Fentanyl for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

• Decoy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2014

Duragesic (fentanyl) "In 7 yrs of going through every painkiller known to man my pain management doc finally found a combination that works very well for me and gave back some of my life. My combination is Fentanyl 25 and Norco 10/325 for breakthrough pain. I have practically no side effects and does very well at managing my pain 24/7. I can function up to 4 hrs before the pain levels start to rise and have to stop. My issues are severe lower back pain from degenerative and bulging disks L 3-6. Both hips broken and severe osteoarthritis, same for right knee. My right Achilles tendon was torn up by a dog resulting in every infection including MRSA and Cellulitis. Multiple surgery's and 18 months to close. Now very painful and always a burning pain. This combination knocks out 90%."

• mnonl...
• August 22, 2013

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "Made me itch to no end, itch all night itch all day. Lots of dry mouth, it did relieve pain and I liked the pain relief. As we all know they do not stay on for 3 days, after about 50 some hours it stop relieving pain."

• 7year...
• April 28, 2016

"I started on 25 after 6 months went to 50 mg another year 75 mg 2 years 100 mg I have stayed at this level about 4 years some weeks I need the my pain pills for beak through pain every 6 hours but most of the time I take it once a day.Before Fetanyl I would always wake up at night with horrible pain then after taking meds.it would take a couple of hours to get the pain back under control. It has been a life saver for me as for the patch wearing off to soon I have forgotten to switch my patch and it is usually the 2nd day before I start hurting badly the other thing is I never take pain pills unless my pain is above a level 4 this has always helped me not to crave them and it may be why am not as sensitive as those who try for a 0 pain level"

• Lilyr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 21, 2012

Duragesic (fentanyl) "My doctor put me on the patches about 8 months ago. I was taking Norco 10/325, and Lyrica 50mg three times a day. I was still having pain at night, and when I had to walk for any distance at all. This medicine has changed my life, I can sleep all night without waking up from pain, I can walk through the mall now and not limp as bad. I still take 6 Norco a day, and my Lyrica 3Xday. But combined with the patch, I feel like I have a new lease on life. The only side effects I have had is a tendency to nod off if I sit down for long, and a decrease in my appetite which is good for helping me lose some weight."

• adrian...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2014

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "I've had a spinal fusion on L3 L4 almost two years ago. I'm now on the wait for a disography because of my severe back pain which is getting worse over time I've been on fentanyl 100mcg for almost 4 years, the patches are having very little effect and am waiting to see my doctor to increase the dose. It has helped me reading about what other people are going through and that I'm not on my own with symptoms like profuse sweating and a dry mouth. I have no quality of life at the minute and hope by increasing my dosage I will be able to move around a bit more. I'm 44 years old, also has anybody else suffered with frequent bruising on the scar area of the operation. I'm topping my fentanyl up with tramadol."

• Mamma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2015

Subsys (fentanyl) "I have extreme to severe chronic pain, level 8 to 9 due to multiple disc issues and a 2nd knee that needs replacing. Having been on MS Contin for years I built up such a tolerance that it did nothing for the pain so I stopped taking it. Last fall my pain specialist had me try Subsys. Good news, it was the 1st time in years I actually had some relief from the chronic pain. Bad news, good old Hussain Obama Care changed some of the insurance company rules beginning 1Jan2015 meaning unless I had a cancer diagnosis they would deny coverage as “off label”. After three months of relief followed by six months with zero relief life is almost unbearable as I am unable to function day to day."

• Gator...
• July 9, 2014

"I was in a bad motorcycle wreck June 20 2013, broke 6 ribs, shattered clavicle, fractured pelvic, and lots of crush injures, they tried Percocet alone would not stop the pain many months of suffering with no sleep, till they give me the Fentanyl 100 mcg patches. I was finally able to get relief and sleep. This is a great medication and life saving for me the crush injures alone was a living hell and no sleep for months on top that is enough to drive anyone insane, this medications is safe if taken right and has keep me for losing my mind and has giving me a better quality of life, it just a shame I had to suffer all those months without it."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2017

"After a month of continuous surgery, I shifted to oxycodone 30mg every four hours. It sedated me to the point of uselessness. My MD put me on equivalence of Fentanyl patches, and bam, no sedation, no euphoria, few side effects like nausea and mild insomnia. Very tolerable. Best part was great pain control without the baggage. I had to severely reduce klonopin during all this due to interactions but still find that half the previous dose of klonopin is still effective. Only real negative I've noted is interdose withdrawal symptoms prior to changing the patch. Always on the third day, so I'm going through patches a bit faster, tho still close to 72 hours. Maybe I'm just a fast metabolizer?"

