Fentanyl Patches Killing People! (Page 5)

I would like to know WHY the FDA has not taken the Fentanyl Patch off the market? This drug is being handed out like candy. Anyone who is not terminal or under Hospice care or in a hospital invironment should not be using this drug. Why would a person be prescribed a medication that is 80 times stronger than morphine for a backache. I do not believe patients know how powerful this medication is. The warning should be labled in RED. When are you FDA going to realize This medication is killing while relieving pain! I know because it killed my son.

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Comment on your post. This is an excellent post and States clearly what it means to be in critical pain. You don't have to have cancer to be in paralysis from pain. I too have trouble getting my medications that are so regulted by my physicians to assure I maintain the safest way possible to have a small form of life. I also have a son with disabilities it's hard enough caring for his daily needs and I sure wouldn't be able to do this without my pain management.

Please note that I have tried every form of pain management from burning nerve endings to the implant of a Nero stiullator. I was in the trial stage of the Nero stimulator. I'm four days of having this device inserted in my back I developed an infection and when they placed me in the hospital this infection turned into MRSA a life threatening disease. It managed to begin shutting each organ in my body down. After being in the hospital for 5 & 1/2 weeks after having my gall bladder removed,to the point of needing dialysis, had to have a liver procedure so maintain my liver function, my stomach became paralyzed ( gastroparysis), and going into congestive heart failure. All this without pain medication. It has taken me 8 years to recover from non medication pain management!!! Efforts need to be put in place to assure opioids are used correctly and maintain preventative drugs to help with an accidental overdose as no medication is risk free. Without my medication I would still be in bed and there are still days I cannot get out of bed. I obey my physicians orders and make sure all my many specialist are on the same page. No medication is given to me without all my physicians knowing it. As well as my medical history is maintained in my pharmacy as well. I never have regained the use of my stomach. As if my pain isn't enough I now deal with the fact that my stomach doesn't work me basically love on a type of formula and supplements to keep me going. All of these problems occurred when I rejected using my pain medications and if O had it to do over I would stay away from any device that is placed on the spinal cord where there was once a tumor imbedded in my spine. Can we is not the only condition or disease that creates imcreable pain that prevents any type of life. Can I have complications? Sure bit O feel strangely that I keep in close contact t with all my physicians. I have to applaud your post as you said it so well. I too wish to send my deepest sympathy with you loss as any loss of life is horrible but don't make my life intolerable because that is what you are doing by lumping us all in the same category. I have spent the last 8 years regaining my strength back and this is due to me being able to maintain my pain under close supervision of pain management. I have my emergency medication with me at all times, I follow through with all my physicians especially my pain managements doctor. I keep all my medications in my phone as an emergency app, and assure all my family are educated on signs of trouble as the more informed we all are the healthier I will be. I cannot stress this enough please don't make those who truly need this medication. We all walk a fine line and must take extra steps to assure our safety. To the person who lost their son please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your son as indeed that is a pain that no one can take away of any type of medication. I do urge you to join grief counseling groups as I have learned from having a son with disabilities that many others who are walking in my shoes helps get me through difficult issues and in my groups we deal with death of our children simply from things like our children eating the wrong things. I'm sure you have reached out to groups much like the one I am connected with and if not please contact one as it does help as unfortunately their are others who have walked in your shoes. May God bless you but please don't condemn us.

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Dear Child of Mine, I don't know if you will get this message but know I FEEL your pain.. I had been prescribed several different drugs through VA pain management and found out my son was taking 1 or 2 here and there.., I called the police...He was also using them recreationally with his friends.. He was in a year long treatment program and everything looked bright. He got sick ..we thought it was the altitude change because he had visited FL the summer of 08. He was diagnosed with severe sinus infection.. He told how bad his head hurt but then downplayed it. He started feeling sick Friday, felt horrible on Saturday and Sunday he said it was better. We went out he wanted to stay home and sleep... During that time someone brought him Morphine of some type.. We found him the next morning gone in his chair. He had viral encephalitis, viral pneumonia, and morphine toxicity that all contributed to his death.. I have felt quilty, suicidal, deranged and depressed ..you name it.. If I had not have needed the drugs would he have taken them????? I don't have that answer.. Do I blame the friend ..yes but Even though Zach was not thinking straight he made that choice.... I miss him so much he was truly the love of my life.

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Re: estoericlady (# 16)

Sorry but people who have "little pain" are not taking these medications. Don't make it seem like someone who takes opioids to have a quality of life are addicts. Dependency and addiction are two very different things.

