Fentanyl 50 Mcg/hour Transdermal Patch (Page 3) (Top voted first)

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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I think you are speaking of a reaction that YOU had as I also have P.T.S.D. from a job incident and take xanx and have also been on clonaphin, going back on that tomorrow and have NEVER had the type of experience that you describe. Both my pain doc. and shrink know what meds I am on and have NEVER mentioned that as a concern.

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If you were given Dilaudid at the hospital IV and you had a "bad feeling" as if you were going to die or have a heart attack or any other very powerful strange feeling it could be because it was "pushed" - meaning the nurse injected it into your iv line way too fast. This drug needs to be infused very, very slowly. The nurse should have had to wait about 5 minutes, injecting a small amount at a time. I am an RN and had the same experience. I felt horrible palpitations and flushed and my chest was pounding. Some nurses don't know how to administer this potent drug, especially iv or don't want to take the time to do it correctly because of their hectic schedule.

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Ok I think the patches are a great way for people to get relief from chronic back pain. They are safe as long as they are not chewed on. But I think u will find them to be very helpful for your pain. Especially if u continue taking your vicodin for breakthrough pain ( if u even had any on the patches they are effective)

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Hearhear!

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Hi to all with questions regarding Fentanyl patches. I have been using these for a few years now and they are life savers. I have degenerative disc disease, herniated L4/5,hip bursitis, Ostio arthritis and several other spinal problems. Along with the Fentanyl patches I take a low dose ms contin for breakthrough pain and if for some reason I'm having severe pain I also take endone. These are the only medications that give me any quality of life, and even though that's fairly limited I'm out of bed, I'm able to drive the car, take care of myself etc. I honestly feel I have tried everything besides surgery(not keen to go there) and this is the best. I'm 39 and have been suffering the above for 6yrs. I'm a single parent and am on a disability payment. I encourage anyone to give the fentanyl a go as I'm very tolerant to everything but find success with this. I also take an anti depres and it has no effects on my pain meds.
I know this sounds terrible but I'm glad I'm not the only person of my age with these probs.. I feel very alone in this situation and it drives me crazy, I find because it can't be seen people doubt my situation. I lost my husband and my family through this so it's been an emotional struggle along with unbearable pain. I'm so thankful for my D.R and friends for their care and understanding. All the best to anyone suffering in pain as I know it's unbearable and certainly no way to live. Good luck in finding the medications that work for you. Xx Melissa

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I started on 100 mch/hr and worked back down to 50 patch in 3-4 months. only Took acetaminophen for Breakout. High Morphine was the only help in a bad spasm arthritic low back/neck situation. The Pain Dr.s retired me, a Mechanical Engineer at age 59. Too much concrete , hours 60, and stress. Tried everything. Fentanyl and 1 mg Alprazalam for nerves/spasms and 4 acetos per day gave me my life back. If what you'redoing starts to hurt, change what your doing... I have sleep apnea, and was afraid, but stay in Rx amt and you'll be ok. The Zquiet mouthpiece stopped my alnea ist and evertg night. It keeps your lower jaw up and out, no stoppage. Good Luck. I've been same rx amt. for 11 years.

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Hello

I was on 30 mcg buprenorphine patch (1 10 and 1 20) Doc put me on fentanyl temporarily to resolve insurance issue. I find the fentanyl works better but cannot use the Subutex for break-through pain because buprenorphine pushes the fentanyl out of the receptors...it has a very high affinity for certain receptors. Even Web MD counsels against mixing buprenorphine with other opiod meds.

BTW-Heroin and cocaine are not naturally occuring drugs like marijuana. Those two substanes have to be formulated from a base sustance. However, I have heard that heroin is a very effective painkiller, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Fentanyl was first described as synthetic heroin but its use has shown that it does not mimic the qualitative effects of heroin, only the quantitative effects. It does seem rather stupid to outlaw it for pain mitigation...heroin is a "boogey man" at the DEA.

