fentanyl transdermal patch

**hound dog** · 05-12-2004, 12:46 AM

I was recently placed on the fentanyl patch after the percocet no longer controlled my pain. Been on it for about three weeks now and was wondering if anyone out there was also on it. If so, what was your experience? Any unusual side effects?

thanks in advance for any replies

**Dixiefireball** · 05-12-2004, 03:25 AM

kind of a long storie but i will try to make it short.
i was put on the patch sept 11 02 when i was admitted to the hosp for ic and a kidney dis.
when i went into the hosp i was already throwing up so know one put two and two together once i started getting better i was still throwing up.
my doctor left me on these patches in hopes to control my pain. they did that but i still couldn't hold anything down after i got out of the hosp the same thing happen i went a mth taking these and couldnt understand why i stayed so sick i finally took it off for three days then we figure out it was from the patch. my body didn't like it at all so i didn't have a good result from it.

now on the other hand my husband has used them in the pass for lung problems and they helped him.

I will never forget getting out of bed after i got out of the hosp i felt fine before i lifted my head and stood up when i did i feel straight into the freezer (we had a small freezer in our bedroom no room in the kitchen for it) i busted my head.

I have had heard wonderful things about the patch it just didn't work for me and i so wish it had so i wouldnt have to worry about another pill.

i'm so glad they are helping you I love to hear story of one of my ic sister getting relief.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

**hound dog** · 05-12-2004, 04:09 AM

so sorry it didn't work for you. Me- I am not sure if it is or it isn't. Some days it does well with the pain others- it's like I am on nothing at all. And since I have been taking it as well as valium (for bladder spasms) my left arm has gone all numb and I have experiencing intermitent joint pain. Left several messages with the doc....will see if he gets back to me today. They seem to always be sooooo busy there.

my thoughts are with you!:thumbsup:

**celine** · 05-15-2004, 08:35 AM

Just my experience-The patch made me very sick.Dizzy,throwing up,naseous,terrible.Just couldnt handle it. But being on methadone only a week, but so far it's a God send.No side effects,and actually takes the pain down to a bare minimum.Any thing that works,it's like a breath of fresh air!!

**SheriG** · 05-16-2004, 01:01 PM

The patch worked ok for me, but terribly burnt the skin under it. I am so skin sensitive, the had to give me something else. All the best to you!

Sheri G

**1tuffcookie** · 05-19-2004, 12:03 PM

hound dog,

I was on the patch for quite a while--maybe a couple of years--not sure. My mom used it for years for a neck injury, too. It helped the pain for both of us, but we had to have something like Percocet too for breakthrough pain. We didn't have to take tons of Percocet, though. As for side effects, we both had the same problem: we would start to feel bad when the patch began to wear off. It varied, but on average I'd say it started about 6 hours before it was time to put on a new one. We would have an increase in pain, sometimes feel achy, and I would start to feel hot and sweaty. It helped some to change the patch in the a.m., because the worst of this happened while we were sleeping. But eventually I had to quit using the patch because my skin wouldn't tolerate it anymore. It got inflamed, itchy, then infected in spots. I had scars for a while, but they're gone now, thankfully. I'm not trying to freak you out or anything! My skin has always been really sensitive. My mom had no skin problems with the patch. I had the same problem with fiberglass and acrylic fingernails--I did fine for over a year. Then suddenly my skin wouldn't take the chemicals anymore. Tried different chemicals, different Cortisone creams, but finally just had to bag it. Everybody is really different, so I would just advise you to pay attention to any changes in how you feel. Oh, also, if the patch doesn't help your pain, you might try a higher strength. It comes in at least 4 different strengths. I hope it helps you feel great!

**Morgan Stone** · 05-19-2004, 04:04 PM

I was given the patch and it worked excellent for me but I had an allergic reaction to the material it was made of and was unable to wear it. I didnt have any other problems tho and it took care of my pain quite well.. wishing luck to you!

**Dianna M.** · 05-28-2004, 07:27 AM

I have been using the patch since I was diagnosed with IC approx 6 years ago. I use the 75mcg strength and also have morphine liquid for breakthrough pain. In the beginning of using the patch I was a bit nauseous. However after a few weeks, I got used to it and this has not been a problem now for years. I love the patch because I always have some kind of pain medication in my system. I never have to lie in agony waiting for my pain medications to start working. I used to dread waking up because I knew I would be in so much pain. Then I would have to take more medicine just to try and get on top of the pain. The patch although it does contain Fentanyl (which is one of the strongest pain medications there is) in the long run I use less medication because the patch makes sure I always have some in my system.
I do not have any symptoms at all from the patch. My only slightly negative comments would be :
1) There are very expensive. If you don't have a drug plan that will pay for them it would be very difficult financially to use them
2) They can fall off and then it really can't be used to put on. the bath or after lying in the sun - moisture can make it fall off.
This can be more expensive because although I have tried it taping it back on really doesn't work.
Good Luck
The patch is what has allowed me to keep working. Without medication that worked that well I would have had to stop working long ago.

**hound dog** · 05-28-2004, 08:15 AM

thanks so much for your message...I am going to share the info with my doctor if you don't mind because he took me off the medication b/c it kept falling off but I feel it worked far better ofr me than what he has me on now. What i am on now isn't even touching the pain. I wake up in extreme pain and stay that way. no way I could work. again thank you!

**Dianna M.** · 05-28-2004, 12:02 PM

When I first started using the patches it was during the summer and if I got wet or was sweaty the patch often would come off - sometimes I didn't even notice it, and then I had to deal with the pain again for approx 17 hours until the patfccbut hours later I was in a great deal of pain. If you are able to go back on them ask your doctor to supply you with a few extra each month and that way you always have an extra in case one does come off and you are not able to get it back on. The company who makes them will send you some special adhesive free. T

**BLOORE74** · 06-11-2004, 02:30 PM

I was on it for a while, but I don't think it worked real well. It was so itchy where ever I would place the patch. So usually I would either have to take the patch off cuz it just itched too much or I would scratch it off. Then that one would be wasted. I wasted about 5 & a month supply is like 8! So I had to go back & show my doc the wasted patches!LOL Hou stupid! I switched back to my demerol.

**Dianna M.** · 06-11-2004, 04:15 PM

I also was on Demerol for a brief period of time as my pain management specialist told me that Demerol is not a medication that is meant to take for chronic pain. Using it following a surgery is great but it can be a huge depressant if used on a more chronic basis. I thought maybe you may want to talk to your physician about this in case it may not be the best drug for you. I know that my specialist believes morphine is a much better drug to use.