Fentanyl Sweating (Page 2)

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I am a 33 yr old woman being treated by Pain Mgmt Dr. for chronic pain as a result of 3 failed elbow surgeries and nerve damage. My current dosage is 50mcg/hr every 48 hrs with up to 4 oxycodone per day for break through pain. I know the patch is suppose to be a good medication for pain control, but I am really considering asking to change to a different medication because of the sweating problems I have on the Fentanyl and I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I am constantly drenched sinced I have been on the patch. Dr tried hytrin to control sweating, but all that did was cause me to bloat. I tried HRT for a year to see if that would help...no luck, still sweating. I sleep with only a sheet over me and window open at night and still wake up soaked from sweat. If I do any physical activity at all I am drenched. The patch does seem to control the pain well, but I can't deal with beads of sweat rolling down my head all the time and my family is always freezing because I get so warm. Am I doing something wrong? I wear the patch on my upper chest, I use a tegaderm patch over it. I've tried the Mylan brand and now use the SanDoz brand. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I don't want to live my life in pain, but I can't take the sweating issue anymore!!! Is there a different medication that is time released like the Fentanyl Patch? My DR is a nice man, but doesn't always explain things too well and I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Thanks for listening.

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21

Sadly it comforts me to hear someone else say they thought they were going to burn up. I swear those people who were spontaneously combusted must have been on Fentanyl. It's a terrible feeling.

My mom is 76 & has watched me go through all the pain, procedures, & various doctors. She's always been rather straight so I was shocked when she asked if I had considered cannabis for the pain. I think she finally realizes how much I hurt.

My best to you & I hope your plan works. - Tammy

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22

Hey San,

I've written a long post for everyone that I'll try to post at the top of the page. I wanted to personally say a few things to you. I too have made laundry a hobby. Since I don't want to destroy my clothes ny running them through the dryer too much I put up several clotheslines. I know it doesn't make sense but the clothes I line dry absorbs my sweat better (yuck) than the ones I put through the dryer. I don't have cafans, which is a great idea, but I do have light weight dresses that have saved me. I have to wear a serious back brace which is very hot. It's scratchy so I have to wear an undershirt. Even inside it's just too hot. I splurged & bought several Victoria's Secret bathing suit top that are just gorgeous. If you wait until their twice a year sale the prices are better than WalMart. Seriously! Anyway, I cut the straps off the undershirt so it fits under the brace, wear the bathing suit top with shorts & I can survive the day. I like the tops better than the dresses because they dry completely overnight. If it's too bad I warn everyone that it's "France" at my house & if they can't handle topless they'd better stay away lol. A girls' gotta survive! San please read my other long post. I think it will help you. I think I'm going to post it under Mich 1. You take care of yourself.

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23

Hey Susan
I've written a large post & hopefully the moderator will post it under Mich 1 above. Please read it. I think it will help you. I think going off of the patch is a mistake. It's the best medicine for pain because there are no ups & downs & if you take it correctly there are no drugged feelings. The chills & the sweating are a hassle & they wear on your sanity but I believe I found some info that can help.
Good luck - Tammy

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24

I'm very sorry that you're going through this. None of us wish it on anyone else. I've written a long post that I'd like to post here & I believe it will help you also.

Now I'm not a doctor & I don't pretend to be & I certainly don't know your medical history but I'd like to comment on a few things that you wrote. I'm hoping that you're off the Hytrin. I'm surprised your doctor put you on it. It's normally for men who have prostate problems & high blood pressure. If you're on any type of blood pressure medicine you need to be watched closely because excessive sweating can cause dangerously low blood pressure. While Hytrin does reduce sweating it's only when it's caused by an anti-depressant.

