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Hydrocodone conerstion to Fentanyl Patches 12mc
I have been on 4-5 Vicodin (500's) for about 2 months after being off them for years. 9 years ago I developed a dependancy/addiction to vicodin after 3 major surgeries. The reason I'm back on this crap is very complicated, its not pain, but the reason is not germain to my question. Earlier I ran out of Vicodin (due to my own stupity) and was 4 days without. The withdrawl symptoms were in a word HORRIFIC. I saw my doc today and she put my on Fentanyl Transdermal System 12mcg/hr. Before I left the office she was kind enough to relieve my discomfort witha 10mg shot of morphine to cover the transition time. By the time I got the Rx filled an the patch on me ( that was about 4 hours ago ) most of the nice releive i got from the morphine was gone. I am now getting the creepy crawlers much like withdrawl and am very very cranky. My question is: Is 12mcg/hr of this stuff very much. The info I can get tells me its about 1/10 of a 500 vicodin an hour. Also what happens if I obtain a small amount of vicodin to combine with this patch to off-set withdraw symptoms. Any and all infromation as to how this patch compares to vicodin is welcome. Thank you very much for your time and input.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hopefully soon they will figure it out soon. We will be here to support you~~~
Thank you for your thoughtful answer. I am hoping that the fentanyl "peak" or theraptic level is a few hours away and I shall feel better. Honestly the condition that the drug is trying to treat appears to be working which is great, but I the withdrawl feelings are agrivating and interfere in my life substantially. So also, if you dont mind, after the 3 day periood is up and i replace the patch, do I have to wait another 8-12 hours for the drug to reach the needed level...can i leave on the old patch for several hours after I appy the new one? And to answer Dominosarah's question..HELL YES....as soon as they can figure out thie issue at hand I am LOATHE to withdraw, however, I want as far away from this damned drug as i can get.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I would ask your pharmacists how this compares. Are you thinking about getting off these meds at some point?
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http://www.thedrugmonitor.com/analgesics.html#fentanylpatch
On this site they convert various fentanyl doses into an equivalent morphine dose. It is widely accepted that morphine and hydrocodone are fairly similar, almost identical in terms of potency (http://www.globalrph.com/narcoticonv.htm) although i consider this comparison too generous and see hydro as being more akin to dihydrocodiene
So, 12mcg of fentanyl is equal to 22.5mgs - 65mgs of morphine per day which in turn is equal to the same amount in hydrocodone. You say you are on 4-5 5/500mg per day( you realise the 500 is a reference to the amount of acetaminophen and not the amount of hydrocodone? I think your doctor has got your dose spot on.
Anyway, i hope that helps. All the best Jeremy