How Long Does A Fentanyl Patch Last

My dad has lung cancer and a rupture aorodia. And is blind and hospices. Has him on 25mcg/hr and they won't Change it 48 hr when it stops working has to be every 72 he put one on Monday. At 4pm and gets another one thru. Is this right and this is the only pain meds he on other than clonazepam 1mg. So is this right? Just wondering cause he stays in pain. ## Hello, Brandy! How is your dad doing? Yes, 72 hours is the normal dosing duration, though if necessary it can be changed every 48 hours. They can also raise the dosage, if necessary. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. However, given his condition, they may reluctant to ...

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I am new to fentanyl treatment but no stranger to narcotic treatment for severe sciatica in my left leg. I was prescribed the 12.5mcg and the pharmacy gave me the Mylan 12mcg. My first patch didn't do anything for over 6 hrs. so I put another one on. Took a hot shower, went to bed and woke up the next morning pain free for the first time in a VERY long time. Since I was only given 5 patches to last me 2 weeks, I was wondering how long they really last. I've heard that there's actually enough fentanyl in each patch to last 7 days. Is this really ture?? ## Hello, Dewy5150! How are you? You really shouldn't take a hot shower or be exposed to much heat, while wearing the patch, it tends to make it release faster, which could result in overdose. The FDA classifies this medica...

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The 25 mcg patch that I am on isn't taking my pain away. would it be safe to double up intil I go see my doctor next week? ## I am on the fentanyl 25mcg patch and I am still in pain. can I safely double up until I see my doctor? ## God no. Call your doctor now ## Take it from me if you double up on the fentyln patch without letting them take you up they will say you did it by yourself and let you go.I went to my pain ct. today and where I have been on the run from late last month I was in so much pain I had to take a few extra perocet which was a generic with ipo with a slash in the middle of it and it was not controlling my pain.I was doing back to back drs. appts plus doing mammagram where I have cancer in my lung breast and have lung cancer plus two failed back surgeries and beca...

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I am currently on a Mylan Fentanyl patch 50mcg/hr. I was on 75mcg patch which worked well with my pain but the patches dont last 48 hours. After about 30-36 hours I start having major withdrawel symptoms and pain. I had these withdrawels with both doses of the fentanyl patches. My dr dropped my down to 50mcg to see if it would help but it does'nt. I have some Dilaudid for breakthrough pain but it does'nt work at all for pain or withdrawel syptoms. The dilaudid is basically useless to me. Has anyone had a Mylan Fentanyl patch thats doing this?? I saw my dr today and he's considering taking me off the patches and back to the pills again. This really sucks. The patches have worked well for about 10 months now. ## Very sorry for what you are going through. It is possible that yo...

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Should a 12mcg/hr Fentanyl patch last longer than 6-7 hrs? I'm on a patch and it doesn't seem to work. ## Yes, they usually last about 72 hours, according to FDA reports, though some people with very severe pain change them every 48 hours. The NIH warns that this medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, constipation, and dry mouth. How long have you been using it? Are you on any other medications?

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I've been on heavy opiates since 2001. I am at the lowest I've ever been(150mcg/h) the patches say they will last 72hours. I have to change mine every 48. Is this common? Also today is the first time I'm using expired patches. Is this safe? ## Hello, Agro! How are you doing? They may be less effective, but as long as they aren't dried out, cracking/tearing and leaking, they shouldn't be dangerous. Did you run out of your regular prescription? This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. ## Yea I ran out...and was having insurance problems. They were so weak! I got my reg patches back tho. Thnx for the tip. Another question....they switched the b...

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Ok..so I've been on Suboxone 8mg strips for 2 years. However, I've been only taking 4mg a day starting a week ago and have only taken 1mg the past 2 days. I have a fentanyl patch because, frankly, I'm tired of suffering with my ungodly back pain. My question is probably predictable, but given the low doses I've taken, if I use the patch tomorrow morning, will I feel the effect? If I do use it, tomorrow morning will be 24 hrs since my last dose of 1mg suboxone. ## Generally, it takes 72 hours for the Naloxone in the Suboxone to process, before you can take other opiates and have them be effective, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, s...