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well motor vehicles are killing thousands of people even people that are not using the motor vehicle why hasnt dot stopped the use of motor vehicles ..... that is your argument ......... just because some abuse there meds does not mean those that dont should suffer ...... so until you are ready to never use anything associated with motor vehicles stop trying to take away pain patiants chances to have a lil bit of a life

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Re: Nana (# 82)

Honey....this was his fault for abusing and stealing your meds which are both illegal. It's not your fault for needing it.

I am so sorry for your lost but he went and found meds 2 separate ways. He was going to get it with or without you honey. Please PLEASE PLEASE do not blame you for his choice. He chose and he shouldn't have. I hate to say that. I don't mean to speak I'll of him. But this certainly wasn't your fault. My heart goes out to you. *huge hugs* tell your doc you're depressed as it makes your pain worse.

I wish I could help more.

But don't think it needs to be taken off the market. Because too many of us can't get out of bed. I'm on 37.5 and 10mg Percocet and still can't get out of bed most of the time. I have a ton of health issues causing pain and other problems and this helps. It's needed. Or I get very sick and can actually die bc the pain signals send my epilepsy into overload and it's not just joints deteriorating but a severe all over muscle spasms. And muscle relaxers don't work on me. Figures. So it's my only option. We tried everything else even non opiates. And I had no help from that. That's no bueno.

Your need is a need. Don't assume it's not. *major hugs for Nana*. I hope you find peace. Run after God. Callnout. He is near to the brokenhearted. Bless you.

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I'm so sorry about your son.. sir if you could look at it another way. I've had secondary progressive MS for 27 years now and the pain it has caused me I wouldn't put you in my shoes for 30 seconds or maybe I should. If I didn't have access to fentanyl I literally wouldn't be able to move from my bed to my chair to the shower and back to my chair.

In March of this year, I underwent brain surgery to have a deep brain stimulator installed. I'm sure you've seen the op on tv. They take the top of your head off and touch the brain while you're awake to find where the pain is generated. Then an electric probe is installed in that area that connects to a junction box mounted on my skull where all the probes connect then the cable comes around my neck into my chest into a battery/computer that runs the whole show and I can turn it up or down etc.

The reason I went through that was so I can hopefully stop all the drugs. While i was having all the mri's done they found the last three vertebrae in the lumbar area have basically eroded from being in a wheelchair. If I wasn't on fentanyl I'd be going out of my mind in pain you can't imagine. My medical history is complicated as everyone is different.

Here in Canada, we have to return the used patches to the pharmacy before they will give you your next script which I totally agree with. We are also talking about snap U/A inspections to see two things. One is the patient taking the meds as prescribed and the second is the metabolization of the drug(s) prescribed. If the person is slowly metabolizing the med we can look at reduction or titration and it shouldn't affect the patient with withdrawal and might actually help the pain better.

We know we have a problem, my question is why? Why are so many people that are unhappy with their lives turn away from it with drugs? I understand that but what do we do with the sadness? I hope for everyone's sake this will be a short-lived epidemic.

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If used properly the Fentanyl patch is not going to kill anyone. I have been on it for 10 years and it has helped my pain more than any other drug. The people that are dying are either trying to feel high or die. They are not using it as directed. I am on the strongest patch 100 MCG/hr and 15 patches a month because they are ineffective on day number 3. If it were not for the patch I would already have committed suicide because I can not tolerate the extremest pain of the Levator spasms and Proctalgia Fugax.

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sorry for your loss but hoe many more you want oww ou ss ....... yes newest users have not leaned yet just like car drirvers so when you are ready to outlaw all motorvehccle then its a thhought .... had patbatshe 15yr

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

Because chronic pain patients use them as prescribed and don't feel high. Oral opioids spike the drug in your system and cognitively impair; whereas Fentanyl patches deliver such slow doses that you're not aware. For pain patients like me, it's lifegiving. I have a spinal cord compression. Imagine having a bone spur poking into your spinal cord all day, every day, forever. Then tell me if you would want a patch?

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I am sorry you lost your son but please know most of us dont just have a backache. My pain is far beyond that.

My time has come however because they have cut my medicaion back bymore than a third and ai can no longer take are of myself muchless find any enjoyment in lofe any longer! I pray I have enough fentanyl to fo the job!

