Fentanyl Patches Killing People! (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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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I am so sorry about your son. I lost my daughter not long ago. No parent should have to bury their child. I can see that you care very much for people and you don't want what happened to your son to happen to anyone else. I am on Fentanyl patches and 10-325 Percocet for break through pain and am very thankful for both. Sweetie It would be great that terrible pain only come at the end of our lives but this is not the case. I have so much pain that I have thought of suicide before my doctor was wise and put me on the patch. I know talking suicide is a heavy thought but I bet that many people on this forum have thought the same thought. At the end of my daughters life I put Fentanyl patches on her among other medications. She fought to live to her last breath. So sorry about your son, God bless you.

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You have been able to live your life these past years without severe pain controlling every thought and movement you make. This sounds good. Without the fentanyl, The alternative life you would have lived these past years would not have been living. Chronic pain patients experience more of an existance, not a life. if fentanyl gave u the ability to live why do u wish u never went on it?

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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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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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I have been on the Fentanyl patch for several years. I have been prescribed changes every two days and three days. It is an option to the prescriber.
I have Blue Cross/Blue shield and they will authorize 15 patches per month with a request from your pain doctor and some history.

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That is the best thing I have heard someone say about pain meds and the patients right to take what they need. The government should allow people with chronic pain to take what they need.

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Well fyi, its WARNING is labeled in RED ON EVERY BOX, brand or generic, also patients are Heavily monitored, you say back ache but this medication is prescribed for various reasons. Now you didn't mention if your son died by being RX'd a fentanyl patch or illegally obtained one? I'm sorry for your loss, but its really inconsiderate and selfish to punish everyone that is copping with cancer or debilitating pain that you cannot understand or relate to? If a dr rx'd a patient and as a result died by his/her negligence that is one thing but if your son had obtained one illegally for illicit use thats a totally different than ones negligence. That's his? Meaning he had no business having illegal possession of it in the first place. You have no right regardless of either to attack legitimate patients, pharmaceutical companies and doctors for what a parent should instill in there kids that's common since and to take responsibility for their actions not blame others when things go bad. Like bad parenting. It is not the communities fault that he died its his own curiosity and addiction. What your indicating is a violation of human rights that is to treat pain, thats why it exist in the first place not for junkies or abusive personalities. WARNINGS ARE ALL OVER EVERY BOX.

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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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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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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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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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Re: Ralph (# 106)

I wish I could say my new doctor would have changed his mind but he didn't and he literally changed all my meds. Put me on the Opana ER 10 mg which is the weakest twice a day and the oxymorphone ( diluad) 2 mg for breakthrough pain. So now I have to swallow all these pills with my stomach issues!! And I totally agree with you about 100 mcg of Fentenal over 3 days not being to strong when your opioid tolerant. I hate when these doctor's won't listen to the patient ??

I also hate that I lost my BEST DOCTOR EVER! I trusted him with my life, and I have not been able to say that about many doctor's I have for all the medical issues. Plus I had to wait for the doctor to do some pre authorization thing, which I never had that issue before either! So I haven't even gotten it yet.

What really makes me mad is the DEA is already up all the Pm doctors asses with a microscope so why change things around to alert them to look at things more? Its so wrong that the government and big pharma have NO COMPASSION for those of us who have REAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS, and not seeking to get high! Those are the ones who ruined it for everyone who truly needs this to be able to live. I have NO QUALITY OF LIFE WITHOUT THE RIGHT MEDICATION!

I'M so sorry for what you are going through. People don't understand unless they have been there, and they judge!! Not that I care! It's my body and only I know what kind of pain I have to deal with. What sucks is that I finally had a medication combo that allowed me to have a life and now I am back to who knows what because I haven't started yet!

Thanks for writing back!