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My husband is on a 12 mcg ratio-fentanyl patch every 3 days for pain management..I've noticed there is writing on the patch when I put it on him, & when I take it off, the writing is gone..I assume that's the way it's supposed to work.. The patches in the last box still had ALL the writing on them when I removed them, & he hasn't been feeling well for over a week or so..I opened a new box & it's doing the same thing- - writing still there..I plan to contact the company, but it's a holliday here, drugstore, doctor, all unavailable..Any ideas ?? Is the writing a clue that the patch is, or isn't working ?? ## I have never heard of a patch that used such a thing to show that it was working. It may help if I could check it out more closely, what countr...

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how long does the nausea and vomiting last? ## There is no way to say with certainty, much of it depends on the person. Without more information, such as the dosage and how long you were on it, I can't even really provide you with a rough estimate. Can you post back with more details? Thanks! This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. ## I started out on the 12.5 mcg. moving up to the 75 mcg over a eight month period. made me awful sick, weight loss, vomiting, abdominal pain ect.. went back down to the 50 mcg then 25 mcg. took that patch off 30 days ago. still having slight withdrawls. but, the nausea ( all the time) and vomiting ( 2-3 times a week) are very ...

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Hello. I am on the fentanyl patch, 125mcg every 72 hours. And ever since starting the patch I have been able to once again be more active. I exercise for an hour every morning and walk in the evening. My dr said the patch will last me 72 hours but by 48 and sometimes less, my pain begins to return and I start feeling withdrawl symptoms I use to feel on oxy or percs. I've tried telling my dr that I need to change every 2 days but he insists that this does not happen to anyone else. Does anyone here have the same issues? And are you feeling better results from different brands of the patch? ## Hello, Jessica! How are you? Your morning exercising may be causing the problem. There are actually warnings with the Fentanyl patch that tell you that anything you get hot, sweaty or overheated...

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I dont want them in the junk- or clogging the toilet... It sounds easy to do but how to get rid of a lot of them without people noticing I have them possibly?? ## Dear Aeon, u can bring them 2 a pharmacy and they will get rid of them 4 u. It's supposed 2 be private, where they ask no questions. ## I thought about that though last time I was at the pharmacy they had pamphlets for a day that everyone can bring their unused or expired Meds to some clinic- if you could just bring them to the pharmacy, why would they organize a day that you could do this? ## You can take them to your pharmacy any day and they will dispose of them for you. It doesn't have to be during a special organized event. Is there anything else I can help with? This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potenti...

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I was on fentanyl for 3 years. I lost half of my monthly dose and just didn't take any. I had it last march 26 and JUST FOUND THE BOX! I have not been on any narcotics since then, I hurt really bad, is it safe to put on a patch? ## Have you consulted your doctor? What dosage are the patches? There may be some issues, since you went from being on it, to being off, then suddenly jump back on, without taking anything else in the meantime. Your tolerance levels may have changed, so I'd suggest consulting your doctor first. ## The out of date would not worry me as much as jumping back on. I'd suggest using breakthrough meds until you talk to Dr. You had no withdrawal. Did I miss the strength or no. I would not worry if its a start dose 12.5 or so

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I am a chronic pain patient and I have slowly got off hydrocodone 10mg-325 acetaminophen and acetaminophen#4 due to stomach issues. I also take other meds cyclobenzaprine diazepam, nortriptyline . I was prescribed the 25mg patch. after reading info with meds it states DO NOT TAKE IF NOT ALREADY USING OPIOID PAIN MED. I am scared to death to try this med. Because I have not used pain meds continually in the last 6 months. Is this safe to start? ## Fentanyl is a very strong opiate narcotic, it is over 80 times stronger than Morphine. Learn more Fentanyl details here. The main issue I see with it, apart from it being so strong, is that it really leaves you nowhere else to go in the future. Generally, it should be the last resort medication, after other options have been exhausted, since th...

