fentanyl patch 25

Hi Faith,

Absolutely yes! Tell your doc exactly how it's going. Keep a pain journal with times and all. He was making an educated guess at the dosage of patch for you and your input will help him adjust. It's the only way they can get your pain well controlled.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Chutz

thanks you guys, I did talk to my doc & he increased the dose to 50 but said to keep the 72 time limit.  I hope it will last.  I know he's going to be gone for the holidays, so if absolutely necessary would it be safe to change it early?  God Bless

I am on the 25mcg/hr, just knocked down from the 50's, and I also noticed that they don't last the full 72 hours most of the time. I originally started on the generic Fentanyl patch and then my doctor switched it to the brand name Duragesic patch and I find that I have more success with the brand name for some reason. I get fewer patches that don't last the full 72 hours. Changing the patch early wont hurt you but you will run out early and most docs are really really skeptical if you run out early and it will cause you problems when it's time for a refill, also this could cause problems with your insurance covering the med. Sometimes if I get a patch that doesn't last the whole time I will just change it earlier on the 3rd day....like in the morning instead of at night so that I'm not running out early but I do try to minimize how often I do that. Make sure you make an appointment as soon as you can to see your doctor and discuss with him/her these issues. Do you have medication for breakthrough? If so, try and save that to use for that 1/2 day your not getting relief from your patch. Also, this is a good time to break out the ice packs. I know we aren't supposed to use heating pads on the patch b/c of the risk that your rising body temp will release too much medication (I have experienced this in the sun) but lately I have been using mine for short periods of time and at a lower temp than usual b/c I find the heating pad so much more effective than ice for those deep muscle aches. I hope you & your doc can figure this out so that you are getting adequate relief!  

It sounds like you are doing it correctly. There is a palstic backing you pull off to reveal the sticky side and then stick it to your skin. I use the Bioclusive or Tagaderm overlays to help keep it on but before that I used just plain old medical tape.

Can anyone tell me exactly what drug this patch contains.  I know its a narcotic but what kind?  Thanks

Ohhhh, I feel stupid.  So basically fentanyl is just another name for an opiod?

I'm so frustrated!  I am now taking the 50 fentanyl patch & it seems like it doesn't work.  I mean it does a little, takes care of the hand & feet pain/acheyness, but, the neck & back pain is still there.  Also, I'm having increased leg pain.  Am I crazy or what, shouldn't this stronger dose work better?  I'm afraid to call my GI again & complain its not working, please someone give me advice what to say to the GI.  It seems like nothing works for me anymore & I can't stand the acheyness.  Today, I slept until 4pm. 

The problem with pain killers (opiods) is that they make you not feel the pain, so you don't "take it easy" and hurt more after it wears off.

Different brands of patches also seem to work better or worse. I've found the Mylan generic actually lasts the full 3 days. Recently, Watson pharmaceuticals was approved by the FDA to sell their version of the fentanyl patch. It must be a great deal cheaper as all of the pharmacies in my area jumped right on them. They're horrible! They dispense so quickly the first day that I'm sick due to overdosage, and by the last 36 hours, withdrawal begins. I'm going to ask one of the grocery store pharmacies if the can special order the Mylan patches for me, because the Watson's are the worst ever.