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Your post caught my attention. I am on the Fentanyl pain patch 50mcg along with Klonopin, Ambien CR 12.5 Norco 10/325 and seizure meds which cause drowsiness. I have sleep apnea and asthma along with chronic bronchitis (I was a preemie so a lot of respritory problems) this patch has been the first thing that has given me any relief with my back and neck pain. I'm aware of how hard it is to get off of it...but I also realize a life with pain that is tolerable is soooo worth it! Hope my 2cents helps! God bless.

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My story is somewhat the same. I'm 61 yrs old & have been dealing with cervical problems for about 9ish years. I've had 27 epidural's. Have been to at least 7 neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, etc. All but one said surgery but never once the same procedure was recommended. One surgeon said too much was wrong with my neck that surgery wasn't an option. This is heritary & not from an accident. I am on permanent diability & became addicted to pain killers. BUT, agree that when you find a physician that is everything that's 50%+ of the battle. No one believed my pain was as bad as I said it was. Only until my wonderful sister went with me to all these doctor's did my boyfriend, family & friends believe me. I was on oxycotin & oxycodone (not taking as directed due to the pain) switched to two 100mg patches every 48 hrs! went down to 25mg every 3 days and went off them. Fortunately, no withdrawals. This took about 2 months. Unfortunately, the pain has returned and I am back on oxycodone but the quantity is much much less as before. I've tried accupuncture, accupressure, physical therapy, massage & everything but surgery. I too will never be pain free and have a minus100% pain threshold. Don't give up, pray as you say & for all you out there be proactive in your healthcare.

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I honestly suggest not going up in dose if you can handle what you're on now. I just recently got off of Fentanyl and it's a nightmare. I was on 100mcg/hr every 48hrs for a year after a horrible flare up from RA, 2 bulging discs and degenerative disc disease. Now that I feel the worst of my RA has been calmed with other medicines, I know longer need the strong narcotic and stick to lower doses on safer medicines. But this is just a suggestion. Stay as LOW as you can. I believe that you're relatively lucky to only need the 50mcg/hr for the course of 5 years! But just know, that if you would like to come off of it, you'll need to taper slowly and be ready. Hope that I've helped somewhat :)

Also, I see that you have nerve pain. Have you tried a medicine like Lyrica or Gabapentin like Nuerontin? This may help you in your quest to get off the narcotic pain meds :)

Avaritia

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50MCG is pretty low. I started at 25, moved up alowly to a therapeutic level. I'm on 100MCG and also take Norco (vicodin) 10/325 for break through pain. Along with Zanaflex for muscle spasms and Clonapin. 25MCG is the lowest you can go on Fentanyl so it would be great if you could stay on that low of a dosage. I rarely see people NOT have to increase their dose eventually. Blessings!

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Well it sounds like you tried to be off med’s, that is my goal one day, but for now, the pain is too permeating and I cry! I don’t every wnt to raise my dosage (been on 50mg for 4 yrs with Vic/break through) and I feel odd as my dose is low and it keeps working. I still get pain, but I lay down to get it down, or take a flexerol. I have really bad neuropathic pain; dics bulging, fibromyalga, neck spams, lower body pain and my spine feels as if I am being impaled at times. I feel worried because at “only 50 yrs old†I worry what my pain future will be like. I wonder if it will ever go away and it’s been 6 years this month. I do believe some of us can get off of meds--but I also truly believe some of us addiction wont be an issue since the pain might or will always be there due to changes in the nervous system.
How areyou now? is your pain better?
Take care of yourself and blessings, v

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I get so SO WORN Out DAILY even after just a couple hours of any activity and dont know if it’s the med’s or the pain or the spinal cord misfiring muscle weakness, HOW DO WE EVER SORT THIS OUT when we have multiple issues. I tried NOT beiong on PM’s and the pain was so high I would literally want to die and cried and my psychology would change. I have never beena drinker, smoker, drug user, etc and am not addicted in the psychological sense, but I wonder will I always need PM’s and if always have neuropathic pain, will it matter if I am additcted?
it’s a hard life to be on PM’s and I pray that one day I can be well again. But for now,, I feel in my heart of hearts, this is the lesser of the 2 evils: PM’s or CP. AND it’s like chemotherapy: yes, CHEMO is poison, but cancer is worse! SOmetimes we have to take poison and it’s not easy and yet people judge

