[TRAMADULL AND BORED]

My girlfriend has had some issues with painkiller abuse in the past. She does has a Chronic pain issue ( neuralgia and bursitis in elbow and shoulder). In the past she has been put on Avinza (morphine sulfate) and lortab for breakthrough pain. She is scared of an all out addiction problem, because she has often self medicated depression with extra amounts of both meds. We together went into her Dr.'s office and explained the whole problem. We came up with a compromise and the Dr. prescribed Duragesic Patches and Ultram. Our agreemnt was that I would hold onto the meds and dole them out to her on the as directed schedule. I got a lock box that is impossible for he to access so I know exactly what she is taking.

It has been working great so far... The one question I have is that the Dr. said that even if I give her the patches once every 3 days I still need to watch for signs of abuse with the patches. Now seeing as I apply the patches for her and I immediately flush the used patches down the toilet, what other way could she abuse these patches that I am not seeing? The only way I can think of abusing these patches is to put on multiple ones. Seeing as that isn't possible and she only has one in her possession at a time, how else could she abuse them. The reason I ask is that sometimes she has that "high" look in her eyes.

She has no access to other pills or meds so I know she isn't buying things on the street or through the net. She rarely asks for the ultram for breakthough pain so she can't be getting buzzed on those. She rarely drinks and I am with her so often I would notice her seeking anything else that might add to the patches affect.

I guess what I am really asking is, if there is some "street" way to abuse duragesic patches that she could be trying?

I am also on pain meds (Ultram) for Degenerative Discs, but I have never had the urge to take more than directed. I even if I had the urge, its not possible for me because i have a great job that I would never jeopardize.

I'm just worried because I think she is finding some way to get "high" off of the duragesics.....

Thanks for all your help.

[mpvt]

She only has access to the patch that she's wearing so the chances she's abusing are pretty slim.Some people use a hair dryer to heat up the patch as it works on releasing the fentanyl by body heat.If she were doing this then she would be asking for tramadol alot more because she would exhaust the patch before the 3rd day.So in my opinion she's not abusing.Remember that the duragesic patch is fentanyl and is a very powerful opiate so that's probably why she looks buzzed at times.If you see a sudden increase in tramadol use or she starts complain that the patches aren't working as well then you can start to look a little deper.For now I would just keep doing what the two of you are doing.Sounds like you have a great thing going there,good for you guys\gals.Best of luck to the both of you......Dave

[TRAMADULL AND BORED]

she has mentioned that her patches aren't working and I have given her a new patch twice after day two. I highly doubt it's the hair dryer thing seeing as she has shorter hair and I'm not even sure if we own a hairdryer.

The only way to abuse them would be to heat them? because she has been on the patches long enough for me to know what her "look" is from just the patches affect. I read through all the info that comes with the patches and I won't even allow her to take long baths. I think there is some other way, because the other day her pupils were tiny and it was almost as if she were in "nods". She is on a low dose of the patches 25mc/hr....

I have asked here continuosly if she is missusing the patch and her response was "that it's impossible , They can't be abused." The other reason I ask is because her friend is on these patches and her friend is without a doubt an addict (Oxy's , Heroine). I wonder if her friend told her how to get a buzz off them... I just wish I could find out how she could be doing it, so I can monitor it better.

She does have real pain so taking the patches away is not an option.

If anyone has anymore info on Fentanyl abuse please chime in.

Thank You

[Just Sue]

Although it seems unlikely that your girlfriend is doing this based on the behaviors you're describing, there is another way to abuse the Fentanyl/Duragesic patches. Some people actually cut the patch and DRINK the liquid inside; some others harvest the liquid and then inject it; still others put the liquid in a pipe and smoke it. As I said, it does not seem likely that she is doing this but you asked about ways to abuse the patch. Good luck to both of you.