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I can't find a pharmacy that has 100 µmcg patches patches in Houston ## Hello, Chrystal! How are you? I'm very sorry about the problem that you're having. We are now into the time of year when there is usually a shortage of controlled substances, due to mandatory manufacturing limits. Once a manufacturer reaches their yearly allotted limit, they cannot manufacture any new product, until after the new year. Every year, we inevitable end up with demand exceeding the supply, which results in a shortage for the last few months of the year. This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. The best suggestion I can make is to see what your pharmacy does have...

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I was prescribed fentanyl patch 25 mcg but I cannot even tell I have one on. I have tried placing it on different areas of my body to see if it will absorb better but I just do not feel like I am getting any medicine. Anyone else with this problem and any solutions please would help I have had two back surgeries and just had neck surgery so I really need relief ## Harley. I hope your doing better today. I have had many experiences with Fentanyl and it's good that you don't feel it. I have had some that fall off. It does take time to be absorb into your system via your pores. Please be careful with taking hot showers it tends to absorb much quicker, thus not lasting as long. I have asked the pharmacist to see if they have special cover ups for the patch while in shower. I am gett...

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Hello I have been on fentanyl since December. I started having pain at the patch site the last three months. I called my doctor they told me that I was the first one to have this side effects. I was wondering if this a common problem or not. ## No, this is something I've not seen mentioned before. Irritation of the skin has been known to occur at the patch site, but not pain. Do you always apply it so the same spot? This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

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i have been on fentanyl 25mcg for about a yr. i am decreasing to 12.5 mcg for a week and then no more patches after. how long will it take to considering the info. will it take for the withdrawal to start and stop. i understand everyone is different. i will be taking valium 5mg for a couple days to ease the effects. any info would be great. ## Yes, everyone is different, so it really makes it hard to say, because it is going to vary. I stopped heavy doses of Oxycodone and Morphine cold turkey, after being on them for about 6 or 7 years for pain management and my withdrawal symptoms lasted for about a month. Hopefully the Valium will help. Has your doctor given you any other advice? ## Thanks for ur info. Several yrs ago I stopped fiorcet w codeine (on it for 4 yrs) and it took about tha...

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I can't seem to find a straight answer. I'm stopping the 12 mcg fentanyl patch (with Drs instructions). I have 7.5mg Percocet for withdrawal for a few days but everyone is leaving me believe my withdrawal won't be too bad. I called the pharmacist. She said withdrawal will last 48 hours. That seems too good to be true. So, anyone know?! ## It really depends on the person and how long they've been on it, so you may not experience any withdrawal symptoms, or you may experience them for a few weeks, there's no way to be certain. I believe the pharmacist may have been referring to how long it takes to exit your body, which is approximately 48 hours after last use. The FDA warns that possible withdrawal effects could include nausea, vomiting, chills, rebound pain and diarr...

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Hi I'm on 100 mcg I do know when they run but they don't seem to do much. What is better then this for osteo pain? Thanks ## Fentanyl is the strongest narcotic opiate that's available, it's over 80 times stronger than Morphine. How often do you change the patch? What other medications have you tried? ## Hi Patch is every 3 days, I cant recall the names, but there has been allot of different tablets etc over the last 24 months. People keep saying these patches are the strongest etc yet I find they don't really make any difference on me at all, If I don't take them there is no real noticeable change. ## Is it that you dont get the euphoria? Because I use it and I don't even feel like I'm on it. But it works great for the pain. Get some percocet for breakthr...

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I have been on the 100 mg patch and Percocet for my Crohns and Colitis for years. Last week I went cold turkey on my own recognizance. I had my 2nd colostomy surgery which elevated my pain mostly, hence quitting. I am having insomnia and terrible joint pain but never had I been more clairvoyant in years. I take Advil for my back and work out 4 days a week which helps sweat the toxins out. Exercise releases natural endorphins which are like a synthetic morphine so my specialist says. Its up to each individual to face their own truth. When you're ready to quit, you know. I wouldn't advise you to do what I did but that's always been my personality. I quit smoking this way as well. Its not for everyone. Good luck all. After the storm comes the sunshine, TRUST ME! ## HI Iceman, T...

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