Generic or Brand Duragesic

[yobo626]

Is there a difference between the generic and regular duragesic patch?
Thanks

[Jaybay]

I just use the Nexcare brand bandages that are made with tegaderm.  They're not that expensive and the box is always loaded with coupons for the next purchase.  Matter of fact, I like them so well I keep all sizes handy because they're waterproof, still allow for oxygen exchange and stay stuck until you take them off. My husband loves them.  He springs leaks every time he turns around and never seems to remember how it happened.  LOL!

[Mollyrae]

Hi Sandee;
I have checked on that. I use Sandoz brand and they do not offer the adhesive patch. If you are a duragesic customer you are qualified for their patch. I use cloth sports tape. It doesn't make my skin break out and it's waterproof.
Thank's so much for the advise:)

[sandee1818]

Jaybay and Mollyrae,
Are you aware that the company that makes these offers a special patch that adheres to the patch itself. I believe three M makes them but you can call the company and get them free if your on the patch. These bandages provide extra staying power and I hear they are great!

[Jaybay]

Molly - So I've heard!  LOL!  I know one personal friend who uses the patch for severe leg pain, and she also prefers the Mylan generics for the same reasons I do.  We had a wretched few months when it seemed every pharmacy in town switched to the gel patches.  Then came the recalls several months ago and those same pharmacies went back to the Mylan patches.  I'm just grateful my pharmacy makes sure to order them for me now.  It's a local grocery chain and the services is a thousand times better than any national chain.  

yobo, take it from me and Molly: you've got to give this thing some time.  There is no magic pill that will give you relief, and when narcotics are involved it can take quite a while for those side effects to back off.  

Also, the more stressed out you make yourself worrying about it, the higher your pain levels will go.  If you aren't seeing a pain psychologist right now, this would be a great time to ask for a referral. Honestly, the work I did with my pain shrink helped almost more than my meds do.  The brain and body are all connected, so it makes sense to treat both aspects of pain. And no, we're not crazy!  That's not what pain-related psychotherapy is about.  It's mostly about learning various relaxation and even self-hypnosis techniques that can help get you through a pain crisis without having to take more meds or go to the ER.  Can't hurt; might help.  :-)

[Mollyrae]

Hi. Yeah, everyone is different. Your one of only a very few that fels that way. I wish the Mylan worked for me because they do stick better and are a smaller more comfortable patch. I'm glad youve had good luck.
Take care...Molly

[Mollyrae]

Hi. Like I said, The dizzyness will only last for a short while. If you are not getting the relief you need from the 12 mcg then I would go to the 25 mcg and put up with the dizziness for a week or so.

You will not have to live your life with dizzyness as you think.....You should listen to what I say......>>>>>>IT GOES AWAY<<<<<<  I sound like a broken record.

It sounds to me that you are not willing to put up with some discomfort for the first month or so until your body gets use to it. In that case your stuck with minimal relief.
Taking the percocet and using the patch might make you dizzy as well, it did that to me.
Well, I guess I can say no more, your not willing to give it a try or listen so this will be my last comment.

Take care and good luck in the future.

[yobo626]

I had to go down to the 12mcg patch and now I don't have pain relief. The 25mcg made me too woozy and dizzy. The doctor told me to take Percocet with the patch. Pain is the worst but I can't be dizzy like this. Thanks for the info.

[Jaybay]

Mollyrae, my experience is just the opposite.  LOL!  Everyone is so different with these patches, and ultimately it takes each person trying a different brand to figure out which one works the best.  

Duragesic is the original name brand product.  You can easily see the gel in the clear plastic patch.  There are many pharmaceutical companies who make a gel patch, and some are better than others.  The duragesic brand is way too expensive for me, so I couldn't say if it's worth the major expense or not.

As far as I'm aware, Mylan is the only company that makes the flat gel matrix patches.  Simply put, the medication is embedded in the adhesive so there isn't a reservoir full of gel.  For me, the Mylan generics last the full 3 days, where none of the gel-reservoir patches do.  I always got withdrawal symptoms by the third day.  The gel patches also dispense too quickly with me.  I'm dizzy and a bit nauseated the first day, fine on the second day, and withdrawing by the third day.

The Mylan patches also stick much better.  I've rarely had one fall off unlike the gel patches.  I always had to use tegaderm covers with the gel patches or they'd disappear down the shower or in my clothing.  It scares the liver out of me to think one of my dogs could wrap their lips around even a used patch.  

Again, ultimately it's up to the individual to find out which version works.  On skin issues, don't forget to switch the application site each time.  That was another issue for me with the gel patches: my skin got horribly irritated and would peel off in layers for days.  It just wasn't worth it.  Some people get relief from that problem by spraying on a tiny bit of flonase nasal spray, but I actually need that for my nose.  LOL!

[Mollyrae]

yes, as long as it's gel filled you will get good relief.....

[yobo626]

Hi,
The patch I have is tiny with a little gel on it. It is made by Mylan.  Is that o.k.?
Thanks

[extrmeski]

Ditto, mylan makes a patch that is just "coated" and not gell filled and those do not work well at all and do not last even close to the 72 hours they are suppose to.  Any of the gel filled ones are fine.
That being said, the fentanyl patches are 80 times stronger than morphine and where they do provide long term relief, they are one of the hardest drugs to ever come off of, if you ever get to where you need to quit them.  Just keep that in mind, it can take up to a year to feel "normal".

[Mollyrae]

Hello again;

There is not a huge difference between the generic and the duagesic brand. The big difference is whether it is gel filled or not. I use the generic patch by Sandoz which is gel filled and get tremendous relief.  I have used the patch that is ot gel filled and did not get the same relief as the gel filled one.

In my opinion, the gel filled seem to get into the skin better than the ones that are NOT gel filled and have a longer life than that which do not.

To sum it up, use the generic gel....very comparable to duragesic

DO NOT use the patch that is not gel filled, you ill not get the same relief..

Mollyrae

[sandee1818]

I do not use the patch but from what I understand yes there is a huge difference. Some prefer the gel type and some prefer the simple patch. The gel I believe is the name brand and I know some do prefer this one and the other generic some prefer for its even release of medication. The gel or brand name is more powerful I believe but the generic has staying power.
Someone will be along shortly and correct me if I am wrong as there are several people here that do use the patch and know the exact differences between the two.