I've been on the fentanyl patch to help severe neuropathic pain for the past 10 weeks. I've worked up from the 25 mcg. patch to the 50 mcg. patch. My pain has gone down dramatically but since I've been on the 50 mcg. patch I feel tired all the time. I can't keep up with conversations in social settings the way I used to and I've lost my enthusiasm for things I used to love. Since the patches help the pain I hope I'll eventually get used to the patches and recover some of my old vim and vigor, although I'm 68 and age may have something to do with my flagging vigor.

Has anyone else had experience with the fentanyl patches? Did they make you tired? Did you get used to them? I'd appreciate your help. Thanks.

My experiance is as a hospice nurse and my patients generally got used to them after the first few patches.
z

I too am a nurse and have been on and off patch. Any time I changed the dose I had to get use to the sleepyness. It may take some time, but I sometimes had to drop back to a lower dose due to just being sluggish all day. Give it a few weeks and drop by 12.5 mcgs to see what you can best tolerate. It's a great drug for pain, hang in there. One more suggestion, keep up with your gi motility. As you know, this works on your opiod receptors in bowels as well as your brain. Miralax works very well for me. pam z.

if this doesnt work itself out after the 3/4th patch, consider going to a 25mcg patch and a 12 mcg patch (to equal 37 mcg) instead of the 50 mcg.