• mare...
• March 23, 2015

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "After L3,4,5s1 fusions,have been on 75 fentanyl every 72 hours,I would prefer every 48 but insurance gives a hard time.this drug let's me live a normal life, I use Norco for break through am so happy I have this fentanyl weaned off one time.lasted two weeks my pain Management doctor put me back on,immediate relief!!!"

• joelt
• June 26, 2016

"I injured my back in 99 and since have been on everything from morphine, oxy, Norco, dilaudid and on and on and never did I get good relief. I would still wake up feeling like an old man with awful pain in my back. I went on Fentanyl 25 mch and the difference was amazing. It did take a bit, almost two days, for me to feel the full effect of the medication but I had bt pain meds that took care of it. It is amazing how great it is to wake up in the morning and NOT have to reach for the pain pill, first thing!!"

• young...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 26, 2015

Duragesic (fentanyl) "I had a bad injury to my neck and back due to a head on collision with a double decker bus for years I was in severe pain I was on gabapentin-morphine then along came fentanyl patches I started on 25 over 72 hours then 50, then 125 over 48 hours I could not believe the difference just a dull ache I could put up with the hot and cold flushes and slow running heart"

• mark
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2013

"Neurologist started me on 25 mcg and I didn't feel any relief until 50mcg and no side effects. Over time went to 75 mcg and then to 100mcg with fabulous results. Patch is to be changed every 3 days, but I had to every two days and was prescribed to do so. This is a fabulous medication for severe chronic pain relief, HOWEVER it's really hard to come off of, so be sure it's done properly down 25mcg every 3 months and the last 25 goes than to 12mcg for 3 months and done. "

• TJano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2021

Duragesic (fentanyl) "I have dealt with chronic back pain for 15 years. After being on several different long acting opioids. My new pain management Doctor (well, he was new to me in 2017!) put me on duragesic patches. Can’t say enough positive things about the quality of life I have now. Yes, I still have bouts of breakthrough pain, but no longer take it as often. Also nice not to have to worry about “do I have my meds?” When leaving the house for work as one patch changed every 72 hours. Boom. Done. I do have auto shipment of tegaderm (on a roll) delivered every couple months, as no matter what brand the pharmacy prescribes - NONE of them are without coming loose at some point!"

• jopar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 2, 2015

"I was on fentanyl for 9 1/2 years and four months ago I decided I wanted off . Initially it did wonders since I had been forced to work with a work injury. After about eight years I started feeling withdrawal symptoms before my three days was up on each patch. I wanted to cut my time down due to the withdrawal not pain. When I decided to wean off it was one of the worse times of my life but now that I only have a few more days of withdrawal after getting down to no patch it is one of the best times of my life. The first step down I started sleeping better. The next I had more energy. And now I even have less pain than when I was on the patch. If you can make it with other pain management please do it. Withdrawal is not fun!!"

• MrEd
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2017

Duragesic (fentanyl) "I have used several types of pain medication. I used fentanyl and was able to work for 5 extra years. The only problem that I had was my body absorbed it within 48 hours. My doctor didn't just increase the dosage he has me changing every 48 hours."

• suffe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2016

"Back surgery didn't go very well so I was put on multiple drugs both pain and nerve. Most of the pill forms made me extremely sick. So I was put on fentanyl patches 25 mcg per every 3 days now up to 50 mcg after 1st of year will be up to 75mcg. Works well for me just when I first put it on I do suffer insomnia for 1 or 2 nights pain still with me but at times more tolerable. And the government wants doctors to cut way back on fentanyl be cause of abuse. Then gets cars locked up for speeding!!! I believe Doctors will stop writing scripts because they are afraid of the DEA and med reviews and people that surely need it will suffer. We will see what future holds and I wish everyone in these positions good luck. WE CAN ALL MOVE TO COLORADO"

• tsstorm
• October 9, 2014

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "Having chronic pain in my whole spine they gave me the Fentanyl patch they started low dosage then they moved me up to 75mg. At this time in my life I was also had hot flashes. I seen no warnings nothing about that. Long story short after the second day I started withdrawing and that people is not a pretty site. I had no idea what was going on. So I never went back on it. There should be a warning to all doctors and pharmacies. I had to pull it off the internet to show my pharmacy."

