Fentanyl 50 Mcg/hour Transdermal Patch (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I WAS PRESCRIBED THE 50 MCG/HR FENTANYL PATCH FOR CHRONIC BACK PAIN & DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE. I WAS GIVEN THE PRESCRIPTION SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. I JUST GOT IT FILLED 2 DAYS AGO BECAUSE I'M AFRIAD TO USE IT. I HAVE READ ALL THE PATIENT INFO, RESEARCHED IT ON THE NET & TALKED TO SEVERAL PHARMACISTS AS WELL AS MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. ALL OF THE PHYSICIANS & PHARMACISTS TELL ME THAT THE PATCH WILL HELP ME WITH THE DAILY PAIN. THEY SAY THAT THE PATCH SHOULD NOT CAUSE ME ANY HARM BUT THE ONE TING THAT'S STOPPING ME FROM USING IT IS THE RESPIRATORY SIDE EFFECTS & POSSIBLE OVERDOSE. I'M SEEKING SOME ADVISE FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE USED THIS DRUG BEFORE WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD OR BAD OUTCOME.

I AM OPOID TOLERANT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PAIN FOR THE LAST 5-6 YEARS. WHEN I HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH OF PAIN & HAVE TO SEEK EMERGENCY TREATMENT OTHER PAIN MEDS GIVEN (IV OR IM) DON'T WORK ANYMORE. ER'S HAVE GIVEN ME MORPHINE & IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE THE EDGE OFF THE PAIN. DILAUDID DOESN'T WORK UNLESS I'M GIVEN MORE THAN 3MG'S & THAT WEARS OFF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR IF IT LASTS THAT LONG. WHEN I'M IN SEVERE PAIN MY PRESSURE RISES. I'M AFRAID OF THE PATCH B/C I DON'T WANT TO FAINT OR PASS OUT FROM A DROP IN MY PRESSURE. I'M CURRENTLY TAKING VICODIN 7.5/500 EVERY 4 HOURS. I HAVE NOW BUILT A TOLERANCE FOR THE VICODIN AND IT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO PERCOCET 5/325 & SOMETIMES I CAN TAKE UP TO 3 OF THEM EVERY 4 HOURS.

I'M ALSO ON OTHER MEDS THAT I BELIEVE WILL INTERACT WITH THE FENTANYL. I TAKE LEXAPRO, ATIVAN, CLONIDINE DAILY. I NEED SERIOUS HELP!!!

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I HAVE A HERNIATED DISC AT C5 AND C 6
IM OPIOD TOLLERANT-NOTHING HELPSS...THE NORCO 10/325 HELPED A LIL BIT BUT NOT MUCH AND THAT WAS TAKING 4 AT A TIME-IM HAVING FUSION SURGERY SOON-APRIL OR MAY-NOW IM ON A 50MCG FENTANYL PATCH.....ILL LET YA KNOW HOW THAT GOES...I HEAR THEY HELP A LOT....LIFES A BITCH...LIFE WITH CHRONIC NECK AND BACK PAIN...WELL THATS A MEGA BITCH....AND THOSE OF YOU SHAKING YOUR HEADS CALLING US ADDICTS AND PILL HEADS....WALK A MILE FIRST THEN LET ME KNOW IF YOU COULD DEAL WITH LIFE IN PAIN LIKE THIS WITHOUT THE MEDS--IM A PRETTY TOUGH GUY...BUT THIS IS KILLIN ME.

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I have been taking Opana for 5 months Opana 20's/ 2 per day for 1 month, then Opana 30's/ 2 per day for 1 month, then Opana 30's/ 2 per day for 1 month, then Opana 30's/ 3 per day for 1 month, then Opana 40's/ 3 per day for 1 month.

I just got home from surgery.. I had bone(s) fused & metal rods installed in my lower back.

And, I lost my health insurance a month ago, too,

So, every penny counts. My hopes & prayers are to never take another pain pill and somehow return yo a normal life. I plan to go find a job next week.

I have 3 pks of Fentanyl 75 mcg/hr patches and 1 pk of Fentanyl 50 mcg/hr patches left from before I started taking the Opnan.

How do I translate these. Can I use these Fentanyl 75 mcg/hr patches for the next couple of weeks while I recover from surgery ? safely ?

Now,

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This might have been your own reaction (allergic) to the combo. My husband is on 50mcg Fentanyl patch plus mg Klonopin daily and I am on 50 mcg Fentanyl patch plus 4 mg Klonopin daily and 5 mg diazepam daily and we both do well.
I think everyone needs to take things slowly when they are prescribed new meds because you never know how your body will react to the meds or combos.
Sorry you had such a bad experience!

