Fentanyl Patch Wearing Out
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Hello. I am on the fentanyl patch, 125mcg every 72 hours. And ever since starting the patch I have been able to once again be more active. I exercise for an hour every morning and walk in the evening. My dr said the patch will last me 72 hours but by 48 and sometimes less, my pain begins to return and I start feeling withdrawl symptoms I use to feel on oxy or percs. I've tried telling my dr that I need to change every 2 days but he insists that this does not happen to anyone else. Does anyone here have the same issues? And are you feeling better results from different brands of the patch?

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Fentanyl 72 hour cycle.
It is absolutely correct what your doctor has told you. Technically you can wear a patch with your strength a fourth day and be covered for pain. I know no one wants to hear this, but it’s not the Fentanyl. It will last for three days no questions asked. There is still enough Meds on the patch to kill you even after three days of use. If you don’t believe me ask a lab to test how much remaining medicine is remaining leftover.

I was on 100mcg for years and just recently weaned myself of it and switched to Hydromorphone CR. This is going to sound stranger... lower your dose to a 100 and maybe down after a while to 75 MCG. I bet you will feel better. I did and feel much better. There is such a thing as toxicity and I think you are experiencing or tolerance could also very well be the issue.

Please don’t feel I’m judging you because of the F word. As long as you are receiving the med you won’t suffer withdrawal or any discomfort and you will be surprised that your head may actually clear making you feel better. I’d say try and see for yourself with your doc allowing you to go back up if needed.

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Fentanyl patches only work for 48 hours for most people including myself. My pain specialist prescribed dosing at 48 hours for 10 years. I would be very hesitant to stay on this drug for more than a few months - it took over my life and I really suffered.

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Re: Scott (# 45)

I prefer the Mylan patches as well but must accept whichever pharmacy gives me. I do not like the large patches with the reservoir. I don’t think the medication is absorbed as uniformly as in the Mylan brand. The reservoir patches also cannot be cut if you are trying to taper down on strength but can’t go down a full 25 mcg/hr without withdrawal or severe breakthrough pain.

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Hi Jessica,

Your Dr. needs to read the information that comes in each and every box of Mylan patches (only kind I'd ever use). So 2 things (you didn't ask about the 2nd one).

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Re: Dixie (# 40)

I cut my patches and use 2/3 patch for 2 days after doing this twice I wear the two 1/3 pieces on days 5&6. In the paper work inside each box of Mylan patches it states some need a 48 hours regimen!

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That’s a big dose. You can ask for it to be changed every 2 days but I wouldn’t complain to much cause that’s a unusual amount of dosage and maybe your BT meds need to be adjusted.

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I had a similar problem. The duragesic patch did not last 72 hours so my doctor prescribed extra patches with directions to change every 48 hours. I have been enjoying a good quality of life. I work full-time, cook dinner at least 5 nights a week, babysit my grandchildren (crawling around on the floor after them), shop and do most things I did before medical conditions caused chronic pain. Insurance company has decided that I can only have 10 patches every 25 days rather than 15 every 30. I am now involved in an external appeal. I refuse to return to being bedridden and forced to take disability when a few more years I will be eligible to retire with benefits and the pension I have been working towards for the last 29 years. Used as directed, under the supervision of a pain management doctor fentanyl can restore a person’s quality of life. Not all people with accesss to fentanyl are addicts looking for a high. We are respected professionals contributing to society.

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I'm replying 11-29-17. In the literature that comes inside every box of Mylan patches it states that some people need to change patches every 48 hours. Can't argue away that recommendation.

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Your doctor is full of s***. Any type of pain meds will last longer for some people than others. Take methadone. Some people can take 40 mg and it will last 2 days while others take over 500mg and they start feeling pain in 12 hours. Talk to a pharmacy as they can tell you more about pain meds than any doctor.

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Yes I was on the Fentanyl patch for 3 years started with 25 mcg q 72 hours, but they wore off after about 36-48 hours eventually I was prescribed 100 mcg q 72 hours. Still after 48 hours the patch began to wear of and major pain would come back. I supplemented the patch with Tylenol Arthritis Formula as well as Clove Capsules which act like an opiate but you MUST eat something with them. Understand I am not saying this will work for YOU. I was desperate and did the research. God Bless!

