fentanyl patches
 

I am interested in finding out if anyone who is prescribed fentaynl patches or duregesic patches is prescribed dose 50 mcg up to be changed 1 every day or 1 patch every two days.
thank you.

I can't answer that personally, but I do know someone in my support group who uses two patches at a time, and ladders the rotation on alternate days. This is done with the knowledge and approval of this person's doctor.

Doc

Hi Martha
 

I've been using that dose of patch for a couple of years. What type of pain is yours for? Mine is RSD/Peripheral neuropathy. For me they are what makes or breaks me and I'm barely hanging on to my job because of them. I hate that I have to depend on them, but yet I'm very grateful that they exist. No popping pills, and the pain flares are much easier to handle.

Rae

Fentaynl Patches
 

I was on Fentaynl patches for 6 yrs. DO NOT change them daily..thats dangerous. They are 72 hr patches. Change every 3 days

Change every 3 days
 

hubby does keep them on until he does not see any other medicine in the patch but it is dangerous. No-one says anything about how to keep them on. His keeps falling off which gives him an excuse to put on another one. How in the world do you get them to stay on? Osto-bond or Tegaderm or Torbot Skin? Which is best and I guess Amazon is where I would have to get it cause i went to every place in my tiny town and they do not have it. Any suggestions besides what I have already tried which is every tape known to man that Walmart sells that i can pick up right away? Have not tried duck tape yet and i know a hair dryer is bad(read the other forums online) Thank you and God Bless

Fentanyl
 

What side effects are the patches having? I am on 25 mcg to start. I am just curious how you feel with the 50.

Thanks
Nikki

Hi Nikki
 

When I first started on the patch, I was very drowsy. But it sure was a welcome relief - anything to take me away from the horrid pain.
Constipation can be an issue with opioids, but Magnesium does the trick for me.
Otherwise, there really wasn't anything to speak of with s/e
I had become very opioid tolerant with all the different meds my pain specialist and I tried, so there really wasn't much to adjust to in my case.

Just be aware of the dangers involved such as getting overheated. Shy away from hottubs and heating pads.

I hope they bring you good pain relief. They've sure helped me!

Caring,
Rae

use as directed, may be other than every three days....have seen every other day

there is hope...
 

Hi there,

Call the manufacturer of the patch to see if they provide overlays like tegaderm for free to use to keep the patches on. Some manufacturers like mylan actually do provide them. Otherwise, I can refer you to a place mylan referred me to while they had a shortage. I have comparison shopped, as I used overlays before mylan provided them, Mercy Surgical Dressing Group at 888-637-2912. You want to speak with Sherri who was at extension 202 before they changed phone systems.

They carry tegaderm as well as the ones I buy which cost less. They are called Hydrofilm and made by Hartmann. Sherri is a pro and will be able to take care of you for your husband's needs. I use the 4x5 inch overlay as I wear 4 separate 100mcg patches. They come smaller however. You will never have a problem with patches falling off if you use these. Also, your husband places the patch in an area where he has no hair or shaves the area, doesn't he? if not, this may be part of the problem.

As far as changing the patches more often than every 72 hours or 3 days, I can say for certainty, it is to your disadvantage to change them daily based on when the fentanyl dosage peaks. It makes no sense to do so, nor should you need to. However, there have been times where my dose has been different, but I changed the patches every other day, but this was under a doctor's order. In cases with certain climates (warmer usually) or with certain skin types, one may find the patch wears off too quickly and needs to be changed every 48 hours or 2 days. But, you must discuss the matter with your doctor first.

Best of luck to you all. If anyone else has questions about the patches, feel free to ask as I have been on a fentanyl patch for ten years now. Take care and be well.

Sincerely,
Callie Sloane

Hi Callie
 

In all your years of being on the patch, have you run into any problems maintaining your prescription? My pain specialist is on the brink of retiring and I'm a bit concerned that I might have difficulty getting the patches once he's gone. Hopefully, whoever takes his place will realize how much I rely on these things. It's the only reason I'm able to keep my office job.

Thanks
Rae

patches
 

The best advice is to ask the md who prescribed them to you how often they want you to change them. I have worked with fentanyl patches for over 12 years and I have never changed a patients patch earlier than 72hours unless it had been removed and needed to be replaced. Sometimes the first couple of days you start using them can be difficult because it generally takes a full 24 hours to build up in your system. Take care and be sure to ask your doctor, fenanyl along with all narcotics need to be taken as ordered because they can be dangerous and even cause you to stop breathing if not taken properly.:)

Then discuss this with your specialist NOW, (ask him how transfer of care will proceed) so it'll be taken care of, off your mind (which can't be helping any) and the transfer of care will go smoothly. He probably has a lot of patients with the same concerns, and will likely turn everyone over to the same doctor/clinic/group with letters/notes on each that function like letters of recommendation.

Doc

Thank you! I will certainly bring this up at my next visit.
I'm having a hard time making the patches last 3 days, but I don't want to go back to changing every 48 hrs.
It's my dang back spasms! (have I mentioned lately that I'm having these? :p) The Baclofen seems to be helping less and less, so I need to see if there is something better we can try. Thanks to your suggestions and links you provided, I'll be more familiar with the options that are out there

Rae

My standard suggestion is google: talk doctor pain and let him choose which to try based on your need & his knowledge/experience. If you have any concerns/questions about his choice, ask them then & there. Give whatever he prescribes a fair/reasonable chance/trial (w/ adjustment period). If it works, cool! :yahoo: If it doesn't, or there's any problem, don't hesitate to call immediately, report it, :hissyfit: and ask for a change.

You probably know all this stuff very well, :Clever: but for the lurkers... The thing is (seems I've been posting a lot about doctors lately, so this stuff is all running rampant through my head... :picknose: ) unless we specifically tell them (call, complain, ask, etc) doctors assume everything is ok and working fine, whether it's pain, medications, or whatever. Once we leave the office, other than notes & billing, they're on to the next patient and their problems; they don't think much about us :Dunno: until the next appointment. :Doh:

Doc

Thanks for that google reference. I remember you giving that to someone else and I was actually going to pm you for it.

:D I see you've been hit with 'Smilie Fever' also ! :Crazy 2:

Innit great!

I go in spurts. It depends on a few variables - how much time/"stress" constraint I'm under, having the patience/stamina to go through the whole chart looking for the appropriate smilie, how goofy I'm feeling (even under "stress")...

I was chuckling to myself the other day thinking someone out there might suspect I'm bipolar or something.... :eek: In the case of the post above, I had a brief break in a multi-day headache, so yeah, my spirits were a little better. Other times I may do it just to keep/lift my spirits; when I lose my sense of humor, THEN I'm in trouble! :thud: (Never had occaision to use that one B4.)

Doc

finding a new doctor...
 

Hi Rae,

in all my years, I have managed to find new doctors as necessary when I moved cross country and back. it is not always easy and may take seeing a couple of doctors, but it is do-able. My pain doctor is in the process of retiring and she has sent a list of multiple pain doctors out to her patients. Ask your doctor for a referral. Best of luck. keep me in the loop.

sincerely,
Sloane

Thanks Sloane! I talked to him yesterday and it sounds like he'll be around for another year (I hope)...... I used up most of our 10 minute office visit asking about SSDI and if he's helped pts with this (he does), so I'll wait for next visit to ask about this.
It eases my mind to hear you say that your other Drs have honored the referrals and recommendations.
Thanks again
Rae