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DanP · 03-08-2010, 01:40 PM

For Roxie - I've had painful sensory PN for 21 years have been using the Fentanyl patches since 1-9-02. All the meds the Neuros and Pain Specialists tried just didn't work and I have used everything from Neurontin to Lyrica. I finally asked my primary care physician on what to do and he asked if anyone had ever prescribed the Duragesic Patch and when I said no he started me on the 50mcg patch. On 4-10-02 we went to the 75mcg patch and on 11-18-02 we started on the 100mcg strength patch and BINGO - my 7 to 9+ pain dropped down to a 2 to 4 which I tolerate very well. On 3-19-07 we raised it to 2 patches: 1 100 strength patch and 1 25 strength patch and this is where I am today and the pain is still maintained at the 2-4 level. I function just fine at this level...my eyes are clear, hands are steady, and I have full control of all my faculties. I drive my car without any problem and I'm walking a mile plus every day using only my cane.

I am dependent on my patches but not addicted and there is a huge difference in dependency and addiction. And, I have never once felt "high" or "zonked out" using these patches. I will be 78 years old on the 28th of this month and we plan to continue using this medication for my moderate to severe pain until I die or a cure for PN is found. Because of cost we are using a generic form of the Duragesic Patch which is called the 'Fentanyl Transdermal System'. The cost for the generic is still outrageous but much cheaper than the Duragesic Patch brand. In either case a very good insurance plan is desirable - or else being super rich.

Unfortunately these patches don't always work for everyone who has PN pain -I don't know why - they just don't. I suspect there are lots of medications that work for some and not others so it must be the nature of the beast. I do suspect that in some cases the patient does not give a medication a sufficient period of time to work. In other cases I suspect it's a matter of titration...the doctor or patient will not increase the dosage so the med being tried was never given a fair chance to work. After 21 plus years of living with moderate to severe levels of pain I'm convinced that to achieve pain control the medication must be used in sufficient strength (properly titrated) and it must remain in the blood stream 24/7/365.

Good luck Roxie - I hope you find pain control ASAP.

P.S. These patches are the ONLY thing I'm using for pain. My PCP gave me hydrocordone in case of breakthrough pain but that happens so seldom I rarely ever use it.