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I am so sorry for your severe chronic pain. I have it too! I had a neck/head injury and also take 50mg of Fentanyl and like you it doesnt help all day. I was taking VIcodin for breakthrough pain but after 5 yrs it finally quit working. MY DR THEN CHANGED UP MY MED’S, I am now on an 8 hour pill (Oxycodine). It helps for most of the day. PLEASE LISTEN TO ME! I Have had CP for 7 yrs & study it! med’s alone are not able to manage pain: RESTING after a few hours of activity, sleeping renews the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. And I also take muscle relaxers if I cant sleep from pain. BUT one must mix it up after a while. And use meditation, relaxation, visualization and even some level of ACCEPTANCE OF THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME PAIN! I see a pain counselor too and it helps. I hope you feel better soon. Blessings, V. Colorado
{edited for privacy}

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Unless someone has your type of pain they will never understand what you go through daily. You look and act fine, but really you want to lay down and never wake up. If I didn't have kids I'm pretty sure I would of bit the bullet by now! So, all I am saying your pain is not imaginary and yes hurts more than what people can imagine. Fentanyl is your best bet and laying down with a sleeping pills as an aid works for me. Not the best life, but you know the alternative!

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I wear the patch its fine works very well, a lot of the stuff is people misused them. If you began to sweat then cool off, keep out of heat,and what ever the directions say. Clonidene lowers blood pressure, why are you taking that? Its mainly used for withdrawl. I would not take ativan right before bedtime, take it during the day if your anxious. I was very hesitant too, and have been dealing with 4 bulging disc neck, top of spine and 2 in lower back. And servere arthritis. So don't fear don't get shampoos on the patch. I have gotton mine wet, indirectly. Make sure you get this tape and this tape only, it works so well anyone who says they don't stick something is wrong, my skin is naturally oily and I sweat very Easley. (Tegaderm) is what its called, have the pharmacy order them, if they won't go to a pharmacy that will, but most pharmacys have this tape. I would get off as much of the other stuff and see if you need breakthrough. Write down when you have breakthrough and keep away from Oxycodone, its not worth how your tolerance goes sky high. I was on 25mg and my worst most debilitating pain was is completely gone, but my lower back has hurt quite a lot. So they are putting me on the 50mg. Sometimes they will let you wear two 25mg this way if you are still in fear if one happens to be defected, then you won't get the whole 50mg. But they are made pretty complex. Read up on this patch. Don't let fear rule you. If you believe pray God keep you safe and the patch works like it should, and they work fine.
Blessings I hope things workout.

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Jack 3 things frightened me xanax,hydromorphone, & your age 61 . those things mixed with fetanal is the reason you had to gasp for air. Regardless of being tolerant to xanax those cause respiratory failure as well as fentanyl. So my personal opinion is nobody should ever be on xanax with such a strong medicine as fentanyl . 2 respiratory depressing meds. Dont mix. And if you been on xanax so long it doesn't work the same so praying you Dont take more than prescribed. I'm on 50 MCG coming from 4 /30mg & 4/10mg oxycodone daily. I'm happy I Dont have to take 8 pills a day anymore but unhappy that I stay in pain daily with this patch and due to new laws & doctors not wanting to prescribe more than that I'm miserable but I continue to pray over my pain. Several herinated disc dgd in my low back & herinated disc in my neck & they are all on the sciatic nerve. I wish doctors knew how we really feel with inadequate pain relief instead of thinking people are drug seeking. Some probably are. But us with real severe pain aren't we just want to live normal. Good luck john.

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I can't take the medicine that is being offered in spite of my having been established treatment plan for over 15-19 years. I'm a veteran and seemingly every veteran is having any pain meds with opiates taken away. staff who are on the same meds can obtain theirs but outpatients are either flat having it discontinued or diagnosis redefined to force a change from what works to the drug of choice for this pain clinic. my Dr 16+ years ago tried everything possible before she/orthopedic PA decided on drug regime. Along comes new physician and his EGO won't talk with the patient, he just makes the decision to discontinue treatment. veterans are getting shafted and nothing is being done to rectify the problem. I begged my PC for something because the pain is causing me to vomit,and I can hardly walk.This didn't happen when the pain was controlled.

