to keep to one patch and take one percocet when my back starts to hurt. I'm a candidate for a back fusion, and I won't do it. The duragesic controls my pain. I'm hoping I'm not abusing, and I'm candid with my doctor.

[Ga Guy]

Just curious...why would the DEA come into your office and question what seems to be a moderate dosage of percs for chronic pain? Were you using different doctors? Different pharmacies?

[notmenow!]

It seems to me that the majority of people who seek support here have varios medical conditions. And they all have the right to say or speak what ever is that has brought them to their current situation. You have been active on this site long enough to recognize an addict who may be possibly using her diagnosis as a expectation that she is entitled to the best medication for pain relief that she can gether hands on It clearly indicates that she is about to enter a time in her life that she may wish later she could take back and do differently. As she diggs herself deeper and deeper into a living hell. I happen to know of other people who visit this forum that suffer from the same condition. What kind of a nurse would one make that is seriously addicted to opiates. When she can't even follow her own Doctors orders in terms of proper dosing.  Mommy in Pain, don't leave us. Listens to the war stories and learn from them. I recommend you reserch a drug called Lyrica which treats nerve pain. It is prescribed off label by many doctors for your condition. Tbay how long have you been clean and sober? I'd love to hear about it. And do you belive in the 12 steps? Welcome all newcomers. Thats for you Mommy!

[SheMike]

I have been asked by my boss to find a non-addictive pain killer(s) sufficient for severe chronic non-malignant pain.  After reading through this forum and an older one from 2001--http://www.medhelp.org/forums/addiction/messages/30733.html--it appears that there are really no viable alternatives to to narcotics for effective long term pain control.  Ultram was discussed as the best alternative.  I am not a doctor or nurse (nor expected to be), but my boss wanted some alternatives to present to the doctor.  The background:  Her daughter has had two surgeries in the past two years, which have resulted in open wounds from the surgeries that have had a hard time healing.  So Percocet and Vicoden have been presribed in pretty high strength (I don't have those numbers to share).  The daughter is 21 years old.  She becomes mean on the Vicoden and doesn't like the Perocet, because she is also a studen at college, and cannot function too well on the Percocet.  The mother is concern that the daughter now has a physical dependence on the Vicoden (maybe Percocet too), as the daughter has been using both now for 1-1/2 years.  Other pain-management tools are being considered, as well as options to heal the open wound.  But for now, my question is strictly narrowed to:  is there any viable alternatives to narcotics for effective pain control for moderate to severe pain?  Really appreciate your responses.  Thanks!

[Dad_of_5]

I have (had) bi-lateral cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome. I had surgeries to correct the problem but not unil I was hooked on Hydrocodone 10's. About 3 month's after my surgery, I still could not get contol of my pain, and came to the realization that I was addicted.

I voiced my concern to my dr who referred my to a pain management/ addiction specialist in Atlanta. He put me on the duragesic patches and a mixture of other meds that have pain relief as side effects (not primarily prescribed for pain) such as Neurontin, an anti-seasure med that when taken in the right dosage significantly reduced my nerve pain (the surgeries came too late my ulnar nerves are damaged and cause constant pain). More to the point, the Duragesic patches really help the pain and I found were far easier to quit than pill narcs.

At one point I was put on Ultram, but I became severily depressed- even suicidal.  I've never seen depression listed as a side effect of Ultram but have spoken with numerous people that reported similar side effects - be careful.

[ladybug72]

To anyone who is making the decision to change from "pills" to the "patch", let me tell you, I have been on narcotic pain meds for nearly 6 years and have built up quite a tolerance.  I was prescribed norco 10/325 (6 times daily) and Percocet 10/325 (2 times a day)...this was a gradual dose increase, I was miserable.  My life was surrounded by when I had to take meds.  The constant worry if I had enough with me, or if they were getting stolen, etc was a royal pain in the butt.  I was addicted big time.  If you are even thinking that you are taking pills too often, you probally are.  This patch fentanyl 50mg is amazing, I wake up in the morning and feel normal for the first time in years.  IT is like an ex smoker looking for their cigs ....I still look for my pill bottles, just out of habit...then realizing that I do not need them.  It has taken me to a happier place in my life...one that I really didn't think I would have again.  I am still getting used to it so, in the next month or so, I may say different, but I really hope not!  Pills= confinment  Patch=freedom...that's all I can say.  As far as people wondering about addiction...do you think about that when you drink coffee every morning?  You do anything every day and you will become addicted to that behavior....Pain relief is far more worth than the  thought of what withdrawl is...if the pain is so severe that you need help...it is worth it!  

