Duragesic and Addiction: What Users Say

• Sas...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2015

For Chronic Pain "It saved my life! I cannot, despite trying, take oral long-acting narcotics. The biggest issue is the perception and doctors' reaction, including pain management professionals, to this medication. Yes, you develop dependence. Addiction is different. It is when you abuse your medication and continue to do so despite negative problems coming from that. The two words are NOT interchangeable. I am on 112 mcg/hour and change every 48 hours rather than the normal 72-hour dosing. It has allowed me to do the things I need to do in my life. I was virtually bedridden before going on Duragesic. It covers my pain for the most part, unless I am doing things physically that make the pain flare into a breakthrough. I take Morphine 30 mg for BT pain."

• Anonymous
• July 27, 2009

For Pain "Duragesic was a great blessing for me. I'd been on Percodan x 4/day for about 2.5 years when I developed an ulcer from the pills. The doctor started with 50 mcg/hr, but that didn't do it, the 100 mcg/hr is working good still for me. I suffer chronic low back pain, worsened after failed surgery. I've been on these for about 3 years now and am starting to have more breakthrough pain and still get Percodan for these times. I suspect tolerance is developing, but without the patches, my quality of life was almost zero, barring the fact you are alive. These have given me back much of the things I enjoyed doing before, but it requires moderation on my part more now. The only downside I see is the cost and addiction factors. Well worth it to me though."

• Mud...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Does extremely well with controlling chronic pain, but is also extremely addictive and can even lead to abuse, especially in those predisposed to addiction."