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Re: Jean (# 2)

A lot of chronic pain patients use them. What a lot of us have is a permanent condition but not a terminal illness. They have cut back giving pain medication to Chronic pain patients and patients on hospice. It just isn't given out willy nilly. We chronic pain patients lots of us have lots are medication bc the CDC and there opiods epidemic and people are still dying. It's not chronic pain patients - it's people buying it from people and using street drugs! Yes some chronic pain patients have addictions but most of us take our medication as prescribed. So I don't think it needs to be only for terminal patients as you think. I have had CRPS stage 2&3 from my toes to my shoulder blades for 18 yrs. It's miserable. If I didn't have my meds I don't know what I would do. I have known many people who took their meds as directed and still lost their prescriptions. Got to the point that they took their own life. Just like Veterans can't get there's either. It's not fair or right. Yes I know life's not fair!

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Re: kf3355705 (# 122)

You are so right! In all ways! They are always odd or weird and they know that there is not a lot of PM Doctors to choose from so you're at their mercy.

I have gone through 4 PM doctors since 2008! One committed suicide, another started being a medical Marijuana doctor and because she was doing both in the very beginning (like a month or so) the DEA literally came in and busted her! Saying she didn't give her patients a physical check up?? Please!!

What really pisses me off is the way the Government treats people with real Chronic pain issues, taking away our ability to get treatment! Not everyone is on medication to get high. Doctors make people jump through hoops and most of the doctors end up quitting! I wish I didn't have the Chronic pain issues that I have. I hate the monthly crap I have to go through!

My last doctor was the best doctor I ever had period, I had for all my health issues, I literally ran all my issues by him, would get him copies of all my different test results and he even recommended certain GI specialist because I was in the hospital for 7 weeks needing abdominal surgery from an ulcer that abscessed and perforated and my stomach wall.

I actually looked forward to my monthly visit with him to discuss my other health issues with him, he was so intelligent and caring. And he was not a doctor who gave to much of medication, although he was accused of it! And they took his license away! He was a doctor who wasn't afraid to speak up about the corruption going on! He actually tried to change my medication when I first started going to him and I was in so much pain not to mention sick!

So he put me back on my medication I had been on for at least 9 to 10 years. Then the doctor who took over for him did the same exact thing to me, put me on the same medication he had tried even though I told him we had tried that. Thank God after weeks of being sick not to mention my insurance company wouldn't authorize it, and It took me a week to actually get it, and I had to pay an extra $70.

He has in mercy put me back to my regular medication of the fentanyl patch and percocet. Which is what my Insurance company recommended when they wouldn't authorize the other medication??

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I am sorry for your loss as a mother of a deceased child I know your pain. I loss my son 8 years ago not from fentanyl. In the early 2000s I was on the patches after cervical spine surgery 3 100mg every 3 days. I did exactly as prescribed came off the patches 100mg at a time without withdrawal symptoms. The medication was a life saver for me I was able to go on with my career. I don't mean to sound insensitive to your pain, but my opinion, the medication is safe as long as it is used as described. Again, I am sorry for your loss.

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I understand about working on nerve pain. My wife has been on the patch for 15 yrs
for Fibro, With Ohio setting up safe guards against this medicine. Doctors no longer
want to write the script. Pain management clinics say deal with it. Because the go home at night pain free. She has sevre bulging disk, starts shots tomorrow. No help from the Fentanyl patch

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I have a wonderful trusting pain management dr in Oklahoma City. I've been in pm for 27 yrs and I'm on 12 30 mg oxycodone a day due to 4 back surgeries in lil over a year and 8 total. Having another one in 2 weeks for bad neck fracture. My dr understands I live my life in bed and that I'm in such excruciating pain that I can hardly function. I also have fibromyalgia and severe nerve damage from lL 5 nerve root with a severe pain that goes from my low back,butt , leg and foot to toes I couldn't function without this and all the Kadian Morphine as well as muscle relaxer and lyrica I take.. Even with meds my pain level is still a 9 t0 every min of my life. There are times I think death would be better than living with all this pain but I have a son who needs me. I'm 47 and feel 87. My future scares me if already this bad now what will the future hold. I hope you have found a good pm dr but if not I have a great one in OKC.

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If used correctly fentanyl did not kill your son.You need to find the real reason.I have back and hip pain and without it I am in bed fighting pain to no relief.

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