Fentanyl 50 Mcg/hour Transdermal Patch (Page 13)

I WAS PRESCRIBED THE 50 MCG/HR FENTANYL PATCH FOR CHRONIC BACK PAIN & DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE. I WAS GIVEN THE PRESCRIPTION SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. I JUST GOT IT FILLED 2 DAYS AGO BECAUSE I'M AFRIAD TO USE IT. I HAVE READ ALL THE PATIENT INFO, RESEARCHED IT ON THE NET & TALKED TO SEVERAL PHARMACISTS AS WELL AS MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. ALL OF THE PHYSICIANS & PHARMACISTS TELL ME THAT THE PATCH WILL HELP ME WITH THE DAILY PAIN. THEY SAY THAT THE PATCH SHOULD NOT CAUSE ME ANY HARM BUT THE ONE TING THAT'S STOPPING ME FROM USING IT IS THE RESPIRATORY SIDE EFFECTS & POSSIBLE OVERDOSE. I'M SEEKING SOME ADVISE FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE USED THIS DRUG BEFORE WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD OR BAD OUTCOME.

I AM OPOID TOLERANT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PAIN FOR THE LAST 5-6 YEARS. WHEN I HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH OF PAIN & HAVE TO SEEK EMERGENCY TREATMENT OTHER PAIN MEDS GIVEN (IV OR IM) DON'T WORK ANYMORE. ER'S HAVE GIVEN ME MORPHINE & IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE THE EDGE OFF THE PAIN. DILAUDID DOESN'T WORK UNLESS I'M GIVEN MORE THAN 3MG'S & THAT WEARS OFF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR IF IT LASTS THAT LONG. WHEN I'M IN SEVERE PAIN MY PRESSURE RISES. I'M AFRAID OF THE PATCH B/C I DON'T WANT TO FAINT OR PASS OUT FROM A DROP IN MY PRESSURE. I'M CURRENTLY TAKING VICODIN 7.5/500 EVERY 4 HOURS. I HAVE NOW BUILT A TOLERANCE FOR THE VICODIN AND IT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO PERCOCET 5/325 & SOMETIMES I CAN TAKE UP TO 3 OF THEM EVERY 4 HOURS.

I'M ALSO ON OTHER MEDS THAT I BELIEVE WILL INTERACT WITH THE FENTANYL. I TAKE LEXAPRO, ATIVAN, CLONIDINE DAILY. I NEED SERIOUS HELP!!!

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My mom has cancer of unknown primary that spread to her lymph nodes in her neck. They did every test and did not find the primary site. She is 77 and is on 100mcg fentanyl and 40 mg hcl cr onyneo three times a day. It scares me is this to much meds for her age.

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Pretty simple question, I hope. I have fibromalyga and many spine and disc problems. I am also in my mid 40's and have started to get the dreaded hot flashes. I get very hot and sweaty. I am on my 2nd pack of 50 MCG fentynal. They definitely do not work for the full 72 he's. Could this be because the hot flashes are causing the medication to release at a higher doses during these periods and has anyone else had this happen? Even if it's due to physical exhortation or very hot weather?

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I have degenerative disk disease (L4-L5)ruptured, sciatica nerve pain and osteostenosis. I have been on opiots for 6 years. I Started with Lortab10/ 325, quickly placed on percocet 10/325. Since perc is oxy, I changed to oxycodone (perc minus the tylenol)due to tylenol causing liver damage. I have remained on oxycodone since, 15 mg for 6 months then 30 mg for the last 5 years. Oxycodone is IR ( instant release) and wears off fast (so my doctor gave me Fentanyl with it ER (extended release). I did an oxy while having a fentanyl patch on and it made my heart race and blurred vision. I thought I was overdosing. I believe the oxy metabolized too fast and I felt I was going to die so I stopped the fentanyl. I then tried opana for my(ER) instead and it is oxy&morphine combined. Opana worked but it's hard to locate and outrageously expensive if you don't have insurance like me. I then decided since I take oxy that's half of what's in opana, to switch to morphine ER. Both medicines make an opana and is easy to find and much less expensive. So...I now take oxycodone IR 30 mg 4x a day and morphine ER 60 mg 2x a day. I also take Zanaflex (muscle relaxers) to keep my muscles relaxed and to provide better sleep. I can say from going on seven years now of living with chronic pain that my combination of medications are a great regimen and provide excellent pain management.

