anyone use fentanyl patches?

[littleboyblue]

I just got prescribed a fentanyl patch for lower back pain. I was using 60 mg OC before. Has anyone used these before and had success with them?

[mellie4]

This is a very old thread.  The last post before yours is dated July 2009.  If you want to make a post regarding Fentanyl, it would be better to start a new post.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with Fentanyl.  I was on it for nearly a year.  It did help my pain, along with my breakthrough medications, but I didn't like the side effects I experienced while on it.  Even though it wasn't the right medication for me, it does work wonders for some people.

I did not have the problem you did of becoming too tolerant to it.  I only increased my dose once in the beginning, as they started me on 50 mcg and it didn't help my pain.  When I went to 75 mcg. I had better relief.  When I went to go off it, I tapered it, and I had one or two days that were bad, but not as bad as when I went off oxycodone.  For me, that was far worse.

Everyone is different.  I think it's great we have this forum to share our experiences, but we all need to remember that what happened to one person won't necessarily happen to another.  I think it's very important for everyone to know whatever drug you're being put on, whether it's Fentanyl, another narcotic, or even an antibiotic.

[chin03]

I've been using fentanyl for one year ,starting 25 mcg to 50 mcg and  my opinion is that what pain fentanyl takes care of don't balance the withdraws that you are going to have to deal with.Your body will become use to the patch in short order and you well have to increase the dosage.After awhile dealing will no energy,depression and getting upset easily you well try and get off this on GODLY drug and this is where the most painful withdraw is going to start and it don't last for just 3 days but more like 9 weeks.So please think very very hard before you put the first one on.

[Babs1469]

I have been on the fentanyl patches and did not like them, My body didn't react well to them but that is only my experience I've heard so many people were able to get their lives back because of them. My advice is just to be careful and monitor your behavior and if you have someone close to you ask them to keep an eye on you for any changes in your behavior. My body was sucking up most of the medicine in the patch within the first 24 hours so I would feel great for a day then go through withdrawl for a day ( I was on 75 mcg every 48 hours) but i didn't realize it my husband had to threaten to put me in a psych ward for my mood swings before we realized it was the patches causing the changes in my personality.  As with any drug, there are pro's and con's it just depends on you and your life needs. I wish you the best of luck. Also, read anything you can find about the drugs. I do that with any new med I'm taking. Read the good the bad and the ugly so to speak to get a well rounded opinion formed for yourself. Then be sure to work closely with your pain doctor. Hope everything turns out well for you, i look forward to your post when you get to tell us all that you are feeling much much better  :  )

Take Care
Babs

[Mollyrae]

Hi Jezzabel,

This is an old post and might not be viewed by some. I would recommend that you post this as a new question...Start a new thread. You will get a better response.

Patches take some time to work. Tell your mother to give it a month.

[jezabel222000]

My mother-in-law has chronic back pain. Her doc 1st prescribed her Co-Codomol, they didn't give her any ease whatsoever. Next she was given Tramadol, then Dyclofenac, both not touching her. After crying & begging the doc for something stronger, he put her on the Fentanyl Patch (25mg), after her 1st week on them, she still go no ease so her doc has increased the dosage to a 50mg patch. It's 3 days later & she still has no pain relief. Whats going on? I thought these patches were super strong?? Can anyone advise on what to do next??

[mustangchik]

I was recently given the fentanyl patch 25 mg for trigeminal neuralgia pain. This is a severe facial pain cused by the nerves and blood vessels in your brain. If you google this problem they often refer to it as the "Suicide Disease". I was taking 10/325 percocet but they said they wanted me on something more long lasting. My body is very addicted on the percocet and now im affraid that the patches will still make me go through withdrawls. Can anyone fill me in on how fast these things work or will I be ok replacing this with the patches?

[TKP at age 42]

After having Total knee Replacement my doctor put me on .25mcg of fentanyl it did help with some of the pain. The only problem I encountered was due to warmer weather I sweat and it losened the patch then when I showered the patch came completely off by the 2nd day. The patches are suppose to last 72 hours and mine were falling off the morning of the 2nd day.

