[Checker]

I recently have started Sandoz Fentanyl 25mcg.I think they are to strong for me and I am up for days. I have 2 days until I can get into my Doctor to lower the dosage to start. Can I cut one of the patches in half for the next 2 days?

Sincerely

[Dr. Smith]

NO.

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Do not use a fentanyl skin patch that is cut, damaged, or changed in any way. If you use cut or damaged patches, you may receive most or all of the medication at once, instead of slowly over 3 days. This may cause serious problems, including overdose and death.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a601202.html

Call your doctor on the phone and ask what to do.

Doc

[Checker]

Thank you,I did not cut it because of the warnings on the package. I just read on the internet people do cut them.I am not an abuser of them and did read the non gel could be cut because of no gel reservoir.I will not chance it.Thank again!!

[Dr. Smith]

Wise choice/decision. IMO it's best not to chance it for a number of reasons. The fact that you feel the dose is too strong for you suggests a degree of opioid naïvety* which may make you particulary vulnerable/at-risk. Also, it could get you labeled as an abuser/seeker even if you're not, and that stigma is nigh impossible to overcome.

When you read something like that on the internet, it can be hard to discern whether the person saying it is just naïve, misinformed, or an abuser themselves. Whichever, they're chancing becoming a statistic.

* "Opioid naïve" is a term used to describe people who do not have a tolerance to opioids.

Doc