Fentanyl and Pain: What Users Say

• Dou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2013

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "After years of all the other opioid pain pills, I was put on Fentanyl 25mcg. Initial problems getting the patch to stick, I contacted the manufacturer, and they were very helpful. They have supplied Askina film dressings to cover the patch, and they never fall off anymore. TegaDerm patches work very well also. I was also increased to one patch every 48 hours since it seems to wear off long before 72 hours. I do leave them on for 72 hours but alternate locations every 48 hours. What a difference. Very little pain, if any, and I'm no longer loopy or half asleep all the time. Fentanyl has been a blessing for my lower back and leg pain. By the way, I suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis. Hope this is helpful to others."

• Fin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 20, 2014

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have had 5 back surgeries in four years with the last one being a double fusion at L4 to S1. This last surgery failed again, and they are now considering another one to fuse my lumbar spine all together. I have been on Fentanyl patch along with Percocet for three plus years. I take 150 mcg every 48 hours along with ten Percocet a day and still in pain. I just wish I could find something that relieves the pain to at least allow me somewhat of a better life. Right now I am basically housebound and depressed and sometimes very angry."

• cal...
• March 10, 2014

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have been using fentanyl on and off for about 4 years. I had spinal fusion done on L2-L5, also, out of the 8 screws in my back, the doctors left one of the screws with the sharp point on it, so it jabs into my back muscle. I have tried every pain medicine on the market and have to say fentanyl works the best. I no longer wake up from pain. It is, in my opinion, the best pain medication available on the market. I used to have to get it off the streets because no doctor believed I was in pain (I am in my 30s), now I finally found a doctor who prescribes it to me, God bless him for it. I'm using 50 mcg every 48 hrs. I still get a little pain after any activity that stresses my back, so I might ask to try 75 mcg, but I am glad I have these patches."

• jod...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 2, 2013

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I had C-4, 5, 6, 7 fusion that went awry when they accidentally hit my spinal cord. I was originally put on 75s, but my feet would hurt so bad in the morning. I read that it was due to too much in my system, so I had them lower my dose to 25 mg. But I put a new one on every 48 hrs. (leave them in place for 72), so I am basically putting a patch on every other day. I wear them on my chest area so they don't get rubbed a lot and tend to stay in place."

• TJa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2021

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have dealt with chronic back pain for 15 years. After being on several different long-acting opioids. My new pain management doctor (well, he was new to me in 2017!) put me on Duragesic patches. Can’t say enough positive things about the quality of life I have now. Yes, I still have bouts of breakthrough pain, but no longer take it as often. Also nice not to have to worry about “Do I have my meds?” when leaving the house for work as one patch changes every 72 hours. Boom. Done. I do have auto shipment of Tegaderm (on a roll) delivered every couple of months, as no matter what brand the pharmacy prescribes - NONE of them are without coming loose at some point!"

• Anonymous
• July 27, 2009

Fentanyl 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."

• Kos...
• May 9, 2016

Fentanyl for Breakthrough Pain "I was given Subsys as a replacement for 30 mg instant release OxyContin. 800 mcg 4x per day instead of 4x 30 mg OxyContin. My usual opiate regimen is 3x 80 mg OxyContin, which has been at this level for 16 years now. Combined with the 4x 800 mcg Subsys, my pain is controlled more than ever has been (since 1990 when it began), but the dosage is so strict that there are times when I have to live with unbearable breakthrough pain for up to 8 hours. Is my pain under control? Yes, but I live with a pain level of 7-7.5 24/7/365. Without Subsys, my pain would be unbearable."

• Hea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 20, 2023

Fentanyl for Pain "I was switched from the Mallinckrodt 75 mcg patch to the Mylan 75 mcg patch, and ever since then, I have been in constant pain. With the Mallinckrodt patches, I could sometimes run out of my Percocet 10 mg a few days early without experiencing withdrawal symptoms, as long as I had my Mallinckrodt patches. I never ran out of patches. Now, with the Mylan patches, I can't tell any difference in pain relief from Day 1 to Day 3. I am always in pain. When I was using the Mallinckrodt patches, I would only experience pain on Day 3. It's worth mentioning that my insurance coverage has changed, and I now have state-provided insurance, which may be a factor in the difference in patch effectiveness. If anyone else has experienced this problem or has any information or insights to share, please let me know. I'm desperate for any helpful input."

• pau...
• November 9, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I have been on fentanyl for more than three years now with great success, no major problems or side effects. Although about three months ago, I started having some real bad side effects from the drug. After about 24-36 hours of putting on the patch, I would start to get pain, agitation, sick feeling all over my body, fatigue, restlessness, very tired, neck and back muscular pain, and bad headaches, as well as confusion and the sweats, etc. All the classic symptoms of the patch not working properly. I am in the process of talking with my doctor about rectifying the problem with my dosage and time frame on how often to change the patch. If I knew how bad the feeling was to withdraw from this drug was, I would have never taken it."

