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Avatar universal

Switch medications, morphine to fentanyl. Experiencing withdrawl?!

Didn't know where else to put this, but I was recently switched from Morphine 60mg ER to the Fentanyl Duragesic patch. I thought the weird flu like symptoms might be a result of the new drug, but apparently it has to be withdrawal from the Morphine.

I'm kind of miffed neither the doctor nor pharmacist even mentioned this could happen. I was naive and thought the new medication wouldn't create an issue with the switch, I was wrong. Unfortunately it's the weekend and my doctor isn't in, but I have to work and I'm not sure how I can like this.

Any advice? How long should this last? What can I do?
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the response. I ended up going to the ER and was diagnosed with Gastroenteritis. I had Eosinophillic Gastroenteritis when I was younger and this was very similar. Both the ER doctor and my pain doctor didn't think this was related to the medication, but I think it played a role as I've never been ill enough to force me into the ER.

Honestly I'm not too sure how much I like the idea of a patch, it seems like it could go wrong too many ways, and I read online that it can last only 48 hours, and some brands have been recalled before. I'm going to see if I can stick with something in pill form, thank you for your help!
Helpful - 0
666151 tn?1311114376
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It can be difficult to get the dose correct when changing from one opiate to another, particularly when changing route of administration as well.  Docs usually 'shoot low' in the conversion, as getting some withdrawal is better than getting fatal respiratory depression-- something that really does occur, particularly when dealing with high doses of these medications.

The withdrawal should be over within a few days-- once your body fat 'fills up' with the fentanyl, the blood level rises-- and the opiate effect increases, sometimes dramatically. That is why the patches were pulled from use for post-op pain some years ago;  people would start to die from OD at the 3rd or 4th day post-op.  He really was being safe in choosing a dose that was a bit 'too low'.
Helpful - 0

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