Fentanyl 50 Mcg/hour Transdermal Patch (Page 15)

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 have dealt with fentaynl for years if you use the patch as prescribed you should be fine...at least with the lexapro and clonodine but as far as the Ativan I would ask your doctor... it is my understanding lorazepam shouldn't be used for more than a month due to the horrible withdrawal symptoms super long half life and seizures...which is why it is used mostly for opioid detox...I myself would try to get off the ativan.... in my opinion you should see about switching to xanax if you have panic attacks and an extended release opiate such as morphine ER or zohydro..that way you can get a regemine going where the benzodiazepines and opiates won't interact...

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Hey darling I understand what you're going through. I've been on the patch for over ten years. I've had several back surgeries. I've had just about every thing on the market. I've been disabled since 2000 and I found that the patch regulates itself and that for me was a good thing, you just GET your calendar mark the day you put on and count 3 days or every 72 hours if you want to use a countdown watch or timer on your cellphone. Although do check your drug reactions which you said you've done already. Also this will help you get off of some of the meds that just keep you loopy so you can have some quality of life! I hope this helps you , I been there and will so for the rest of my life. My heart goes out to all of the life time painers. Hang in there.

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Sorry to hear about everything you are going through. I myself can relate. It's frustrating, and lonely being a chronic pain sufferer...especially since pain is subjective, and the so called pain specialists are not suffering from insufferable pain like us. Getting medication is a nightmare since so many people use opioids recreationally, and in my situation, they are the only thing that work for me. Oxycodone is the only, ONLY thing that provides me with some relief. My GP helps me out quite a bit, but he's getting up there in age, and I don't know how much longer I will have of him around to help me out. I just turned 40 a month ago, and have been living with excruciating pain for just over 8 years. I don't get a break from it...I've had 5 surgeries which helped my arms, hands and shoulders quite a bit, but then developed unbelievably painful issues with my legs, and lower back just over two years ago. I've reached the point where I told doctors at my pain clinic that I will sign consent to have them amputate my leg.
Anyway, I could go on and on forever, but I really just wanted to come on here to say good luck, there are others like you and me, really not sure why we got selected for this life, but it is what it is. I wish you the very best.

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I have been on the Fentanyl patch for 2 years My Dr. Just bumped me up to the 50 mcg/hr. It work great I also take 30 mg Oxys 2 a day this has been wonderful my pain level is at a 4 almost all the time before with just the Oxys it was a 7-8 constantly. I have not had any problems with my breathing. Just follow the instructions and you should be fine.

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Your medication history looks like you would tolerate the patch with no problems at all. No need no fear. 50mcg dose is just the middle of the road dose to get your body used to the med. It sure is nice waking in the morning not in severe pain as the patch works even while you are asleep compared to the past when I would awake and need to take a pain pill before I could even go down my stairs due to pain. I take the 100mcg every 3 days plus 30mg Oxycodone tablets for breakthrough pain and Xanax helps for terrible PTSD dreams I have of the Gulf war when my blackhawk helicopter was shot down. I like you also take clonidine, with no ploblems at all. After applying the patch, it can take up to 8 hours to start to notice the medication is working.

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Fentanyl won't hurt you as long as your opioid tolerant and absolutely do not chew the patches..I use fentanyl 50mcg is pretty good for me and it does not kick in instantly it takes anywhere from 2 to 12 hrs to start working..but when it does it just feels like a little rush like oxycodone but it hits you and goes away hits you and goes away...as long as you follow your doctors instructions you should be fine..the only downside is trying to find a way to keep the damn thing on but I find duct tape on the top and bottom of the patch works well just don't tape the whole thing because heat can cause it to release too much of the drug and can cause overdose... Hope this helps

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Current drug policy—at least re: coke, opioids and marijuana—has more to do with racist ideologies in the 1920s than with Big Pharma since Big Pharma didn't exist back then. But the continuation of those policies is perpetuated by Big Pharma. (Also still by racism: look at the inconsistent laws regarding powder versus crack—the former used predominantly by white middle class folks and the latter by blacks—even though the two firms have almost no difference in terms of abuse potential.

