Pain Management with Duragesic Patch

[Tiny Dancer]

Hi Folks,

I have to tell you about the Duragesic (Fentanyl) Patch. It comes in different strengths from 12.5 to 100mg so it can range from very mild to cancer strength. The best part is, you put it on every three days and forget about it. There are no highs or lows when you take this, just steady pain relief. The problem with pills is you take it and your pain starts to go away, reaches a pike and then goes away. You get pain relief for a few short hours out of all the time your waiting.

My doctor just upped me from 25mg. to 50mg. because my pain is getting so much worse. This way, over the holidays, I can pretend everything is almost okay until surgery next year!

Kate

[Karyn]

Hi Kate,
I'm so happy to hear you found something that's helping! Do the patches stay on well? Can you shower with them on? Are the side effects less than taking oral meds?
What did you think of the pain pump? Did you get relief from that?

My doctor just upped me from 25mg. to 50mg. because my pain is getting so much worse.

It sounds like it didn't provide you any lasting relief.
Warm regards,
Karyn

[Tiny Dancer]

Hi Karyn,

Yes, they are much better on your system because the medicine from the patches do not go through your liver. So they are much less damaging. With the patch you can shower, swim, or most anything else. The skin needs to be clean, I put it on after shower and you need to keep your hand over it for a minute or two so it warms. It will stick to your skin better. It also takes time to figure out the best place to put it. You need to put it in a place where the skin doesn't move much and clothes won't rub on it. That's what makes it come off. I put them on the upper hip. That seems to be the best for me. I've been using them for five years.

Kate

[GraceUnderFire]

What is your level of pain on the patch?

Grace

[Tiny Dancer]

Grace,

Most days, if I keep quite a 3.

Kate

[ness70]

Tiny dancer
I am also on the Durogesic patch (12mcg) and have been on it 2 yrs, just after I had my PNE surgery. Like you, I have found it to be fantastic as it gives that even amount of pain relief and don't get those peaks and troughs you get with short acting.
My dr's say I can have the 25mg, which I tried and it took all my pain away, but I found it made me a little groggy and as I have young twins, needed to be little more alert so have chosen to stick with the 12, but I change it every 48, not 72 hours. This works well for me, and I have Endone (oxycodone) for breakthrough pain, which I find I take at about 5pm- when I know I won't be driving any more for that day, and lie on the couch until it takes effect then I'm as good as gold.
The only time I find it a hassle is when it is really hot with high humidity, then the patch might not stick as well....but other than that it is brilliant, to be able to take less things orally!
My plan for next yr is to wean off them and just be on the Neurontin, so I can get back to my job as a registered nurse....i am a bit worried about this, but am sure my pain specialist knows how to do it - all I know is it has to be done VERY slowly.
Have you had surgery? or do you have neuralgia rather than entrapment?
Good luck in your journey
Vanessa

[Tiny Dancer]

Vanessa,

Be sure when you change the patches every two days rather than every three days, that you leave the old patch on for a few days. If you don't you're wasting medicine and not getting the full dosage.

Kate

[Tiny Dancer]

Vanessa,

I haven't had surgery, yet, but my MRI did show entrapment. That is if you go by the theory that the pudendal artery balloons out above the entrapment because the artery and nerve are so close together.

Kate