[Mikeinthesouth]

Fentanyl is very addicting too but it is a controlled release patch so it is administered rather than taking a handful at a time. Its all pretty scary.

[avisg]

This post is 7 years old ...if you go up to the top you will see where it say "post a question"......... if you repost there it ill start a new thread.

[jra48]

I had to take myself off the Fentanyl Patch due to loosing may insurance. I could not pay over 3000.00 for all my percriptions a month. I have a non operational back that I was told it could be a 50% chance of walking or in a wheel chair the rest of my life if I chosen to take the operation. I ask the doctor to keep me working and I can't change jobes I own my own business (at the age of 37 make 6 figures a year and taking on a different job was not a smart more or until I had everything paid off. I used to be in the construction field in my younger years you think you are made of rubber. Picking up heavy granite slabs falling from a 2 stories building and get up and go back to work. One day I got out of bed and was looking at the floor. I was hospitalized and the Doctor had a 25 micro gram patch on me and I could get up move minor pain at first. I hate taking pills. After 10 year I went from 1 - 25 mico gram every 60 hrs.( 72 hrs was to long or if they get wet from Showering or sweating, they would stop working.  Duragisic micro gram patch stimulate the nerve endings and you can;t feel the pain. To make a long storie short, I ended up using after 10 years 2 x 100 micro gram per 60 hours - $1889.05 - 25 patches per month and also 2 x hydrocodone /apap10 mg/325mg per day as needed - $189.50 , Provigil (Great Stuff For modivation)$ 768.92 for 90 -100 mg pills per month x 3, and Lexapro X1 @ 365.00 every morning for depresion from the hydrocodone and loosing my business. I took more drugs than the averge person could handle. detox bad 7 days and still which I dur wiish I had them I back hurts mybe ill stare witch patches only no pills

[jra48]

Please frogive the bad spelling on the past post 1:45 am

Please only use the patches Stay on the small amounts as long as possible before moving to the next level.also insurance for 2 x25 same as 1 x25 migro gram ptches

jra

[407560rick]

I have been in chronic pain all up and down my back and neck related to bulging and herniated discs. I started at the lowest end of the spectrum, with non narcotic relievers, all sorts of therapeutic excersizes, and every possible homeopathic or alternative technique known to man, and every day there seems to be a new one coming out. Making a long story short, the only two medicines that really worked for me on any consistent level was methadone, and the Duragesic Patch, preferably Sandoz, which appeared to be a much more effective brand. I started on  50 Mgs every two days, up to 100 mgs every two days100 MGs, and now I am at 200 MG every two days. This has been a long process reaching this level, e are talking about years, however, I am finding now, that I am getting spasms regularly, which are terribly painful, so my doctor added on Valium for my spasms. So, now I am physically dependent on Both Fentynal (Duragesic),  and a benzodiazapine(Valium) which is really not a good place to be. The side affects from the two, have become more and more of an issue, and the quality of my life has been deteriorating rather quickly  from the side effects of these medicines. So I have been trying to figure out, how to seek treatment with the most minimal amount of narcotic pain relievers, and other therapeutic techniques so I can start  coming off of some of this medications. In response to the initial question posed about addition, you an call it what you like, but your body will become dependent on these medicine whether you go out on the street and buy it, or if a doctor prescribes it to you, and a tolerance will develop as well over time, so there is only one real direction to go with this, and that is feed  the body what it is asking for, over a period of time more and more meds, its a vicious cycle, which often becomes emotionally devastating which is what  has been happening for me. i feel as if I am junkie, even though these medications are prescribed and needed. Every thing I do, any plan I make, any thought of vacation, the first and foremost thing that comes to mind is the medicine, if i`ll have enough, for it is distributed to the day usually, so if you might need an extra valium 1 day for extreme pain, there will be a day later on where you will pay for it.
My point is, if there is any way you can find a non narcotic way to treat thew pain you are in, even if it leaves you in a little bit if pain, or are uncomfortable most of the time, the other rod can be much, much worse, and can ruin your life and bring problems into your worked you had never even dreamed of. Please know this, I am in absolute understanding of the benefits of narcotic pain medication, however if you choose that route, you must always be aware, that you are not getting away with anything, you are only masking what is present, and it will remain present, unless you approach it vigorously with other physical therapies and such. I don`t think you wold be happy living the life of a Prescription Drug Addict, which is what my life has turned into. The medications work incredibly well in the beginning, but over time, your body pays a price for this medicine. So proceed with extreme caution, I only wish I was more cautious and aware in the beginning, for now, its about getting through the day with my medicine, and anything I do is based around the medicine I have, and should I run short for some reason, maybe having a really bad day of spasms, i will go into a withdrawal when they run out, which they will.
All I am really saying be very, very careful

