Pain patches and anger

[Lemone]

I was wondering if any of you are using one of the pain med patches and notice a problem with anger.  My husband just started the Durageisc patch last month and I have noticed that his patience is alot shorter and he flares up more often. He also is noticing it.  But his doc won't let him contiune with the Percoste/oxycotin for pain - he wants him to be soley on theses patches, but things are getting ugly.
Thanks for any help.  

[sfbaygirl]

I was on the patches for months. Didn't notice the anger, but then again with the amount of pain I was in, I probably was irritable. They work better than the pills, if you get the right mg. I was on 100mg, sometimes 200mg.  I got off of them when my pain from the Fibro started to get better. No withdrawals!! I was surprised.

[toolmaker]

He may still be having some major pain break thru.I do lose some  relief  during the last 12-16 hrs before it is time to change patches .

[jcverive]

I experienced shorter temper on the fentanyl patches, but it tapered off with time. If flare-ups occur during the third day, you might want to ask the doctor to allow changing patches every two days, leaving the old patch on for the third day (for a one day 'overlap'). This can keep the fentanyl level more uniform (if insurance allows it). It might also help if he also wears a clonidine patch (such as the Catapres-TTS series). These can improve pain relief, and also reduce withdrawal symptoms at the end of the fentanyl patch's useful life. Another option may be to use an intrathecal pump (like a morphine pump). Since the pain med is delivered directly to the central nervous system, significantly lower dosages are required. This can really reduce side effects, resulting in a vast improvement in quality of life.