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Fentanyl Patch Placement

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Posted 5/3/2012 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I've read the insert that comes with the patches and tells you the areas where it's best to stick the patches.

But I'm wondering where those of you here who use the patches put them.

When I walk, my body moves from side to side, because I have no center of balance. So unlike a normal person, anything I stick on my body "pulls" when I move because my muscles and skin "stretch and contract" when I move.

So placing the patch anywhere on my back isnt an option...especially since the adhesive of the patches isnt the best.

So far I've been placing them on my sides as well as to the right and left of my navel. But as you know, they say not to put the patches in the same place all the time, and I often get abrasions (just surface ones) where the edges rub against my skin when I move...and since you cant place the patches on broken skin...I'm running out of places.

I'm a rather small person, so my sides/stomach do not have much surface area to work with.

So where do you guys stick them? Any advice would be really appreciated!
Posted 5/4/2012 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I use my upper arms for the patches. I have to move from arm to arm and vary the position each time, but that is where I have the best luck to keep them sticking. They don't like to stick for me, so I use Tegaderm dressings or Medipore tape. I also have allergies to adhesives and have to switch tapes sometimes, so I cycle through those two.

Good luck. I hope it was helpful.
Mindy
Posted 5/4/2012 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have the Butran patch, this is my forth week to use it, but I think my upper arms so far have worked best. The worst was my upper back as I have long hair even though I cover it with waterproof patches it fell off a day early, just slid right off, I never had that problem with my upper arms. Yesterday I applied it on my upper right side of my chest so far it seems ok, but I still feel like the upper arms work best. Good luck!
Posted 5/4/2012 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
BTW tegaderm is also what I use I could not think of the name until I read Mindys post! I cannot find one big enough so I have to use two to cover it.
Posted 5/4/2012 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Where do you get the tegaderm? It seems like a lot of people use it.
Posted 5/4/2012 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I am sneaking back on here, hubby wants me to get to bed...lol. I put my patch in different places, upper arm, alternate the top breast area, and my husband has put it on my upper back for me that works well.
Posted 5/4/2012 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
The ones I buy are 3M Nexcare absolute waterproof but if you look on the back of the box is says hospital name: 3m Tegaderm + Pad. I buy them at Target
Posted 5/4/2012 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Rexi my drug store ordered the Tegaderm for me. It looks like the clear patch they put over an IV dressing. I was able to cut mine in half and once I started using it I never had a patch come loose again....Susie
Posted 5/4/2012 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
I put my fentanyl patch on my back, just under my bra strap. I find there is less movement there and it seems to stick well and it is out of sight there too. I have used these patches for years and after much trial and error discovered this was the best area for them. I was given a generic brand once instead of Duragesic and they just refused to stick but have had very little problem with the Duragesic brand. The generic brand was like a little reservoir which you could see the drug through, it was quite thick unlike the Duragesic patch.
Jane

Post Edited (Fusiongirl) : 5/4/2012 3:59:08 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/5/2012 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
yeah, pharmacies around here only seem to have the generic, mine seem to be the ones you described that don't stick. Lol. Thanks for the advice everyone! I really appreciate it.
Posted 5/5/2012 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
When I used the fentanyl patch, I would put it on my upper arm w/ the tegarderm over it. That seemed to be the most "secure" place for me.
Posted 5/9/2012 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I put mine on my sides - almost where if you hug yourself with your left arm (around your waist), it's as far as I can reach. I put it up higher, more towards where my bra would go. I just alternate sides and move them up or down or an inch or two either way. I've tried many different places and that works best for me.

I can't put it any place that bends, it won't stick as well or I feel it etc. My back is not an option. I can only reach certain places. Didn't like my upper arm cause you could see if when I wore a tshirt.

I now have one that is clear and flat (love that part) but it says FENTANYL on it. If it didn't, I could wear it showing anywhere and wouldn't care. I also had one that just looked like a square band-aid, same color etc. They stopped making that one but that one too I didn't mind people seeing.
Posted 5/10/2012 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I put mine on my upper arm right below my shoulder I have trien my hip area and my chest area ...I am getting the mylan geneticsand they seem to stick.pretty good I have also had the appotex kind they are a lot bigger and didn't stick as well and seemed to bubble in the middle after taking a couple of showers ...
Posted 5/10/2012 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I stick them on my hips and upper thighs, right below and above my underwear... I think I am going to try sticking it where Jacey and fusiongirl do! And I keep meaning to pick up the Tegaderm at the store because the Fentanyl doesn't stick to me so well! The Butrans stuck amazingly, I really miss them... =[
Posted 5/10/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Jacey, that's where I've been putting mine as well, doing the same thing, alternating sides and moving it up or down, but I also move it a little to the left or right, because sometimes I get rubbed raw a little and I don't want to put the patch over broken skin.

I really wish they stuck better. If I wasn't living in FL, or if I didn't like taking a shower, or if I didn't sweat, then maybe they would work better but...

There should be an extra heavy duty "FL edition" patch. Lol
Posted 5/12/2012 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
My problem isn't with sticking, it's getting the sticky stuff off after I remove it!!

to some others - you're supposed to keep them above your waist - as far as I know anyway.
Posted 5/13/2012 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have that issue as well---getting the sticky stuff off!

I've tried EVERYTHING. Mostly I end up taking a shower and scrubbing and then picking at what's left until its off as much as possible.

I was told its better to keep them on your torso and not on your limbs because on your torso it absorbs more centrally but I've also tried putting it on my upper arm and that worked okay except that it showed and didn't stick as well, so I stopped.
Posted 8/19/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I suggest GOO BE GONE to get the adhesive off. In addition to Fentanyl Patch my right shoulder is taped with kinesiology tape 2 times per week. Limits the places you can wear the patch, but my PT said try goo be gone to get the adhesive off. It works amazingly well. No scrubbing or irritation. I don't leave home without it. Good luck all. And yes, why do they write the name Fentanyl on the patch? Just what you need: Advertising you are on drugs.
Posted 8/19/2012 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Also, when I wore it on my upper arm, I would just wrap an ACE bandage around it to keep it on. I really had a problem keeping it on there, so I moved it to my hip, very high up, just below my waist. Haven't had a problem with them sticking at all there. Oh, I use the brand (Duragesic). Stupid insurance... with the $50 coupon, I can get the brand cheaper than the generic, go figure!
Posted 8/19/2012 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I only wear my Fentanyl patches on the front side of my upper arms, just below the shoulders on a nice flat spot. They stay covered by either my shirt or t-shirt if I am wearing one. I switch every 48 hours, so I rotate from left to right, every other day. I am fortunate that I never have one come loose, not even if I am hot or wet.

When I shower, I don't let the full stream of the water hit the patch on purpose, then I pat dry the patch as I am drying off. So far, never have had to tape one on, they stay put, and when I remove them, they don't fall apart or leave a trace.

That's my story, and I am sticking to it.

BTW, I don't like the kind that have the resevoir on it, the kind i use are completely flat, very much like a nicotine patch.

David
Posted 8/20/2012 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Ditto to everything David said. Same with me.
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