Rick

[Jacqui805]

Let me share something with you here.....I didn't read every post here, but read enough to want to make a statement.  I am a nurse, first of all...I was on 200 mcg of fentanyl for four years, not working at the time, for pain.  Long story short, I'm off now, and have been for a little over four months.  I'll save you the horror stories, but, w/d ing off of it is no joke.  This is a wicked powerful drug, it is often given pre-op to knock you out before other meds.  It is along the lines of Heroin powerful, just not a "street" drug.  I'm NOT saying no one should take it though..  I just got the impression that it was thought that getting off of it is somehow easy, or easier.  I was not addicted to the med., never even got a high off of it once.  I was however, extremely physically dependant, and it caused some issues with my health as well. I weaned over many months, and went through a long acute phase of w/d regardless, even while still on low doses of it.  Btw, it comes in four strengths.  I think the 75 mcg patch was left out up there on the thread.

[LadyMerivale]

I've had chronic pain since 1999 with multiple surgeries on my knees, foot, back...herniated and ruptured disc, all due to prednisone causing my connective tissue to rip apart..  Years of pain and depression followed from trying to find a doctor who would believe the level of pain I was in and only getting a few lortab or percocet nearly took away my will to live.  Finally getting on the Duragesic Patches, first at 2x 25's then up to 75 for a year then stopped at 100, where I am now, I've been managing the pain fairly well.  When I hurt from doing too much I do have percocet 10 to fill in breakthrough pain but don't take it until I really hurt since I don't want to be "addicted" either.  I THINK I've realized a little about the addiction fear from having a little luck.  During the Spring, my good knee which had been killing me was MRI'ed and found to have 2 tears in the meniscus and I guess it was irritating the nerve that went up and down my entire leg and back as well.  I got a shot of cortizone straight into the knee which I'd had on the other one before it was replaced and LUCKILY it somehow leaked onto the nerve and STOPPED ALL PAIN.. back, butt, leg, and I had just been bumped up to 150 of Duragesic. Having the 100 patch and a 50 to take each 3 days, I decided to ONLY use the 50 since my pain was as low as I'd felt in 9 years.  One morning I forgot to put one on after a bath, went 3 days before I realized it.  I'd been gardening without pain, running errands, etc. and just wasn't thinking about pain or patches or pills.  AMAZING what the mind does with pain, knowing you SHOULD have the patch on or be taking your meds.  I'm sure I'd have gone through some worse withdrawal later, but for THAT time, I only noticed a little fatigue and runny nose. I was in such awe from being that pain free, in gave me HOPE once again that maybe if they could find the reason the nerve was in pain I'd actually get well someday.  THAT has diminished my worry of being addicted JUST because I've taken narcotics for so long. I've never taken them to feel good/high, don't feel high. But half of the withdrawal I think people feel is FEAR.. just a small theory of my experience after not noticing I didn't have a patch on.  Naturally my brain went into "put a patch on" mode when I noticed, rather than continuing the detox to see what happened, but it gave me a little more hope that someday with the right medical treatment on that nerve, maybe the mind and peace one can create themselves when pain lets up, detoxing CAN be done with less discomfort and It doesn't mean you are an addict.  I do highly support the patches for anyone with chronic pain, however.  It allows you to live your life without thinking about when you should take the next pill.  I'm looking into some methods of weaning myself off of it when I get my other knee repaired and my back "spacers" put in and recover.  Now I have that memory of a few pain free weeks to keep up my spirits over my fears, so I hope that gives anyone else reading this a little hope as well.
Like they say... the worst thing to fear is fear its self and anybody who's suffered hard core pain fears it coming back on them. It's natural.  But, we DO tend to feel what our minds tell us we will feel so I'm going to do some serious searching for help on staying positive with my thinking.
Good luck to all of you and God Bless you for hanging in!

