Fentanyl Transdermal Patch Review

Overall 4.83 of 5 view all 6 reviews

kid-kansas
Clearwater, KS

Chronic pain is easier to deal with now!

Tried this medication, very happy this medication exists, thankful to my doctors, hoping for the best, Suffers from Chronic Pain

Pros

Makes life easier, Easy to apply, Treats Chronic Pain

Cons

needs help to stick

DEC

2007

Fentanyl Transdermal Patch has been very good to me, it helps me live a more normal life. This medication comes in 5 dosage rates. They start at 12.5mg and go to 100mg and last 72 hours per patch.

Application

It comes with 5 patches per box and each patch is in a sealed sterile envelope. The patches are clear and have an adhesive to hold it to the skin. They say you can bathe or shower with these on, but I am not that lucky. I have to use paper tape to help hold them on. You have to be careful opening the envelope so as not to cut the patch, which will result in an overdose and that would be bad.

Dangers

Fentanyl is 80 times as potent as morphine so it is not your everyday pain reliever. Never use 2 patches at one time and make sure you dispose of them properly. They recommend flushing them, but I am on a septic system. I dispose of them by rolling them in toilet paper and putting them in the trash.

How well it works

I started out on the 25mg patch and that didn't do very much at all. So I was graduated to the 50 mg patch. When I first started the 50mg patch I slept most of the day, but then got more used to them. They still did not give me the pain relief I felt they should. SO then I was put on the 75mg patch..WHOA was that ever strong. I was sleeping 20 hours a day and couldn't see straight. I stuck with the 75mg patch for 2 weeks (I was told it takes that long to get used to them) However I couldn't take it, it was playing HELL with my brain and my life was my bed. So I went back down to 50mg once again. I won't say I am pain free because of them, but I can say I am off the 4-5 loratabs (mentioned in my Gabapentin review) a day and life is much simpler.

To give you an idea of how strong this medication really is..........READ THIS....Fentanyl is also used as a way to knock people out for surgery!!! Thats right it is an Anesthesia Medication! So use the utmost care before you use any machinery, drive a car or pick up small children. I have a few accidents under my belt because of this stuff. No not in my truck, but I have sliced my fingers a few times. SO BE VERY VERY CAREFUL while using this medication.

Classification of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is listed as a Class 2 Narcotic, so you cannot have the prescription called in by your doctor, you must pick it up in person. Also when you pick it up you cannot walk away from the pharmacy and pay for it at another register (unless a pharmacy worker carries it to the other register) You have to pay at the pharmacy (grrrr I hate that) I like to do more than prescription pick up when I have it filled, but the pharmacy can't weigh produce so at times it is a ROYAL PAIN IN MY TUSH.

Bottom Line

As I said in my Gabapentin review, I am not totally pain free, but compared to a year ago I function much better. I still have 3-4 days a week of break through pain, but now it takes 1 loratab at most to get me through. I don't like taking drugs I am scared of getting addicted, but I also don't like being a ROYAL GRUMP toward people because I hurt. So I compromised and am taking my medication. I used to have problems falling to sleep because of pain, that is almost a thing of the past thanks to my Fentanyl and Gabapentin.

This medication is not for surgical pain, or occasional pain it is used to treat chronic pain and it does its job very well. With 5 dosage levels there is one to match your pain level.

Last edited on Dec 04, 2007

Fentanyl Transdermal Patch is recommended by kid-kansas

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Comments about kid-kansas’s Review

In response to Kristy's comment from Dec 4, 2007 at 1:15PM:

Hi Kristy, maybe you just need a stronger dose? ask your doctor.....yeah I was one that never understood chronic pain until it happened to me. I really wish I was still in the dark on it. Between these and the Gabapentin I am doing much better.

In response to BayouBengal's comment from Dec 4, 2007 at 1:06PM:

ty and yes hurting all the time is a real bummer(do they still say that?..lol)

I have these in the 50mg. dose (we were n a car accident) but oddly I never got much relief from them while my husband loves them! e used the patches that are hot for 8 hours (OTC) and those seem to work for long trips. Maybe I should try them again - we have a couple of boxes of them.
I am glad they are working for you, anything you can find that helps your life is wonderful! People have no idea what chronic pain can do to your life until they actually live it!