Fentanyl patches

 Just trying to see who in here has ever had Fentanyl duragesic patches? I want some info from people on them before I slap one on.

I have chronic back and neck pain issues. My pain management doctor told me that these patches should be used as a LAST RESORT because from beginning to end (from the time it's first prescribed until you reach maximum dosage and it becomes ineffective) is about 2 to 7 years (depending on the patient). Because it can become ineffective so quickly, it is normally used for patients who have terminal illnesses i.e.e cancer.

Have you tried other pain meds? I'm not a doctor but I have gotten decent relief from several other pain mends including a daily dose of celebrex, multiple doses of lyrica, and skelaxin. Those are my base meds....then I hve stuff for the "heavy" days. Again, from someone who lives with chronic pain, I know that there is a need to control it, but sometimes the meds are worse then the pain...lol.



http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/206_fentanyl.html


The patch also shouldn't be the first narcotic pain medicine that is prescribed. It should be used only in people who have been taking opiate analgesics for a period of time. It could be used if people have been taking at least 60 milligrams (mg) of oral morphine daily, at least 30 mg of oral oxycodone daily, at least 8 mg of oral hydromorphone daily, or an equally strong dose of another opioid for a week or longer. Stanski says, "This prior opiate dosing results in a degree of tolerance, or resistance to the opiate that is relevant when the patch is subsequently used." Children who are younger than 2 years should not use the fentanyl patch. It also shouldn't be used in children 2 years of age or older who are not already using other opioid narcotic pain medicines. Patches should always be prescribed at the lowest dose needed for pain relief.

"Understanding and following directions is so important because of the potential for respiratory depression associated with all opiate analgesic medications, and especially with the fentanyl patch," says Stanski.

I wore one after my DS.  READ and UNDERSTAND the warning materials!  Incorrect use of Fentanyl can cause death.

That said, Fentanyl provided the most wonderful pain relief I have EVER had!

It was wonderful.

 Esp. if EATEN ..   (yes, I had an addiction medicine doc tell me a horror story the other day in a chatroom about patients of his that were so hooked on painkillers that when their doc switched them to the patch instead, they ate them  --  result:  sudden death from OD!)

I have been using these for 2 years.  (back pain)  They work for me (1 day I feel good 2nd day not so good and 3rd day sucks) but the side effects and withdrawl symptom,s are pretty bad.  I just had my second spine surgery in the last 7 years and I am trying to get off of these things.
The doc is going to start weening me off of them next month.
I secons what others have said.  Ask ur doc a bunch of questions and definately take as perscribed.

Any questions email me I have become a self taught expert in this area  LOL

Jim D

My wife has severe lower back problems. She puts on new patches every 2 days. If she forgets to put them on one night, she's in horrible pain the next day. She puts them on at night, as she find that they make her very sleepy. Next morning she is fine though. She has used these patches for some 2 years now. Start out with lower dosage patches, and if that doen't cut the pain, then ask the doc to increase the patch dosage. She could not function without them. DAVE