I just started pain management. The doctor wrote a perscription for fentanly patch. I have been on roxycodone for the past 10 years for RSD. This works for me. I take 20 mg. every 6-7 hours. I have been on this same dose for years, but no one wants to perscribe these meds anymore. I am so afraid to start this patch. Dr. said absolutely no other meds with the patch and yet I've been reading that almost everyone is taking breakthrough meds. She put me on 12 mcg every 3 days. This sounds like a very strong medication. I don't want to do it. I just want the pills that work. Everything I've read it sounds like drs. are putting patients on this patch because their current meds aren't working, she's putting me on this because she says roxycodone is highly addictive and highly abused. I'm in MA if anybody out there lives in Ma and is having these problems with drs. write back. I'm going out of my mind with this.
Responses (10)
dmlady7 Oct 2010
I know how your are feeling only to to well I was on 2 10 mgs of percocet, and that was for breakthrough,since i was on oxycontin also, however my doc of 15 yrs got busted for using cocaine! yup I found iust the real reason yesterday when I saw my new pain doc. anyway going from 10 mgs I gather it was to be taken 2 ever 6-8 hrs just my thoughts. to go to 12 micr of the fetynal patch your gina be hurting for a certain tell her to either up you dose or give you a breakthrough. the patch worked really good for me however I was also on 10 mg of roxy as well, I was bummed due to the fact I was highly allergic to the fetyal patch every brand, I even tried it with flonase sprayed on my skin before adding it.
You got the shaft hun are you sure she put you on 12 micro, besides, also how long have you had her, and have you had problems with loosing, coming up short ya da da. they take all that into acount as well. GL and hope all turns out. hoping you a painfree day
christine...7 Oct 2010
I am so sorry to hear this!! Are you positive about the patch strength? I thought for sure the lowest dose was 25mcg. I will double check on that. In any event, you are dependent on the roxi's after many years of use. They worked, so why did she do this? At the very least, if she gave you the low dose patch, she should have kept you on the roxi's for bt pain but maybe lower the dose on those, not quit them all together. I will repost in a few mins. Your doc is right about them being addictive but you already are. That does not mean you abuse them at all! Is she trying to make you miserable on purpose? I'll check and get back to you.
sweetpea123
17 Oct 2010
Christine, sorry it took so long for me to get back. Thank you so much for all the info. This is only the second time I've seen this dr. My primary, who I was with for 7 years decided to stop giving pain meds to any of her patients. I called her supervisor, because I felt that she was doing this just to me. I had never in 7 years called early for a script, never uped the dose. It was working for me. I truly don't know why she stopped and that was in Sept. She told me to go to pain management so I did. I saw the same dr. that gave me the patch script and at that time she mentioned putting me on methadone or morphine. I didn't want that, I told her I wanted to stay with what had been working for me for 12 years, I was in pain management right after my accident in CT and then moved to Ma. So I started looking for a primary who would consider taking care of the pain. No luck, now I look like I'm doctor shopping.
christineATU
7 Oct 2010
Sorry, if you take 20 mg every 6 hrs, That's 80mg per 24 hrs on the roxies. You should be prescribed the 75mcg not the 50mcg.
christineATU
7 Oct 2010
Sorry to keep posting but found this too
"During the initial application of Fentanyl Transdermal system, patients should use short-acting analgesics as needed until analgesic efficacy with Fentanyl Transdermal system is attained. Thereafter, some patients still may require periodic supplemental doses of other short-acting analgesics for “breakthrough” pain".
Read more: http://www.drugs.com/pro/fentanyl-transdermal.html
oxyaaron7 Oct 2010
According to this, the way I read it at least, they're assuming you have bt meds. You really need to click on the link, print out all the information, fax it to your doctor and let her know she is not well informed about fentanyl. Did you fill the script? According to the info, 25mcg is the lowest dose available. Unless there is another pharmaceutical Co. that makes the lower dose. This is very disturbing to me. I fear you may go in to withdrawals. Please keep us posted.
