Fentanyl Duragesic - when should I change the patch?

11 Jul 2008

I have been on the patch for about 2 years now or more. When I first started taking it everything was good as far as pain control, the next month I experienced a difference when changing my patch which was that I notice that my pain was returning after changing the patch and applying a new one so my doctor advised me to do the same thing. Also when that didn't work effectively, the doctor tested the rate of the medication going into my system with in the time period of every 3rd day, it turned out that my body was absorbing the medication at a faster rate and the doctor said that this sometimes occurs with about 6 percent of patients and so he now prescribes me one 50 mcg/h patch to be applied every other day and since then I have had no experience with pain returning in-between the changing of the patches. I hope this answers your question and I feel that what you are doing by overlapping when you change your patch is perfectly safe and a wise decision by your physician.

5 Aug 2008

I also was told I could overlap my patches by 2-4 hours though it seemed to me it took about 8-10 hours for the new one to kick in. Also I was to change mine every other day rather than every 3 days. Not an uncommon thing, it even said this in the packaging info about some users may need to change more frequently. :)

12 Jun 2009

Hi, I have been on fentanyl patches for three years, my dosage has change from 50mg to 200mg. I learned it takes two hour just for the medication enter your skin and START to take effect. The patch is changed every 72hours, sometime it doesn't last 72hrs, then when you put on the new patch, you don't take the old one for two hours. I been hospitalized several times and been going to pain management over three years, so I learn this about fentanyl. I hope this helps and on the instructions on the box says change every 72hrs.

12 Oct 2009

I have worn the Fentanyl patch for two years and my doctor says to change it every 72 hours. Always change areas using back of the shoulders and always make sure the area is clean. wash with plain water. I also use my stomach to put the on.

cowgirl52

20 Nov 2009

I am trying to ween off the Fentanyl Patch. I have 25 days left of a 75 day weening period. My patches never lasted 72HRS. I tried to explain this to my doctor but he would just increase the dose. I still have heavy withdrawals after 48 hrs. but I will stop using this med. The side effects have become intolerable and I want my life back. I guess my reaction to this med. is different than what others feel. The problem is, that when your body gets used to the dose the pain comes back and the doctor increases the dose. Its a viscous circle. I intend to try and handle my back pain with rest when needed and plenty of exercise when I can. I hope you have better luck with the patches than I did.

Mike 28

3 Feb 2010

Just change your patch every 72 hours and you will be fine. You do not need to overlap because the patch has a half life of 17 hours. Try to make it about the same time every 3 days. If you forget, day 5 you will feel like crud.

11 Apr 2010

Yes, it does. Each individual situation is different. If you read the information you got with your script, it says only overlap as directed. My best friend is on 25mcg/hr, and has been for a year. She does the same thing. It seems to help her. I just recently started 12mcg/hr and do that as well. It can take a few hours to tell you have a new patch on, and while what little medicine may be left in the old patch is still being given, the new patch is taking effect. That way, you are still receiving pain relief, instead of being miserable for 3-6 hours. I hope this helps you feel better about overlapping your patches, and you won't feel what docs call "breakthrough" pain while waiting for new patch to start working.

3 Oct 2010

Having been on Fentanyl patch for 2 years and working in medicine including Hospice ,my only answer is No. Go to .fda.org.You will see many sites containing phone numbers to call pertaining to your question. Wishing you pain free quality life.
Joanne

15 Nov 2010

7 Feb 2011

13 May 2011

hey everyone, i just started with the 50/hr and i was taken 10 to 12 lorcets per day. how long will it take to stop the pain. and is there a place that i should put the patch to work better. i was born with a deform hand and a small spinal conal, so i have hurt my whole life and sometime i wonder why i was born this way. i found that the older i get the worse the pain is. i hurt worse now than i did when i played for the cowboys. i know my weight doesnt help.