[brakethru_panes]

I have been on various meds to relieve my bone pain (leukemia) and a syndrome with the white blood cell involved which happenes to be one that crosses muscle tissue. I have multiple issues with pain, so I needed one that helped me with all of it. I ultimately found fentanyl was my drug. It didn't give me the headaches that longterm morphine did...or that toxic feeling from sustained release (higer)doses of oxycodone. I still use oxycodone for breakthrough pain.
However the fentanyl might be what offers me the quality of life I once did, but now cannot have without it....this comes at a price. I want everyone who uses this patch to fully be aware of the dangers. If you have any issues with it sticking to your skin, you need to constantly be concerned with it adhering properly. One falling off in your bed, and a 6 yr old crawling in to snuggle with you after a nightmare could prove deadly. I have searched my house on my hands and knees, finally finding the missing patch on the bottom of my 16 yr old's shoe. I have had them stuck to my underwear, wrong side out..lol, but this was no lauging matter. It changes its ability to stick and unless you are willing to tape it down good and be really patient for it to reestablish the proper release into your skin, you might be screwed and go into withdrawal.
Which brings me into the absolute worst part of taking my wonder drug.
I once went off it during christmas, to buy my oldest a set of drums. The name brand was the only brand available at the time and I did not have the 800.00 for my rx, plus, his present. I chose the present...and started what was the worst 2 days of my entire life. The symptoms which preceeded the severe convulsive like reaction were the usual withdrawal symptoms you usually see..severe fatigue, diarrhea-the worst I ever had in my life, the return of my severe pain, and then, the humiliation of being told I was a drug addict by the e.r. doc who had never seen me in her life...just made the assumption based on my behavior.
Of course, people have suffered much worse, but I had not. I was on the 100 mcg, went off cold turkey, along with waiting too late to refill my percocet 10 rx totalling 20 mg of the narcotic for breakthrough pain. The physical pain from this ordeal was horrible. I was screaming. This dr had not even bothered to call my dr, but would readily tell me my vocal chords were not affected by this and to shut up. I had brought the last box filled and was so honest about the issue. The nurses felt such empathy, but the e.r. doc showed nothing more than contempt. She put me out in a hallway to make me an example to others. She called me a drug addict. I was physically dependant, but I was not abusing the drug. I hated this experience so much, I went off all narcotics within one month-a bit hard with consideration of the doses I was on. I refused to be addicted to anything..and this was sad..because my kids had to watch me in pain all over again for another year and a half before I gave in and went to a pain specialist.
This guy explained there is a fine line, but a distinguishable one. You know what you do, your habits, your truths and lies..I waited another whole year before I tried fentanyl again..so afraid of the same thing happening all over again. And it will-the withdrawal that is, if I go off the same way again. This time, I know to taper and do it over a longer time frame than I did..and to not do it until I am ready.
I think other than w/d, you have to be really protective of your meds. People steal them and most drs will not give an early replacement even with a police report. As junkies will do anything, including lie about what happened to their supply-if anything actually had, drs have to implement some sort of policy to discourage those behaviors..and make sure you understand what you have in your possession is not like a bottle of tylenol. People will kill you for any narcotics, but especially the ones designed for chronic pain.
If you have pain relief from it, its a good choice..just prepare yourself for the realities that go with it. And then, enjoy your improved quality of life..witha healthy respect of caution!

[StephieBee]

Yes I used the fentanyl patches..25 mcgs about 4 years ago.  Back then they did not have the 12.5 out yet.

To this day they are the only thing that ever took my pain away.  They did make me a little groggy though and I did sleep alot.  I also got hot very easily.

I went off of them because I jumped from vicodin (i wasnt even on those for long) to the patches and I was only 22 and I had yet to try alot of other pain meds.  

Otherwise I would highly recommend them to anyone.  I find them to be very effective and you dont have to worry about taking a pill all the time.  You chage it every 72 hours (unless otherwise directed).

[Jaybay]

Yes, I have used the patch for well over a year, and it is doing a fabulous job with my pain.  Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about it.  I hope it works as well for you as it has for me.  :-)

[kaykev]

Yes, but I had an allergic reaction. I had severe head to toe itching. It seemed to help the pain a little but not enough to itch like crazy. I hope it works for you.