• BBB...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2016

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have had bad back, neck, and shoulder pain for 12 plus years. My doctor's tried several times doing guided steroid injections, and for several hours after the injections, I would feel pain-free. Once the numbing agent wears off, the pain returns to normal. They tried transdermal compounded creams as well as NSAIDs and oral medications. Some of the oral medications worked but not long enough. I would take one at bedtime, and 5 to 6 hours later, I would wake up in pain and couldn't go back to sleep. I was only allowed to take 3 a day, so if I used one at bedtime and one near morning, I had nothing through the day. The patches worked well, but they tend to roll up and fall off. I am told not to put tape over them. Not sure what to do about that."

• BBB...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2016

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have had bad back, neck, and shoulder pain for 12 plus years. My doctor's tried several times doing guided steroid injections, and for several hours after the injections, I would feel pain-free. Once the numbing agent wears off, the pain returns to normal. They tried transdermal compounded creams as well as NSAIDs and oral medications. Some of the oral medications worked but not long enough. I would take one at bedtime, and 5 to 6 hours later, I would wake up in pain and couldn't go back to sleep. I was only allowed to take 3 a day, so if I used one at bedtime and one near morning, I had nothing through the day. The patches worked well, but they tend to roll up and fall off. I am told not to put tape over them. Not sure what to do about that."

• seg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2012

For Chronic Pain "I found that my patch was never staying on for the whole 72 hours, and sometimes it would not last 20 minutes on my upper body. I now use the patch on my lower legs and the front, and the patch sticks, no problem. As for the effectiveness of the patch, it's hard to say as everyone is different, but for me, it works. As soon as my 72 hours are nearly up, I do feel a lot more pain, and it's quite clear it's new patch day. I have central hypersensitivity syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, and too many other problems to list."

• Ket...
• April 6, 2009

For Pain "I have been through several spinal surgeries due to bad degenerative disc disease. Besides the herniated discs, stenosis, radiculopathy, and arthritis in my spine, the main problem I have is scar tissue, which has encompassed my nerve at the L5-S1 level. Constant pain! I also have fibromyalgia. I have used every opiate-based medication there is and find fentanyl to be my favorite because it is NOT ANOTHER PILL I HAVE TO TAKE. I am on enough prescription pills, so reducing the number of pills I take is a plus. I do have to take oxycodone for breakthrough pain pretty frequently now, maybe because my body is adapting to the dose, so I should be increasing the dosage soon. Fentanyl allows me to get out of bed in the morning and go to work."

• Ket...
• April 6, 2009

For Pain "I have been through several spinal surgeries due to bad degenerative disc disease. Besides the herniated discs, stenosis, radiculopathy, and arthritis in my spine, the main problem I have is scar tissue, which has encompassed my nerve at the L5-S1 level. Constant pain! I also have fibromyalgia. I have used every opiate-based medication there is and find fentanyl to be my favorite because it is NOT ANOTHER PILL I HAVE TO TAKE. I am on enough prescription pills, so reducing the number of pills I take is a plus. I do have to take oxycodone for breakthrough pain pretty frequently now, maybe because my body is adapting to the dose, so I should be increasing the dosage soon. Fentanyl allows me to get out of bed in the morning and go to work."

• 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)."

• Jac...
• October 23, 2014

Fentanyl for Breakthrough Pain "Mostly good, but my pain would be worse at night when trying to sleep. I would take a dose, and due to the 20-minute time to dissolve properly, I sometimes fell asleep with it still in my mouth, which over time has done massive damage to my teeth nearby the cheeks in every quadrant of the mouth. The dental work required is in the ten thousand dollar range, which I can't hope to afford. As a middle-aged man who is divorced, this causes problems with the ladies, and I don't blame them."

• isa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 1, 2016

For Chronic Pain "This drug works great for me, it takes for me 16 hours to fully seem to get into my system. In the past, I took Vicoprofen (hydrocodone & ibuprofen) 7.5 mg. I started out with a 12.5 patch, after 1 1/2 years, it was changed to applying every 48 hours. After 2 years, my dose is now a 25 patch. Your body does get used to it, if after a year or so you become nervous, nauseated, have headaches, or feel dizzy and sick with headache, nausea, and pain, it's no doubt time to change your patch application time or dose. I didn't know why I was getting too sick, the ER doctor explained to me it was withdrawal symptoms. I didn't like to hear that, but being we are dependent on them for pain (rather than being an addict), it can happen. IMPORTANT: start taking a stool softener."

• Nay...
• February 18, 2009

Fentanyl for Pain "I have had great success, and this drug would have been 10/10 for me, but recently, on the third day, I get breakthrough pain, and this is affecting my life. Without this drug, I'm unable to do so much."

• LAV...
• December 30, 2008

Fentanyl for Pain "I have been on Duragesic since Aug 2001 and went from being bedridden 5 of 7 days. Now I'm not bedridden anymore. Still suffer from IBS and have pain on a scale of 4-6 out of 10, but it's pain that I have lived to tolerate. It's the only medicine that has worked for me long-term."

• Anonymous
• July 15, 2009

Fentanyl for Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• August 14, 2008

For Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• June 5, 2011

For Pain "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

For Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• July 24, 2009

For Pain "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

For Pain "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."