That said, I agree with the larger principle that Big Pharma is piggybacking on those still strong racial biases to keep effective treatments out of reach of patients who could really benefit at almost no cost compared to the synthetics like Fentanyl, Dilaudid, oxymorons/-contin, etc.

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I can tell you that the Fentanyl patch sure helped me BUT after a week on it there was a contradiction in my medications, and if it wasn't for my fiance giving me CPR then I wouldn't be here to tell you about it. This happened back in 2010, and I went into cardiac arrest (my heart stopped). When the EMS arrived they didn't have time to even look for a vein and had to go straight in my juggler vein with adrenaline to revive me. So now I just tell doctors that I am allergic to it, because I don't want nothing to do with it. It reacted with a psychotic medicine I was on. I stopped them both immediately. All I can say is be very careful, and I hope it helps you but be aware of what else you are on before taking it. You may have to start Suboxone, which is what I went too after that situation. Nothing is going to take your pain away completely just help you tolerate it better. You are welcome to write to me anytime you want.

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Fentanyl patch has been very helpful for my severe chronic pain with no side effects.

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I have taken all the same meds that you have except the Clonadine. nothing worked or helped with the pain. Finally my doc put me on a combination of Fetanyl and Oxycodone. That's working! I myself was worried about the respiratory thing too. This is what I did. Don't take any anti-anxiety meds anything that will lower your blood pressure your heart rate and other pain meds (you defiantly won't need them). I'm not a doctor but I was so scared to do the patch and finally it's the only thing that has giving me any relief. I just hope to see you feel better. OHH! No sleep meds! Do those things and try it. The fentanyl slows you down anyway so you don't have to worry about anxiety med or sleep med because it works for that in my opinion. Hope this helps! :-)

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Take the fentanyl but stop all Vicodin. You will be ok with one Percocet every 6 hours for break through pain. The benzo sedates but it is not more opiates. Stick strict to this plan and u will not overdose, you will have better control. This basically what I have done for years for the same thing. I was in medical field before illness. Fentanyl works much better than anything u mentioned or was tried on me either.

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My name is Diana,in july ill be 50 i have 3 bulging disc ,1 flattened disc Osteoartheritis over my intire body,bone spurs around my shoulder blades all the way down my spine,andhad foot surgery 9 months ago still cant walk right somthing slse is wrong , ive had 2 c/sections,gallbladder surgery,appedectimy,laser ablasion and tubal,along with with 2 more minor surgeries.Would u beleive no doctor will give me nothing for my pain.So i suffer each day and pray for no more pain.Somone please tell me what it takes for just a little releif.

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Once you get a disease-injury-something that is going to be life long? You must make up your mind that you have two choices -1. Live in pain, which if you don't already know, chronic pain untreated does bad things to the brain (Plasticity, etc). 2. Or, take something for pain control. I have a rare disease (on Disability) and I have zero choice as surgery only worsens this disease. So, it's either radiation therapy or treat pain with meds. That's it. So, after 11 years, i'm finally on round-the-clock Fent patch 50mcg. I was waking up every night, sweating and the mornings were AWFUL - it took me an hour at least to feel ok. I finally have some relief with the patch and some break-thru help - which I'm finding I don't hardly need!! That is so dang good. The day after my first patch, I was amazed at the pain relief and no starting of withdrawals. You eventually get immune to oral meds and because of this, you will have some early morning withdrawing because they wear off at night. And, then you use - or have to use - more during the day. It's like you are on the verge of feeling bad every few hours. That sucks. But, the patch is like a God-send IMHO. Used correctly, you don't even think about BT meds, which I HAD to use just to get thru a day. I just got used to them and after a couple of years, they just didn't get the job done. I went to my GP and he said "I think you are having withdrawal in the mornings (my blood pressure was unusually high, which it never is, I was sweating, and ached). He gave me Clonidine (then I knew that HE knew) and he said have a talk with your Dr. Your records show no high blood pressure at all, but this is a withdrawal symptom. My PM Doc fixed me up, and I finally felt human. Yes, I do know that I am in need of this stuff, but if you must take pain meds for a condition that isn't going away?? Then do NOT feel bad! If you are just taking them for kicks? Well, that's a rabbit hole you chose to go down. If I didn't have this damn disease, I would stick to non-narcotic stuff like some good smoke and some booze - that always worked when I was younger. Just be very careful and if you feel woozy-dizzy-disoriented? Cut back and call your Dr. These patches are not to be taken lightly. Used in the correct way, tho? They are pretty amazing for pain control. And, honestly, that is the ONLY reason you should be using them. If not? Be very damn careful - they can kill people - and they have when eaten, abused, etc. Not preaching, but stay alive. These are strong, and they work like no other pill. I can only think, or guess, that the only thing that can compare would be H. So, treat the patches as you would H and remember that other meds will have synergies with the patch. Good luck and be careful all. Hope those in pain get relief - and those who aren't? I hope you understand that occasional use of opioids can land you in deep s*** if not careful. Stay alive, ok? Peace. GX3