[janthomas]

Originally Posted by TRAMADULL AND BORED

My girlfriend has had some issues with painkiller abuse in the past. She does has a Chronic pain issue ( neuralgia and bursitis in elbow and shoulder). In the past she has been put on Avinza (morphine sulfate) and lortab for breakthrough pain. She is scared of an all out addiction problem, because she has often self medicated depression with extra amounts of both meds. We together went into her Dr.'s office and explained the whole problem. We came up with a compromise and the Dr. prescribed Duragesic Patches and Ultram. Our agreemnt was that I would hold onto the meds and dole them out to her on the as directed schedule. I got a lock box that is impossible for he to access so I know exactly what she is taking.

It has been working great so far... The one question I have is that the Dr. said that even if I give her the patches once every 3 days I still need to watch for signs of abuse with the patches. Now seeing as I apply the patches for her and I immediately flush the used patches down the toilet, what other way could she abuse these patches that I am not seeing? The only way I can think of abusing these patches is to put on multiple ones. Seeing as that isn't possible and she only has one in her possession at a time, how else could she abuse them. The reason I ask is that sometimes she has that "high" look in her eyes.

She has no access to other pills or meds so I know she isn't buying things on the street or through the net. She rarely asks for the ultram for breakthough pain so she can't be getting buzzed on those. She rarely drinks and I am with her so often I would notice her seeking anything else that might add to the patches affect.

I guess what I am really asking is, if there is some "street" way to abuse duragesic patches that she could be trying?

I am also on pain meds (Ultram) for Degenerative Discs, but I have never had the urge to take more than directed. I even if I had the urge, its not possible for me because i have a great job that I would never jeopardize.

I'm just worried because I think she is finding some way to get "high" off of the duragesics.....

Thanks for all your help.

Do yourself and her a favor get her off of the Durgesic Patch and fast. There is many ways for her to get high off of the Patch. The addiction is horrible it is as bad as heroin. My boyfriend has been on it for almost three years and has been trying to get off of it for the last year and a half. There is no way to come off of it without major withdrawl. We have decided that he will have to go into the hospital in order to detox from it.

As to getting high off it all it takes is a rise in her body temp. or a simple pin prick in the patch and she can eat it and get instantly high. Take a shower or a bath with it on or even heat her body up in the shower and the patch will absorb much faster. Signs of abuse are 1. running the patch dry before the three days are up. 2. If she is getting the creepy crawls before the patch is gone or involentary movement of her arms and legs she is in withdrawl. Headache, stomach cramps, twitching.3. Is she running out of her script before she is suppose to. 4. She wil be short on her script up to 3 to 6 days this will cause the doctor to increase the mg. of the patch so she can get a refill.

The doctors seem to be perscribing this drug like candy not taking into consideration the addiction factor. You said that she had some problems with painkillers before well let me tell you this has only made it worse. This drug is 100 times stronger then morphine and is now being sold on the streets and because the addict doesn't know what it is the are dying. It is being mixed with heroin to intensify the high because it has a higher opid level the heroin does.

It angers me that the doctors don't pay any attention to the patients past medical history when perscribing this drug. Something needs to be done. I have been threw the withdrawl part and it is not fun.

So please do yourself and her the favor and get her off of them. A little pain is nothing compared to being addicted to this drug for the rest of her life.

Please don't tell me it is not an option. There are days he can hardly walk with or with out the patch. Like her he started on 25mg and has gone as high as 300mg. He is now working his way down and is on 200mg. This is after a year trying to get off the Patch. Like any drug the body becomes used to the amount and there is only one place to go and that is up. Eventually the amount is so high that all she will be able to do is sleep 24 hours a day. I know this I have been living it for 3 years now and wonder why. Fact eventually she will need higher dosages the doctor will prescribe her uppers to get her through the day so she is not so tired. Possibly antidepressants because she sleeps all the time. This is how it works and it only gets worse.

So before this happens to you.
PLEASE PLEASE DO YOU AND HER A FAVOR GET HER OFF THE PATCH QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I relize that people think that this is the wonder drug for chronic pain but the side affects and results are not good ones. You pay for it eventually.

Harsh reality is this is no better then using a street drug difference is it is legal.