Sally,

Fatigue due to narcotic pain meds can sometimes be a temporary side effect that will go away once your body adjusts.

But it can also be a sign that your dose is too high or a sign that this particular pain med is not agreeing with your body.

This is something that you absolutely need to talk to your doctor about - especially because you mention that the fatigue comes on so suddenly and rapidly.


Did you doctor tell you to be careful to keep heat away from the patch? (no heating pads, no laying in a hot tub, avoiding anything that can put heat on the patch or raise your body temp).

Heat causes a rapid release of medication from the patch, so if you are exposing the patch to heat the sudden increase in medication could be causing the sudden fatigue.... but any sudden fatigue that occurs when a patient is taking narcotic pain medications needs to be discussed with the doctor.

Take care,
Liz