the pharmacists at VA say thats bull,that it kills all pain,it should, even the company that makes the patches cant answer this,i need a smart chemist to take a shot at this one.i have been up to 125mcg/hr,thanks
2007-04-15 11:02:04 · 5 answers · asked by gscott43206 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
fentanyl patches work good for something that produce constant pain, like cancer or arthritis. if you have a pain that's only present temporarily but is very severe when it occurs (like migraine headaches for instance), then the fentanyl patch doesn't make any sense because it releases a constant amount of pain medicine, even during the times you don't need it. you're better off taking something PRN.
2007-04-15 11:09:39 · answer #1 · answered by belfus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It takes upwards of a day for fentanyl to work, and this drug cannot be taken on an as needed basis. Fentanyl is a rather strong opioid. Remember to place the patch on a fatty location, like your abdomen, or it will dump the medicine into your blood stream. Some people are resistant to certain opioids, and should try another.
2007-04-15 14:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by Lea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If fentanyl is not working, then perhaps you need to try a different drug. There are several options for chronic pain. Check out the links below to find out about the drug Prialt. It may be effective for you, but you will have to talk about this with your physician.
There are different types of pain, some is due to irritation or damage, such as from a ruptured disk in the back or a tumor; or from a trauma, such as surgery or a broken leg. These types of pain are usually well controlled by opioid analgesics, such as hydrocodone, fentanyl, etc.
Neuropathic pain is different. It is often caused by viral infections, autoimmune disease, or diabetes. This type of pain is NOT well controlled with opioid analgesics, but is usually controlled by anti seizure medications (Depakote) or antidepressants (Cymbalta, Elavil), or a combination.
I hope this helps you with your search. Also below is a link to the wikipedia article about pain. It is well written, and speaks to different kinds of treatment, including alternatives to medicine, such as accupuncture.
2007-04-15 11:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by super_friendly_aviator 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
this is not a question for a chemist. I can't believe a pharmacist can't answer for you. Not all drugs effect everyone the same way. Nyquil doesn't make me tired, and darvocet has absolutely no impact on pain for me. Just like side effects, some people experience side effects, some don't. Try something else. Torodal, Vicodin, Percoset.
2007-04-15 11:11:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each person's body reacts to narcotics differently. It could be your Mu receptors, the receptors that are code for pain, are not susceptable to fentanyl. Yes fentanyl is one of the most powerful narcotis out there but if your body is used to it or has a mutation to the receptor it will not work to kill the pain signals.
I would ask to try a different narcotic.
2007-04-15 11:16:52 · answer #5 · answered by wsu_silverdragon 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Headaches can be caused by minor problems
like eyestrain, lack of coffee or more serious reasons
like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis and
meningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can
have harmful side effects, so it is better to
modify your lifestyle. More information available at
2007-04-19 02:54:04 · answer #6 · answered by sweetu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