Another Question...Vicodin W/D and Feneytal

[sonya923]

Ok, today I am picking up my RX for the Fenytal patch, my idea is not be on both the patch and still have to take Vicodin.  My question is if I just stop the Vicodin, if the patch works out great for pain management.  Will I have withdrawals from the Vicodin?... Also just want to know with the patch, do you get that spike In Energy like I get from the Vicodin, one of the things I did enjoy with the vicodin...haa haa... As it helps keep up  with my 2 and 10 year old..Just woundering. Just trying to imagine what I will feel like with the patch, I have to work and a Mom of 2...Thanks for the great advice again and again....Sonya

[sonya923]

Thank you Sherry, your post was very informative.  I hate to start the patch tomorrow being a work day.  The pharmacy was out of it on Friday when I went to fill it. I was hoping to be able to start it when I was at home.  I work a desk job.  And it's not always easy just to get up and go home if I don't feel well.  The patch sounds great, just very strong and I am worried about my initial overal feeling with it.  The patch a long with vicodin, I don't want to be out of it.  I still need to function all day.. my 2 year old is as active as they come and just as demanding.  No lying around in bed for me.  Thanks again.
Sonya

[namnam46]

Hi Sonya,

I'm so glad that you decided to give the Fentanyl a try. It's  that best thing that has ever happened to me. You won't have any withdrawals from your Vicodin. As Jaybay said you will need your Vicodin at the start while it is getting into your system. You will want to keep your Vicodin on hand for BT pain but you shouldn't need the number of pills that you were taking before once they get your dose correct on the Fentanyl. Usually the first dose of Fentanyl that they start you on isn't the one that you actually need. They will work you up slowly so that your system gets used to the strong medication. So hang in there, because once you get on the correct dosage you will feel soooo much better. There will always be  SOME BT pain at some point. It just happens. But my required amount of medication has dropped drastically. I was on the Norco 10/325 but had become immune to the Hydrocodone after being on it since 2003 and so they switched me to Percocet 10/325 (Oxycodone) but I just take a 1/2 pill (the equivalent of a 5/325 Percocet) every 8 hours or as needed. I cantake 1 full Percocet but I don't need it. Usually I will only take 1 a day maybe 2 when I have the BT pain. My goal is to not have to take so many pills because I take a total of 16 pills a day for OTHER med. problems (heart, BP, cholesterol, etc.) the pain meds are NOT part of the 16.

I'm hoping that you will have a steady amount of relief that allows you to play with your kids like you should be able to!!!

Please keep us posted!!.....Sherry

[Jaybay]

No, with fentanyl on board you will have no withdrawal symptoms from the vicodin.  However, it takes two or three days for the fentanyl to reach a steady dosage in your bloodstream, so you may need to overlap with the vicodin a bit as your body gets used to the change.

You will not get a "buzz" or as you put it, increased spike in energy from fentanyl that you experience with vicodin.  Vicodin is an immediate-release medication, which is why that reaction happens with most opiate-naive people.

The objective with fentanyl and other long-acting medications is to give you long-lasting relief without either pain spikes or "buzz" spikes.  

Give yourself a couple weeks on the fentanyl and see how you do.  You may, or may not, need to keep the vicodin on hand for breakthrough pain.

Also, try to start the fentanyl on a weekend or other time where you have a couple of days that aren't so busy or require much driving.  I went from norco (hydrocodone/vicodin) to the 25 mcg fentanyl patch.  I felt a little odd and spacey for the first couple of days but after that I was fine.  I think you will be fine too.  :-)