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I am an opiate addict because I can't deal with my pain. Right now my neurologist and I are trying to find pain meds that are equivalent to what I was taking. I can't afford my habit anymore. It's putting a strain on my marriage big time! I have degenerative discs in my neck n lumbar region along a 8th disintegrating discs and my spinal cord being pinched by one of these collapsing disc. I have ankliclosing spondilotis, plus I was electrocuted and my right shoulder is messed up 3 surgeries later still not fixed. I started on pills, darvacet all the way to perc 30 mgs and soma muscle relaxers, then my pain mngt Dr disappeared and they started cracking down on drs and pills.

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I was given 1 mcg and it did nothing for pain. I'm going to ask for stronger cause I had to use 2 patches plus my Oxycodone. Don't want to take both both. I'm having surgery within the next month or so on rotator cuff. Understand it's very painful after. I use the Oxy for fibromyalgia and shoulder.

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First. When you went to doc for pain, you should have listed all the drugs you are on. The doctor that prescribed the patch would gave taken those meds into consideration before giving you the fentenyl.

Second. I take ativan, wellbutren, lexapro, zanaflex, 125 mcg fentenyl patch/48 hrs, with 15 mg oxycodone for breakthrough. I also have steroid injections every 3 months. So, it doesn't matter what others, the internet, and I say. Your body us a one of a kind production. The internet is a very poor substitute for medical school. Btw. My pain is still not under control. The best med for breakthrough pain is to keep your brain very busy

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My doctor sure didn't because my heart stopped from a contradiction in medications. After I came back and told them what happened, after my life had been saved by adrenaline, all they had to say was, "Thanks you taught us something today". That's absolutely ridiculous and I should have sued their brains out! Live and learn!

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I'm a veteran,and it doesn't matter how horrible we feel,most of the time a PC,either coerce pts compliance by insisting on a signed chronic pain contract or No Treatment. I've been on the basic same regime for two decades,even NOW,civilians think how much easier we might have it to be able to acquire medicine. A LIE. Several times,I've been give the incorrect morphine,or dose,I probably am one of a handful that actually will take back wrong narcotics and make sure pharmacy counts the unsealed medicine,giving a receipt. if you want medicine,first,stop mixing opiates,benzodiazepines,barbiturates and SSRI's cause THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THOSE IN SERIOUS CHRONIC PAIN,TEND TO NOT BE BELIEVED. Actually,a really good way to have medication properly be effective,have your physician(if you don't have the wherewithal ) lower your dose,or extend the 4-6 hrs MAKE yourself not need your medication as much.if nothing is working,have you asked about having an itercath,pain pump surgically implanted in your abdomen? /August 2 I know I hurt my knee,no wt. bearing,hurt so bad,ABOVE what medicine I already was on. An MRI verified I had injured my ACL,how refreshing,a pts not only willing to request less medicine,return wrong narcotics,opiates,my physician NOW realizes,if I'm willing to invest towards relieving pain by backing down,(even though yes I hurt,but what's w,,going from four hrs to six hrs or losing your medication altogether?
I'm beginning to see why so many pts are h to fight for treatment or turn to the streets f relief. the more pts OD,the less chance we have on being helped in the off and less in crack house. Monitor yourself so we can be treated with fair and not as a criminal.I don't want to lose quality of life because people are abusing their opportunities to get treatment that isn't respected.I don't believe politicians should hold doctors treatment of pts hostage,we have as much a responsibility as do our doctor. lying is only gonna make things worse.

