Fentanyl Does Not Last 48 Hours

I am currently on a Mylan Fentanyl patch 50mcg/hr. I was on 75mcg patch which worked well with my pain but the patches dont last 48 hours. After about 30-36 hours I start having major withdrawel symptoms and pain. I had these withdrawels with both doses of the fentanyl patches. My dr dropped my down to 50mcg to see if it would help but it does'nt. I have some Dilaudid for breakthrough pain but it does'nt work at all for pain or withdrawel syptoms. The dilaudid is basically useless to me. Has anyone had a Mylan Fentanyl patch thats doing this?? I saw my dr today and he's considering taking me off the patches and back to the pills again. This really sucks. The patches have worked well for about 10 months now.

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Very sorry for what you are going through.

It is possible that you have already built up a tolerance to them, or that you simply absorb the medication too fast.

The medication can also be absorbed faster than normal if you are in a very warm environment, or are overheated.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Fentanyl/­

What pills is he thinking of putting you on?

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I actually got a new script today for Oxycodone SR 30mg. Unfortunatley its not available in generic form so my insurance wont cover it. I'll just have to tough it out this weekend and see what the dr will do on Monday. Not sure what my options are for something extended release. I'm not looking forward to taking the hcl every 4 hours.

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Jeff, that is correct, the controlled release Oxycodone is only available as the name brand Oxycontin.

However, Morphine is available in a time released formulation as a generic, the name brand for it would be MS Contin, so you may want to talk to your doctor about trying it.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Morphine/­

Is there anything else I can help with?

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Unfortunately morphine has no effect on me. So thats that. I'm just suprised my patches are'nt doing what they should any more. If this keeps up, I'll just get a Medtronic pump and do away with all the other junk.

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Yes yes yes!!! I have taken other patches but was getting rash- so I use MYLAN brand!!! Have noticed withdrawal symptoms from some of these patches after having had on for just 24 hours!!' It is hard to tell a defective MYLAN patch since the Fentynol is not visible as with the other ones!!! I will prob be calling them tmo cuz went thru a box of five in less then 8 days cuz definitely could tell was experiencing withdrawal symptoms!!! Call Milan and be sure to have lot # located on box or patch packaging!!' I love the MYLAN brand cuz doesn't cause rash but really think that some patches DO NOT have the dose stated on package!! Have been on duregesic for over 10 years so I KNOW when there is an issue... Went thru withdrawal once due to hospital negligence and KNOW symptoms!!!

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My PMD had me on the Duragesic (name brand Fentanyl) 100's...I lost about 48 lbs in less than a month and cold turkeyed myself off them as I was HIGHLY overmedicated then..he was always adamant about using the name brand only,which has the gel inside of it and the membrane on the back. I was able to go about 3 months without using them ( I do take Norco name brand 7.5's 8 daily tho). When I needed to go back onto the Fentanyl I would only let him start me back on the 25's and when I went to fill them they did not have the name brand in stock so I agreed they could give me the generics. They gave me the Mylan ones,which I really liked much better without the gel...I firmly believe that the gel ones aren't as good at administering the med into my body because the gel is constantly moving around and not laying flush with the skin. As time went by I was given other generics at times...one had the gel and most recently I was given the Mallinckrodt by a pharmacy without my knowledge which is AWFUL cause it's made like a really stiff plastic. Currently I am only back up to the 50's (7 yrs later from starting back on the 25's) and I change them every 48 hours. I request the Mylan brand generic because I love the way I feel it evenly administers the med into my body. Even had to argue with the doc years back to get him to write my rx's for the generics! I know that the fentanyl peaks at 18 hrs and then tapers down and thus the need for our "breakthrough meds". With the experience with all the other generics IMHO the Mylan is def the best generic on the market. I can tell you that the Mallinckrodt's short on me in about 36-40 hours and I feel like I accidently went to bed and forgot to change mine the night before...like I've gone over my time by about 12 hours and am sick and having wd symptoms. I hope that your dr can work something out with yours for you maybe adding a 12.5 to your regimen and possibly having you put it on the opposite days of your current ones (thus maybe adding just enuf for you not to have that wd feeling period) Good luck and God bless.

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Hi. Sorry to hear of your troubles.I wonder if your patch is adhering properly. Mine were only lasting 48 hrs. I spoke to doc about having some withdrawal symptoms, and he thought that may be the issue. I seem to have these issues with the long acting forms of meds..the 12 hr would have to be prescribed every 8, even though I was only getting a good 6 hrs! So he asked if I wanted to increase from 75mcg to 100. I asked if I could instead use the 75 for 48 hrs instead and thankfully, he OK d this. I use the Tegraderm covering on top of the patch as soon as I 'be applied it. It seems to be working well. I even surprised myself by declining an increase in break thru meds. I prefer the Watson brand, though I hear Mylan is good also. I have been using the patch for 2 mos, tho had used them 20 yes prior. I definitely prefer this over all the pills, which just were not working anymore. I wish you the best!

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I had the same problem, not only with mylan, but with all patches. My PMD had my take a lab test which confirmed my rate of metabolism for this med and then prescribed them for once daily use. It took a reasonable time for my insurance to preauthorize this non label use, but I have changed patches every day since then and have no problems.

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Re: Juls (# 7)

I'm going thru the 72 hr. propaganda s*** too, these damn patches....I HATE THESE THINGS! The only thing worse than wearing them is NOT wearing them and every 3rd day that patch is as dead as a 10 yr. old d-cell battery. I was just told yesterday that it may be my dna, of course I do have CRPS type 1 AND 2; anyone doubting how painful this is, google mcgill pain index, aaannnnnddddd I have zero prn's, nothing, 72 hrs...I don't think so... Anyone have an idea how to make these '3rd day hells' less horrible? I've tried taking them off at night and suffering till morning. Nope.

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Re: Jeff Krout (# 4)

morphine does nothing for me either....way over rated, and this was on a pca pump, "pain test" I was ordered to NOT quit pressing that button till I got COMPLETE relief...or I'd pass out, it was 4 or 5 mg's...EVERY 10 MINUTES! Afte 48 hrs I'm pissed and accusing them of giving me a placebo...things changed REAL quick that day.

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