Fentanyl Patch - how long does it take for it to start working?

I forgot to add that in addition to my Dilaudid 8 mg three times a day and I get 90 for the month I also had to 50 microgram fentanyl patch and if you if you have the the fentanyl patch and you put the the tag of Durham dressing on top of it it's sticks to patch right to your skin and make sure it's it's getting absorbed quicker by usually within 4 hours you feel it instead of the 8 or 12 hours so let me know if this helps you out

I've been taking the 50 MCG for about 4 years now and the pain level has elevated considerably lately. It seems like most American doctors don't want to increase the patch level... at least where I live.

Anyway, to answer the original question, when I was changed from the pills to the patch (the pills just didn't work anymore) the pain doctor told me to continue to take the pills for the first 17 hours. I continued for the first 20. When I first started on the patch it zonked me, and definitely worked well, just after 4 years it has lost its effect. I can't stop applying them so I have to wait until I can get a pain doctor to increase the level.

Hit man61... It all depends on what brand, please name the brand your prescribed & I can give you a fairly accurate timeline! I can surely tell what brands are the quickest acting.. been taking fents 200mcg for 8 years.. trust someone who knows caution very dangerous meds if you read how to abuse, it's not worth your life!

My wife has cancer and is using 250mcg Fentanyl patches for pain. Two 100mcg and one 50mcg changed every three days. More often than not the day after she changes the patches she has a severe sick day, so bad the district nurse has to come and inject her to get it under control.
I'm thinking the answer is to change one patch per day instead of three all at once thus spreading out the shock effect of changing all three at once.
Does anyone else have a similar story?

It should kick in around 16-17 hrs, being your first time maybe a bit longer, 2nd patch app you should feel better being the drug has been in your system prior.
It takes 16 hr for myself.
My very first patch made me a little woozy after 5 hrs after that I never got woozy or any dizziness.
if I feel any pain I check the time I put it on and 16 hrs is about right for me, I cannot feel anything when it kicks in other than my pain is gone,

I know this is old, but do you have TN by chance?

So I've been reading about how long it'll take the first patch to deliver in the system, but I'm wondering is it the same for every new patch replaced? Or once you start using it and it's in your system each time you change it'll work faster?

Like many on the answer site, i too was started at 25mcg. Of course it didn't work so i then was up to the 50mcg every 2 days. Then the insurance said no that i can only get 2 boxes. Now i stretch to every 3 days. I had norco for breakthru pain but ultimately i was taken off of them. I take fentanyl 50, neurontin, klonopin. Wellbution, seroqil. (Misspelled)
There are diff kinds of patches, the mylan I'm on now but i do like sandoz with gel but they seem to absorb to quick
Research the actual drug that is released per hour,,, they vary per brand
I didn't like them at first but give it time i hope everything works out--i hope this helps, thanks for listening. Mike

Im on the 12mcg/hr and im still in so much pain how do i know when there working. They keep falling off when i clean and take a shower how do i keep them on

Hi, I know this is been answered years ago, but they should take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours to kick in, I have been taking them for 15 years and I've never had one take more than six hours, if they don't work you might want to try the ACTIQ lollipop instead for instant relief

I found a reference (don't remember where) that Fentanyl patch reaches full release to your system at 24 hours (12 hours for the beginning rise). What it does after that I haven't found yet, but it would seem to me that it would slowly degrade over the next 48 hours (25mcg 72 hr. patches.)
When I change patches, it's about the same thing: 12 hours to begin getting through and 24 hrs. to reach full strength.
My problem is that they won't refill my prescription until a day after my patch change is due. Oboy, withdrawals, can't wait.

It took me about 18 hours. A few tips. Place on a fatty area. Clean the area first LIGHTLY with alcohol.. then you can put a piece of KT Tape over it.. I actually had some Leuko Tape my PT gave me. Those 2 tapes are breathable and stay on thru shower after shower

I wanted to know how long after putting on a Fentanyl patch does it take to feel it?

Hi I'm just wondering how long would it take for me to feel any relief from the patch this is already my 2nd dosage the first 72 hours I didn't feel and relief from my pain I'm still having to take me pills for pain.. My patch says the dose is 12 MCG/HR .. Is there different doses and if so is this the lowest dose there is.. I was barely prescribed this on 9/17 so I'm new to this any help would be appreciated thank you