Pharmacist gave me BAD info, what would you do?? (need advice) - RE: Fentanyl Pain Patches

Carina,

Write to corporate and send a cc to your state medical board and the STORE manager. That person needs to have their license called into question. Also let your doc know. Life threatening mistakes are inexcusable. Makes you wonder what this person has told others in the past.

Chutzie

Carina,

I went online and read the patient info on the FDA site and I could find nothing on reapplying if the patch falls off, only mentions to not use patch if it has been altered in anyway so the company is under the gun as far at their packaging of this product and info to patients.

It appears that not only this pharmacists but other caregivers have not been properly educated on the application and dangers of this method of dispensing of a very potent medication.

You did the right thing in reporting the misinformation and you are a true patient advocate. Thank you for being so well educated on your medications.

 

I agree with texas, if I threw out every patch that fell off when I first started wearing them, I would have gone through my months worth in the first week. 

Melissa

My doctor made it clear to me in the beginning not to tape it back on when it falls off. And it is in ALL the literature. I am really surprised it wasn't on the FDA site b/c it's been in everything I read & all the other pharmacists I have spoken to knew about it. They may be being overly safe but I would rather be safe than sorry! Yes, there is a difference between literature & real life but they do generally have reasons for their warnings. When I called my doc's office to let them know I would be a patch short b/c the first had fallen off they said no problem, and they will write the script for an extra patch next time to account for it. I am sure it would be an issue if I was asking the doctor for extra patches constantly but they understand that it does happen and would rather I be safe and just dispose of the patch. I'm also sure it is one thing if your patch falls off into your hand but if you wake up one morning with it on the bed next to you (like I did) then you don't know what happened to it overnight or what has gotten on it that could effect the medication release. Or, if it falls off in the shower and the side with the medication gets wet I would think it would be the opposite & would become way less effective and could put you into withdrawal b/c you aren't getting the medication. The manufacturer says that if a corner comes off that’s no big deal it’s just when most of or the entire patch comes off. Anyway, I am glad that you all have had safe results with reapplying your patches when they come off but I've made the decision to take the advice of the manufacturer, the lit, my doctors, and most of the other pharmacist's (the safe road) and just flush em when it happens. I seem to be fine with them staying on now thankfully, I am just using regular old medical tape & it is working fine (I do want to get some clear tape next time though) and I am writing the date on the patch so I know when to change it, especially with two on that get changed on separate days . I think the first time I just didn't use a large enough strip of tape. When I spoke to the manufacturer (Mylan) they told me not to use the overlays (Tega Derm, etc.). They recommend you don't cover the patch entirely. I think they are concerned it will get too warm & you wind up having symptoms like Straydog said she experienced during the summer. FYI: I spoke to the Regional Pharmacy Manager yesterday and after talking to me he called the manufacturer and then he sent an “educational e-mail” to all of his pharmacy staff to inform them that these patches are not to be taped back on when they fall completely off. Thank you all for your input on this subject.

Sorry for the info you were given. I made it a point to read the paper that came in my first box I opened of my Fentanyl patches. The idea of taping is okay if it is one side etc. I have never had one fall off but have had an edge lift. In that instance even in the package insert it says to place medical tape over that edge. Maybe that was what the Pharm. was thinking or maybe she is just well passing bad info

I have to agree, you gone way over with your worrying. Not a bad thing.

Iam on the 100 mg and have taken them all and can't tell much diff. in the brand I use.

This is what i do, clean my arm with alc. and wait 10 mins to put the patch on and it stays for the full 3 days. Before doing it this way I had to tape them on all the time. It says not to do this also but if you wait a let your arm dry a air I don't think theres much to worry about. Anyway you know when your getting to much when you start getting a little sick feeling just like when your getting to much heat on your arm

I post on crohns and was just reading on here. I use the BC patch which I know is totally different from a pain patch. But to keep mine on I take it out, slap it on, and then rub it for about 20 full seconds with lots of pressure. Then I rub off or scrub off any extra adhesive that is on the outside of the patch that might stick to my clothes. I have had no problems since I started doing this but before I was losing them left and right. Rubbing that adhesive for a bit really helps.

Now there's a new idea that hadn't occurred to me before: getting the patch to body temp before applying. Makes sense. Thanks!

I find the arm defiantely works best for me so I am sticking with that location, if it aint broke don't fix it ;) Also, I have noticed that the white paper tape works WAY better than the clear tape....the clear tape doesnt stay as well, the edges come off and the edge of the tape digs into my skin in places. Just an FYI for others. I'm going back to the white tape...it's not like the clear tape is clear enough that it does anything to conceal the patch on your body. Char - The Liodocaine patches are a whole different monster. I do find them much harder to deal with....they are MUCH larger than the pain patches are. I do put medical tape around all four edges and they mostly stay on but like you say, moving can make them come off. Mine don't come off all that often they just seperate from the skin, the tape seems to hold em in place. It is frustrating, thats for sure. Some night I have my back pretty much covered with em. Do you know if you can cut the lidocaine patches to be smaller? I need to put them at my sholder blade area but cannot do this b/c of the size..noooo way it would stay on, I'll have to check on that.

RDA and others... According to Jansen the makers of Duragesic patches," the skin should not be cleansed with alcohol ,soaps,oils,lotions, or other agents that might irritate the skin or alter its characteristics. After you wash with water, you need to wait till it dries to apply the patch." It also says that" the Duragesic patch should not be used if the seal is broken, cut, or altered,or damaged in any way prior to application. This could lead to rapid release of the contents of the Duragesic patch and absorption of a potentially fatal overdose of fentanyl. The transdermal patch should be pressed firmly in place with the palm of your hand for 30 seconds,making sure that the contact is complete,especially around the edges." It is really important to follow the directions that the manufactures give you. They give you these for reasons. I know that it is hard to keep these on, and you can get the bio-occlusive covers from them for free, so I would order them, and they do help to keep them on. But the most important thing is safety in taking these medications. You don't want any chance of an overdose. They can be life threatening.