One of the great things about the Fentanyl Patch is that it has wonderful pain control & eliminates or drastically reduces the need for breakthrough pain pills. Hopefully your doctor stressed how importanr it is to be on a strict 'every 6 hrs' schedule for the Oxy. I don't know your dosage or whether it has acetaminophen but 4 Oxy a day just seems like a lot to take while on the Fentanyl patch. Again, I'm not a doctor. Way back they put me on HRT, just to see, men! argh!! I asked him if he ever read my chart because I'd had a hysterectomy at 28 & menopause was long over. I did like that the HRT increased my bra size lol a little twinkle in my gloomy day. I took myself off after the report came out about the cancer increase.

I hope you get leveled out & I hope the following info can help you. Take care - Tammy

I've been on 100mcg/72 hrs for almost 15 yrs & I too deal with extreme sweating. Recently my doc added 1 Percocet a day which is Oxycodone & Acetaminophen 10-325 for breakthrough pain. In all honesty I sometimes need 2 & it's probably time to increase my patch dose. I have 6 fractured vertebrae, severe & very painful osteoporosis, 5 herniated discs, a bone spur, Fibromyalgia, 48 degrees scoliosis & Arnold Chiari Malformation.

I've been paying close attention to my emotions & activities around the sweating episodes & have realized that getting upset when it happens makes it worse. I've come to the conclusion that any strong emotion can trigger it. I also found that remaining calm & taking deep breathes will stop it. These activities help to stabilize the ANS.

The ANS controls things we don't think about like blood pressure, heartrate, breathing, digestion, AND sweating. The ANS has a direct relationship with pain, anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration & the Fentanyl patch. The ANS doesn't cause pain but it can make the pain chronic. The next time you have a sweating attack notice if your heart is beating faster. If so it's your ANS at fault. The Fentanyl causes a change in the way your ANS works with your brain. Most of my research said the sweating won't stop even after we stop using the patch. It said there were permanent chemical changes in the brain caused by the Fentanyl. My pain doctor agreed.

I found a pdf you can use to talk to your doctor. It discusses what drugs cause hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), hypohidrosis (little or no sweating), and how to possible correct the problem. There are several treatment suggestions for your doctor to try.

I was surprised when it said Fentanyl causes Histamine to be increased in the body. That makes sense as I itch like crazy. It's very deep inside & it's maddening. It also says Histamine causes sweating. It looks like there are several ways to fix these issues. (Please don't run out & buy Benadryl without talking to your doctor. Benadryl can make you very sleepy & can react poorly with Fentanyl)

sweathelp.org/pdf/Drug-induced-hyperhidrosis-%20Cheshire.pdf

The International Hyperhidrosis Society has a section for adults, teens & doctors. It also has a doctor finder section.

sweathelp.org/en/sweat-help-home/about-the-international-hyperhidrosis-society.html

This site lightly discusses the effects of too much histamine on your body.

ehow.com/list_7479008_signs-much-histamine.html

I'm excited as this is the closest I've come to a "cure." Good luck everyone! Let me know how it goes for you

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25

Omg.... I have the same issue and need terry cloth or Egyptian cotton to help w cold painfull sweats. I've been on fentanyl (from 100mcg-37.5 mcg) over the past 4 years. I have also been on dilauted for break through pain off and on. My sweating has been so intense that it has caused anxiety, depression, humiliation and caused me to stop going in public. Drs have been NO help through it all until recently I found new pain management dr that could give me actual onsite on it... Not only does the fentanyl cause profuse sweating but when we heat up and sweat it causes the patch to release medication at uneven rates. So if u wear it for 72 hrs u may have lost most the medication within first 24hours. This can throw ur body into withdrawal and possibly overdose if ur body can not handle the dose released to quickly. Because I have been on higher doses I knew what it felt like to be over medicated. When I sweat and receive uneven dose I can feel over medicated at times and in horrible pain from lack of mess at others. I am currently wheeling off fentanyl and am down to 25mcg. I feel crudy, exhausted, edgy but I pray the end result will stop this sweating madness. I'm only 35 yrs female and I want my life back. I want to do my hair and make up and go somewhere without changing clothes when I arrive. I'm at the end of my rope dealing with sweating like a waterfall for no reason and at anytime.