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Talk to your pharmacist for more backup. They tell me that half of all patients are 48 hour users.

Have the pharmacist call the doctor.

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Tell your doctor that you need to have the patch changed every 48 hours! Ask your pharmacist to back you up in that MOST patients need to change the patch every 48 hours! I have been using the patch for 15 years now, every single person I have met who is on the patch tells me that they need 15 patches per month.

You pharmacist will call your doctor for you if you ask him too.

ALSO the dosing instructions from the FDA:

"...The majority of patients are adequately maintained with DURAGESIC administered every 72 hours. Some patients may not achieve adequate analgesia using this dosing interval and may require systems to be applied at 48 hours rather than at 72 hours, only if adequate pain control cannot be achieved using a 72-hour regimen. An increase in the DURAGESIC dose should be evaluated before changing dosing intervals in order to maintain patients on a 72-hour regimen. Dosing intervals less than every 72 hours were not studied in children and adolescents and are not recommended..."

Good luck!

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Hey jess, I had the 48 hr dieing issue with my 75mcg patch. I also had issues with dr and getting the change to 48 hours - the dr came back with it says 72 hours and if i write it for 48 they could get in trouble, thus i did the research and found the documentation that many have issues at 48 hours with patch effectivness. I showed the dr this info and where it could be found. Dr. still gave me a hard time and i explianed that i should not suffer because of those that abuse their meds and explained why do you think i would abuse them, i have never failed a drug panel for anything i do not have a script from you for. I then explained maybe the cia needs more money, why else would the govt crack down on pain med scripts --- After about 4 appts of this type of exchange (do not loose your temper) the dr did change to 48 hours and my quality of life has improved at least 4 fold. Good luck.

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Bettyboo. You need to get tegaderm patches. Poke about 10 holes I. Them then put them over your patch. That will help to keep them on. Mine fall off within hours if I do not use them. Also look through new posts here. Someone else suggested using some kind of nasal spray on your skin before applying to avoid rashes.

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Jessica, better still ask for Oxymorphone 20mg ER. It's cheaper than Opana... Opana is real expensive... Oxymorphone is a generic and Opana is brand name...but to me Oxymorphone ER works great :-) Good Luck Jessica! :-)

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I spray my arm with Nasacort (nasal spray), let it dry, and apply my fentanyl patch. I no longer suffer from a rash in that area. This hint was passed on to me at my pain center. I also change my patch every 2 days because it does not supply any relief by day 3.

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i had the same problem. I take the same dosage 125. my doc changed the script to every 48 hrs so i know it can be done. I am a disabled vet and use the va system for my spinal cord issues but have a civillian pain management doc.and even there ( Keep in mind the va is all about cutting u down to as little as possible. Forget quality of life for which my civillian doc. goes for) and i have seen guys prescribed it every 48 hrs there too.

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Jessica, I was on the patch for three years and it can be changed every 48 hours, I talked to my doctor and he changed my script so I could change my patch every 48 hours. I have fibromyglia, nerve damage in my legs, was in a car accident, now I have degenerative dics diease in my neck and lower lumber area. If he won't let you change it every 48 hours, ask him to put you on a different time release medication. I wish you well, and I hope your doctor will work with you.

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I feel your pain. For the past 4 yrs I was told I have fibromyalgia. Come to find out I have Lupus and it has gone so advance that it has now damaged my kidneys and liver. I begged my dr to listen saying there's something else wrong with me. Went to a few other Drs, looked at my tests and agreed with my current dr. FINALLY left the county, went 4 hours away from home, found an amazing dr who did all the proper tests and found it. Gave him all my old labs and he showed me how my past labs showed lupus signs. My other Drs just didn't pay attention. Now I'm stuck with permanent damage which could of been avoided all along if someone would just listen. To all new Drs or med student on this website, listen to your patients. Really listen to them. Don't play God, give them a chance. Yes some over exaggerate but others really have a pressing need.

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I have been treated with Durgesic Fentanyl patches. Dr would have Me apply a new patch on day 3 rather than the 4th. That seemed to remedy the problem with the medicine being used.

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