How Long Does Fentanyl Work After Taking Off Patch

I am prescribed fentanyl 25mcgs/hr. Sometimes I have trouble keeping the patch on. I had a couple fall off early this month and couldn't get my refill early. So I decided I would use Subxn to help if there was withdrawal. It worked good, but now it's time for me to stop and put back on my patch. I don't know how long I have to wait. I took 2mgs yesterday at 3pm. It's now 1pm. Is it too soon? ## You will be fine to take it, 2mg is a really low dosage- I take a-more than that. Suboxin is a opiate blocker- your patch may not seem as strong but I doubt it- If you take suboxin over a period of time 3days or more - then your patch would be a waste. That low of a dose will not effect that patch 2-day. But if you hadden take a 8mg gram suboxin- I would suggest wating 2days befor...

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my patch keeps coming off prematurely. can you recommend a solution? ## You can buy Tegaderm at Walgreen's, it's an occlusive dressing and apply it over the patch and as long as you don't have adhesive allergies it should hold through showers, etc. until the next patch is needed. Sometimes happens, may ask doctor about changing brands, some do better than others, good luck. ## I had the same problem.Went to Walgreen's and purchased Nexcare (I believe that's the brand). It is a clear sticky cover which works keeping the patch on! Went swimming, showering & used the jacuzzi. At times it was difficult getting them off. Good luck. Judy ## The other posters are correct, sometimes something else is required to help keep them on, such as another adhesive product, or wat...

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I have been using Fentanyl Patch for over a year now. I am up to 75 mcgs a day. I have been using Tegaderm over the patches to keep them off. They work very well. I have been using those almost as long as I have been on the patch. About 1 1/2-2 months ago, I started experiencing burns on my skin where the patch is. My mom calls them "chemical burns." It's hard to have the patches on as they itch so much and when I take them off, my skin is very red and then gets very scaly and starts to peel off (while still being very itchy.) I've not had a problem at all before this, and I have not brought it up to my doctor yet. Is it "wetness" that is doing this? Is it getting too hot underneath the patch because of the Tegaderm? That is just my guess. Or maybe my chest has ...

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These patches are lousy imo. Does anyone know which pharmacy regularly stocks other brands, not Apotex? I am on the 25 mcg patch. I live in Maine around only chain pharmacies. No private pharmacies around. I prefer Sandoz or Mylan as I have had both. Never the other brands but willing to try any other generic. Thanks for reading. ## Anyone can answer. You don't have to be from Maine. Thanks. ## I live in Canada, and I dont know if you can get TEVA Pharmaceuticals, but I use that Generic brand often and have no issues with it. Also, You could go brand name and get it from Jansen Pharmaceuticals. I have dealt with Jansen before about Fentanyl, they used to send me a box of 100 patch covers every 3 months to keep the patch from falling off. FREE. So I KNOW they will work with you. TRy ...

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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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hi ive been on a norspan patch (15mg) for some months. methadone tablets before that for some yrs post lower back fusion, S1-L5 in 2003. the norspan patch has not covered the pain control so my specialist ordered an MRI and now I have a protruding disc at L4. this was to be expected I was told due to the extra workload on my lower back. I have been given the fentanyl patch and told that it will be increasing next visit but I was not told to just stop the norspan or ween off slowly? Due to constant itching on the norspan Im coming off at 5mg/week anyway but not sure if now I should just take patch off and be done with it? I do not want to if possible go thru to many withdrawal symptoms? Thanks for any answers ## I am in a similar situation. Have been taking norspan 20mg for over 12 month...

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Been on fentanyl 50 mcg for 5 years, tried 3 attemps to get off but always went back because of feeling so horrible and do not have the luxury of staying home during this time, I am the only one working, my husband is disabled. I started breaking out with blisters (always had irritation). I had to change them every 1 1/2 days to avoid the blisters. Kept telling PM doc, and of course never listened, long story short cold turkey, major withdrawls, Its been 3 weeks, still feel bad, no energy, major breathing problems( since i've been off patch) feel like I can't get a breath. They did give me Oxycotin to take 20mg 2 a day. But doesn't seem to help at all. I work at a surgery Center. And have long and busy days and don't know how much longer I can drag my self. PM doc NO hel...

