Fentanyl for Pain User Reviews (Page 5)

• Pho...
• February 6, 2009

"The patch is hard to keep on for the 3-day period during the summer, and doctors don't replace patches that fall off early. There was also a problem upon waking and finding the patch stuck to the sheets or to my spouse."

• san...
• May 13, 2008

"I have been on the fentanyl patch for 5 years. Started on 50 mcg but am taking 125 mcg now. Other than having nausea for the first few days whenever they increase the dosage, it works fine. For breakthrough pain, I use 25 mg liquid morphine, and it works. From what my doctor says, I'll always need to be on the patch because I have cerebral palsy and because of my body's spastic movements, which weakens my bones and creates more pain."

• Che...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 7, 2016

"Broke my back on L2 and L3. Was sent home the same day from the hospital. Had a failed spinal surgery 4 years later as the breaks never fused. The surgery was 12 hours after the surgery. Hydromorphone wasn't enough. So I was put on the fentanyl 150 mcg/h every 2 days. It helped my pain for full-time pain management with hydromorphone for breakthrough pain. I wish fentanyl was never invented. I have lost all my teeth but 6, and my stomach is always upset, and I have been trying to come off it for a year now. Unfortunately, I can't find a medication that controls my pain like fentanyl."

• Anonymous
• July 15, 2009

Fentanyl "I used this for several years with good results. Only problem was I metabolized the medicine too quickly, and the third day was more painful. My decidedly low-tech solution was to remove only 2/3 of the backing plastic the first couple of days, then remove the last bit for the third day. I take extended-release morphine now, and it works just as well. It's a toss-up between wearing the giant patch and dosage issues versus remembering to take a pill every 8 hours."

• bil...
• June 2, 2009

Fentanyl "If this medicine works, it's great, however, a good amount of the time, the patch was as full when it was time to change it as it was when I put it on. Then the side effects they list don't even come close to everything you go through. However, ER staff have stated that most patients taking this drug usually go back on it as the withdrawals are hard to handle."

• Anonymous
• August 14, 2008

"I have a chronic illness called IC or painful bladder syndrome, which keeps me in really bad pain 24 hours a day. Thank God I found a great doctor who prescribes me the fentanyl patch. This has given me my life back. I can pretend I am not sick most of the time thanks to this great medication. I take 75 mcg every 3 days. Wish it was every 2 days though, the 3rd day is really rough, and the pain comes through on the 3rd day."

• Mag...
• January 31, 2009

"I have been on fentanyl patches for a number of years for numerous back issues: scoliosis, spinal stenosis, several blown discs, S/I joint issues, and more. I started out on the 25 mcg patch. My body became adjusted to the dosage, and my pain management doctor increased my dosage to 50 mcg, eventually with a 2 mg Dilaudid for breakthrough pain. It has been a life-changing drug. I probably would be bed-ridden without it. However, it does have significant side effects. One - if you misuse it, you may stop breathing. Some days I don't use any and become agitated, nervous, and hyperactive. I'm not sure if that's due to needing to change the patch every two days rather than three. It is a good drug, but you need to take care."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2008

"I'm thankful that I found a doctor who understood what I was dealing with and prescribed this medication. Without it, I was just existing, and now have a full life. The 3rd day is tough when the medicine is wearing off, but by the middle of the first day of a new patch, things are back in order."

• Anonymous
• June 5, 2011

"I started taking this medication several years after a failed back surgery. Regular pain medicines did not last long enough to allow me to sleep more than two hours at a time, so my MD said I could try the patch so the pain medication would last for a longer period. As far as pain control, I would say the patch worked very well. I was just using the 25 mcg/hour strength, and I started being able to sleep for four hours at a time, so I was happy about that, although four hours still wasn't great. I did not ever have any feelings of euphoria, I just felt 'normal' finally and was able to get some housework done that I could not do before because of the constant back pain. I did have some breakthrough pain that was relieved with Motrin or Lortab."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2010

"I have Pseudotumor Cerebri, which means false tumor. It is like I have a large tumor in my head, but I do not have the mass. I have everything else: high fluid pressure on the eyes, severe headaches. They are worse than the migraines, which I have every day. The patch relieves that a lot. I have had 9 surgeries in the past 8 years. I have three shunts: 2 in my head and one on my spine. The one on my spine makes my lower back hurt. I have been dealing with this for 8 years, since 2002. In 2009, I found out I also have Arnold Chiari malformation, which means your brain is too big for your head and it falls down in your neck. Fentanyl 75 mg every 3 days has been a gift. The only thing I do not like is that 48 hours after I change my patch, I get in pain again."

• jnf...
• July 31, 2009

"This medicine is perfect for me. I have a blood disorder that causes frequent blood clots in my leg, two inches from below my left knee on down was amputated last year. I've died twice for a total of 48 seconds from pulmonary embolisms. I'm 19, and in August, my doctor cut me off of my MS Contin and Roxicets because of addiction problems. I was in pain for 5 months until I was hospitalized once again with a new clot and constant super high blood pressure from the pain. Now my new pain doctor has me on 50 mcg of the Fentanyl patch along with Roxi 30s. No potential for abuse with the Fentanyl."

• Eye...
• June 16, 2011

"My friend suffers from RSD. Since the doctor put her on the fentanyl patch, I have seen a big difference. She is able to get around better and says that she feels better. This patch has sure improved her overall quality of life for the better."

