Expired Fentanyl Patch
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I've been on heavy opiates since 2001. I am at the lowest I've ever been(150mcg/h) the patches say they will last 72hours. I have to change mine every 48. Is this common? Also today is the first time I'm using expired patches. Is this safe?

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Re: agro (# 2)

I never used expired patches but 48 hr is very wide spread script practice (at least b4 cdc got involved) my body metabolism causes very high absorbtion rate .... i was on 75mcg but had a couple bad episodes from fast absorbtion ....( not to point of hospital but i dont like the helpless feeling it caused) .... my fix (that worked very well for years) was to cut patc in half and use a new half everyday rotating every 48 hours thus each 1/2 was applied for 48 hours (if they stayed on that long because i have an issue with sweating due to metabalism issue) i have lots of generic tagaderm like patch covers that helped some that i found at a liauidation outlet fairly cheap compaired to reg price) ... but my dr has been cutting meds (not good) now getting dizzy spells from the pain caused by spinal cord pressure where my vertabra is partially missing (probably bout 1/3 missing... original ortho dr surprised i could even walk) but just went through a battery of tests to find another cause for the dizzy spells ...... nothing found even had brain scan & inner ear scan nothing .... so hopfully they will raise my medications back to where they were before the dizzy spells started ..... but only time will tell ..... but back to your post .... i have also had retail outlet issues ..... but i have changed outlets after many phone calls looking for medications that actually helped my situation i did discuse the issue with pain clinic (it was not an issue with them) but if you want dpecific brands you need to do your part to find where to get them.......(just a point to make is almost any pharmacy can special order any med they want & have the next day & 2 at most usually but most refuse because of cost & xtra work)(a couple cents a pill doesnt seem like much but a co. the size of even a reginal drug chain that has say 75 stores that script a 1000 pills a day times 75 stores is 75,000 pills a day time 2 cents a pill is what $1500 a day times 360 day (giving a genorous 5 days for closures) what is that $180k a year or so .... (not to mention national chains that have 1000s of stores) so its greed winning over compassion again ....... but hey what do i know .... holding phone is hurting typing this so i am done if i left out a response remind me & will send another .... hope your issues improve .. b well

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I'm on 50mcg x 72 hrs Fentanyl patches. I'm having problems with my insurance company. I have expired patches 6yrs old past the expiration date, but the dose is stronger. Because of the expiration will it be less potent to make up for what I do take?

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Yea I ran out...and was having insurance problems. They were so weak! I got my reg patches back tho. Thnx for the tip. Another question....they switched the brand on me. And now some don't have gel and are significantly weeker.wtf

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Hello, Agro! How are you doing?

They may be less effective, but as long as they aren't dried out, cracking/tearing and leaking, they shouldn't be dangerous.

Did you run out of your regular prescription?

This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

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