[Hippiechick85]

     I am a 23 year old college student. Unfortunately, I was involved in a severe head-on collision two years ago. I have had seven surgeries in all, and two were over this past summer. I have had everything from hip reconstruction to facial reconstruction (which came out beautiful, thank God!) to multiple placements of different rods in my femur. I broke almost everything I could break. This was all due to a drunk and drugged driver who hit me in a head-on car collision, so I never drive: 1) because of all the meds 2) I know the results when a person on drugs hits someone’s car, and I don’t want to be that person.
    
     I even sustained a traumatic brain injury; however, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. Thankfully, I am back in college. I missed a year of school because of the accident, but I am almost a senior working towards my Psychology degree with Biology minor. Grad school, hopefully, is in the near future.
    
     Now, here is where the questions about my medication come into play. After my most recent surgery, I was put on 75 mcg Duragesic patches, 10mg Percocet every 6 hours, prn, plus numerous others that are non-pain related. So far, I’ve dropped down to 50 mcg patches and 7.5mg Percocet. I know my liver is being destroyed by the drugs, but I can’t function without them. As long as I am maintaining Dean’s List in school, I want to think everything is fine. Subconsciously, I know it is not. I know I am physically addicted whether I like it or not.  It’s just that I am so young, and I shouldn’t be taking such heavy duty meds daily. However, what am I suppose to do? I’m dropping down as much as possible. My goal is to stop the Percocet because it is more damaging to my liver, and reduce the patches. I need some input. Anything enlightening someone has to say? I don’t want to have drugs control my life or end it.
    
     It’s ironic because the local town junkie ran into my car, and now I feel like the junkie. Although, not in the exact same respect because he was a loser with no goals, standards, morals, etc. I’ve always been the straight “A” honors student and still am, but I don’t want this medical dependency to hinder my school work. Someone, please, help me and give me some useful information!

[kittykat58]

the drugs you are taking will not destroy your liver. the patch has no tylenol in it (which is the drug that can affect your liver) and the percs have, what, 325 mg/pill? you can take up to 2,000-3,000 mg of tylenol/day and be safe.

you may have a legit need for the patch given your accident, but I would not advise others to use this med casually. it is one of the most addictive narcotics available and can also kill you if it misfires in it's time-release delivery (too much of the dope at once = respiratory failure = death). heat can cause it to misfire -- a lounge in a hot tub or a day in the sun....bye bye. also, if a child or other person who is opiate-naive handles it, it can kill them with one exposure. it was not worth the terrible risk, in my humble opinion.

I was on it for a couple of months and found I would fall asleep (nod off) at traffic lights, while talking with someone at work...crazy! I worried I would not wake up in the morning and my daughter would have the horror of finding me dead in bed. the straw that broke the camel's back for me was when a toddler I was holding reached over to try to pick off the patch on my shoulder -- I could have killed someone else's child! I flushed them the next day and just kept the oral meds in a lock box.

good luck. I would not use this terrifying medicine unless I was bed bound and dying. and then I would keep it in a lockbox.

[Hippiechick85]

Thanks for the info. I definitely plan on dropping down bit by bit, then off everything completely. First, I have to get through physical therapy because it is extremely painful. I didn't know that one can take 2000-3000 mg of Tylenol daily and still be safe. Thanks for all the info.

This is the most horrible medicine, in that, it is the worst to try to quit. However, it is the only medicine that works; talk about a Catch-22 situation. I get extremely ill when I drop down every 25 mcg. I just can't wait until all this is over, and I can go back to being the "typical" college student because currently, I'm definitely not typical in any sense of the word.

