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Fentanyl patch

Has anyone taken the Fentanyl skin patch for an extended period of time?  If yes,  do you mind sharing how it has helped your pain?

Thank you,
Melissa
6 Responses
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1312494 tn?1273749561
A related discussion, Is there financial assistance for Fentanyl Patch? was started.
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666151 tn?1311114376
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
enough said...
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186737 tn?1269884660
I have been on the patch at a dose ranging from 50 to 75mcg moving the dose up and down according to how much pain I was in at the time since 2006. I think it is great for me. I went on the patch because my rheumatologist had me on 450 mg of lyrica a day which pretty much turned me into a drooling blob. My job reqired a lot of concentration brain skills and so i couldn't do my job as a drooling blob. So, I went to a pain management doctor and told her my predicament. she gave me the patch. after I put on the first 25mcg patch, I went home, put it one, and then fell asleep on the floor for 18 hours. After that hefty nap, I was fine and no longer had that happen again. The patch is good because since the dose is constant, there aren't the ups and downs you get with pain pills. I have heard that the ups and downs of pain pills are the things that cause poeple to have to take more medication and that also can lead to addition. There are no ups and downs with the patches unless you forget to put one on.
If you are intersted in any more detailed info... The patches that are associated with people getting overdoses from the patches are the ones that have the medication in a gel inside of a sealed packet. From my own experience, I have found that I am allergic to the glue that is used on those patches, so my pharmacist knows to order the other kind for me. The kind that I use are the ones that are just like a sticker and the medication is contained in a matrix inside of the glue. That kind of patch cannot overdose you unless you expose it to a lot of heat. The medication is released in a mcg per hour basis according to the surface area of the patch and the temperature of your body. If you run a high body temperature like I do (averaging 99.5-100) you will use the patches up early. I have to change my patch every 36 hours rather than every 72 hours. Also, maybe because I have ehlers danlos, the medication becomes ineffective in me very quickly and I will start to go into withdrawal at 48 hours even with the patch still on.
However, my situation is not usual and most people get a consistent flow of medication for 72 hours although many people need to change their patches at 48 hours or the pain will start to come back.

For me, the 50mcg patch is much more effective than the previous medication that I was on (75mg of tramadol 3 times a day and 150mg of lyrica 3 times a day). currently I take neurontin in addition to the patch, but I don't find that it makes a big difference in my pain level. I can take the neurontin or not take it and my pain will not change much.
I think that the patch is a very good thing if you are in constant pain or pain that you have for most of the day every day and you will be in that pain for a very long time.

I am a little afraid of going off of the patch although I would like to be able to some day. However, because I am not likely to not be in pain any time soon, I don't think I will be going off of it any time soon. But, so that I will not have such a hard time going off of it should that day come, I make sure that I have my doctor adjust my dose occasionally so that I only take as much as I need. Back when I was still working and not yet disabled, I was using the 75mcg patch because being at work caused me to be in pain. But now I don't have as much of the really annoying bad pain so I am only on 50mcg.

So, I recommend the patch, but suggest that you only use it at a level that you really need and to not exceed it. It is protocol for a pain doctor to also provide some breakthrough medication along with the patch so that if you ahve days where the patch just isn't cutting it, you have the additional medication to take so that you can stay on the lowest possible dose without having to have intolerable days because of having increased pain days.
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799179 tn?1238933533
I have been on the patch at 250mcs for four years and agree with "nick30" on just about everything he said.  it is the drug of last resort but it can truly be miraculous when nothing else works.  side effect can suck, sleeplessness, constipation, memory loss, rashs from patch, but all of that together does not compair to the relief from the pain.
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Avatar universal
Hey!  I took the patch twice, once for my intense daily migraine type headaches, probable for like 2 years. (then again for back injury to to flipping my car)  Got up to around 100-150mcg.  It was a pretty good drug for me, especially since I've had addiction problems on some meds.  This drug never made me feel "drugged up" which was great, I could function mostly, and not just sleep.  The one thing I would advise is to NEVER take yourself off the patch alone!!  I decided I didn't want to be on it or anything anymore, and had just moved so I didn't have a doctor to wean me down.  I was on 75mcg I think, and took my patch off, and felt fine for like almost 3 days.  Then i wanted to DIE!!!  I felt like I was going to pass out, my heart raced, I sweated, I was so amazingly sick!!  I was at a new job, and really couldn't leave, so I had someone go to the place I was staying and get one of my patches.  I did leave work early, and layed down with my patch on, two hours later I felt so back to NORMAL.  It was bad!!  

So, don't do that!  I eventually weaned down to 12.5 mcg, and then off.  I do recommend the drug though.  It wasn't bad, except my choice to be my own physician, which I do all the time.

Take care, and I hope it works for you!!!!
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Avatar universal
Hi there. I'm not sure how long you consider extended but I have been on the patch for around a year or so. for me it has been the drug that has worked where all others have failed. it isn't all good news though as any strong drug can have side effects(like concentration and memory issues).
however, with the pro's/con's weighed up I am very happy to be on this medication. it isn't the demon it is potrayed to be but I would caution against its use to anyone who hasn't thoughly exhausted other options 1st.
I would point out that i consider it only for people in constant severe pain. not intermittant pain, not moderate pain, but continuous disabling pain(at least for the stronger doses).
for me it was the end of the line, the last hope, and luckily it worked. I'd be happy to answer any specifics for you as will other people here who also benefit from the patch.
nick
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