Hi. Fentanyl is a med that is released in the body via the Duragesic Pain Patch. At least that is what it was about 10 years ago. Normally the patch is changed every 3 days. But with neuropathy patients it can be changed every 2 days. I will never forget when my husband brought the prescription to the pharmacist who said "This is wrong, it should be every 3 days". I said "Call the doctor". You should have seen the pharmacist's face when the doctor confirmed his own prescription. That is the ONLY med that worked for my husband. While he had breakthrough pain and took a vicodin once in a while, the Duragesic Fentanyl patch allowed him to continue to work. He started with a 25 patch and then over the year it had to be increased. The side effect in my husband's case was extreme constipation but that is the case with any controlled substance. it slows the digestive system (that's what the pharmacist told me way back then).

But while he was on it, it worked fine. Because he went over 100 of the patch, they had to titrate him down and then stop at 25. He could not get off the 25 by himself and had to go to detox but after one day they released him saying "We didn't detect any drugs in your system". He said 'what are you talking about, I walked in wearing a 25 pain patch". /They said "too bad", you are going home. He then had to do full withdrawal in the bed for one week.

Neuropathy is a *****. Hopefully (and this is the present) there are some other options for people with bad neuropathic pain.

My husband's pain was much worse 10 years ago. He takes nothing for it now. But he does have his days.

Sorry I can't be more helpful

Melody