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I'm in the same boat. The patches help me a lot. I still get days with over whelming pain. One thing yo be careful with the patch don't get over heated, and take only as prescribed. It is addictive but chronic pain strips you of taking part in life and this has helped me. Consult your doctor with your concerns. I'm only a patient not a doctor, and I'm going by what has taken the edge off so that I get fewer days with debilitating pain which helps me to be active more then before fentenyl. I do my best when I'm up and moving around on my feet. As soon as I sit or worst lay in bed at night the pain is sometimes hard to bear. So ice the most severe area, this will numb the pain and lay on your stomach( I know that's hard) this will unload your spine in take the pressure off. My best to you.
Someone that understands

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In a perfect world, or pain world, I would hope to keep my fantanyl patch at 50mg for as long as possible...but its been over 3 years and I hope this is a good sign that I have never needed it upped, but its also wierd because I hear I should of built a tolerance and pain be worse but it’s the same, If I am forget to change my patch my pain is bad but I suppose my dosage is what they call a THERAPEUTIC DOSAGE? AND I HOPE TO KEEP IT AT 50 MG, ANYONE ELSE BEEN ON THE SAME DOSAGE FOR 3 YEARS OR MORE?

I am scared at times for fear after reading there are occasional mishaps with pain patches where they leak out more and people died, that is so SCARY! yet I need this and take this chance, i suppose with this level of pain we have to take the chance because the pain is not living at all

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I've had spinal problems in my L-5 area for the last 10 years or so. Spent thousands of dollars on MRI's and Doctor visits. Wasted almost 2 years seeing a pain specialist giving me injections and keeping me addicted to oxycontin. I finally said enough is enough of him draining my bank account and not getting any better pain wise. Went back to my family Doctor and had him just put me on hydrocodone so I would'nt go through withdrawals from stopping oxycontin. Stayed on hydro's for a few years with still having pain in my lower lumbar area. Would go to work with pain, but was able to get through my days on the hydro's. Well, this year when I went outside to my truck for a break time back around Feb. or March, when I stepped out of my truck to the ground, I felt something wrong. By the time I walked back to my work area I had raging pain going down my leg and in my lower lumbar. I went home. My family doc sent me to a surgeon which had me do another MRI and he found that I had a ripped/torned disk and two small fractures in my spine. I had surgery back in June and had rods,screws, and fusion done on my L-5. I have ever since my surgery not been able to bend, squat, walk, climb stairs, get up out of a seat, drive far, or even sit back in a chair propped with thick pillows without severe pain. The surgeon sent me to a pain management doctor again for a nerve block injection on both sides of my pelvis area. Didn't do any good at all. Suprise, suprise. I've been down that route before without any success. Anyway He has had me on generic oxycodones for the last several Months. 10 mgs at 6 @ day max. And generic valuim for muscle spasms. My family doc has had me on xanax 2 mgs for the last year or so for anxsiaty and then also blood pressure pills. Well last week my surgeon put me out of commission to work until December and to do itensive physical therapy. He put me on Fentanyl 50 mcg/h patches for 72 hours. My problem is that I'm getting pain breaking through at times and not lasting 72 hours. seems to start to wear off the seond day on it also. Any suggestions on what I should ask my surgeon for extra relief without him thinking I'm just a junkie wanting more pain killers ? I hate this pain I have to go through. Its draining me mentally being at home. I can't even get myself to go outside and change the oil in my 4x4. I don't even have to jack it up. By the way, everyday after I get up, I have to lay down on my side after 3-4 hours to relieve the pressure pain in my pelvis area.

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I understand where you are coming from "SICK OF IT" I am so frustrated. I went up the Fentanyl patch scale...25, 50, 75, 100. Now I'm on 100mcg/hr and Vicodin 10/325. Plus zanaflex muscle relaxer. Plus Ambien cr at night oh and let me not forget klonapin. Honestly I have very little pain relief. Like you all have said after 2 days my patch does not work. It seems after 24 hours the pain is nearly full blown again.