• Enuff...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2016

Duragesic (fentanyl) "I have found that at least one out of each box of 5 has little or no medication on it. This has put me back in horrible pain and dangerous withdrawal symptoms..I was given the 25 mcg/ change every 72 hrs to take the place of my deactivated morphine pump that malfunctioned (overdosed & under dosed)..Diagnosis: severe scoliosis,degenerative disk,etc."

• Jenn
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 27, 2023

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "I have been on fentanyl 100 mcg patches for about 10 years. I started at a lower dose but it has been increased several times. I do not know what I would do if I could not use these. I could not get out of bed most days and went from a constant 10+ pain level to 4 or 5. I also prefer Mallinckrodt and my pharmacy is having problems getting them."

• DB2017
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2017

Fentanyl Transdermal System (fentanyl) "Was put on this medicine for lower back pain and was the biggest mistake of my life. Made me feel and look like a zombie. Got very skinny and pale in less then a month so I stopped using and got the worst detox of my life. Will never go back I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It is mainly used for people that have cancer or terminally ill to tolerate the pain. Stay away unless you are on your deathbed. Not worth it. Trust me."

• LisaF...
• October 7, 2013

Duragesic (fentanyl) "I have had positive experience with the patch, I also have to say that the patch has helped my neuropathy pain in feet and hands and that I have to say it has helped my restless leg syndrome. I have had more comfort with the patch with all three conditions. The maker of the patch should look into using it for neuropathy and restless legs syndrome also. I have tried other medications but the patch has helped my pain relief and relief of other conditions."

• Notme
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 16, 2017

"I was on 12.5 mcg but I started metabolizing it too fast, I was in withdrawal after 48 hrs. I moved up to 25 mcg but after just a couple of months, back in withdrawal in 48 hrs instead of 72 hrs. My insurance refused to pay for 48 hr changes and only wanted to continue to have the doc increase from 25 mcg. It helps great for pain but at what cost?! Don't become dependent on this drug. It's not worth it. The withdrawal trying to come off this cold turkey or even with clonodine is inhumane. I had to check into detox to help get off after just 9 months. Please don't take this unless you're in end of life care. Doctors don't explain what it's like to get off this medicine. Once I got off this and Percocet, over the counter meds work again."

• SukiS...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 11, 2015

"Four major decompression surgeries in last 15years just 28 when started now 44. Have 4 lumbar dics that have degenerated severely risk my nerves/spinal cord being compressed. Surgeries an attempt to give the nerve root room to reduce pressure, irritation and severe chronic pain. I have been though nearly every pain medication available going to stronger ones as the pain had increased (Tylex, tramadol, diazepam, amitriptylene, gabapentin, pregabilin, OxyContinetc). Fentaynal not offered due to cost. It's changed my life. Pain under control, no more pills to carry a few challenges getting them to stick and high dose 250microgrms per hr due to tolerance if you take OxyContin or Tramadol look at patches - real life changer happy for questions"

• painl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2017

Duragesic (fentanyl) "Fentynal patch was more effective than MS Contin (three 30mg pills daily). Doctor started me at 12, and I am now on 25. I'm sure in a few months I will be at 50 and by this time next year, 100mcg's. That's what sucks about pain meds - you get tolerant of it over time, but so far so good. Patch is so small and tiny! I thought pouch was empty the first time I opened it! I was expecting a larger, white or flesh colored patch."

• cyber...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 6, 2015

"I'd been on long acting morphine and MSIR but the pain was like a roller coaster. After sustaining a serious fracture, the orthopedic surgeon had me evaluated by a pain clinic. The doctor there did a thorough assessment and gave me my life back when she prescribed Fentanyl. Since the Fentanyl I've had not one trip to the ER for a flare... in 8 years! I've never needed an increase, either."