Fentanyl Vs Morphine

I keep reading that fentanyl is 80% stronger then morphine. However, most people are talking 100 mcg fentanyl patch over 72 hours, so now I wonder what this means? How much morphine totals fentanyl in 3 days? Confusing eh, anybody know?? I am on the 100 mcg patch every 3 days and have 4 mgs hydromorphone every day for back up pain.

I don’t like the hydromorphone, I believe it’s making me constipated and I have to take meds for constipation now. I've been on this for over a year. I have stage 4 rectal cancer. I like the fentanyl and it works, but it’s weak when spread out over 3 days. I'm thinking of asking my doctor to let me take one type of opioid instead of two high doses. I’ll leave it up to the doctor but I’ll suggest maybe giving me 75 mcg every 48 hours instead of every 72 hours, that will give me a little extra strength and I probably won’t need break trough meds.

Has anyone tried this or something similar? Thank you for your time warriors

REPLY

REPORT

Mcg is micro grams ... if you want to know morphine equivalent do a surch morphine equivalents including fentanyl patches not positive but if I rember correctly a 25mcg patch equals 40mg of morphine a day but it's been a long time since I researched it so do your own search to be sure

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Ralph- some people’s bodies metabolize medication quicker than others or you could have developed tolerance for fentanyl. If your doctor is willing, ask him to change dosage to changing patch every 48 hours rather than 72 hours. I know there are more restrictions than in the past but this may allow you to reduce or eliminate the second medication which is causing constipation.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I have been using a fentanyl patch for over 10 years for severe pain. I found that the patch needs to be changed every 48 hours. My doctor has agreed and when I change it consistently every 48 hours it definitely helps. They have found that it wears off before 48 hours. That way there is no gap in the pain. May I also suggest CBD suppositories. I make them myself using Lazarus naturals CBD coconut oil. I got candy molds from Amazon, then I keep them in the freezer. Take care.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hey Ralph, first I am sorry you are having to deal with this severe pain. For this particular cancer, I usually give my patients Fentora or Subsys. These are both Fentanyl. Fentora is a buccal tablet and is placed under the tongue. It strengths start at 100mcg and goes up to 1600mcg. Subsys is a Fentanyl spray and comes in 100mcg to 400mcg...Your doctor will do the conversion for you. I hope this helps and God Bless you ??

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hope my previous comments on Fentanyl were helpful

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Here is an approximated equivalency chart of common opioids

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PALC%2F111216&topicKey=PALC%2F86302&source=see_link

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Chris (# 5)

Yes, it helps, thank you

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was on 25-75mcg Fentanyl patches for over 10 yrs., until Watson & Sandoz stopped producing them. I tried 3 brands that made me ill, & was then given the last brand left for me to try-Duragesic. Because my pain worsened, I changed my patch every 2 days. It made such a difference in my being able to function on a daily basis. But like all good things, Jansen Duragesic was taken off the market last July, without any warning to pharmacies or patients. So you can imagine the withdrawal facing me. I was also on Percoset-20mg/day.
My doctor put me on Morphine-105/mg a day to replace the 75mg Fentayl patch. It gave me some relief.
I still take 20-30mg of Percoset but she cut my Morphine back to 45mg/day 2 weeks ago, & I haven’t been able to accomplish a thing other than laying around. I understand your pain, so ask for a higher dose of meds or changing the patch more frequently. Maybe Prednisone would also help you. As a side note, I had genetic testing that showed I don’t absorb my meds & need more than I take. But it hasn’t changed the drs. mind.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on fentanyl for several years after back surgeries. I was initially changing every 72 hours then was switched to 48 hours and it was a big help. A few years later I reversed the process to wean off which was hell because of the withdrawal.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

An expired 5mg Fentanyl patch circa 1999 ... Can this be taken in lieu of Morphine 60mg? Safe? ## No, that patch is very...

1 REPLY

I have been taking 60mg morphine sulfate er for 10 plus years with 30mg oxycodone for breakthrough pain relief. A friend...

2 REPLIES

I'm currently on 100 mg fentanyl patch every 48 hours and 30 mg morphine to have three times a day and were the doct...

Can fentanyl 50 mcg/h and morphine sulfate cr 30 mg tab, be taken together at the same time? ## Have you consulted a doc...

25 REPLIES

Is the fentanyl patch the same as taking morphine? Does it have morphine in it? ## Hello, JB! How are you? No, Fentanyl ...

3 REPLIES

Morphine does not work on me will fentanyl patch work right now I am taking oxycodone 30 milligram 6 times a day for the...

6 REPLIES

if fentanyl is 80x stronger than morphine, how much morphine will I have to take if I'm on 25mg fentanyl. sounds sca...

14 REPLIES

for 3 years my dr. was prescribing me three 60mg morphine sulphate er and four 30mg ms ir daily. when it became impossib...

12 REPLIES

Can you have fentanyl if you are allergic to morphine? I have a rash with morphine but can take codeine. ## They are dif...

2 REPLIES

I know Fentanyl is supposed to be stronger than Morphine however it does not help me nearly as much! I wish so bad that ...

15 REPLIES