It's not about drugs as everyone seems to think,I'm losing my life as I've known it,I live alone,it's all I can do to do base things much less take real care of my life.my life is dying in my eyes and no one will listen.THE drugs Lyrica,Cymbalta I can't take due to adverse reactions,it's on my record,being ignored.so Tylenol is out as I previously mentioned so combo medicine I can't take...that's why I was put on the medicine. To NOW refuse anything for pain relief is insane.

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I take 1mg 3x's Xanax daily and was prescribed 50mcg/hr tr patch. So your saying I can not take my Xanax? Is this your side effect or does it apply to everyone? My doctor knows I take Xanax so why would he prescribe this to me if everyone may have the same effects as you? I don't understand how you can speak for everyone when everyones body is different.

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Hey darling I understand what you're going through. I've been on the patch for over ten years. I've had several back surgeries. I've had just about every thing on the market. I've been disabled since 2000 and I found that the patch regulates itself and that for me was a good thing, you just GET your calendar mark the day you put on and count 3 days or every 72 hours if you want to use a countdown watch or timer on your cellphone. Although do check your drug reactions which you said you've done already. Also this will help you get off of some of the meds that just keep you loopy so you can have some quality of life! I hope this helps you , I been there and will so for the rest of my life. My heart goes out to all of the life time painers. Hang in there.

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If your taking the pain patches you can ask your doctor to give you the 10-325 Percocet for breakthrough pain only even when your taking the patches at the same time,but like the guy said you have to be carefull with to much Percocet being that it has so much Tylenol and it is bad for your liver,talk to your doctor about having something for breakthrough pain.

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Re: Angela (# 318)

All I can say is start cutting back and get ready to get off all medication as the feds are going to cut everyone off all opioids and benzodiazepines are going to be hard to get through any doctor or pain specialist! I've been with a pain specialist for years and have multiple problems, major severe chronic injuries, prior compression fracture T5 vertebrae, multiple discs damaged in the back, hip dislocation and multiple tears in both knees! Both have been blown out. I was on over 40 mg oxy, 8 mg Xanax, 4 mg Dilaudid and Soma. All prescriptions were 120 pills each a month! And I have built up to that over years so I function fine and it doesn't even affect me. Now they have cut me back to basically just 50 MCG per hour time release fentanyl patch (72 hour dose) and some Dilaudid 4 mg that don't do crap! LOL! And I have to cut back my 2 mg Xanax bars from 4 a day down to 3 to 2, then probably one, then nothing. They're giving us no choice! Too many stupid people don't know how to use medication and like to overdose screwed it up for people that actually use their medication to get relief! Not to feel high! The system is such a joke. People need to learn how to control their dosage. So basically get ready to start kicking. I already have and it sucks. I'm basically slowly coming off everything. You just have to push through it. Pray, ask God for help, try to block out the pain if you can. Trust me. I'm trying too. It's hard but it's all we can do! Hang in there and good luck with everything!

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50 mcg fentonyl also preribed 3 days ago / VERY OPIATE TOLLERANT

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I may have some answers that can be helpful to you. #1 don't be nervous. You can email me if you would like some insight about them. smiles.roxana at yahoo.

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I take (apply) Fentanyl patches and have everyday for the past 3 years. I have had certain times when I was able to use 25mcg every 48 hours but right now and for the most part is has been 62mcg every 48 hours. It is likely that I will take this for the rest of my life since without it, I am limited to bedrest and the pain is excrutiating. I also take 2 hydrocodone, 2 tizanidine (muscle relaxers), 1 Cymbalta and 1 Ambien CR daily. Prior to using the Fentanyl I was taking as many as 12-15 Hydrocodone a day. From my understanding, prolonged use of hydrocodone in large dosages is very harmful to the liver.

Other than the euphoria that set in when I first started using the Fentanyl, I have had no real side effects. They did find that I have developed a much lower Testosterone level, but that is overcome with a monthly hormone shot and it may or may not be related to the Fentanyl.

I would not be scared to use it, in fact, I think of it as a God-send. I hope you find that to be the case as well. Good luck!

