Fibromyalgia Support Group

MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE 3RD DAY IT SEEMED TO WEAR OFF. BUT IT DOES TAKE A BIT FOR THE DRUG TO GET IN YOUR SYSTEM...SO IT EVENTUALLY DOES LAST THE 3 DAYS. USUALLY THEY GIVE YOU SOMETHING IF YOU ARE LUCKY FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH PAIN. I WAS GIVEN VICODIN...BUT NOW THEY TOOK ME OFF THE PATCH BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT SEE MY PAIN. MY DOC PUT ME ON IT THEN SENT ME TO A PAIN CLINIC THAT DOES NOT WANT TO TREAT FIBRO SO THEY TOOK ME OFF OF IT AND SENT ME TO A RUEMY...AND HE DOESNT BELIEVE IN NARCOTICS FOR FIBRO. SO I AM SEARCHING FOR A NEW DOCTOR.

Call your pharmacist!!! They are experts in medications and he can give you the answers to when it should wear off and how often it can be taken. Usually pharmacists know more than doctors about medications because that is all they do all day and their training is specifically to meds.

I had the same problem. When I changed it every two days I was put up to 75 mcg. Also, one of the nurses told me that when I change it on the third day, to put the new one on an hour or so earlier...that way the old one still keeps working some while the new one starts to take effect. I do agree with the point here however of talking to your pharmacist. Everyone reacts differently and it can be a pretty strong drug to play with. Good luck and let me know what you find out!

My dr had me change mine every two days because it is known for wearing off before the third day. I also take break thru pain med oxycodone and oxycotin before that though I was on 100mcg of the patch but it made me sweat to much!

I've taken duragesic, gradually went up to 100mcg. It always lasted the 3 days. It may be an application problem. did your dr SHOW you how to apply? You need to clean skin, dry and apply. Holding it down tight for a full minute. I left the old one one when I put on the new for a couple hours to insure steady release. If the corners are turning up tape it down with appro. tape. This is a very strong narcotic usually used in terminal cancer patients. As soon a I had presc. coverage, my co denied it. My dr wouldn't do the paperwork to allow me to have it so he switched me to methodone. I switched drs. I think we all experience pain, even with narcotics. Your pain free days are over. Sorry
Good Luck with it.

Well I'm working towards the end of week 2 on this Patch system now.
So far it seems to still manage the Fibro pain very well.
I had one evening from heck due to a migraine that I needed a full arsenal of drugs to keep at bay, and the 2 days I vomited several times and non of my anti-nausea meds would make it stop, I had to go to a walk in clinic, twice, over the weekend, to get injections of phenergan.

So, except for that, and the weird periods of INTENSE fatigue and tiredness (I literally begin to fall asleep and this continues for about an hour or more) and staying awake or functioning is a non option.
I have... fallen asleep while chewing food, fallen asleep while filing my nails, falling asleep at the keyboard, nearly while driving, etc.
But then most of the time I'll be just fine.

I still haven't figured out what is causing it, as I started 3 new meds and changed some others at the same time this patch was introduced.

My Rheumo put me on the 50ml every 48 hours for this patch, stated that many of his patients have to take it like that.

He however won't give me Phenergan Injectables to use at home.
So I'm begging him to come up with an alternate idea.
Zofran pills and Phenergan pills don't act quickly enough and the Phenergan pill makes me sleep for 16 hours.
Phenergan suppositories are helpful but at times, not fast acting enough and I will still vomit several times, my whole day ruined.
Aside from that there is my Dramamine and sea bands of course.
I hope he's got a better idea.
The walk in clinic sure didn't have any.

I feel like asking them...
"So, should I just keep on throwing up several times in one day then? I'm sure THATS healthy for me."

About a year and a half ago I started using duragesic patches too. I started at 25mcg/h I have built up to now using 100mcg/h patches applying a new one every 48 hours with them overlapping for 24 hours. I am still suffering some pain. I use Tylenol Three for the break thru pain.

I hope that helps!

Here's to Hope
Laura
-BB

I was on this patch for just over a year.

The problem with the pain patch is the dose has to be increased over time.

I had the exact same problem with this patch. It worked the first 24 hours. The longer i was on them the shorter amount of time it worked.

My doc at the time eventually switched me to Ms Contin.

Can u call and speak with your docs nurse about this?

do u have an apt. with him soon?

If uve been on the same dose for a year, id say your body as become immune to the pain patch.

dreamweever:

I just started Fentanyl about 2 weeks ago. So no, I have not been on this for very long at all.

I've read about the same things happening with the MS Contin, and the 24h Morphine pills, building up a tolerance over time.
So I wouldn't feel it fair to say off the bat that this will Fentanyl will treat everyone like that. When for some, it has worked for years.
It's an individual thing.

For the most part it is still working very well, just had to adjust from 72 hours, down to 48 hours.
My migraines are a different story, it's not because the patch isn't doing it's job, it's simply because I've had migraines for over 10 years now.
And I push myself too hard on days when I'm feeling good, then I will pay dearly for it for the next day or two.
Yesterday was nearly unbearable, I could hardly walk because I was cleaning house to much.
But today, I'm feeling normal, happy and "healthy" again.