stop using Duragesic

iam taking 100 mcg patch every 48 hrs. and 6 percets two 3 times a day can i quit taking the patch and take more of the percets and be alright? i could start keeping the patch on for the full 3 days that would be a start wouldn't it. i have a lot of percets and only a few patchs. also i need to find a new doc. mine has up and left. he just left office is close.

thanks to all of you.

thanks for the info. the percets want help at all. i'm sure i can find a doc. to help me. but i was hoping i could take the percets to get me off of the patchs. they want help at all. so i change them every 48 hrs. now you think i could make them last for the 72 hrs. or would that be to hard on me. your right iam not looking forward to this. have been taking them for 2 years now and would just like to take the percets now. anyway thanks.

rda,

You can check with your pharmacist whether you can cut the patches in 1/2 or 1/3rds to make them last longer. I didn't tolerate the patch well (I OD'ed on it and was getting sick every 15min. or so) & I seem to remember that my doc said something about that the brand name patches can NOT be cut, but the generic patches can. That was a couple years back, though, so better to double check.

Also, might be a good idea that you had about leaving them on for the full 72 hours. I thought that was how long they were supposed to last anyways, but maybe there was a medical reason why you had to switch them out sooner so really, I don't know.

"H" is right about trying to find a doc ASAP. If you explain your situation to their office, maybe they can even figure some way to help you out -- get you in with a prescribing nurse or give you advice about how to make your current meds last or something. The main thing is to at least find a way to step down. Hopefully you still have a PCP & can ask him/her for help in the interim. The PCP may or may not write you for narcs, but at least you can get something to help with the w/d's and hopefully some guidance on stepping down the dose safely until you can find a new PM.

The prob with percocets is that they work more like a roller coaster where you will get a lot of meds in your system, then it will drop sharply. The Duragesic patch is programmed to give you a low steady dose of the meds. If you go that route, you will likely have a really rough time stepping back down to the Duragesic. Plus, it's generally not such a good idea to be taking more than what's been prescribed to you. Your doc knows what's generally safe for your body weight. Withdrawal can be dangerous to be sure, but usually you see it getting worse & can call 911. Overdosing can hit you quickly & knock you out before you ever have a chance to call for help. Please be safe & find yourself a doctor ASAP -- even if that means going to a clinic to get help.

take care,
frances

Dear Rda,
Welcome to the forum. I'm not sure I've ever had a chance to welcome you before. But please be aware that we're here for support, not medical advice. And trying to change or withdraw from your medicaiton without medical supervision can be dangerous, as some have mentioned. I don't think you should be doing any of this on your own. Please, let a doctor who has your complete medical history supervise this, and then use us for support.

PaLady

Hi rda! I'm on the 50mcg patch. Yeah, cutting it would be a very, very bad thing! Indeed, a deadly thing. I cannot tolerate a higher # that 50mcg. I get bad reactions. I am also on oxycodone. One thing. If you can get some Clonodine, do so. In a higher dose it is a blood pressure drug. On a tiny 1mg dose it increases the effects of narcotics. It also helps you sleep and it helps with withdrawal.

I stopped my patches 2-3 months ago. I left a patch on for 5-6 days, so I was still getting a tiny dose. I could not sleep, and felt a bit anxious, but it wasn't horrible; besides the no sleeping thing. The clinic gave me clonidine to increase the narcotic effect. I looked it up online and saw it helps with withdrawals too. BTW, I did not tell them I stopped the patch, which could be dangerous. I had to stop to make sure I could. I have a need to make sure I'm not totally dependant on drugs, so I test once in awhile. I'm not recommending this BTW. It's only me. I also didn't think it was helping me anymore, because my pain level was so high.

Anyway. The Clonidine took away the insomnia immediately. I still had the little bit of anxiousness during the day, but I just had to diddle my legs all day, if you know what I mean. I didn't have the freaking out anxiety. My pain level soared though. After a few weeks, trying to get by on the oxycodone and baclofen (muscle relaxer), I ahd to go back to the patches. The pain was way too much to handle.

I AM NOT recommending doing this. But if you're determinded to do it. Be careful. Have patches on hand in case you cna't take it. Your PC should eb able to give you more while you wait for a pain clinic appt. All the best!