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I was on fentynal 50mcg changed it every 2 days. but i was no oxycodone too. But if have to use it correctly as the Dr. says. i know after a while like any other narcotic. you get use to them and it donesnt feel like its working and more. DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN PRESCRIBED. i did that and i woke up in a hospital. i had no idea what had happened, but i ODed and was lucky not to die. just tell your doc about how its not working as well and it did before and if your feeling pain again, remember to tell him.

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AS I wrote about a year ago. I take 100mcg Fentanyl change every 72 hours. Even when I first started taking these patches some 6-7 years ago, they have never lasted anywhere close to 72 hours. They work for about 48 hours and the third day is hell from pain and withdrawals..My DR. would have no part of giving me 15 patches a month instead of 10 so that I could change them after 48 hours. He told me I take enough pain medication for any condition.. I also take 30mg OXYCODONE tablets. I have been on those for over 10 years and all they do now is keep me from having w/draws. My body is so used to them that I bet it would take about 7 pills at once to do anything, but I do not abuse my meds as I can't let myself run out of oxy or Fentanyl or I would be in big trouble with pain and w/draw's. I hate having to take the Oxy to keep withdrawal pain from being so bad after 48 hours of wearing the patch. After the 72 hours are up my body is so give out from hurting with withdrawals that I dread it in advance..Don't understand why he wont let me change it after 48 hours, its not taking more meds as its just removing one patch for a new one, but its a big deal to him (doc). Only thing I can think of is DEA pressure is very heavy here in Tulsa, they have shut down numerous DR.'s the past two years and are looking over all the pain management DR.'s shoulder. They also have restricted how much Oxycodone each pharmacy can carry and trying to get your script filled is as hard as winning the lottery even at the pharmacy I have went to faithfully for the last 11 years. My pharmacy has only had enough Oxy to fill my script twice in the last twelve months. Walgreen's will not fill scripts for Oxy at all. I am weighing the thoughts of just start taking Methadone if it will stop the withdrawals. This being ok for two days and then being hit on the third day over and over is taking its toll on my everyday thinking bringing depression and unhealthy thoughts with it.
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ive been using the patch for about 10 years now... the 75mcg... ive never had any bad reactions or respitory issues... I had a back surgery that left me in permanent pain and thank god for the patch or I wouldn't even be able to get out of bed in the morning... it does keep me from good sleep because of the hourly pain med it releases.. but id rather be up without pain than up with severe pain!!!!

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I have problems with a blistering red painful rash around the edges of the patches which worsens when I'm hot and sweaty. Any suggestions?

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I appreciate your comments very much. Until people have been in our shoes, they don't really know what it's like to live in constant pain. I have degenerative disc and joint disease, non-alcoholic hepatic stetosis (liver disease), Barrett's esophageal disease, asthma and COPD. I think that's quite enough myself lol I have had 1 back surgery back in 1995 and have been on pain meds ever since and they keep getting stronger as my tolerance goes up. I have been to back specialists and they have told me that I am in-operable because of the fast pace in which my back is deteriorating. I also have 72% spinal deterioration according to my last MRI. I just started on the 50mcg/HR of the Fentanyl today and I am to keep 1 patch on for 3 days to start with. Before the Fentanyl I was on OpanaER 15mg and had to be taken off of them because of breathing problems. I am also on oxycodone HCL 15mg and take 1 every 4 hours as needed for breakthrough and let me tell ya, I take those 6 per day! Unless I don't want to be able to get out of my chair that day. I have also been switched from Lorazepam 1mg 3x's per day to Clonazepam 1mg 3x's per day as the Lorazepam has started to become ineffective. I have also found that meditation really helps me a lot as well. I am able to quiet my mind and get in the "zone". There is nothing better than feeling that peace that comes with meditation :) Sending all that suffer from chronic pain my Love and Blessings for healing. Namaste~♥

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I think starting at 50 MCG might be the problem, especially considering all the other meds. I started on 12 MCG every 3 days & eventually went up to 75 MCG every 2 days. I used 8 mg Dilaudid for breakthrough every 6 hours as needed. Fentanyl is quite powerful so we have to be careful. With the help of weekly deep tissue massage, warm water aerobics, chirp & TENS unit I weaned (gradually) down to 25 MCG & 2 mg Dilaudid twice a day

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you are taking too much

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Hello I have been on the 75mcg patch for a year. I have had no adverse side effects from it. I also take several meds with it.