"The recommended initial Fentanyl Transdermal system dose based upon the daily oral morphine dose is conservative, and 50% of patients are likely to require a dose increase after initial application of Fentanyl Transdermal system. The initial Fentanyl Transdermal system dose may be increased after 3 days based on the daily dose of supplemental opioid analgesics required by the patient in the second or third day of the initial application".
meggieprice8 Oct 2010
I am on the 12.5 patch- there is indeed a lower does than 25. Sandoz and Mylan, to name two I have been given, make this strength.
I do believe you will need breakthrough medication. I find the fentanyl very good for base level pain but I still need my breakthrough meds. I thought if I went up to 25 I would not need my BT meds but all 25 did was knock me out so today I was lowered to 12 again and given my BT meds back. WIth that I can control what I take beyond that low level of fentanyl rather than being hammered hard every day. I was in a stupor on more.
It night help to send the info as recommended so you wont be treated like a drug seeker. Any conversion chart shows that you should be on 50 - 75, not 12.5! This is too low a dose.
Also, it is strange she is concerned about addiction- fentanyly is the most addictive drug of all. I forgot my patch one night and by morning was in the throes of AWFUL withdrawal.
I think you need a second opinion.
christineATU
8 Oct 2010
Hi meggieprice. I was positive the patch was 25 at the lowest. Thanks for clearing this up for her (and me) at least I had the conversion close. I have a suspicious feeling she may not be doing so well. Maybe going through withdrawals. I hope she gets help soon. And you're so right about it being the most addictive (and abused) medication along with oxycontin. Hope you're feeling good.
take care and have a nice weekend,
chris
meggieprice
9 Oct 2010
HI Christine- I am ok but just had a problem with being on too high a patch dose- just 25 but it took me DOWN- now I am on 12 again and will be trying DIlaudid for breakthrough since Norco keeps me awake... cross your fingers- we do search for that perfect formula, don't we?
9 Oct 2010
The more I think about this doctor, giving you a low does not adequate for your needs and saying your oral meds are highly addictive and abused- well nothing is as addictive as fentanyl and it is abused too- she is clearly ignorant , especially about the equivalent dose for you.
I am annoyed that doctors who control our access to the medicine we need carry their attitudinal baggage. Bah.
I may just kiss my own doctor next time I see him- he is just the opposite- today when I asked to go down on my fentanyl strength and what options there are for breakthrough he had not judgment other than wanting to make sure I don't suffer bad side effects. I will be trying dilaudid now in the hopes it doesn't not keep me awake all night.
ElizaJane23
10 Oct 2010
Sounds like you have a great doctor meggieprice - mine wouldn't even consider treating me with dilaudid because it was "just too strong of a medication". But if it's what I need? He also wouldn't prescribe over 125 mcgs on the Fentanyl patch - I stayed there for over 5 years because he just decided that's where he drew the line. Didn't matter what I needed! Yes, treasure your doctor, and thank him!
meggieprice
10 Oct 2010
I am just about sputtering with indignation now- the judgment and preaching while they control whether you will get relief or not. To say it is too strong? His question should be " is it strong enough to give you a quality of life? "That is what his whole concern should be. Nothing else. I am so sorry you have been stuck at 125- it is well known that fentanyl is something you get tolerance to and will need to increase. Seriously- does he think you want to get high? As if- I don't; ever experience my pain meds in that way- although the feeling of pain leaving qualifies for joy for me.
I have found fentanyl really helps with the base pain lever but that I still have breakthrough. I must be sensitive because 25 was way too strong for me and I am happily back on my 12. I took half a dilaudid ad no bad side effects so far- waiting to see. It;s funny, I have no idea when he gives me something if it is strong or how it is regarded,I just trust him to try things for me until we finally find that golden combo. I am sorry it is not that way for you.