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2009

"I just began the fentanyl 25mcg patch 2 days ago. So far, so good. I'm pain-free for the first time since cervical spine surgery in April 2009. I put the first patch on around supper time and noticed a reduction in pain within a couple of hours. When I got up yesterday morning, I was pain-free. This medicine is incredible. The doctor gave me Norco 10-325 for any breakthrough pain, but so far, I haven't had any."

• jan...
• November 25, 2009

"No side effects. In the beginning, they didn't help much at all, and my pain management specialist (neurologist) had to increase my dosage quite a few times until we found a level sustainable. I am now not as confined to my couch or bed like before. Original dosage began: 12.5 mcg 72 hours but no impact in controlling my pain level. My current dose is 75 mcg/48 hrs. I am opiate tolerant and will probably be increased to 100 mcg. In addition to Fentanyl, I also take Norco 10-325 mg 6x day, Carisoprodol 350 mg 4x day, Xanax 1 mg at least 1x day and will start taking Chantix to stop smoking next week (Nov. 30, 2009). I haven't had any bad side effects from Fentanyl. I like the Mylan brand better as it doesn't irritate my skin."

• Spe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 3, 2023

"I have been on a fentanyl patch of 75 mcg for over 20 years now. It has been the only thing that has worked. I’ve tried pills, but they never gave me constant relief. Unfortunately, the government wants to reduce the dosage by half. If that worked, I would be using that amount. I expect the pain to increase significantly and fear the withdrawal symptoms."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2011

"I started on a 50 mcg patch, then subsequently moved to 75 and 100 mcg strength over two years. I got tired of the patches not lasting three days and being on them, so my doctor helped me get off them. Now, three months later, I am miserable with pinched nerves that wake me up every hour at night, and nothing else is working. So, I plan to go back on them on a temporary basis until I can have decompression surgery in the summer. The problem is no patch I've used, and have tried many (gel, matrix, five different brands), is I got one full day without breakthrough meds, had to use breakthrough after 48 hours, and the patch was totally useless after 48 hours, which made me use up a lot of breakthrough medication."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2011

"I am currently on a 75 mcg patch every 48 hours, and I am still fairly uncomfortable. I have requested my doctor either increase the patch dose or change my supplemental pain medicine, neither of which he is willing to do."

• wyl...
• April 19, 2009

"I have been on Duragesic patches for about 8 years. I have chronic intractable pain, and it does wonders. I have found, though, that because insurance companies force us to use generics, that what most of you say about '3rd day let-down' is because of some of the generics, or at least in my case."

• Anonymous
• July 24, 2009

"I have severe pain left over from my chemotherapy I took for breast cancer. I took Percocet for a year but was having breakthrough pain. I decided to try the pain patch, which I started out at 25 mg and worked my way up to where my pain stopped. I am now pain-free at 75 mg every three days. I have been pain-free for 4 months. I am so happy. I was crying every morning because the pain medicines would not last through the night, not anymore. I am able to work in the yard and do housework pain-free. I forgot to tell you the pain was in my lower legs, it was terrible."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2008

"I have a disease called IC. It is very painful. I finally got relief from the patch, although on the third day the withdrawal is really rough. I wish that the change was every two days, but since it's so addictive, I doubt my doctor or health insurance will agree to that. I am glad to have it as opposed to living with pain all day, every day."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2009

"I have been using fentanyl for 4 years now. I have had low back surgery in 2001. In 2004, I was in an auto accident where the doctor said I need low back and neck fusion. I said no thanks to surgery and started using fentanyl patch. Without the patch, I wouldn't be able to walk, stand, or much of anything else. Prior to the auto accident, I was very active: work, kids, wife, etc. With the patch, I'm pretty close to prior to the accident."

• Anonymous
• June 20, 2009

Fentanyl "I was taken to the ER with kidney stones and pyelonephritis. The pain was very severe, but the fentanyl injection took my pain from a 9/10 to a 2/3 within about two minutes or less. It wore off within an hour, and that is my only complaint. The Toradol helped me for longer."

• jue...
• October 12, 2009

"I have been using the fentanyl 75 mg patches for 2 months after gradual increase from 25 to 50 to 75 mg, changed every 72 hours. I have degenerative bone in my cervical spine, and I am having tests for inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid). I do notice the pain coming back on the third day, a few hours before I need to change it. The sweating on the first day I awake, and the dry mouth are not pleasant at all but a small price to pay for better quality of life. I have gone from active horse owner and working to being on disability. I was in so much pain I was having days of work and many days unable to get up. I am unable to do my horse anymore, but I don't feel as much pain, and that is what counts."

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2008

"I am a 29-year-old female with a condition known as Arnold-Chiari Malformation. My massive brain :) is too big for my skull and sticks out at the foramen magnum by 7 mm. I was misdiagnosed and treated for migraines for 2 1/2 years when the real problem was the compression of optical and cranial nerves. The 50 mcg patches have given me my life back. I'm becoming tolerant to my breakthrough med (Dilaudid) and am wondering if the lozenges are available to chronic pain patients whose pain is non-malignant."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2011

"At first, the patch helped with pain. Side effects are no longer outweighing the benefits. Very forgetful, extremely irrational thinking, and agitation to the extent of verbally lashing out at loved ones. Now I am having a very hard time breathing."