[bodysgoing]

I would like to thank everyone for there comments for they put a perspective on wheather or not i should go on the patch like my dr planned on doing on monday. I have chronic leg knee, back and hip pain and have been on loritab 10's for 2yrears. It is no longer working as it was before due to the worsening of the pain i am enduring or simply because my body is used to them..I do not want to get addicted to these pills just as everyone else. As a matter of fact i will only take a pill until the pain is no longer tolerable, so for now i know i am not addicted to them nor will i take 2 at a time. My question then is if not loritab than what else? I have read percocet. Is that more or less effective than perodan? I really dont know if I can even tolerate that. I am also on Lyrika for shingle pain but that does not help for chronic pain it is for nerve pain. any suggestions? I am 51 and would like to get back into not being afraid to tottaly clean my house so i can sell it. My back is always reminding me not to do things threatening to completly go out on me.  Oh any insite on this ? When I lie in bed at night my legs seem to get alot worse and i cant lie on my hip either. thanks for your comments. gl to all

want to live pain free

[Lightning1958]

I have been on the 75mcg fro 4 yrs due to a lower back fusion of L-2-3-4-5.With cages and screws and rods.Then I had a cervical fusion oC-2-3-4.Same deal cage and screws and rods.I also get 60 temezapam 325 mg for sleep.This accident occued in 2001. I get very little releif with the duragesic and 4hrs sleep is a miracle.The workers comp ins wants to change the meds to Ultram & meletonion.I AM SCARED!!!!!!!I dearly hope the pain doc does not agree.PLEASE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO HELP ME tHANKS LIGHTNING1958

[Lightning1958]

I have been on the 75mcg fro 4 yrs due to a lower back fusion of L-2-3-4-5.With cages and screws and rods.Then I had a cervical fusion oC-2-3-4.Same deal cage and screws and rods.I also get 60 temezapam 325 mg for sleep.This accident occued in 2001. I get very little releif with the duragesic and 4hrs sleep is a miracle.The workers comp ins wants to change the meds to Ultram & meletonion.I AM SCARED!!!!!!!I dearly hope the pain doc does not agree.PLEASE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO HELP ME tHANKS LIGHTNING1958

[Lightning1958]

I have been on the 75mcg fro 4 yrs due to a lower back fusion of L-2-3-4-5.With cages and screws and rods.Then I had a cervical fusion oC-2-3-4.Same deal cage and screws and rods.I also get 60 temezapam 325 mg for sleep.This accident occued in 2001. I get very little releif with the duragesic and 4hrs sleep is a miracle.The workers comp ins wants to change the meds to Ultram & meletonion.I AM SCARED!!!!!!!I dearly hope the pain doc does not agree.PLEASE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO HELP ME tHANKS LIGHTNING1958

[mikeamberstrick]

Listen my husband was addicted to herion for years and the only thing that ever helphim was suboxone  it is a drug that stops your body from going through with drawls from herion you use it on a program to get clean but i feel that maybe it will help some of you it has a blocker unlike methadone that you can still get high off of while on. It blocks the high you get from pain pills and allows you tomove on with your life just a quick message look into it at your local drug rehab clinics, its  for those who are ready to quit b ut can deal with the withdfrawls

[worried878]

nor sure about that one...i am a chronic pain patient...Did the narcotics go to my pain or did the do a left turn and go to my addiction...did a left turn on me...i dont think anything is so cut and dry...some chronic painers are addicts...some non-chronic painers are addicts...it is a fuxzz uup in the receptors of ur brain and i dont think jusr because u have an accident and have chronic pain for life or just because u develop degenerative disc disease, make that addiction marker go away...

so what we are is unfortunate..to have chronic pain and an addict....most painers treated by doctors are not addicts,,,we think almost everyone is cos we are but the turth is most take pain medication without abuse nor crave the high..some do not even like the high/altho all have the postential to become physically addicted but not as easily as we do/it is just not in their genetic make up
..if u do like the high and find urself using even when the pain is not too bad..using to feel good that day and get more done then the questions need to be asked to urself...it is not true that a chronic painer can not be an addict..cos i am one

[Dee6619]

I am currently taking fentanyl patch 75mg. every 48 hours and lortab 500mg. around 6 a day. I still have awful back pain and am going to tell my Dr. I want to be taken off both of them or weaned off. I am a different person on the medications especially the patch it makes me very lethagic and tired and I still have back pain!!! I am so frustrated I want to live a normal drug free life. Does anyone have any advice for me?