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KizAnn, When I was seeing the pain specialist he also put me on gabapentine which is actually used for people that have siezures, but its suppose to help with nerve pain. It didn't help me. I threw a whole bottle of them away. I think they were like 400 mgs@ pill.

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The drugs do work, the problem is all back patients will always have pain the rest of your life. There is the pain that reminds you yes you have a bad back then there is the pain oh God help me.If you are looking for 100% relief you are taking too much medications.You must feel some type of pain..There are clinics to wing you off the drugs then start over MS Contin time release 30 mg and Durogesic 50 micrograms. You will not feel HIGH if you are looking for the HIGH>>> you are not in pain.Also Pineapple Juice is suppose to help and taking aspirin iburpren with marcotics also. Us back Pain people will always have pain..sorry that is life.. Once we do our backs in as we get older it should get better.. or worse. Everyone is different.That horrific pain that can drive you crazy no.. no one should live like that.. Stick to one doctor and try different drugs, you must switch your drugs every 6 months and go off the drug for at least 3 days, then start again..When you first start taking Durogesic you will feel a little druggy, yet it does work, yes you will have some pain, But if you can function, drive or walk that is an improvement.
Emergency rooms will stablise your, PAIN and Emergency rooms are abused for narcotics..I am taking 20 mg oxynorm 6 times daily and 1 durogesic patch and I can drive, work in the garden and still have leg pain.. nerve damage is irreverisble.... Management is the key a good doctor who believes you are not abusing the drug and Xray films to verify your conditions. or pallative doctors treat you for a life time.
Australia does not allow lortab or vicodin.. there are over 1000 narcotics one will work... There is a morphine pump also.. that can be implanted inside. Again pain doctor or pain management clinic I would start there. Once a year I go to a pain specialist and get MRI, Cat Scans etc.. evaluates my drugs for the year and make changes. You must change your drug in order for the medication to work and do not take 2 instead of one, or three, then the medication will never work. My script is suppose to last 30 days I make it last 6-8 weeks... Bad bad bad days yes I might take 6-8 tablets other days 2-4 tablets.. My heart goes out to anyone in pain...broken back and neck...bone fragments on the nerves... I think is the worse.. I would do anything for a buldging disc.. eveyone is different.. Do not use the internet go to a Doctor the internet can really confuse you... and all these statements and self diagnosis can cause a mental nightmare...a real doctor at a real clinic..Doctos can be sued if you become addicted... and start mixing and matching the best cure for pain is marjunanna.. The nerve pain goes away within 1 hour, I can stand up... my spasms are a level 2... I feel human... Oh yes Pot I never thought I would ever say this. iF Used about 3-4 times daily as medication IT can improve your life and reduce your narcotic intake. Now taking 8 tablets and smoking 10 joints is"NOT" a good idea. THE USA should make it available for pain control it does work... My partner tells me every day if it was not so expenise she would go out and buy me a bag... and to go to jail for 5 years for a bag of pot is crazy... The USA has gone bonkers... Australia is what America should be...My script for 140 tablets cost $32.00 for oxynorm 20 mg at 160 tablets. and Durogesic patches at $12 for 5 patches.and if you get stopped for pot IN aUSTRALIA you get a ticket and have to go to druG CLASSES . I am NOT suggesting for anyone to take drugs or use pot. Please speak to your doctor and be honest TO exactly what you are taking, drinking and using... In order to get good treatment you must be honest with your doctor.. Good luck to every i HAVE STENOSIS

Cauda equina,NERVE COMPRESSION, 10 SCREWS, LUMBAR, 4 SCREWS NECK..END PLATE, ETC...YOU CANT KEEP THIS CAT OFF THE ROOF

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I've been on the fentanyl patch for over 10 years. I had an auto accident that left my back in dire straits. First the 25 then 50. To supplement that I have oral morphine and lortab if needed. Lortab tends to make me moody and nauseated. The morphine when I do take it stops the withdrawls inbetween patches as I forget to change it. I've now been on 50mcg for 8 years without change. It is during the fall and winter months that the meds increase. During the spring and summer the patch does just fine still. A word of warning though, through the years I've tried to come off of it.... a dangerous thing to do without medical help.

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