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Are there any prolonged side effects after 10 yrs of treatment? ## Hello, Shellbee! How are you? Long-term side effects usually entail the possibility of liver damage, but that would be detected via blood work, if your doctor is monitoring you and checking occasionally. 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. Is there anything else I can help with? ## I was just taken off of 50mcg fentanyl patches/72hrs, and put on oxycodone 20mg extended release with hydro/APAP 5mg/325 acetaminophen for breakthrough pain and I'm going thru withdrawl as well as being in pain. Everything I read here gives me the impression that this shouldn...

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On june 29, 2009 my doctor upped my Fentanyl from 50mcgs to 100mcgs. I applied one patch and had a reaction simaliar to an overdose. I immediately put back on a 50mcg patch and have been reducing the dose ever since. I am now down to 6.5mcgs or there about, I have been cutting Mylan brand patches in half, the quarters etc., I have been at this dose since the 10th of July. I really don't want to stick another one of these things on me, so does everyone think I've got it down low enough to come off this stuff? Thanks for your help. I do have ativan and percoset if needed. ## After doing exactly as I described in my message on the 14th. I am happy to report I am totally off the fentanyl patch totally since the 14th Stepping down in doseage as discribed worked like a charm. I must s...

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Ive recently being prescribed fentanyl patches to try out by my GP, the idea is to replace the ammount of tablets that i take each day. I'm worried as to when to start them as I am working solid over the next 7 days then i get two days off ? also I attend a pilates class to help with my spondalitis. As there is a spa there i take a turn in the jacuzzi which seems to help.Can i take off the patch for an hour ok ?? ## Hi Jimbob, I haven't been able to find an exact answer to your question, but I did want to help by refering you to other threads on here with individuals who are also using the fentanyl patch: This thread may not be quite as active, but people there offer some interesting information on fentanyl: /Discuss/FENTANYL-PATCH-178334.htm This thread is still very active &am...

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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 and the patch does not work any more take the patch every 48 hours and now i'm going to a pain clinic and told them that i want off the patch;they told me to leave the patch on for 72 hours and they would give me 10mg off oxycodone to take 3 times a day. Is that enough because i'm hurting in such a way i cannot explain,i have been taking up to 4 or 5 a day and it seems to help a little better. what do you think i should do? ## Hello, Ozark! How are you? I'm very sorry that you're in so much pain. However, there is a higher dose of the patches available that you could switch to, it is also available in a 100mcg dosage. At this time, I doubt the Oxycodon...

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This is my 1st post ever, anywhere. I am trying to get off Fentanyl. 7 years ago I was Rx'ed 25 mcg patches every 72 hrs. Went to every 48 hrs within a month. Went to a 50 every 48 to a 75 every 48 to the 100 mcg every 48 hrs.. Been on 100 mcg's (48 hrs) for several years now and I'm sick and tired of taking the patch. I have DDD, two failed rotator cuff surgeries as well as an elbow surgery (pain). The shoulder and back pain is the worst. I'm 52 years old, worked a steady job with Ma Bell as a lineman 25 years and wore my body out. Three weeks ago I started cutting my Mylan brand 100 mcgh patches in half. So far so good. I did notice that I started taking more of the Dilauid I'm rx'ed for breakthrough pain. My plan is to keep cutting the patches in half till I...

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I have cancer in bones, kidney and liver, I started the patch 11 months ago but was never told how strong it was, my worst side effect has been chronic constipation.I am now on 12:5mcg per hour. And in Order to start my new chemo I need to get my constipation under control.tried to go off 25 patch in dec2013 for 11 days but was just miserable.needed patch at first because of 2 broken vertebra and rib,because of cancer. cannot have bowel movement on my own any more even with 5 laxatives including CREEPY relistor inj's. and miralax 2 times a day and stool softener. I regret fentanyl totally. ## Hello, Bob! How are you? Have you tried using fiber supplements? When I had a similar issue, while on pain management, I found that taking fiber supplements worked better than anything else to ...

