Chronic Pain Support Group

sounds like reaction maybe from with drawal from oycodone, mostly the diahrea, and the chills.maybe you should ask your doctor if you can take the oycodotine, for breck thru pain, i just started the fently patch, my doc uped it to 100mg, and then gave me breck thru meds. i have back problems, stenosis, and fibro. but any way, i don't know why they wouldn't let ya take the oxy. for breck thru. do you have problems with where to put the pacth, i swim alot, and don't want it to get wet and come off. i am looking for some thing to put on it, to keep it water tight. good luck, i hope that helped.

I'm trying not to take breakthrough pain, and it may be the oxycontin I am withdrawing to, but I would have thought that would be over by now. I'm trying not to take breakthrough pain medication. I do feel like the fentanyl patch starts to go downhill on the 3rd day (last 12 hours of the 72 hour cycle). I've had no problem with the patches staying on. I put them on my upper arm/shoulder. I try to keep that shoulder out of the direct shower water and am not swimming or anything else that involves water. As a pharmacist I would tell you "Do NOT cover the patch with anything that is air or water tight". From the literature, this can result in the medication "dumping" into your system, resultig in overdose. If your losing the patches because of swimming, I would limit my swims to the day that you take the patch off, do your swimming, and put the new patch on. Supposedly, the medication is supposed to continue 24 hours beyond patch removal... (I don't believe it).Thank you for taking the time to give me your input.

Your symptoms sound like withdrawal symptoms. What dose of fentanyl are you taking? Maybe they did not do the equivalent figuring when they switched you. Fentanyl usually does not cause nausea or stomach distress. Course you could have a virus too. But, check into the doses, see how big a change they made in your equivalent dosage. It might have been too big a drop at once.

yiks that is scarey, i think you are right, i will swim, the day i change the patch. the pharmist said, i could do that, with that patch. wow, i guess that amount would be hugh to have released into your body, all at once. i have one on my back with a waterproof tape on it, but once i take this off, i wouldn't do that again. thanks. i have a few days.why don't you want to take breck thru? are you trying to go totally to the patch, i find that my tummy is so much better, since i have been on the patch, with less po meds.

I also was on Oxycontin for a few years, and last year switched to the patch. I had the same symptoms for about a week and then I settled in very nicely. I have been a giant proponent of the patch ever since as it works for 70 hrs. It's working when you wake up and therefore better since the onset of pain cannot take place when you wake. Your side effects should vanish shortly. I just switched from the 100 microgram to the 75 and use 15mg oxycodone for breakthrough. I cant seem to ever get better where I dont need any medication. While daunting, it's a fact and something we all have to deal with, and we are all here to help.

oh and yes, the patch does work for about 55 hours before it tapers off. I usually take the brakethroguh during the last day of wear. The patch works for me, 17 hours after removal and never comes off in shower. If you can, use the Mylan brand as they stick the best and are smaller than the Sandoz or other brands. I also use the outside of the upper arm because it's the only spot on the body which doesnt move underneathe the patch during your movement. But yeah, you should avoid excessive heat and grapefruit juice, but water is ok as long as you applied the patch with firm pressure for one minute and the edges are secure.

My PM told me that if he decides to switch me from Oxy to another narco drug, or from any drug becides Oxy, it will take a very long time to work on doses to get me off it. And I am only 3 years on it, but will take up to one year to get me off them first.
Did they do it slowly or they stopped abruptly? This is very dangerous for you to do. All your symptoms are typical for withdrawal . I had once this myself and it wasn't pretty. I forgot to call to refill my meds, thought I still have time and forgot about Holiday weekend and until meds came i had one day of a horrible symptoms I never forget. I was on Fentanyl patch and had severe reaction to it when he increased my dose from 25 to 50. I ended up in a Hospital very sick. What you have doesn't seem comes from Fentanyl but withdrawal of Oxy.
Feel better please!

The oxycontin was stopped cold turkey, as I am not have significant breakthrough pain. I figured being one opioid being replaced by another opioid it would not be an issue. I've decided that it is withdrawal from the oxycontin that I have beeen experiencing. We've added some promethazine to my regimen and that has helped significantly. I'm on day 8 of fentanyl patch, still not having normal stools or constipation, and still having upset stomach, although significantly reduced this morning, no promethezine yet today. Hot/cold flashes have improved, as well. I'm supposed to see my PM this next week. I think in time I will be able to settle into the patch just fine. THANK YOU!!! to all of you who responded to my pleas for some direction. I've been a pharmacist (PharmD) since 1992 and I would not have known "all I've gone through" without going through it. I just don't think there is anything like "first hand experience". Thank you to all of you who shared your first hand experienced. I even forwarded your emails to my husband. I think he was frustrated coming home day after day and me not improving, with another ailment added to the array of my complaints. I think he is more comfortable with what is going on with me, as well. Thank you!

you're very welcome. Again, your withdrawal effects should go away shortly. I did not take any brakethrough medication either when I switched cold from 160 mg of Oxycontin to Fentanyl patch. My withdrawls were about 5-7 days. Since you're on day 8 and still having symptoms, I'm wondering if the Fentanyl you're taking is enough to replace the Oxycontin you were on. There are charts on the internet for how many micrograms/Hr of Fentanyl are proportional to Milligrams of Oxycontin that you were on. If I remember correctly, 160 milligrams Oxy equated to 81 micrograms an hour Fentanyl. Try looking up a chart to see if you are taking less medication now? Perhaps thats why your having withdrawls so long. At the same time though, if the patch is killing the pain just ride out the withdrawl and keep the strength where it is so you dont have to take any meds you dont need. Remember.... no grapefruit juice. Accidental overdose can occur with grapefruit juice

I checked the conversion and it seems to be in line, as well as pain is under control. I'm feeling even better tonight, think I might eat something besides soup, popsicles, and jello. I don't have a scale, but know I've lost at least 5 pounds this past couple of weeks (clothes are looser, not a bad thing). My doctor didn't say I couldn't take my Norco for breakthrough pain, but as a pharmacist, I think I'm just against meds in general except for those that are absolutely necessary... I have ended up only taking 3 of the promethazines... just like me to go through the worse before getting medical help. Oh yes,,, no grapefruit. Folks should probably just avoid grapefruit juice if their on any kind of medication, since the list is so long it is hard to remember which ones you can have grapefruit with and which ones you should not/cannot. I'm having a little trouble keeping this third patch on, so used some paper tape on the edge and will be changing it tomorrow anyway. I never dreamt there was a list on the internet for chronic pain. You guys have been great!!! I wish I had found you earlier (this past 15 years) trying to control the chronic back pain from the degenerative disc disease. I can see that that disease is basically going to be "down hill" as I get older. Thankfully, I do not have osteoporosis and my bones are generally strong. With all the horse falls I've had over the years, I've never broken anything. I actually feel like I might be coming out of the withdrawal syndrome... I'll keep in touch, and if there is ever any info I can pass along, please just let me know. Although, there is nothing like "first hand experience"....