Fentanyl Sweating (Page 3) (Top voted first)

I am a 33 yr old woman being treated by Pain Mgmt Dr. for chronic pain as a result of 3 failed elbow surgeries and nerve damage. My current dosage is 50mcg/hr every 48 hrs with up to 4 oxycodone per day for break through pain. I know the patch is suppose to be a good medication for pain control, but I am really considering asking to change to a different medication because of the sweating problems I have on the Fentanyl and I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I am constantly drenched sinced I have been on the patch. Dr tried hytrin to control sweating, but all that did was cause me to bloat. I tried HRT for a year to see if that would help...no luck, still sweating. I sleep with only a sheet over me and window open at night and still wake up soaked from sweat. If I do any physical activity at all I am drenched. The patch does seem to control the pain well, but I can't deal with beads of sweat rolling down my head all the time and my family is always freezing because I get so warm. Am I doing something wrong? I wear the patch on my upper chest, I use a tegaderm patch over it. I've tried the Mylan brand and now use the SanDoz brand. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I don't want to live my life in pain, but I can't take the sweating issue anymore!!! Is there a different medication that is time released like the Fentanyl Patch? My DR is a nice man, but doesn't always explain things too well and I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Thanks for listening.

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Effexor, an antidepressant will stop hot sweats but cause false readings of other substances to show in U/A's--really it is due to too low a dose since sweats ARE a symptom of withdrawal...when I take an extra pill the sweats stop.

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I agree since experiencing 5 spinal fusions due to car accidents I was given 100 much of Fentanyl. I have been on same dose now for 3 years and I also experience the same excessive sweating at times. I find a fan is the best approach to keeping the body from sweating, however the body after a period of time builds up a tolerance to this medication like it does to any med. It becomes less effective but works nonetheless. I plan to determine my Odin levels again by coming off the patch altogether and living with a level of pain over taking medication. I have determined this isn't a great quality of life to live with all the side effects and s society that labels anyone taking pain medication as an addict even those of us who have and are taking all pain medications as directed and never abusing the medication by taking more than prescribed. It isn't worth it to me and I would rather live with a level 6-7 out of 10 if possible in pain levels rather than living with a patch that reduces my pain levels to a 4-5. My surgeries were successful but any surgery will have a negative and permanent effect on the human body. Doctors and Surgeons are not Gods although some have Ego's equal to it when talking to them. I wish everyone well and remember we only have this one Earth Life and it is better to enjoy our children and posterity with a clear mind as is in free as possible than to deal with side effects that have such negative effects on our lives and alter our daily routines because of how the medications effect the human body. I have stopped this medication twice before following my first two surgeries however I was only on 50 mcg of Fentanyl however after a second accident where a lady ran a stop sign T-boning my car after kicking my son up from school the damage to my body was even worse. I was only 40 years old at the time, my last surgery was in 2013, a fourth fusion and second to my cervical C7 after one previously C5/C6 and two to lower lumbar at L5/S1 and L4. The less medication I am on the clearer my mind, my goal is to see how much pain I can live with and what alternatives I can find that will help me avoid the patch. Long term studies of Fentanyl show extreme dementia and cognitive deficits due to Fentanyl. I don't know about everyone else but so would rather live as long as I can with my mind intact having three wonderful children enduring pain than to live with this patch that has such dramatic side effects as the sweats, twitching, chills, fatigue and a huge loss of Testosterone which requires inj's. each week. For Men do not forget that all Opioids reduce your Testosterone which can lead to so many other problems you don't even begin to understand. It is Hell having to live with Testosterone levels at 53. Now that I take inj's. of 2cc of Cypionate every two weeks my levels are now between 500-625. Not bad but it helps so much believe me and if you have experienced the effects of Low T you know it is even worse than the sweats. I wish everyone the very best and whatever you decide do what is best for you and your Families.

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I had been on 75mcg fentanyl patch for over 15 years, plus Dilaudid for break through pain
Two years ago the sweating started. I thought it was hormones at first, but NO!!!
My pain mgmt dr confirmed yes the fentanyl will cause this side effect. They don't know why? I couldn't take the sweating and have been coming off the patch for 3 months. It has been brutal!!!!! To say the least. I'm at 8 weeks with no patch and finally starting to see improvement. Only a few hot flashes now, thank you lord!!!! I couldn't live that way. Now on dilaudid only for pain and trying to cope with more pain, much easier then the sweating. The sweating is debilitating!
My pain doc said definitely a side effect from all opiods. More pain but can cope. If I had to come off Febtanyl I would pay to go to a clinic for rapid detox, I will never go on fentanyl again unless I'm terminal, it was that bad!!!!
Good luck to everyone, there's no good solution. But at least I can get dressed and do my hair. Still extremely fatigued and get hot quickly, I'm told it will get better and better!!

