Remember too that I said one of the issues with an non-managed change from reservoir to matrix patches is that the dose released is typically different which is why they aren't interchangeable. Your previous patches may have been releasing you a different dose - fentanyl takes up to 6 days to reach its steady state in the body so messing around with dosage can cause problems both rapidly and over a number of days.

You might just be unable to get a full 3 days out of the patches, either on a one off or regular basis. There are so many things that could be going on that you would be best to speak to your pharmacist and prescriber for advice on the best way to proceed.

I started out with the reservoir patches and tried two different brands before switching to the endo brand matrix patch. We sure are all different. Have a great day.

Spine

[QUOTE=Spiney95;947717]I started out with the reservoir patches and tried two different brands before switching to the endo brand matrix patch. We sure are all different. Have a great day.

Spiney

It's ok to swap between different manufacturers of patches provided they are always of the same format ie reservoir or matrix. What isn't OK is to be swapping regularly in an unmanaged way between reservoir and matrix parches because their method of action is completely different and so are the dosing rates. its one thing to have a managed changeover that is planned and considered by your doctor but to just get whatever format of patches the pharmacy have that week regardless of what you had before isn't safe with fentanyl patches.

The drug has a very long half life so it stays in the body sometimes in large amounts for very long periods and any overdose with patches can be very hard to treat. Whipping the patch off isn't any help because so much of the drug is already sitting in the fatty tissue under the skin.

The matrix patches are virtually impossible to abuse unlike the reservoir ones which are prime targets for abusers who cut the patch and suck out the drug so it seems only natural that patients and pharmacies would be safer dispensing more of the matrix ones going forward. On the streets it is called synthetic heroin so that gives an idea of its abuse popularity!

Pretty much every opiate is synthetic heroin. Fentanyl is sometimes cut with crappy heroin to give it more of a kick.
But an opiate is derived from opium, some being non, partial or full synthetics. Heroin is a non synthetic. Oxy is full synthetic. Along with fentanyl.

Oh, I am putting my mrsD hat on now.... Heroin is synthetic too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin
Morphine is a natural opiate found in opium that is used today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine
Codeine is also naturally found in opium.

Sorry folks, you are missing the joke I was trying and obviously failing to make with my comment.

I am very well aware of the synthetic nature of fentanyl and most of the other opioids we use, the point i was making was that one of the slang or street names for fentanyl amongst drug abusers is 'synthetic heroin' because they regard it as a 'fake' heroin substitute. Its also known as china white. Apparently it is quite popular because it provides a rather more mellow, pleasant high than heroin.

[QUOTE=Neurochic;947843]One can simmer or suck on the matrix patches. Granted, the sucking method with the matrix is slower but it does work. Obviously, the street value is less. Have a good night.

Too Cool!

Yep, I did call the pharmacist and told him that I'm having a heck of a time adjusting to the matrix, and that withdrawals begin exactly as day 3 rolls around. He said he's heard that from several others.
Thankfully, he said that they ran into a shortage on 'my' kind of patch, the reservoir, and that's why I ended up with these.
He was very nice about it and said he'd make sure he'd have in stock for me the ones that I've been using for the past few years.

Oh my Lord! When I looked online for info on the patch, there were so many sites talking about how to get the best 'high' from these things ... they call it "cheeking". I can't BELIEVE how many sites/forums there are out there just for junkies to talk about how they get high from prescription drugs!

So THIS is what we're up against. These idiots run rampant! It gave me a much clearer view on why the feds have cracked down so much.

Thanks for all the good input everyone

Rae

The VAMC system has switched from Actavis to Mallinckrodt patches. These new patches are not as effective as the old and I am so angry at the addicts who keep causing the drug companies to change their meds to they (the addicts) won't die or be able to use the drugs.

I hope I'm able to get to the new pain doc (outside the VA system) and get my old patches back.