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26

I was on oxycodone 10-325 4 to 6 a day for years for chronic pain .my dr just put me on patch 25 mg every three days.will I withdrawal is I just stop taking the oxycodone. And start right on the pain patch.and
Please someone help I'm scared never been on the match before.im planning to fill my script for patch in morning but I have too stop the oxycodone .is this safe too just switch meds will I be oka

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27

Hi! Are you sure that it isn't the oxycodone making you sweat? I was on it for 1 year and couldn't stand the sweats I would have drenched hair about 30 min after taking 10mg, it was embarrassing felt like my head was on fire and sweating, I switched to hydro codone and dilaudid and that stopped and works great for pain!

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28

My advice to you i myself dont have chronic pain .bit it my day when i was doing 4. 100Mcg.about everyday i sweated like a pig .the more my tolerance went up the less sweating i had.now on the other hand if you choose to stop all at once trust me you will miss those sweats.if its to strong try oxymorphone,which is just as well and effective and just as strong.if your not familiar. With the dr term its brand name is opana.i hope shed some light!

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29

I mean hydromorphone is the key to less hot flahes (what I call them) the Dr called them "flushing" listed under side effects.

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30

I had the same problem and had to stop using it

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31

I'm trying to keep track of my own sweating since being on the patch and honestly, it seems to kick in when I'm low on my breakthrough meds near the end of the month, so I'm going with my original theory that doses are too low..sweating is a symptom of withdrawal and I never sweat if I still have enough oxycodone each day--while on patch

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32

Bella good news! While on the patch you shouldn't go through withdrawal except for increased sweating--since being on patch I've not had diarrhea, cramps, restless, leg, or any other withdrawal symptoms except the sweating and I run out early every month

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33

I'm giving hubby detox bath every day veiken femur 6 months on fentanyl patch weaning him SUCKS... DETOX. bath HELPS. HOT WATER, 1 CUP EPSOM SALTS, 1/2 CUP BAKING SODA..... COUPLE DROPS OF ORANGE OIL. stay in as least 10 min. Out will help with the sweating. I got to turn on the heater for the 1st x today!

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34

I have the exact same sweating problems

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35

I am so glad to see this post . I also am on fentanyl patches and recently increased to 50mcg.a month ago.
I also am suffering from profuse sweating followed by cold sweats to the point where I think I'm dying. None of the side effects state anything about this problem. I keep my air at below 70. This happens frequently but doesn't last long. I'm awakened constantly with this, get up and turn the air to 60.
I thought I was loosing my mind and started taking more Xanax thinking it was anxiety.

The good thing is my pain is gone but I don't think it is worth it.mim going to make appt with Dr and go back to 15 or 25 and get off it.

Thank you again
Karen

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36

Hi, I have been on 62mcg of fentanyl every 48 hrs for about 8yrs due to several problems causing uncontrolled pain. About 4 yrs ago I started menopause from a hysterectomy. About a yr ago my hot flushes changed. They weren't the same and hrt didn't help. After doing a lot of research and elimination I realised it was the Durogesic patches. Its hell. Up to 50-60 times a day I'm drenched in sweat then chills and freezing. Its currently 40 degrees and summer here and its getting worse. Its ruining what life I had. I can't go anywhere, sleep, and I am so fed up. Im no longer menopausal yet the flushes remain. Ive gone down in mcg's over the last couple of yrs and want off this nightmare. Each time I try to taper down the effects are so bad. Even getting close to time to change the patch I get withdrawals. I figure they aren't lasting due to all the sweating. Some days I feel withdrawal symptoms all day until I change the patches. I also have 10mg oxycontin for breakthrough pain that I can take whenever needed but I generally don't take them as I don't want more drugs to have to come off. I hate these drugs. I wish I'd never gone on it. My life has changed so much because of them. I look older, drawn in the face, no energy, no longer have a sense of humour, no libido ( not that it'd help since its too painful to be touched). My beef is I was never told when starting this how bad they are or what the side effects are. We should be told. Its not all on the leaflets or web. I was told it would be a long term thing but had I known how bad it was id have thought very seriously about starting. People need to be educated regarding meds. Its such a negative life changing thing..for me at least. Yes the pain is somewhat less but the effects far outway any benefit im getting. I'm still suffering lots of crippling pain, so I have decided I'm going off them as soon as I can. Ive been told the withdrawals can last for yrs even after stopping. I hope not. I can't take much more of this on top of the daily pain. I wish someone could help us. Sorry for the long rant. Ive never told anyone of this hell. Its a dam bursting! I hope you find the relief you need.