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Kit yes! There have even been studies concerning menapausal women and extended release/abuse proof opiates, especially fentanyl! They have no business giving it to us due to hormone chaos and adrenal insufficiency. Unfortunately all they care about is being able to monitor us, not our health or safety!

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I too had the exact side effects from the fentanyl patch. It is truly debilitating and I couldn't live like that anymore. I tapered off the fentanyl, "brutal" took a complete 12 weeks before I felt human again. I'm just starting my 4th month off of fentanyl still taking 4-8 mg dilaudid. I tried going to vicodin, didn't help my pain enough. I have severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I have had two days without one hot flash, thank you God!! It's absolutely horrible feeling like you're burning up from the inside out. I was in the fentanyl patch for over 16 years, the last 4 I began to have the extreme sweating. Thinking it was hormones I went that route for 3 years until I figured out it was the pain meds. Hoping I can stay in the 4-8 dilaudid or not sure what I will do for pain control. I live in a state where cannabis is legal for recreational use. I use the cannabis candy lozenges for sleep or whenever I feel I need it, much better than smoking it. Good luck to all its a brutal road to go down.

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Paula Wenger you mentioned hysterectomy....are you on hormone replacement therapy??? I am on blood thinners and can't do HRT....I found out that, that also means no extended release opiates...Some pain docs don't care and will prescribe them anyway-I thinks it's called Medical Negligence..it can cause adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism....so be advised...

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I am 60 and have been on 25 mcg for several years. Recently I change patch to every 48 hours. Since I changed from every 72 hours, I am sweating terribly day and night. I have read it is terrible to get off this patch so I have kept it a low dosage but still suffer from chronic pain.

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That's what so difficult with this drug. I also changed my 75 patch every 48 hrs. For 15 years.
My sweating was horrible. It was dibilitating. I had to stop.
I too was worried about my pain, since I have had JRA since a very young child.
I have found the dilaudid is enough for now 4 mg, 2-3 times a day.
It's definitely difficult but so worth it to stop the Fentanyl. Good luck!

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No one should ever lick the patch, I have never heard of anyone licking a entire new patch unless your trying to kill yourself. The fentanyl patch is a timed release lasting between two and five days depending on your body, everyone is different. When you licked the patch, it negated the time release and you got a massive amount of the drug in your system and you over dosed, if you were not in the hospital chances are that you would be dead right now.

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Kassy, thank you for saying exactly what I was thinking! I'm in pain, looking for answers so I don't appreciate people wasting my time with phony posts and misinformation.

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I have the same problem and I really feel for you. I am on the 75mg/Fent Patch and
15mg Oxycodone HCL 4xday for breakthru pain. I need more but make due with what I have. I used to take 10mg morphine 4xday as base relief in addition to 10mg Lortab 4xday for breakthru. The morphine was helping a lot until I developed severe bile vomiting. Thats when we began to try other meds. The Fentaynal patch works for the pain good enough but the sweating makes my life almost unlivable. What a choice? Its bad enough we have problems that require us to need to meds. On top of that we have to deal with the side effects. Im not sure if its the fact that I'm just getting older or that my body is just refusing to cooperate with my attempts to obtain relief. If you find an alternative please share. This overheating is miserable. I live in south central Texas and its hotter than hades here. That being said it could be mid winter and I would still have the problem. My electric bill is ridiculous!!!!!

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I am also on fentaynal patches of 50mcg for fibromyalgia and arthritis and had double knees replaced. I also suffer with excessive sweating. I have to take showers 3 to 5 times a day and constantly changing clothes. I can't go outside because the heat will set me off. I have air conditioning on at 73 and still can break out just sitting watching tv. I am so flustratted I don't know where to go. I also have thought about going off patch. I think being in pain would be easier.

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I have been on fentyal patch 750cc since the last ofJuly2016 I developed spinal meningitis after my 3rd morphine pump was put in I'very weak losing wt. I don't have any interest in thing because of the profuse sweating. I take a bath and I can't get dressed cause I 'm already soaked again.Thanks for listening I thought I was the lonely one..

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I started to detox from fentyal 100mcg 5 months ago and the sweating is so horrible that i cant take it anymore..is this the drug coming out of me?

