I had same problems with Mylan, and contacted the company. Additionally, I felt that my extreme hot flashes from surgical menopause were causing more medicine to come out and therefore they didn't last the 72 hours they were supposed to. The company sent me all kinds of paperwork to fill out, but I stopped using them so I don't what if anything changed about them. I tried the name brand patch, and hated them because the edges were so sharp they pinched me. Now I use a brand manufactured by Aveva, and distributed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. They are comfortable but bandaid colored which I'm not too crazy about...I liked the clear ones. I'm using 100mcg every 48 hours...still having hot flashes, but not so often thank goodness. Call and ask different pharmacies what they use for generic patches and maybe you can switch to one you like better.

Wis,

Yes, since my injury I am heat intolerant and have flashes myself. You would think the 4 Narcos would keep the W/Ds away, but only blunt them, and I still get sick from the patches that don't work.

I suppose I'll try the Sandoz, as they are the only other game in town. It would be nice if the doc would intercede on this.

-Snake

i use the patch and find some times the glue isnt the best.
i use my bra strap to make sure it holds on all right.
but with all sweating i do it's amazing that it does hold on.

what are the W/D's you are talking about in dealing with fentanyl patches and sickness?
i have never heard of the W/D's and i would like to know if it is the same sick feeling i sometimes get with the patches.

jayne

The W/Ds of which I speak are nausea, lots of time in the bathroom, shakes, hot and cold, et.c. , as well as increased perception of pain. I talked to a doc today [not my PM guy] who was aware of the phenomenon from taking care of elderly people at an institution. They would be sedate the first day, ok the second, and hurt like hell the third. The elderly naturally get more sedate than us young whippersnappers.

I am wearing my day one which is doing very little. I see the PM Monday, and Sunday promises to be hell, unless this works through tomorrow; in which case I have several tramadol that tend to help if I take "x" tablets in the morning, and "X" tablets in the afternoon. (I do not prescribe on the board or otherwise). And particularly if I drink grapefruit juice 2 hours or so before . Grapefruit juice if taken and allowed to empty from the stomach tends to potentiate opioids so * take it with caution* (see grapefruit juice effect-Wikipedia will lead you to more scientific sites).

These patches are trash. I didn't start my prescribed opiates so I could spend my time chasing W/Ds away, and hurt anyway.

-Snake

wow i did not know any of that and here i have been on these patches for along time, putting up with what i thought was not drug related.
i will talk to my pain dr. next appt. about this.
it makes me angry when drs. don't tell you anything.

thanks alot for taking the time to tell me this stuff!!

jayne

For anyone having problems with the patches, please self-report your problems to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch. Our doctors don't have the time or inclination to fill out all the papterwork themselves and the manufacturers make it nearly impossible to report problems by inundating you with reams of forms. The website is quick and easy and they will not use any of your personal information when compiling the data. It's our only way as patients to let the FDA know there's a problem!

Heat will cause any of the fentanyl patches to release the medication quicker, whether the heat be from an outside source (heating pad, hot shower, etc.) or inside (having a temperature).

In addition, everyone is different and the patches don't work for the full 72 hours for everyone (for me they don't work at all, nor does IV Fentanyl...now there's a fun one!). We each have to find our own dose and timing and work with our doctors to get the right prescription to get maximum relief without the breakthrough pain, without too much medication or too little relief...and to always have a breakthrough pain medication available just like patients on any other sustained release medication have!

Best wishes for a pain free Sunday!

Hello,

Well, finally saw my MD rather than the PA. Switched to Avinza. Too early to tell, but can't be any worse than the patch. He finally got it through his head that I have been on the same dosages for over 3 years. To my suprise, he acknowledged that DEA has PM docs over a barrel between helping patients and being investigated by DEA.

Will also be tested for adrenal function, testosterone levels, and possibly thyroid, as I told him that I had learned that long term opioid use can cause a syndrome affecting hormones.