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37

Wow...we in Northern Ireland get ALL.OUR MEDS 100% FREE

While I was living in Canada it was daylight robbery. Pain meds such as Fentanyl and hycodan were $1800 a.month. Absolutely piggin scandalous.

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38

WOW! I made an interesting discovery concerning the Fentanyl Patch and other extended release Abuse proof opiates. Every month I run out early of my oxycodone but thanks to patch never had withdrawal. I also was out of oxy while waiting for renewal of prior auth. for fent patch slthewhe suffering no ill effects. I started exercising and after three days had what I found out was a Cardio Crash. I was glued to sofa for three days then resumed my workout. Again after three days I had another Cardio Crash. This happened the following week and so far I have not returned to gym. Okay first: many are complaining of weight gain and lethargy and if not lethargy then a lack of motivation. Your pain contract may have a sentence claiming to have informed you of hormonal disruptions from the opiates. LIES! LIES! LIES! After searching I found article after article of peer review studies of women and EXTENDED RELEASE OR ABUSE PROOF OPIATES....men as well as women complained various symptoms such as weight gain, apathy, hot sweats, exhaustion, moodiness etc. doctors found that the chemical used to prevent abuse, especially found in Methodone and Fentanyl Patch attach to receptors that affect men's gonads and women's ovaries, if one remains. It sucks the adrenals therefore causing all the crap we all complain lost about namely weight gain and lethargy. They continued studies on men but stopped studying women due to: absorption and metabolism was so low in these instances that regular oxycodone wasn't showing up in U/As! So instead if looking further they simply discontinued the study making us victims of inaccurate studies and corrupt FDA analysis of tamper proof opiates. Basically they are giving us medication that disrupts homeostasis just for them to be able to monitor us. I'm trying to quit the patch because the last stage of the study before being canned they found that replacing the long acting for just oxycodone restored energy and caused the weight to fall off...I kept my last patch on gor one week then did not apply a new one for one week. I was up bright and early in the mornings, almost overnight I was back to my old high strung energetic fast paced self...I was also metabolizing my oxy too fast and my dose exceeded my already higher than prescribed dose. I'm rethinking a plan and was forced to put on a patch to get my oxy dose down. Ok so tonight is second night with patch again and I'm back to a mellow or more relaxed than normal for me self. LOL My oxy dose is where it should be. Ok so I'm ready to take my last two oxy (my roomie has a bottle of mine stashed that I'm going to forget about) ok so tomorrow there will be no morning pill and I'll act like I'm out of them. I'll just keep this patch on until it falls off and not replace it. In about two and a half weeks I'll begin taking my oxy again and hopefully not wearing the patch won't affect dosage this time. I know I can use the patch without oxy but since the patch is messing with my adrenals, I think it needs to go. Ok, going to take my last two. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. Oh!!!! During those two weeks thereby any sweats or hot flashes. And I left out the most important item: the women affected by this are menopausal women with at least one ovary left. Men too, something about gonadism.

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39

pls don't swim sauna or the like. it warns you on the instruction booklet.
I am having terr night sweats and way past menopause and feel fine during the day. this is awful. I need to talk to my dr.

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40

Effexor, an antidepressant will stop hot sweats but cause false readings of other substances to show in U/A's--really it is due to too low a dose since sweats ARE a symptom of withdrawal...when I take an extra pill the sweats stop.

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