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Hi I am on 25MCG Patches do you ever get used to the weird feeling in your head, or is that the trade off for no pain? ## You mean they actually take you pain away? Do they make you sick to your stomach? If your only problem is a bit of a funny feeling in your hear, then I would say, deal with it. But be careful if you go out driving. If you are pulled over, and act kind of drunk, you will get a DUI. ## All the funny feelings will go away with time. Make sure your Dr. Will continue to treat you and not decide one day you don't need it no more when nothings changed. You'll get sick for a good four days from the withdrawal. No sleep, restless leg syndrome etc. great pain reliever just don't abuse it and it'll work great and in a short time you won't even know you have ...

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First let me start off by saying, I have definitely reduced my dosage from 3 100mcg to 2 100mcg patches. I am currently wearing only one and so far so good. I am praying that I can continue to work my way back down. Unfortunately, my chronic pain may not allow that to happen sadly, doctors don't really have a clue what is going on with my knees. I believe it to be restless leg syndrome coupled with polio syndrome. Anyone know of specialists that I can see in New York . ## 1 x 100mcg patch/day is already a lot. Best thing for pain in anything below the arms is losing weight. Get as low as you can. If the pain killers you take don't kill you, the weight will. (I have no idea how much you weight, this is just a rule of human anatomy). There are LOTS of other things for knee pain -A...

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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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I've been using the the 25mcg patch for chronic pain for 3mos. and feel it is not working as well as it did in the beginning. Could I be building a tolerence this soon? Should I ask my neurologist to increase the dosage? or should I ask for other pain med to use with the patch? ## You have definitely built up a tolerance. Also, the problem with extremely strong narcotics like fentanyl is when you become dependent (NOT addicted, big difference), your brain starts to send out a false sense of pain that is telling you that you need more and more. It is all up to you and your doc. The more and the longer you stay on it the worse it will be to get off of it (withdrawals). Also they could could give you something else on top of the fent for breakthrough pain, but it will just probably be ...

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My father has recently started on these patches after a second full knee replacement and being on other pain killers for nearly 3 years now. The first 2 weeks they worked fine, lasting the 3 days gradualy turning from blue to pink then leaving a sticky residue that was quite hard to get off afterwards...the last few times, they are turning pink straightaway (within 3 hours) and falling off within 24...I'm really scared they aren't slow-release and it will cause damage in some way. Sorry my post is not so detailed as I need things explaining simply. I'm just so worried about him as he's very poorly at the moment and depressed too. ## Have you talked to his doctor, or pharmacist about it? I do know that some patches put out were found to be defective, but I am not sure if ...

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Doctor just took me off 120 mg OxyContin daily and switched me to Fentanyl 75 mcg. What can I expect as far as differences in the effects? Are these two separate doses equal in strength? ## Yes, Fentanyl is the strongest opiate narcotic that is available. The FDA warns that this medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and constipation. However, the only way to discover how well it will work for you is by trying it. Have you started using it, yet? ## Does that work onyourpain fentanyl75 and your oxy80cause i have cancr pain

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I have been having problems since they took me off of the duragesics made by jennsen, I am looking for a similar brand that helps my pain and does not fall off, I liked the sandoz but there is some back up on those i do not like the matrix because I get no relief, gell patches fall off ## Why did they take you off of it? Do you mean your pharmacy just switched which one they're providing? If that's the case, you can ask if they can order that one back in for you. You just may have to pay any price difference between it and their current one, because your insurance usually won't. As to the ones that fall off, there are also solutions available for that, there are some medical tapes and overlay patches that you can get to prevent them doing that. ## @vERWON PLEASE if you could...

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