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Hi. Im a 48 yr old woman who has been dealing with chronic pain issues since I was in a MVA at the age of 19, about ten yrs later I was DXd with degenerative disc disease in my low back, a couple herniations, boney growths from arthritis in my spine and now have a host of other pain issues on top of those like fibromyalgia, neuropathy down both legs to my feet and down both arms to my fingertips from more degeneration in my neck discs C 6&7 started about 5 or 6 yrs ago then late last yr I was involved in 2 more MVAs the 1st in Nov 2, my head busted up the windshield as a front passenger where the seatbelt didnt lock and I had no airbag on my side... then on Dec 3 again I was front passenger in thank God, this time a much bigger durable vehicle, but I was T-Boned the car was going prob 50 mph, give or take so I now have my neck discs from C-2 down to 7 all moderately to severely degenerated and stenosis in all, also boney growths pressing on nerves pretty much from top to bottom of my spine. I started taking opiod pain meds(Dilaudid) about 13yrs ago... after a couple yrs on pills they started making me sick to my stomach, as Ive Always had tummy issues since I was a small child. I was taken off the dilaudids and put on 100mcg of Fentanyl patch and it was a Godsend!! I eventually had to wear 200mcg of it, but it was good, I could function so much better than I can now only 6-7 yrs later. Im telling you, I would do ANYTHING to have them back... they controlled the pain well and the side effects were Nothing near what the pills do to you. If you are opoid tolerant and in pain... wear the patch! Trust me, it works well, especially if you have a lil something for breakthrough pain, as for me, they never really lasted all the way thru that 3rd day. But they DO help with pain. Noone here in FL will prescribe them because I guess there is some fear, but I sware I wish I could be back on them. I had to stop when my pain specialist retired (from the same kind of pain issues) and I started going to a Pain clinic... they put me on oxys for a while then finally started weaning me to what I take now, which is only 2 100mg Morphine and 4 10/325mg Norcos for breakthru now, it barely gets me thru to be able to walk from the couch, which is also my bed, to the bathroom. Of course I also take neurontin, and 750 mg of Robaxin for muscle spasms and a couple mgs of xanax all in a day. But dont be afraid of the patch... just make sure u check each one before u wear it, that its not cut or has holes or anything like that and make sure you apply it to a clean flat place on your body preferably a place where you dont sweat alot and have at least 2-3 places on your body where you can rotate places to put it. You should never put it on the same place twice in a row. The biggest complaint Ive ever heard or experienced is that the tape can be a lil irritating to your skin and takes a lil getting used to... but if you can handle that, I believe you will find relief from wearing it. Its good to be informed but sometimes we can be over informed and be scared to death when you shouldnt be. Fact is... Any narcotics taken too much or mixed with the wrong things can All cause respiratory failure. Dont be scared. I wish you the best of luck. And hope you find relief from your pain.

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I agree with u about methadone being a wonderful pain reief. I've been on it for 15 years now. It's amazing how it controls all pain. I still have a bit of breakthrough pain bc of serious spinal injury but for the most part it controls very well. The only issue I've been up against is that when people hear "methadone" they automatically assume ur a freaking drug attack. They say "oh that's just legal herion" amount other comments. Its horrible the way people treat u when they find out what your taking. People need to b educated on pain meds. Dr's tried every med in the book and after 3 yrs of changing meds bc of liver damage, stomach upset,etc 1 dr said let's try methadone. I swear I call it a miracle drug. I do however hate the fact that if u don't have it or run out bc the pharmacy don't carry it on a regular basis, u go into withdrawals. It's horrible. It's hard to say if I had known the withdrawal effects, I'm not sure I wouldnt have started taking it, bc it's such a miracle that it relieves the pain so well but your body does gets addicted to 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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