Duragesic (Fentanyl) Pain Patch

[nutkitten]

I have been on the Duragesic pain patch (75 mcg) for about 6 months. Along with that I take 2 to 6 Vicodin at least every other day or so and Ambien nightly. (Protonix, Compazine and Reglan are also on my list). The thing is, I am only 42 and not terminal so inevitable I will be taken off of the Duragesic. It scares me because I am unsure of what kind of withdraws there are or can be. Any comments or ideas on this?
Also, all this is due to a Gastric Bypass (stomach stapling). So, if you know anyone "thinking about" having it done, send them my way for a chat.
Thanks,
Tracy

[md2003]

I've been on Duragesic 25, then 50 as well as supplementing it w/vicoden es for extreme back pain due to an auto accident. I tried to go cold turkey and wean myself off after 2 years.WRONG MOVE, after 7 day's of not being able to eat, or even hold down water, constantly throwing up my insides, it was 911 time. I went to emergency and waited 5 hours before beeing seen. Then the great mind's got together and kept me in the hospital for five days. All of these doctor's(3)preached to me to never try to just quit the patch(It felt like nail's puncturing my stomach,back,and head). I'm alright now though, after the third day they slapped a 25 mg Duragesic on me and told me to never try to go w/out because my body required it. It's "NOT AN ADDICTION,IT'S JUST THAT YOUR BODY REQUIRE'S IT"? I was told. I was told by a friend of mine whose sister was taking 75mg. patch they weaned her off with methadone,which she became reliant on, and wounnd up back on the duragesic, which she is still on to this day. Good luck, and if you hear of anything or any way to smoothly ease off of these patches...PLEASE POST IT....thanx[

[ziggywife]

quote:Originally posted by nutkitten

I have been on the Duragesic pain patch (75 mcg) for about 6 months. Along with that I take 2 to 6 Vicodin at least every other day or so and Ambien nightly. (Protonix, Compazine and Reglan are also on my list). The thing is, I am only 42 and not terminal so inevitable I will be taken off of the Duragesic. It scares me because I am unsure of what kind of withdraws there are or can be. Any comments or ideas on this?
Also, all this is due to a Gastric Bypass (stomach stapling). So, if you know anyone "thinking about" having it done, send them my way for a chat.
Thanks,
Tracy

[isign]

Tracy, Please contact me I don't understand how posting on the board works because I have never done this before. I have had back pain really bad for 2 years now and am on duragesic patch 50mg and 2-4 liquid hydrcone (sp) because I had gastric bypass. I have not had anything neg. from surgery but this. I can't find a med that works for me after my 2nd car accident about 1 1/2 ago. I just want to live like I did before. Can you help? Pls e-mail me at isign4@yahoo.com M

[stagns]

Duragesic patches and the generic fentanyl transdermal patches are just like any other opiate. The primary difference is one of both efficacy and potency: fentanyl-family drugs (sufentanyl, remifentanyl, carfentanyl, lofentanil) are fast-acting synthetic phenylpiperidine narcotics, and the strongest pain reliever available for Rx. I currently take a 75 mcg and a 50 mcg, interweaved at 36 hour intervals, and have been for over four years. I have gone "cold turkey" (always by some mistake made where patches were lost/destroyed) several times, always with only very mild withdrawal symptoms on the fourth and fifth day. This is because those who are truly in pain rarely, if ever, experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Otherwise, you must titrate your dosage over a period of time to get to 25 mcg - quickest safe titration is 25 mcg every 12 days (i.e. every 4 patches, drop 25 mcg). NOTE: The smallest patch size is 12.5 mcg.