Patch abuse

[suprglyde]

I have been on the Duragesic patch for quite a while.  I do not understand why they are so valuable, except to relieve pain.  There is no buzz, no high, no rush etc.  So what makes them so desirable to ones that want them, that do not need them?

[LadySundown]

Yes the patches can be abused by cutting them open and doing what you did, or drinking the fentanyl, or shooting it up. I have never tried any of those things. I just want off of them.

You deserve a lot of credit for w/d from them. I guess the patches are good for some people, if they don't abuse them. To me fentanyl is too contolling. So many things I can't do on them.

Wishing you luck....LS

[nothingbuttrouble]

Well, I was on the patches for almost 2 years. I have osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a fairly rare genetic bone disease (sometimes referred to as "brittle bone disease"). After countless fractures and surgeries over 18 years the docs perscribed the duragesic for the chronic pain, and Loratab and/or Percocet for breakthru pain. Ithink I started out at 25 microgram/hr (I think that is the best was to describe the dosage?), changing the patch every 3 days. (After I started abusing them I was going through a 100 microgram/hr patch every 24 hours.)

Some of my sisters friends found out I was on them and told me I could get "really high" if I put the patch inside my cheek for about 15 mins. I tried it, and so began the abuse. I had also heard about people breaking open the patches and rubbing the "goo" on thier gums as well. The generic patches I was on were not actually filled with liquid, so I never tried that.

I abused them for about 3-4 months before my mom caught on. I ended up stopping cold turkey, which was a terrible idea. I was given Clonodine(?) and Xanax for the withdraws, but ended up almost ODing on those because when the withdraws hit their peak I was taking them by the handful trying to "make it stop".

Rehab and therapy was as successful as I can imagine it being. I was 20 when this happened, and im 23 now. Thats my explaination of how the patch can be abused.

(Still looking for a successful non-narcotic way to manage the pain, hence finding this forum!)

[LadySundown]

WOW!! You have to have the highest pain tolerance in the words. After all of that there is no way anything less than some heavy duty pain killer is going to help.

After my surgery(which pales by comparison to yours) it was quite a while before I started having horrible burning pain in my hand and fingers. My surgeon said it was the nerves coming back to life. The said it could take up to eight months for pain to stop. That's when I was put on vic's. I could more or less take as many as I needed within reason. I took a lot of them for a year. I didn't have a real had time w/d'ing from them. I cut back until I was taking one in the morning and one at night. From there I went to one in the morning and then none.

What all do you have to take for pain?? Maybe the patches will work for you with something for break through pain. I can't think of those muscles being cut and all that titanium being put in without saying OUCH for you. You're a very strong person. This page will go to page 2 soon so if you can't find it look there.

Fill me in more on your meds. You can vent and I'm here to listen. Keep the Faith.....LS

[suprglyde]

Hi Lady,  I have had three surgeries on my back starting in 1985.  The last one was pretty extensive.  I had a five level fusion. Looking at one of my x-rays, you would swear it is the "Terminator"!  There is around six pounds of titanium in my lower back. One if the worst things is that the Dr. cut the muscles in half, horizontally, and then after installing all that hardware, sewed them back together.  After being severed from each other, the muscles start to shrink immediately.  So later they had some sort of "white film" form on them, so that is one of my problems.  The other is the hardware itself.  It's about a foot in length, so the vertebrae directly above - and below - the incision, have a LOT of pressure on them, and the top one is already starting to weaken.
So no, I DO NOT use them to get "high".  I understand why you asked though, and am certainly not offended.
Take care.  I like talking to you.

[LadySundown]

Hello and Welcome,

For now I think I'm the only one on the fentanyl pain patches on this forum. I was put on 100mcg duragesic after several rather horrible surgeries. They never made me high. I haven't heard anyone say they got much out of using them for that purpose unless they were cutting them open and drinking the fentanyl which is deadly.

I'm in the process of coming off of them and it's not easy. I have made several cuts and each time I have w/d symptoms. Some go on methadone for ten days and remove the patches before they start. Supposedly, you don't get addicted to the methadone that fast. I'm not so sure and don't want to trade one habit for another.

Are you on fentanyl for pain or just to get high?? If you are using them because of pain or a Dr. put you on them you have my attention and I will do all I can to help you. I have researched them extensively. If it's to find out how to get high, I have to bow out. I'm sure you understand that.

Write more and Take Care....LS