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My sweating did decrease when I was detoxing (dr care), it is so very difficult, took me almost a whole year before I started to feel better, hang in there, it is so worth it. Im now one year off the fentanyl, and definitely feeling better. I'm told it takes 2 years to feel your best. 5 months I was still feeling bad.

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I use Fentanyl patches by Mylan as well and have excessive sweating. There are times when I go out before I have even gotten to the door I have changed 3 times. I'm stuck with Mylan brand as I have problems with any other patch. I have discovered wayd to help combat the perspiration. After I shower I rinse with cool water. Then afterdeting I find if I lay down for 30 minutes then things get better. The perspiration is worse if I have to take a shower and run out the door for an appointment. If you are under pain management then you are always seeing some doctor for something. I realized this was a pattern and when I can I shower at night do I do t have to take.a shower in the morning. I find this is all related to stress as well. Hope this helps.

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Why on earth would you lick the inside of a Fentanyl patch? That is abusing and taking the medication in a non prescribed manner. Thank God your doctor walked in and saved your life. I'm just shaking my head in disbelief at the fact you licked the patch. The only people I have heard of doing this is addicts trying to feel high.

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Being on morphine is like adding double trouble when using Fentanyl. No one truly tells you how these drugs truly work together. I took morphine and went through horrible withdrawal when the physicians told me to stop taking the morphine. They told me to take two tablets for 2 days then drop to 1 tablet for 2 days and then stop the morphine. Worst medical advice I ever received. I went through major withdrawal on a small dose of morphine. I have learned to pay close attention to what goes into generic drugs as this can truly alter the effects of the Fentanyl. I realize that much of the sweating is replated to the anxiety. The waiting g for the perspiration to begin. This is why when I shower I run the cool water for awhile to cool down, thrn dry extremely well, a fan helps as well, thrn laying down until I'm relaxed before I get dressed. Like everyone who has responded these sweat periods can come on with activities from walking to driving on a hot day. I too take hydrocodone. Rather then increase any other of these drugs my doctor put me on Nortriptyline which helps the pain but causes another issue of dry mouth. This increases dental problems but does help decrease pain. I was wondering if anyone has tried a lower dose of Fentanyl with Nortriptyline? I will ask my specialist but wanted to ask others if they had experienced pain control with the Nortriptyline and less to no Fentanyl? Like all the sweating is a horrible side effect. I'm a MRSA survivor as well as history of spinsl tumor removed forty years ago. I was able to control the pain with anxiety medication as anxiety is a huge problem for me based on the tumor being imbedded in the middle of the spinal cord wrapped around they nerve endings. So I truly need the pain management afs my doctors implanted a Nero-stimulator. This implant worked but was the area where I came in contact with the MRSA. I almost died from that implant of that Nero-stimulator. If u r a candidate for this implant It works but make sure the environment is totally free of the MRSA toxin which is almost impossible since MRSA is everywhere. I think my doctor left my trial stimulator in too long which caused the infection to spread quickly.
I would love to hear of other havevused the neru- Stinulator with success as if they could do this it does work and you do go through a trial but do not let a doctor do the trial for more then four days. Lovevyovgear from others.

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Hi everyone. I'm so relieved to find I'm not the only one suffering! I live in Ireland and I've been on Fentanyl patches for relief of endo/adhesion pain from all the surgery for 12 years. 5 days out of 7 honestly it feels like I'm standing under a shower-the sweat is just rolling off my face & body but the face is the worst-you can't cover it up, and because of the sweating my skin is now just horrible and spotty, it's really getting me down. I rarely go out because my self confidence (with the sweating plus now dreadful skin) has hit rock bottom. I asked the doctor to test me for the menopause because I heard that causes severe sweating too, but it wasn't the menopause. As I write this I literally feel beads of sweat on my head, making my hair greasy, but if I keep going for showers the patches will come off. You can buy the patch covers but they're expensive, so not an option. Would Botox help? Does anyone know? That's supposed to help against sweat I believe. Has anybody had Botox to help combat sweating, and if so, did it work? When I do go out I have to make sure I'm loaded up with tissues and I always keep my head down. It's really getting me down. Any advice would be enormously appreciated.

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Its been 7 years since you wrote this and stated that you want to stop your pain patch and im just wondering if you stopped and if you're taking something else. I am on patch and can't take the sweating and intolerance to heat but i don't know what to do. Just wondering if you got your solution. Thanks, God Bless

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