9 Oct 2010
Awesome things about the patch for folks with RSD... it's absorbed through the skin... you only take it off every 48-72 hours... if you wear a cover for it called 'tegaderm' (made by Nexcare, has a mountain biker's leg on it... first aid aisle at the drug store) you can shower do whatever... and not have to think about losing pills... keeping track of pills whatever... it seems that 12.5 is a relatively low dose to start on considering your history. I understand your unwillingness to deviate from a drug you KNOW works... but trust me, the patch was night and day from taking pills... try it out. If it's not for you, take it off-tell your doc, bring the remaining patches in and switch back to your previous medication. You got nothing to lose and A LOT to gain!!!
christineATU
9 Oct 2010
Brabbitt. Her doctor took her off her old meds saying they're too addicting. The patch is also addicting but the dose conversion is way too low for what she was previously on. The chart requires a minimum 50mcg to make up for the meds her doc took away. They worked for years for her so it sounds like this new doc is very anti opiate. I think her doc is in the wrong profession. As you probably know too, a med for bt pain is usually prescribed along with the patch. It's even recommended by the pharma co's. Especially in the first week of beginning treatment as the lower dose is usually prescribed to start out with, gradually increased from there. She's not posting now cuz I think sh'e in major wd's.
ElizaJane2310 Oct 2010
The lowest dose on the Fentanyl patch is 12 mcg, not 12.5 mcg. I'm not sure of the manufacturer. 12 mcg is - nothing, compared to Roxies. And the above posts are correct - Fentanyl is just as addictive as the oxycodone in Roxies. Who knows what the DEA is looking for nowadays - doctors are scared to write for anything anymore! Sweetpea123 - if you start feeling bad - hurting, aching, sweating, vomiting, muscle spasms, etc. you need to contact your doctor. She didn't give you enough of a dose on the Fentanyl patch to come anywhere near what you were taking on the roxycodone, and you might very well go through withdrawal. Your body has become dependent on that dose of roxycodone, and without it your body will give you fits if not enough of an equal dose of narcotics is given. I know you are afraid of going on a strong medication, but I feel the Fentanyl patch is equal to the dose of Roxycodone you were on, and it's so much easier to use.
meggieprice
10 Oct 2010
I just looked at my box and realized you are right- 12 not 12.5-I think I assumed (you know what they say about that! ;-p ) they would be half the 25 . Thanks for the tip about hypafix- I swim every day and it wrecks havoc with my patch and those tagaderms are expensive. I am also an every 2 days girl.
Alas I think our Sweetpea is victim of someone who has no business doing pain management- to cause her to suffer on such a low dose patch and to judge the dependence that all of us face in treating our pain-that doctor is in the wrong specialty.
As I mentioned above, I too find I need breakthrough meds- relying on the patch for a constant level of pain relief and then depending on the condition of my knees, back, and elbow or on whether my fibro flares up need varying levels of help. How could this doctor not know that? I really worry that Sweetpea is really suffering.
alicia.d723 Oct 2010
Does anyone one of a good pain dr. that is in the Gwinnett area? I have bad back pains and cant seem to find a dr. to help me out with any meds. Its even hard for me to lay down at night my back hurts so bad and i have trouble with my cleaning and kids with my back always in pain. I have lumps on my lower back that just ache and dont know what to do about it.
ElizaJane23
24 Oct 2010
Alicia - what state is Gwinnett in? You might want to start a new question so it will be seen. With your question tacked on to the end of another question people might not see it, and might not comment. I hope this helps you -
3 Apr 2012
I have been on Vicodin 7.5 for the past 4 1/2 yrs. I am sick of taking pills. I also take Tramadol. I take anywhere from at least 8-12 of these pills a day for little to no relief from pain . The only time I an not in pain is when I am asleep. I pray to God that my Dr will let me have this patch. I HATE swallowing pills every day of my life. The thought of no pain at all, sounds like heaven . My pain is similar to that of fybromyalgia. I have been on a lot of different pain meds. If someone uses the patch, please let me know if it really works. Thank you, Elaine
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