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Im on my 3rd spinal fusion and I take Fentynly 50 mcg plus Roxicodone and xanax. The pain makes my BP and Heart rate rise so I also take metoprolol. The medicine helps but there is no magic pill or injection that will ever take the pain away. Remeber if you feel like you cant breathe just rip the patch off. And I feel like I cant breathe all the time but the key is to not panic, at all and focus on your senses like what you can smell and taste rather than im about to faint, because then panic sets in and man down. Good luck

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My situation seems to be very differently then everyone else. Rather than having all of the pains you all have, I have Fibromyalgia which is a disorder that attacks the nervous system and can cause extreme pain throughout the entire body at any given time. For the pain I was prescribed Percocet 10/625 4 times a day, which was a joke. In addition I was taking Savella twice a day and 600mg of Neurotin three times a day along with Ativan and Valium. I approached my doctor because I was sick and tired of taking oral pain medication and asked if there was one they recommended. At that time the patch recommended was Qutenza, which is not a patch that you can pick up from a pharmacy, it must be administered by the doctor and the patch does not stay on. It is administered for one hour and then is supposed to be effective for up to three months. Since it seemed like forever for the doctor's office to get the patch from the manufacturer I inquired about the Fentanyl patch. My doctor agreed for short-term treatment. He prescribed Fentanyl 50 mcg, 1 patch every 72 hours.

I have not really seem any vast improvement in the pain. The pain appeared to subside after about 12 hours, but then the pain came back at the 20-24 hour period.

I am not giving up and am hoping that the longer I use the patch the more effective it will work.

I have to admit after reading all the information about the patch I was excited because I felt I would finally receive extensive pain relief at least for the duration of the prescription. I just hope that the patch really gets rid of the pain. If anyone is familiar with Fibromyalgia then you understand the excruciating daily pain that is associated with the disorder.

Along with the patch, he also prescribed Vicoprofen for breakthrough pain. I can't take Percocet like I used to since I was recently diagnosed with a Liver disorder which has depressed me. I was diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Fatty-Liver Cirrhosis. It was like punching me in the gut. I am just praying that this patch truly helps because my only other option is to use just the Vicoprofen, which does not relieve the pain in any manner.

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Lisa,
I am on 50mcg Fentanyl every 48 hours so I can stay off of too much BT meds. When You put your first patch on rub your hands together till the get a little warmer than usual and place your hand over your patch for 30 seconds. I was a nurse and that is how we were taught to activate the patch. It is also wise to cover it with a bioadhesice bandage like Opsite or Tegaderm, you can get them at most all of your big pharmacies or specialty med suppliers. When I put my first one on I noticed a significant change in my pain level within the first 24 hours. If you do not put that bandage on it will probably fall off in the shower by the second day. It is also smart to mark your patch with a Sharpie the day you need to change (I wear mine on my thigh so no one will notice it). Dn't tell anyone that you are on a patch, that will give drug abusers the idea that they can either "borrow" one or steal it from you. Pain med docs are not happy if you have to call in an early refill cause your patch keeps falling off. Do not soak in hot water or let the shower hit the patch for too long. The hotter the patch gets the more medication it releases and the sooner you have to change. I hope that you find relief without withdrawal. Reply back if you need any further help with your patch.
I wish you less pain tomorrow than youmexperience today.

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I have been on the patches for over 4 years. They work very well for me as they give you an even dose of pain medicine. I take Narco for break through pain. Any pain med can lead to drug seeking behavior. My doc says it depends on if you have an "addictive" personality or not. I have not had to up my dosage in over a year. I take clonaphan, narco's, neurotin, copaxone, ampyra, xxanx, using all as directed have never caused me any problems. I much prefer the patch over pills as you don't have to remember to take them on a daily basis. You will hear a lot of bad about the patches but most O.D.'s come from misuse just the same as with any of the pain killers. The Fentynal is more powerful then morphine and should give you the relief you are after. I started on a 25 and now use a 75 every 48 hours.
A GOOD pain doctor is the key and not drinking alcohol or you will end up with liver problems.
Good luck

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24char... I've noticed that pretty well everyone on this patch is also taking something for breakthrough pain. When I showed up at my dr's yesterday I gave him ALL my pills... including my perc's. I am wondering if this was an oversight on my dr's part b/c even my pharmacist mentioned that i would need to continue taking my percocet's for breakthrough pain. My dr. only works here in Canada Mon-Wed...he is then in Detroit Thursday thru Sunday. This might explain why I'm not getting the relief I'd hoped for ... oh well, can't do anything about it until I can get back in to see him, which is week after next (it's a 3 hr. drive one-way - blech!!!) Guess I'll have to rely on some OTC meds to help bridge the gap.
What are Narco's? I've heard them mentioned a few times now ... are they similar to percocet? In the area I live Percocet is basically 5/325 ... sometimes called Endocet.
Thanks to all who helped with my questions :) Here's to pain-free days ... well, ok, pain-managed days, I'll settle for that! I once told a dr. that I don't have good days anymore ... I have bad days and mediocre days. He then says "Are you depressed?" Well, duh! I told him that anyone who deals with debilitating pain every single day has some kind of depression!

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