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My story is so similar to everyone of these patient. I believe that only those of us in this type of pain can relate to one another. It's like one alcoholic can relate to another alcoholic. I have just began taking my Fentanyl Transdermal 50 mcg/h. I have been on a lot of different medications. Upon running out of 120 Norco's a month 10-325 I would go out and spend nearly $300 or more in the street. Now, well we will see if this works. I am grateful to the persons who have told their stories. God Bless You All!!!

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Hi Lori, when I used my first patch of the fentanyl, I experienced the same thing as I have hyperhidrosis (sweating condition) and the patch made me break out for the first 2 times I used the patches. For me, it did go away after that. In about the second patch, I even felt like the area was bruised. Like someone punched me in the arm. That also went away. In my opinion, now that I am used to the fentanyl, this is the best medication I have ever been on to take care of the chronic pain I go through. As for the sweating them off, I use tegaderm patches by Nexcare which can be purchased at the pharmacy for about $10 for a box of 10. They are waterproof and keep the fentanyl patch in place very well and keeps it dry. I hope that this has helped you a little bit Lori. I wish you all the best! Especially healing :)

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Try "tegaderm". It is made by Nexcare and the box I get comes with 10 in it and is around $10. I have a sweating condition (hyperhidrosis) and the tegaderm helps to keep the patch in place for the full 3 days that I wear the 50mcg/HR fentanyl patches. I hope this will help for you as well! Blessings

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Have you tried METHADONE??
I got prescribed methadone a Lil' over a year now after over 15yrs. Of bein (EXTREMELY HIGH OPIAD DEPENDENT. I have had norcos, etc., pretty Much everything. Well I have been complaining of EXCRUTIATING back pain, since I graduated High school .
FINALLY..they put me on something, being (METHADONE), I TELL YOU WHAT I...(%110) DO NOT. EVER HAVE/OR COMPLAIN of any pain issues whatsoever anymore. I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST talking to your doctor about trying (METHADONE)

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Have any of you on Fentanyl tried using the Mylan brand patches? I
sweat a lot as well & have sensitive skin. Mine stays on through swimming in both salt & chlorine pools. I have found that my mid-upper arm is the best location to keep it on.

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It's interesting that in spite of how well you follow the rules,doctors who discriminate against patients deliberately,even though you're legitimate and had been assigned to a pain clinic to receive monthly medicine,NOW due to the pharmacist leaving,PC has to pickup the slack.As a veteran under the control of UN-ACCOUNTABLE PHYSICIAN/ADMINISTRATION- veterans are paying a huge price.medication is being discontinued suddenly for NO reason, save the doctor can and NO one will challenge his behavior.

If I could take what is offered-I'd be glad as long as it works. However, when medicine that I've been on for 14+ years-even pain clinic pharmacist was approving- has been/is being denied, discontinued, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. I was put in the same situation x4 years ago. I couldn't handle the horrible pain, I asked a cop to take a shot at me as I was unable to deal with the debilitating pain. YET, I've almost begged the VA. APATHY IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO.

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I'm so sorry for what you are you going through. I had been on Fentanyl, Dilaudid & Flexeril for 1.5 years after a back injury. My PCP of 20 years was my prescriber, because he knew me better than the pain docs. When l moved to SC, l was not able to find a PCP willing to accept me & the pain management doctors flatly told me that he wouldn't write for either med. I used to fly back to my PCP every 3 months in order to get my meds. I was diagnosed with breast cancer & l thank God that my oncologist & surgeon personally convinced a new team of PM & PCP to accept me.
Are you eligible for Medicare?

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What kind of episode.i have psycogic episodes when i try antidepressants.noone else has posted about this.

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I don't like the way it makes me feel .. I have been on a lot of different pain meds nothing is helping anymore I sit and cry a lot .. and I have tried all the shots in my back and neck nothing helps ..They also told me no kind of surgery would help either I just give it to God to guide me through it

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I've been on 50mcg/hr Fentanyl Transdermal patch, for 9 years. I've had 4 major back surgeries and kidney stones...

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