Fentanyl Patch Drowsiness

Will the sleepiness go away after I have been on the fentanyl for a few months?

REPLY

REPORT

I just started the 25mcg patches w Norco 5-325 for bt pain. He upped me to 50 mcg and I can hardly stay awake on day 2. I can barely function. Will I get used to it or do I need to back down to 25. The pain level is great w the 50, tolerable w 25 but much more comfortable with 50 but I can't function, I have to work. I started on the 50 patches on Jan 5th. Any experiences would be appreciated, never taken any narcotics before this.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hello, Claudia and Bev! How are you both?

Yes, side effects are usually transient and tend to improve, as your body gets used to the medication. The FDA lists this as being a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause other side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, dry mouth and constipation.

Bev, this is a very potent narcotic, so if you've not taken any before, it might be too strong for you. Only you can say for sure how badly it's affecting you, but you may need to talk to him about going back to the lower dose.

Is there anything else I can help with?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I went back to 25s and the pain relief is definately not as good but I just couldn't function. Went to ER yesterday because pain got out of hand. Have appt with surgeon on Friday to set up exploratory surgery to see if they can find what the pain is from. Not looking forward to being cut on but I can't go on like this either. I'm scared to death its going to be the "C" word but the pain wont' go away.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm very sorry, Bev and I hope it doesn't turn out to be anything serious.

Please post back and keep me updated!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

If you are to the point of almost "nodding off: you are overdosing. People who abuse H do the same thing. I was on the Fentanyl patch for almost five years due to a muscle destroying disease called Dermatomyositis. I ranged from 125mcg to 25mcg over the years.Due to losing patches because of hot baths, or running out because my pain doctor was on vacation or building up tolerance and needing to go up in dosage, I went through withdrawals many times. I also had surgery and because of my high tolerance to opioids I was in terrible pain. The morphine did nothing. Yes, the patch numbed my pain for years but it also numbed my life. Zero interest in friends, family, food. In July 2014, I decided I had had enough after a patch was stolen from a hotel safe and I had to fly home, seven hours, two layovers, going through withdrawals. Fentanyl withdrawals are the absolute worse withdrawals in the world. Worse than H. I read where someone asked if Fentanyl withdrawals were worse than Oxycontin withdrawals and the reply was "withdrawing from Oxys is like withdrawing from Tic Tacs compared to Fentany withdrawals." You can smell the stuff sweating out of your pores. You experience severe pain. You go without sleep for days and days. You have muscle contractions that force you to twist and bend, crawl, rock back and forth uncontrollably. You get so sick you go without bathing or brushing your teeth. You absolutely cannot take care of children, pets properly. You feel like your legs and back are encased in cement. I have now been off the patch for six months and just began feeling normal a month ago. I switched to Hydrocodone 10mg and they help control my pain by about 30 percent. Yes, I am still very sick. but I will not put on another Fentanyl patch until I am end stage.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

i have post surgical lower back pain. was in 50 mcg patch and had side effects and so decided to wean off. i finished wi...

311 REPLIES

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO KEEP THE PATCH FROM COMING OFF AFTER SECOND DAY ? I SHOWER A COUPLE TIMES A DAY AND ON THE SEC...

216 REPLIES

I would like to know WHY the FDA has not taken the Fentanyl Patch off the market? This drug is being handed out like can...

130 REPLIES

Hello. I am on the fentanyl patch, 125mcg every 72 hours. And ever since starting the patch I have been able to once aga...

49 REPLIES

I have been on the 100 mg patch and Percocet for my Crohns and Colitis for years. Last week I went cold turkey on my own...

36 REPLIES

I have been on fentanyl / Duragesic since 2005 when i was not longer able to take oral opioids as my stomach lining was ...

32 REPLIES

my patch keeps coming off prematurely. can you recommend a solution? ## You can buy Tegaderm at Walgreen's, it's...

28 REPLIES

When I was going crazy with pain and looking for relief ,the patch was a Godsend.I started the patch at 25mcg about 7 ye...

19 REPLIES

My husband, age 77, developed severe acute pancreatitis and has been in the hospital for the past 8 months. He has been ...

18 REPLIES

Hello, I am on fentanyl patch 50mcg. I think i got longer times on same medicine with pill medicine. This is longer time...

18 REPLIES