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Verwon,

Although occasionally some people experience allergic reactions, user error and possibly even manufacturer defects, (I’m not implying that’s what happen with your son because I don’t know the circumstances) Fentanyl patches are generally safe for the majority of people who are prescribed them for chronic severe pain. It is a lot safer to put on a patch every three days then to be popping pills at will. With the patch you do not have any control over the release of the amount of drug into your system, unless you do something to compromise the patch. It is usually preferable to taking pills at will, often forgetting that you already have taken one or worse, deciding that you think you need more than the doctor has prescribed. Unfortunately, this is how many people develop dependence and then eventually addiction. As long as it’s done under the close supervision of a licensed pain management specialist where you are only given enough medication to last you for a certain amount of time until your next appointment with your specialist. In addition, if you are in a pain management program you are almost always required to submit to random U/A's to make sure that you are using your medication properly as well as to make sure that you are actually taking the medication yourself, not selling it, thereby endangering other people and/or feeding their addictions! With this type of program, with many built-in safeguards, the risk of becoming addicted or experiencing accidental overdose is actually quite low. Unfortunately people jump to the conclusion that anybody that’s on an opioid pain medication doesn’t need it or is just after a high, forgetting there are many many reasons somebody needs strong pain medication to even get through a day. Chronic pain can be very debilitating and cause extreme isolation, inability to work, change in personality, relationship problems, not to mention the immense physical and emotional suffering. Pain medications, when they’re used for legitimate reasons, help improve the quality of life for those who have real and quantifiable pain conditions.

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I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I am a Mom of two boys and I cannot imagine life without them.
Fentanyl has given me a chance at an active life. Without Fentanyl, I’d still be flat on my back, writhing in pain, not able to work, collecting Disability, and worst of all, not able to play with my two boys. With Fentanyl, I’m able to work and contribute to society along with being able to set a good example for my two boys. I’m far from being a “drug advocate”, but I am hardcore when it comes to being an advocate for what is proven to work and Fentanyl works for me.

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Sorry for your loss. While people abuse pain killers there r people in pain who need them to just have any kind of normal life. We need to monitor pain meds more carefully. We also need to educate people how much danger there is in taking meds recreationally. I think they could build a machine that tracts meds and only gives them out at the prescribed time. We need to talk to people about how big a danger it is to take more than you're supposed to. We need to close our borders n stop drugs from coming in.

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Re: Julie (# 7)

I absolutely agree. It's not the government's responsibility to practice medicine. After many,many years in pain, i am finally able to have a,productive life. I am on fentanyl patches ,a high dose. I resent ppl who know nothing abt what it's like to be in severe debilitating pain preaching to others. I also have cancer. And now I'm extremely worried I will b unable to get the med I need. It's disgusting

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Re: Kalix (# 91)

Thank you for your statement; I feel that sometimes, those of us dealing with chronic pain can’t speak/type without making it personal which can lead to frayed nerves and unneeded stress! My hope is that people TRULY TAKE THE TIME TO READ these comments in their ENTIRETY in order to form a more well-informed opinion in this and every matter.

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so very sorry for your loss I got them prescribed for back pain now if I take them off I feel like im gonna die the withdrawl is unbearable!!!

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I’m replying to all those who don’t have to take Fentanyl for extremely severe pain. Fentanyl may be handed out like candy but not by good committed physicians and pain management centers that truly monitor this services and drugs closely. Such professionals do regular blood checks and U/A's to assure patients are not overdosing or taking other drugs that they shouldn’t take for possible conflicts with medications. There are strict guidelines throughout doctors offices, pharmacies, and health plans. If a person even showed any signs of misusing any of the drugs prescribed red flags go off and these medications are properly removed and detox are conducted in a hospital setting.

