Fentanyl and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2017

For Chronic Pain "After a month of continuous surgery, I shifted to oxycodone 30 mg every four hours. It sedated me to the point of uselessness. My MD put me on the equivalence of fentanyl patches, and bam, no sedation, no euphoria, few side effects like nausea and mild insomnia. Very tolerable. The best part was great pain control without the baggage. I had to severely reduce Klonopin during all this due to interactions but still find that half the previous dose of Klonopin is still effective. Only real negative I've noted is interdose withdrawal symptoms prior to changing the patch. Always on the third day, so I'm going through patches a bit faster, though still close to 72 hours. Maybe I'm just a fast metabolizer?"

• suf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Back surgery didn't go very well, so I was put on multiple drugs, both pain and nerve. Most of the pill forms made me extremely sick. So I was put on fentanyl patches, 25 mcg every 3 days, now up to 50 mcg. After the 1st of the year, I will be up to 75 mcg. Works well for me, just when I first put it on, I do suffer insomnia for 1 or 2 nights. Pain is still with me, but at times more tolerable. And the government wants doctors to cut way back on fentanyl because of abuse. Then gets cars locked up for speeding! I believe doctors will stop writing scripts because they are afraid of the DEA and med reviews, and people that surely need it will suffer. We will see what the future holds, and I wish everyone in these positions good luck. WE CAN ALL MOVE TO COLORADO."

• Ms ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2017

For Pain "I have only been with pain management for 6 months but suffered from debilitating pain (osteoarthritis, neuropathy) for years. I am hoping through the fentanyl patch I may have some consistency with my management of pain. Have tried Opana 15 mg X 2 and before that a morphine tablet (cannot remember strength). I also had Percocet 10/325 every 4-6 hrs for breakthrough pain. The only thing that helped was the Percocet but felt I was taking way too many; 150 a month. I got the patch today. I took 2 Percocet initially because I had been without anything for 3 days and was really hurting 10+. My pain level is at 1, maybe 2 after 16 hrs of applying the patch. Praise God! My only issue is a headache and not being able to sleep. I am not sure if the headache is from sinus or patch?"

• Pen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I'd been on OxyContin for 10 yrs prior to Fentanyl Patch 50mg. After relocating to FL, I have found securing Oxy supply spotty. At best-never knowing from mo to mo whether it was going to be available-driving to 5-6 pharmacies (no info given via phone) & maybe only getting 1/2 my pills. Solution was to switch to Fentanyl, which isn't as effective-I now use much more hydrocodone for breakthrough pain, plus dispensing of Patch is erratic = first night of the 72 hrs I'm wide awake & by last 24 hrs relief is very weak. Constant problem in FL heat of patch staying adhered. Until FL lightens its restrictions on acquiring Oxy, the Patch will have to do (this is my 3rd yr with Fentanyl)."

• 25m...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2022

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have a fractured tailbone and slipped vertebra. It has been 9 months, then I was prescribed this Fentanyl patch for pain. It was okay at first, but I couldn’t do anything. Then the 3rd patch had me with insomnia and tremors, so I stopped, now I'm on Oxycodone when needed."

• Sai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2013

For Chronic Pain "So much more effective and comfortable for me than morphine, but it does not help with specific elements of my pain when I lie down, so insomnia is a problem."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2008

Fentanyl "Fentanyl transdermal system, in my opinion, works well with a breakthrough medication. Try to stay cool because it seems to raise body temperature. Also, you may have trouble sleeping."