[tlsun]

I am new here and was hoping I could get some responses, opinions, thoughts, etc ...

I have been taking (prescribed) Oxycodone W/APAP 7.5/500 for about the last 6 months for lower back, hip, leg pain (from Flatback Syndrome). I also take 150 mg. Lyrica 3 times a day for the nerve pain. I went to my appt. with my pain management Dr. yesterday complaining that the Oxy was no longer working and that I was tired of taking pills all the time and basically had myself a little pity party in his office. I thought he would either up the strength of my prescription or prescribe something longer acting like oxycontin but surprised me with a presciption for the Duragesic Fentanyl Patch at 25mg.

I have never even heard of this before yesterday and from the little I have had time to research, I am a bit hesitant use it. Am I jumping the gun here? Is the Fentanyl really more addictive? I really don't have an addictive personality (except to nicotine) but I know that I will have to wean off of my medication no matter what I take if I ever resolve my pain issues.

I really would like to hear others experience with this before I decide. Do I take it or go back and tell him I don't want to go this route.

Thanks in advance for reading my long, long, long, post.

Tami

[Cats Meow]

Duragesic is a great product for chronic pain, and will work well for you, if it lasts the whole 72 hours, some of the generics are reported as not as effective. Duragesic is as effective as OC so you should do great on it, since you've already got your script filled, it's kind of too late to change anything now, so why not give it a try for a month, you can always be switched to something else, should it not provide relief.
Fentanyl is the strongest painkiller, but it's not anymore addictive then pills of the same strength, so don't worry, you're narcotic dependant already, so the points moot.
After you try it for a week, let us know how well it worked.