There is another factor here and this is that for people who need such medications as they must follow directions to the letter. This doesn’t mean applying a patch too early and any person who would place this drug in their mouth are using misusing this and not following as directed. While I agree we need strict guidelines let me share another point of view. I attempted to use any method possible to keep away from opioid medications. I tried anti-inflammatory meds, inj's of every nerve in my back, legs, knees, and my back. I had nerve endings burned and tried things like yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic methods also only under close supervision by my primary care. I only use the in-network physicians and everyone of them know who prescribed what and have provided my care closely with medications and health treatments and provide medications just case of accidental overdose. Before I used any such drugs I tried a neurostimulator which if you don’t know what this is it is a device much like a pacemaker that you insert under the skin and it releases electronic pulses to targeted nerve damaged areas. Yet my attempts to try everything else known to man only brought on another issue. The neurostimulator was placed directly where my tumor is on L4L5 and anyone who knows with any medical knowledge this is the major nerve controls your legs, and spinal cord. This helped but what also was placed in my spinal cord that day, MRSA. If you haven’t hear of MRSA it is a super bacteria/virus that no antibiotics can touch. After a week when the physicians discovered the infection, they immediately removed the neurostimulator. You see I went to the doctor daily, asked questions and shared my concerns. They attempted to treat my infection with oral antibiotics that was like placing a bandaid on an open femoral artery bleed. It had no effect. This mean they rushed me to the hospital now remember there were no opioid meds in my system. Doctors quickly realized every organ was shutting down, my heart, kidneys, stomach, gallbladder, liver, gee is there anything I left our oh yes the pancreas. After five and a half weeks of intensive care my kidneys began to recover, my heart improved but not out of the woods, not everything else, my gallbladder was removed my liver did not respond to treatment and I no longer could take any medications that I needed for high blood pressure and other health issues etc. Oh that’s ok right as long as I’m not on Fentynal right? Wrong!!!! Again remember no opioids. All this to attempt to keep off the stuff. After this I spent 5 years of total bed rest simply because I was near death. My service dog lay by my side every minute trying to keep my spirits up. I don’t drink, don’t do any illegal drunks, and did I mention I care for my son with disabilities, and at that time my aging mother with congestive heart failure! Finally, they said to me as my body was slowly recovering they wanted to add Fentanyl as small amount at a time. All my doctors are on the same medical portal and no other doctor could cross the line to prescribe anything else l.

Ok folks I have a tumor in my spin, four disc needed to be repaired as well as my lower back has little support given where my tumor was. Each of these things could not be operated on, no I take if back C3 was fixed and they couldn’t touch any others as I would be totally paralyzed in my neck. I’m just now beginning to recover and by this I mean I can get out of bed and walk some. I’m in Fentanyl patch and due to new regulations that some of you have pushed for I can only get my Fentanyl patch 48 hours before I need it. So has any of you ever experienced problems of taking meds that dyes affect and multiple blends of color you are allergic to in your body or different genetics impact you stomach and causes severe vomiting. Well my body does just that I’m affected by colors and various generics. I may take the same medication from the same manufacturer and if it is orange dye in it I cannot take it but can take yellow dye. Are you following me here. I’m sensitive to any media color that enters my body, I coordinate everything I put in my body as I must remain alive to care for my son with disabilities My stomach never recovered so it remains paralyzed, that’s another story and now I get to take Fentanyl. Not my best option but the only option so I can take care of my son. I don’t lick the patch as no one should, I don’t ask doctors for multiple supplies as this is serious medication, I follow directions to the letter and yes there are side effects I truly can live without but the pain is incredible and I cannot walk, talk, get out of bed, dress myself, do stairs and I’m barely living only because I take Fentanyl. So I can’t get this only two days ahead of the last time I got it filled and my doctors all know my issues well, I get to the pharmacy Friday night and now this medication needs prior authorization. Did the health plan notify myself, the pharmacies, the physicians??? No I find out a special order is needed 38 hours before my next dose l of med was needed. Plus due to my sensitivity my medication it special ordered. This means no on call doc can call in an authorization it must be the prescribing doc. I was not notified, of this change in policy, nor was my doctors, nor was the pharmacy.. I needed my medication by Saturday. So nothing was covered for my meds. I know many of you know how I feel.. I had to pay $384.00 for my medication due to all of you who perhaps don’t truly understand the need or safe use of this medication. I realize some people have died, lost loved ones, some have terrible tragic effects, and you want it off the market. The health insurance is attempting to get a handle on the opioid abuse. Well this isn’t me and I would trade places with any one if you so you could live with my pain, you would be able to get the first handicapped space on the lot, you could pay the $384 dollars and get to see all my doctors for your outings as I do, and I will even let you try to oversee my son’s significant disabilities that which his disabilities could have happened to anyone of you, as I follow doctor’s order to the letter so I’m there for his life. It was just a freak issue that can happen to any woman in childbirth. I would gladly trade with you so I could walk the length of the parking lot, I could have fun with my son even with his disabilities, I wouldn’t have to take these toxic meds, which I don’t abuse. Then also you have to understand Fentanyl doesn’t make you high unless I guess you abuse it. So I don’t get why people think it does I do know I’m a responsible patient. I want to thank all of you who have complained for making my pain worse and my life a living hell because you think people don’t need this med. Perhaps I can lose everything and end up in a huge facility and the government could pay for all my care and my son’s care because we don’t have any options.