-So far so good-Snake

I was on the patches for a while. It didn't work, and was changed and still didn't work and the Dr kept upping my dose until I was on 100mg. And you're right, it never made it the full three days and you go thru terrible withdrawls on that last day. I also had an allergic reaction to the latex in the glue on the other brands and had to ask for the Mylan brand specifically so that I wouldn't break out around that application area. And if I didn't time it just right, the Pharmacy wouldn't have it in time for me, that sucked, let me tell you! Plus, all of us know that long hot baths, and heating pads are like our best friends, especially on cold, wet or rainy days. Well needless to say, I overdosed myself quite a bit. I finaly decided that I'd had enough and talked to my Dr. (Luckily I finally found a Dr who would listen to me and trust me enough to tell him what I needed and go from there).He took me off the patches and put me on Methadone and also left me on the Loratab so I could take that as I needed to. It was the best thing I ever did. I hardly hurt most of the time (Rainey and Cold days are still kind of bad, but I take the Loratab then and that helps) and the Methadone doesn't make me High or itchy or anything. You can confront your Dr with the facts. If there's enough history in your medical file to verify the need for chronic pain care (Narcotics), then there's no reason the Dr should ever be afraid of treating us. If you point that out, it might help with the skittish Drs otherwise you will need to find a Dr who really cares about people and is willing to treat us no matter what the problem is, to make them FEEL better, even if they can't fix the problem it's their duty to make us more comfortable if possible. It took me 10 years to find my Dr. I Highly recommend the methodone and the Pharmacist I spoke to said that Methadone was just about the safest medicine to take for chronic pain relief. I'm glad you posted the website for the FDA, I'd like to tell them what I think about the patches too!

Well, here we are 10 hours post doctor visit, feeling better than I have in months. Pain is there, but much better. No W/Ds finally. I could throw myself a "rebirth" party.

-Snake

Hey ladies, & gentlemen (sorry) I was on the patches a long time ago and I had a problem just like themn... I couldn't take my baths and it didn't last the whole time, it stunk. I keep hearing from all these peeps on DS that their Drs. aren't listening to them. I can't believe snake had to go through withdrawl symptoms. If you are on these types of pain meds you need a good Pain Management Dr. I can't stress it enough have your family Dr. referr you to one. they are not worried about the DEA because they treat chronic pain, it is their job. It is not a family Drs job to treat chronic pain. that is why you guys are having problems getting good pain care. Trust me please do this!!!! You will need someone to manage your pain for a while so get a good pain managment Dr.

I TOO USE THE MYLAN PATCH BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE THAT IS MOST POPULAR, BREAKS ME OUT REALLY BAD. BUT I DONT FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING ANY RELIEF FROM THEM. AND THEY ARE ALSO HARD TO GET ON AFTER GETTING THROUGH ALL THOSE LITTLE PLASTIC COVERS. THEY EITHER BEND ON ME AND THEN I HAVE TO TRY AND STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT OR DEAL WITH EM THE WAY THEY ARE. I THINK MY PHARMACY ONLY HAS THE OTHER BRAND AND THAT'S THE SANDOZ. THOSE BROKE ME OUT TERRIBLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT ADDRESS, I'M GOING TO USE IT. THE FIRST DAY ON THE PATCH IS OK, CAN'T SAY MUCH FOR THE SECOND DAY AND I'M IN GREAT PAIN ON THE THIRD DAY. THANK YOU FOR THE HELP. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. IS IT TRUE ABOUT THE METHADONE BEING THE BEST WAY TO GO? MY SON, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE LEG AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF USES THE OTHER STRONG ONE AND HE SWEARS BY THEM BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GET ANY FEELINGS OF FEELING LOOPY. I CAN NEVER REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE MEDICATION! I JUST WISH SOMEONE COULD GET RID OF THIS PAIN. I HAVE FIBROMYALGIA, OSTEO ARTHRITIS, OSTEO PENIA, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND BARRETT'S DISEASE. IT DOESN'T HELP WORRYING ABOUT MY GRANDDAUGHTERS AND MY SONS TOO. I'M GOING ON AND ON, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING EVERYONE.

I was lucky; I went to my PM doc in mild W/Ds, and let him see for himself. He initiated the remark that I didn't look too well. I think his PA doesn't report things well, and I only have been seeing the doc 2-3 times yearly, and I requested to see him personally from here on out. Today, I see my G.P. re adrenal and testosterone levels, as these are affected by long-term opioid use.

In my little piece of paradise, the state seems to be very intolerant of good care. When I was a sedationist or working in recovery room, my patients were comfortable, (even when I got a dentist [ha ha])and I wasn't averse to calling the doc and demanding a different analgesic if one didn't work. Plus I studied pain, equigesic doses, et.c. and could back up my judgments. I felt that people put their trust in me, and I refused to violate that trust.

-Snake

By the way, Tegaderm 1624W are the only thing I found that is reliable to keep the Fentanyl patch dry and in place. Plus they're not the huge things most people use. You can get them fairly cheaply on Ebay, just pay the "buy it now" price, it doesn't get any better. A box will last about 8-9 months. I'm stuck with almost a full box now, since I quit the patches.

-Snake