[Shelren]

I was on Oxycontin and when that became not as effective my dr. put me on the Fentanyl patch. They were wonderful at first but if you are in anyway active, I have a warning for you. One patch is supposed to last 3 days. If you move around alot or sweat it will come loose. If you lose the patch from your skin, you lose 3 days of medicine. This was a problem for me. I am not warning you off of them, I am just warning you of what can happen if you are in anyway an active person. Good luck

[Dee6619]

The comment of the patch coming off of the skin has happened alot to me. Because I am active and it is hard to keep on. I wish now I would have never started the patch because I feel it will be hard to get my body off of it. I am going to ask my Dr. on Friday to start lowering my dosage. The patch helped my pain at first now it doesn't. I am so scared and afraid I will have to go to rehab because I will become really sick. I know my Dr. will try to work with me. Has anyone ever had to go to a rehab center to get off this patch. I also take 6 500mg lortab usually daily. I want to get off of that too. I will take any suggestions anyone has for me. Please!!
God Bless everyone!!

[OnlythePainisReal]

Long story short:

Torn rotator cuff - Botched Shoulder surgery - Norcos, Oxycodone, Soma, Xanax, etc...

I am still trying to wean off of these...

When I have a level 10/10 or higher in pain I take just 1 Toradol and the pain is gone within 30 minutes.

The amazing thing is Toradol is not a narcotic but is the most amazing pain reliever I have ever taken!

Toradol is the way to go but be carefull it is very hard on the stomach if taken daily causing ulcers in some cases.

Good luck, I know how hard it is to battle the pain every day, sometimes I just want it to end...

[roxme]

I finally weaned off Duragesic patches after being a zombie for 6 years. Until I went from 75 to 50 to 25mcgs I didnt even realize it was this drug making me so inert that all I did was lay in bed. I have fibromyalgia and other problems. After I myself decided to wean, I stupidly assumed Id still get my 4 vicodin a day which I have taken for 8 years. dumb me, I was left with horrible withdrawals beyond belief, thinking my only relief would be death. I tried some weird drug called Savella which is just a prozac but the FDA approves it for fibro, not narcotics, which is the only thing that helps this debilitating pain. Someday if enough people kill themselves maybe the FDA will finally approve narcotics for fibro. I relented big time today and got a 10mg Kadian scrip. I hate myself. But Duragesic withdrawal is worse than words can say. Im glad its over. I feel like ME again. I just hurt, never sleep and lost 10lbs. Until narcotics are not abused by druggies those of us who need them will contemplate suicide when our doctors refuse to prescribe real relief. I live in a rural area anyway I hope in 2 years I will relocate to a normal city and get away from doctors who accuse suffering souls of being drug addicts. But I would never take Duragesic again withdrawals are still going on and I took off the last 12mcg patch 10 days ago.

[Dark_Optimist]

I just read your last post. I'm really afraid... I'm currently using 75mcg patches every 48 hours. I start to withdraw on these at around 40 hours. I hate duragesic for all of the reasons you describe. I must have a strong family as I wouldn't put up with someone as labile as I am. I've used these patches for 2 years and originally loved them.
I reluctantly started duragesic after my doctor and others told me they wouldn't be like Oxycontin. That's another story...

My doctor at that time prescribed what was considered maximum dosage Oxycontin for RSD and Body pain. He then literally disappeared. Left town……None of the other docs in that group would continue my treatment and I locked myself at home and began cold turkey. I almost died.

Now I'm seeing all of these horror stories and I don't know if I can do this again. My doc thinks I'm whining about the duragesic. I'd really like to be human again. I used to be considered a high energy, type A kind of person. Now I don't want anyone else to see me like this.

Thanks for letting me rant. I have no one to talk to that understands

Mark F

[BadbackRN]

Anyone ever use Humira for pain associated with back surgery with rod placement.  My hands are swollen, tingling and hurt like no body's buisness.