I now have new tumors throughout my body and boy I wish it was some of you who felt my pain and then be told “take two Tylenol’s and call the doctor in the morning! That isn’t my life, my life is hell and you are making it worse. I know many on this blog understand what I’m talking about and I know there is abuse of any medications but there are many very responsible adults who follow everything and if something happens to me it isn’t due to drugs it’s due to the fact that the Lord decided it was my time. My entire life has been dedicated to helping people with disabilities have better lives and now I’m on the other end and I’m still fighting the rights to receive the medications I need.. I think before one speaks they themselves need to try to walk in my shoes if you can walk or get out of bed to do so.I’m sorry if this offends but I have had to go through hell just to get my meds met on Friday to get through my day. My day consisted of having to strip my son’s bed and wash all of his pillows, sheets, bedspread, mattress cover, pillows four pillows that he soaked through during the night, his heavy quilted liners that I must also place under his mattress pad to assure his bed doesn’t get soaked. Then when this was all done I got to hang out with him and wat h him on a monitor to assure he was breathing overnight as I didn’t have help. Anyone want to trade bodies? Any takers? I’m sorry for any loss of life, any people that have had horrible reactions or situations but don’t blame this drug for it. You know I had a friend who overdosed on a full bottle of aspirin, one who drank herself to death, and yet another who took a lot of pills and alcohol ended up in the gutter and died from Sepsis. She wanted to die as did the person who took the aspirin, and the one that drank.

You can take this medication with sound medical advice, Being a responsible adult, becoming informed and with well-coordinated medical professionals. It’s safe.

There are some physicians who shouldn’t be prescribing to quickly or abuse their authority but not most physicians. The solution should be better communication systems of medical histories, more instruction on safety of such drugs and share what has been used before this was prescribed, rather than taking the drug off the market. There are pharmacy’s that do not take a full medical history of their patients, all of my pharmacies take this information and their computers flag and cautions. Patients should ask questions and provided clear instructions on how to use every drug. When I go to any of my pharmacy’s, (remember I have to go to several to assure I don't have allergic reactions to medications) yet each pharmacy has coordinated with the next. I have the responsibility and must try to remain alive to fill such responsibilities. Don’t take away my rights because many abuse the system and the drug. I’m not saying or pointing any figures at anyone I just want people to understand all points of view. Again I’m sorry anyone has to deal with the pain of losing a loved one and sorry that any person has to deal with any physical pain. It’s not a pretty picture no matter which way you look at it. Think before you take actions. My tumors and my medical issues are getting worse as ai age and all individuals will age and acquire some type of disability so I pray Fentanyl is around for you or a better safer drug. That’s a great idea.

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Re: Julie (# 8)

Julie, I agree with all your posts. Especially as relating to god and children. I am allergic to all pain meds related to salicylates. Fortunately for me a doctor years ago noticed I was ending up with pneumonia every time I tried taking something for my arthritis pain. Narcotics are something that should be started slowly, giving the body time to adapt. At first I could only take a Percocet if I was going to lay down because I'd feel nauseated. Now, after ruptured disks from a couple of accidents, arthritis, and more, I take the Fentanyl patches and Oxycodone for bad days. Without this I would not have been able to continue working. I don't strive to be completely out of pain, just functional.

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Re: Kevin (# 3)

Hi. I have been on 100mg Fentanyl for Fibromyalgia for 2yrs and to get off them i have to go through a painful detox with a drug treatment center and take Suboxone to ease withdrawals. No dr ever told me what to do when the 100mg stopped working because my body became immune to them. I'm scared to death. It's supposed to be worse withdrawal than other opiates. So please think about this before taking it.

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Re: Jackie (# 97)

Jackie, I am so with you and all your issues. So totally insane and CRIMINAL this business of pre-approval, especially when you've already been on the medication. I went through the same issue 2 months straight because the insurance, doctor and pharmacy couldn't get on the same page. Without the medication, I cannot work or function. Why should we have to live in constant pain because someone else wants to feel high and overdose. If they don't want to take care of themselves, making our lives miserable and expensive isn't going to make a lick of difference to the so called opioid crisis. Whether it's alcohol or illicit drugs or the fentanyl, those who are determined to shut out reality are going to do so. Until they care for themselves and their loved ones, no amount of laws are going to change a thing. What they need is some kind of hope to look forward to but they want it handed to them without making an effort. I am very sorry for what you are going through.

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